Goldcliff lagoons is a reserve I have visited on several occasions, together with the neighbouring rspb Newport Wetlands site. It consists of three bodies of water, and several hides and screens. Only just across the Severn bridge into Wales, I tend to visit when there is something of note and in the past I have seen grey phalaropes and glossy ibis.
This week, however, there have been reports of a wryneck, a member of the woodpecker family usually seen in autumn as a passage migrant. It had been favouring two particular areas, a certain area of hedgerow near to a screen and an area near the seawall.
Today was the earliest opportunity I had, to make the trip into South Wales so I left early and arrived before 8 o'clock, somewhat surprised to find no other cars parked on the verge near the entrance. I didn't know exactly which screen to make for but stopped at the first and had a quick look around - finding a bird like a wryneck in a hedge was going to prove difficult, wasn't it?
Whilst wondering where to start looking, I noticed a pale shape in the hawthorn opposite me - and picking up my binoculars realised that I'd found the bird already! A quick few distant photos then I thought I'd try and get a bit closer by going down the steps and coming out on the path - but by then the bird had retreated into the bush and I could just make out its outline before it disappeared
Other birders arrived on the scene and I was able to point out where I had just seen it, but it took a while before it was re-found - further along the hedgerow! This proved to be the game it played with us for the next few hours - a quick sighting when one or two people who happened to be in the right spot managed some photos, then disappearing and coming into view up to twenty minutes later in a different spot. We could sometimes see it as it flew between bushes but often it was at the rear of the hedge. A couple of birders found their way around the back of the hedge and managed to see it better so most people including me, followed at intervals, though I never managed a decent photo even when it reappeared. Despite the sunshine forecast, the weather remained overcast and difficult viewing and photographing conditions and I returned home late morning. It will be interesting to see how long the bird stays for.
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