Saturday 19th July 2025 - Newport Wetlands/Goldcliff
This months Bath RSPB field trip and the last of this season was a trip to Newport Wetlands and Goldcliff. We all met at the wetland which is an RSPB reserve and while waiting in the car park for everyone to arrive Swallows and House Martins were flying around and Lesser Black Back and Black Headed Gulls were flying to and from the sea. Once inside the reserve a volunteer was starting to check a moth trap that had been left out overnight and onlookers were amazed how many moths had been caught. Birds visiting the feeders included Greenfinch, Goldfinch, House Sparrow and Great Tit. Walking through the reserve a Blackbird was our 1st sighting and Tom scoped a Cormorant on a pylon. A family of Stonechats were on the footpath and 3 Curlews circled overhead, a Dunnock was spotted in a bush. An Oystercatcher flew over calling and in one of the channels were Mallard, Little Grebe and Moorhen. A Blue tit flew into a bush. On reaching the estuary the tide was well out but coming in, but it made spotting birds on the tide line difficult, but we did find Shelduck and a large flock of Linnets, A Reed Warbler showed well with food in its beak and a Reed Bunting sat on top of a reed head. On the foreshore were some Canada Geese and 2 Little Egrets were also found. We walked to the hide in the wooded area but nothing new was found there but as we continued a heard the call of a Treecreeper and found 2 working their way up a tree before disappearing but while searching we also found a Chiffchaff and others spotted a Goldcrest and Long Tailed Tits that I missed. A white moth flew over the path and landed on the base of a nettle a Yellow-Tail Moth, a new species for me.
Yellow-Tail Moth - Newport Wetlands
(Bath Birdwatcher)
While looking at it, Bryan found a Robin. Walking back to the centre lots of butterflies were on the wing Meadow Brown, Green Veined White, Large White, Small White, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral. After lunch we then headed for Goldcliff and walking to the 1st hide a Spotted Flycatcher flew across and from the hide a Buzzard was on a fence post. The pool in front of the hide was completely dry with just a Carrion Crow on the grass. Moving on to the viewing screen where there was water lots more birds were seen with a Spoonbill stood amongst a flock of Black Headed Gulls.
Spoonbill - Goldcliff (Bath Birdwatcher)
At the back of the pool were Great White Egrets, Little Egrets and a Grey Heron so we were able to point out the difference in size between the 3 species.
Great White/Little Egret plus Grey Heron
Goldcliff (Bath Birdwatcher)
In the
water was a few species of wader mainly Dunlin and
Lapwing with a few Black
Tailed Godwit and a single Redshank, also
there was a single female Pintail and 3 Greylag Geese. Sand Martins were swooping down
over the water and a few Teal were dabbling
close to the near end. A Pied Wagtail flew
onto the mud to our right and a Sedge Warbler was
spotted in the reeds, and a Magpie was at
the back of the pond. A strange Goose walked across the pond much smaller than
the Greylag Geese with a much smaller head and bill a Pink
Footed Goose, no idea why it was there. Everyone said how much they
enjoyed the day and the highlight for many was the Spoonbill.
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