Whales & Dolphins of Madeira

May 2023

‘A small group enjoyed a 7-day holiday on this stunning island, connecting with a host of special wildlife including the focus of the tour – cetaceans’ says tour leader Su Gough. ‘The grounds of our super hotel delivered our first wildlife highlights, including Monarch butterflies and their colourful caterpillars, as well as a glorious endemic Madeiran Banded Bee. During the holiday, we had five outings arranged on three different types of boats to look for the life in the surrounding Atlantic, and we were not disappointed. Common Dolphins were still around but the stars were the 100 or so Atlantic Spotted Dolphins playing around the boat, bow-riding, breaching and splashing. They even chased us as we backed off and the presence of the dolphins meant Flying Fish were taking to the air, and one “flew” right over the boat! Seabirds abounded and the whacky Portuguese Man O’War bobbing past was a wonderful find.

One morning we headed into the vertiginous and simply stunning interior of the island to experience the native flora and land birds, with Madeiran Firecrest, Madeiran Chaffinch and Trocaz Pigeons the undoubted stars. A packed but varied stay, this amazing island, its wildlife and its people worked their magic on us, and no one wanted to leave.’

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Spain

Reports from tour leader Niki Williamson

March 2023

‘Our groups experienced spring migration in stunning style during these laid-back breaks, taking in the annual northerly passage of soaring birds across the Strait of Gibraltar. Each year tens of thousands make the crossing of the narrowest stretch of sea between Europe and Africa. Local knowledge put us right at the heart of this natural spectacle, under the flow of hundreds of Booted Eagles, Black Kites, Short-toed Eagles, Eurasian Sparrowhawks, Egyptian and Griffon Vultures, Western Marsh Harriers, Montagu´s Harriers, Western Ospreys, flocks of White and Black Storks and more!

Other birds passing through or arriving home included European Bee-eaters, Collared Pratincoles, Greater Short-toed Larks, Black-eared Wheatears, Eurasian Hoopoes, Eurasian Wrynecks, Pallid, Common and Alpine Swifts.

Fifty (yes 5-0!) Long-finned Pilot Whales graced our boat trips, as well as Bottlenose Dolphins and Cory´s Shearwaters. Wetlands thrilled with birds – again some arriving home, some with further still to travel – and our list included Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Stone-curlew, Collared Pratincole, Black-winged Stilt, Common Ringed, Grey and Kentish Plovers, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint!

Lunchtime picnics featuring the best of local fresh produce and award-winning cheeses and olive oil, and our gorgeous accommodation at a traditional Spanish farmhouse surrounded by open countryside provided a perfect, relaxing backdrop for great Andalucían food from chef Felipe.’

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May 2023

‘Within this trip’s first hour of birding – on the heaths of Coto Doñana – the bar was set rather high when an Iberian Lynx strolled right past us!

But thanks to wonderful weather, scenery and obliging nature, there were plenty of delights each day to rival it!

The lagoons of Doñana, though already worryingly small and shallow, still sparkled with Marbled Ducks, Red-knobbed Coots, Greater Flamingoes, Purple Herons, Savi´s and Great Reed Warblers, Western Swamphens, Red-crested Pochards, Wood Sandpipers, Pied Avocets and more, while the air above filled with hundreds of Collared Pratincoles and Whiskered Terns.

In Extremadura, we continued literally on a high in the mountains, with raptors including Griffon and Black Vultures taking to the air around us with Booted Eagles, Black Kites, Egyptian Vulture and glorious Spanish Imperial Eagle flybys. We had great views of Golden Orioles, Rock Buntings, Blue Rock Thrush, Black and Black-eared Wheatears and Western Subalpine Warbler, as well as fishing European Otters.

On the plains, as if competing with our Iberian Lynx, the first bird spotted on arrival was a Great Bustard, and the second a Little Bustard! 

The highlights kept coming with European Rollers, Great Spotted Cuckoos, European Bee-eaters, Eurasian Scops Owl, Red-necked Nightjar and more – not to mention plenty of ice creams and exceptional local cheeses!’

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May 2023

‘The honey really poured on this inaugural trip to witness the spectacular spring migration of European Honey Buzzards across the Strait of Gibraltar! Perfect conditions coincided with the peak of their northerly journey from the moist forests of Africa to their European breeding grounds. We placed ourselves right under the flow as thousands crossed above us, building into swirling groups. Alongside them Black Kites, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Montagu´s and Marsh Harriers, Egyptian and Griffon Vultures, Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Black Storks and even a Eurasian Black Vulture and a Red-footed Falcon joined the throng!

The weather was gorgeous and the spring breeding season was in full flow for resident birds, bringing us exciting and varied highlights in the form of Marbled Ducks, Collared Pratincoles, Gull-billed and Whiskered Terns, Northern Bald Ibis, Black-eared Wheatears, European Bee-eaters, Eurasian Hoopoes, Black-winged Kite, Golden Oriole, Woodchat Shrike, Melodious, Isabelline and Western Bonelli´s Warblers – and so many more! On the sea, we were thrilled to hang out with Long-finned Pilot Whales, Common, Striped and Bottlenose Dolphins.

All this great wildlife and we still found plenty of time to enjoy relaxed delicious 3-course meals at our splendid rural farmhouse location – not to mention an occasional ice cream!’

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April 2023

‘The realm of the Black Panther offers some spectacular views of the forest of Nagarhole in the Western Ghats’ says tour leader Kaustubh Mulay. ‘Our safaris from Kabini gave us excellent opportunities to watch and photograph Asian Elephant, Indian Gaur, Dhole (Asian Wild Dog), Leopard and Tiger. We also saw Malabar Giant Squirrels, Malabar Parakeets and White-cheeked Barbets, which are found only in this region. Although the Black Panther remained elusive, we had some wonderful safaris and some amazing encounters with the wild denizens of the forest!

Particular highlights included a large herd of Asian Elephants grazing peacefully and then interacting with another herd. In addition, we enjoyed large flocks of Woolly-necked Storks that congregated together on the mudflats, Spoonbills and Red-headed Vultures. We were also lucky enough to see a Leopard, surprisingly camouflaged although it was on a bare rock.

Another highlight was the sound of a pack of Dhole raising a distress call when they had an encounter with a Tiger. We heard their call first before they all appeared on the road, presumably far from the threat of the Tiger!

Finally, we watched a thirsty Stripe-necked Mongoose coming to a waterhole and then realising there was a sleeping Tigress present. It circled a few times before snatching a drink while the Tigress didn’t appear bothered at all!’

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May 2023

“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

‘Thus quoted Ratty from “The Wind in the Willows” and how right he was’, says tour leader Andy Bunten. ‘Though our time in the fantastic Danube Delta was more than simply messing about!

This Naturetrek trip visits three different areas. We started in the Carpathian Mountains in a delightful guesthouse visiting the jaw-dropping Zarnesti Gorge for unbelievable views of Wallcreeper, the lower slopes of the Piatra Craiului National Park for Spotted Nutcracker and Collared Flycatchers, and Stramba Valley for Lesser Spotted Eagles, shrikes and, of course, Brown Bears – 12 in total.

Then it was to the Danube Delta for a wildlife experience second to none. White and Dalmatian Pelicans fished nearby, White-tailed Eagles gazed down at us imperiously as we drifted past on our comfortable floating hotel, marsh terns dipped for insects, Eurasian Hobbies dashed across the sky and Thrush Nightingales belted out their songs from impenetrable thickets.

The reeds were full of birds – Penduline Tits with their eponymous nests, Bearded Reedlings, Savi’s, Great Reed and Reed Warblers and Common Cuckoos galore. Add spectacular European Rollers, harlequin-plumaged European Bee-eaters, and egrets and herons at every turn and you’re not far from a birdwatcher’s heaven.

Finally, we explored steppes, woods and low hills running down the side of the Black Sea. Colonies of European Bee-eaters danced in the sky with Red-footed Falcons; Broad-billed Sandpipers lurked amongst the mass of Little Stints, Ruff and deep-purple Curlew Sandpipers. European Suslik guarded their burrows as wheatears and Lesser Grey Shrikes perched on low lookouts.

What a spectacular part of the world!’

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May–June 2023

‘Overnight snow preceded the “Iceland in Spring” tour and average daily temperatures stuck around 10ºC rising to 15ºC on one day, with everyone prepared for the vagaries of the Icelandic spring weather’ writes tour leader Dave Jackson.

‘We had close encounters with some of Iceland’s special birds including Great Northern and Red-throated Divers, Slavonian Grebe, Harlequin Duck and Barrow’s Goldeneye, a Golden Plover incubated her eggs right next to the main path at Godafoss and a Whimbrel delighted photographers at Arnarstapi. Those who had Red-necked Phalaropes as a target species were surprised just how small they were and how close they approached us!

We found two rarities at one site – Lesser Scaup and Lesser Canada Goose and were fortunate to find three Brunnich’s Guillemots in an auk colony with ease.

We were grateful for calm conditions during our whale-watching trip where Humpback and Minke were spotted along with a pod of Harbour Porpoise, while Orca was seen from land distantly off Snæfellsnes. One lucky group stopped to take photos of a Common Snipe on a post as an Arctic Fox made a hasty retreat, before we were treated to some phenomenal seascapes.

We visited several powerful waterfalls, dramatic structures at Dimmuborgir Lava Field where evidence of trolls was witnessed and Námafjall Geothermal Area where boiling mud erupted and the smell of sulphur filled the air.

The hours of near-darkness were restricted to about three hours a night, giving plentiful opportunities for late and early walks for those keen to make the most of this incredible country and its amazing wildlife and stunning scenery.’

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May 2023

‘We began our tour at Lake Skadar in the south of the country’ writes tour leader Alison Steel. ‘This large lake straddles the border with Albania and is home to a population of Dalmatian Pelicans. On morning walks, Subalpine Warbler, Golden Oriole, herons, Sombre Tit, cormorants and swallows were seen, whilst we enjoyed very close views of Great Reed Warbler, in full voice, as well as lots of Great Crested Grebes, Whiskered, Black and White-winged Black Terns, Little Egret and an Osprey on our boat trip.

In Lovcen National Park we had a wonderfully scenic lunch stop, with Hoopoe, Wood Lark, Greenfinch and carpets of wild Grape Hyacinth and crocuses. Winding our way down to stunning Kotor Bay we found Crag Martin, while Tivat salt pans produced lots of Wood Sandpiper, Black-headed Yellow Wagtail, Squacco Heron, Northern Wheatear, Stonechat and Woodchat Shrike. At Ulcinj salt pans we found many Black-winged Stilts and Grey Plovers, along with a breeding colony of Collared Practincole, Corn Bunting, Crested Lark and Zitting Cisticola.

A walk around Black Lake in Durmitor National Park gave some stunning reflections in the water, as we listened to the calls of Black Woodpecker, Crested, Marsh, Willow and Coal Tits, as well as the “kronk” of Raven. Through the telescopes we could pick up some Chamois high on the slopes. Our last day here produced a flurry of spring migrants, with Ring Ouzel, Lesser Whitethroat, flycatchers, Red-footed Falcon and Montagu’s Harrier being seen. A stop at the Kune-Vain wetlands in Albania gave views of Purple Heron, Marsh Harrier, shrikes, warblers and bee-eaters, followed by a final night in Kruje where we saw Blue Rock Thrush, Pallid Swift and Cirl Bunting.’

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May 2023

‘On arrival, we immediately drove south to the coastal town of Sidi Ifni where the surrounding habitat is more humid, allowing African tropical relict species to survive alongside Mediterranean species’ says tour leader Josh Phangurha. ‘En route, we stopped at Souss-Massa National Park to see our first fringe-toed lizards, including the Moroccan endemic Acanthodactylus margaritae.

At Sidi Ifni we found two snake species – a cracking example of a Horseshoe Whipsnake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis) and the elusive Sahel Egg-eating Snake (Dasypeltis sahelensis). This area provides the best chance of seeing the endemic Moroccan Day Gecko (Quedenfeldtia moerens), which we succeeded in finding, and was also productive for north African amphibians, such as African Green Toad (Bufotes boulengeri), Berber Toad (Sclerophrys mauritanica) and Brongersma’s Toad (Barbarophryne brongersmai).

We continued south to Guelmim, from where we made a day trip to Assa on the edge of the Sahara. This part of Morocco is much drier and hotter and boasts a different assemblage of species. We found multiple impressive Spiny-tailed Lizards (Uromastyx nigriventris) along with the agile Small-spotted Lizard (Mesalina guttulata). At an oasis we were greeted by the calls of Sahara Water Frogs (Pelophylax saharicus) congregating in this isolated water body. Closer to Guelmim, we found the miniscule Algerian Gecko (Tropiocolotes algericus), which glowed under UV black light! Desert Horned Viper (Cerastes cerastes) and Saw-scaled Viper (Echis leucogaster) remained elusive.

From Guelmim, we drove south towards Tan-Tan, where the cooler, more humid climate returned. Searching in Euphorbia-rich habitats treated us to a magnificent Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus saharatlanticus), the largest snake we encountered. In the same area, we enjoyed turning over rocks to find the beautiful Harris’s Gecko (Saurodactylus harrisii) in abundance and had a great view of an adult male Bibron’s Agama (Agama bibronii) sheltering in a bush. Just outside Tan-Tan, we were treated to many Northern Elegant Geckos (Stenodactylus mauritanicus) and Helmeted Geckos (Tarentola chazaliae). Here, we struck gold in finding one of the rarer snakes in Morocco, the African House Snake (Boaedon fuliginosus) – one of the sub-Saharan relict species.

Moving on to Khenifiss National Park, we found the iconic Sahara Sand Viper (Cerastes vipera) after following its distinctive “sidewinding” tracks in the sand. These led us to this amazing reptile mostly submerged, waiting in ambush for prey with just its eyes protruding above the surface. A true master of this environment!'

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May 2023

'May brings warming temperatures, flooded rice paddies and vibrant marshes coming alive with odonata, reptiles and amphibians and, of course, birds associated with water and muddy margins’ writes tour leader Neil McMahon. ‘Terns were well represented with Little, Common, Whiskered, Gull-billed, Sandwich and Caspian all providing us with views and a very noisy and close Mediterranean Gull colony possibly numbered as many as a thousand birds, the majority being stunning adults with black hoods, white eye crescents and translucent wings – a definite highlight. Herons were also well represented with plenty of Purple Herons, a brief sighting of a Little Bittern and great views of Squacco Heron plus many egrets, Grey Herons and a few Black-crowned Night Herons.

Based just outside Arles, we enjoyed daily sightings of Little Bustard, plus Stone Curlew, Red-backed Shrike, Roller and many others. We also found Eurasian Eagle Owl, Blue Rock Thrush and Wild Boar in addition to flocks of Greater Flamingoes, skeins of Glossy Ibis, migrant waders and the Camargue white horses and black bulls! Western Swamphens, showy singing Melodious Warblers and plenty of melodic Nightingales competed with Bearded Tits, Great Reed Warblers and the ridiculously-long-legged Black-winged Stilts to be the iconic bird of the Camargue. Egyptian Grasshoppers, Violaceous Carpenter Bees, Lesser Emperors and Scarlet Darters provided more flying colours and Western Green Lizards and Common Wall Lizards scuttled ahead of us on boardwalks.

Naturetrek picnics and 3-course evening meals with the option of locally produced wine and rice beer added the comfort factor to our wildlife-watching.'

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May 2023

‘This wildlife and cultural trip to Uzbekistan was a successful introduction to this diverse and ancient land, with its mix of mountains, deserts and the icons of the Great Silk Road’ writes tour leader Martin Pitt. ‘Expertly assisted by Timur as wildlife guide, together with local cultural guides, we visited the cities of Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara and their surrounding natural wonders. We experienced not only the spectacular physical historical monuments of the Great Silk Road but also the hospitality of the Uzbek people and their unique cuisine, a tasty blend of Persian, Turkish, Indian and Chinese.

Overall, we recorded 125 species of bird, seven of mammals, 16 of butterflies, nine of reptiles, seven of dragonflies and other interesting species. Many are familiar from further east, south or west but some are special to this ‘melting pot’ of a region and include species that are rarely seen. Highlights included the Turkestan Ground Jay, Rufous-naped Tit, Himalayan Griffon, Secret Toadhead Agama, Turkestan Goldenring, Great Gerbil and Turkman Gazelle. During our tour we visited a wide range of habitats from mountains to deserts via wetlands and fertile valleys. In all, a stunning introduction to a remote part of central Asia!’

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May 2023

‘The Cévennes is a secret area of France, with high limestone plateaux and deep river gorges’, writes tour leader Pip O’Brien. ‘Ancient stone-built villages huddle around curved bridges and tiny squares. The air is filled with swifts and the sound of nightingales which call from dawn to dusk.

On our first morning at the hotel, there was a question about wolves. One of us had heard howling in the night and wondered if they had imagined it. We were assured wolves did live in the area, so we all spent our nights with the windows ajar and half an ear open, but to no avail!

Heading out onto the limestone plateau, we were enchanted by damp fields of Pheasant’s Eye Narcissus (Narcissus poeticus). Dry fields were covered in Burnt Orchids (Orchis ustulata) and huge swathes of purple and yellow Elderflower Orchids (Dactylorhiza sambucina), all mixed with rock- roses and a beautiful red and white clover.

We travelled vertiginous roads to areas where we could see drifts of circling vultures and small herds of wild Prejwalski horses. Afternoon thunderstorms curtailed our butterfly sightings, but also gave us the chance to visit an amazing underground cavern with stalagmites shaped like ferns and jellyfish.

Perhaps my favourite moment of the trip was at Montpelier Airport. Standing at the departure gate, one of our party noticed a Little Bustard on the airfield. Seconds later there were 10 pairs of binoculars trained on it, much to the astonishment of the other travellers!’

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May 2023

‘This single-base tour of the lowland areas of Austria and adjacent parts of Hungary yielded a total of 127 bird species and a wide range of other interesting species (such as Souslik and Fire-bellied Toad) and plants’ writes tour leader Martin Pitt. ‘The weather was extremely kind to us, with only a few minutes of rain and warm days, however spring had burst late and the current run of dry winters had continued. This has left some of the iconic lakes totally empty and the normally damp meadows dry and unsuitable for breeding waders.

In all, the week gave a good introduction to this part of Europe, where East meets West and North meets South. The group succeeded in finding most of the key birds of the area, including Great White Egret, Pygmy Cormorant, White-tailed and Eastern Imperial Eagles, Saker, Red-footed Falcon, Great Bustard, passage and breeding waders, Black and White-winged Terns, Short-eared Long-eared and grey phase Tawny Owls, Bee-eater, Icterine Warblers, and Collared Flycatcher. The meadows were just coming into flower and orchids – Military, Early Spider and Green-winged drew the eye. In such a late spring it was perhaps not surprising that butterflies and dragonflies were at a premium, however both Swallowtails and the first-generation Map butterfly were good sightings.

Furthermore, we witnessed the attempts to preserve and improve the local habitats using local rare breeds, including Hungarian Grey Cattle, and Zackel Sheep. We found the latest species to colonise this habitat, a pair of Common Cranes were seen on both sides of the border.’

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May 2023

‘Partnering with our friends at the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC), our May tour to southern Dorset in search of Britain’s herpetofauna was successful in finding all three native snakes: Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca), Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica) and Adder (Vipera berus) within the first hours of the tour commencing!’ writes tour leader Dan Lay. ‘Under the supervision of licensed ARC staff, Smooth Snakes were admired in the hand whilst data was collected from the individuals to aid their conservation, a privileged and much relished opportunity for the group.

Britain’s rarest amphibians, the Natterjack Toad (Epidalea calamita) and Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) were studied on exciting after-dark excursions alongside other nocturnal species including Noctule bat, Nightjar, the iridescent larvae of Bloody-nosed Beetle, Common Toad, Smooth and Palmate Newts, plus Water Scorpion and Great Diving Beetle.

In beautiful spring weather we were not only able to observe bejewelled Sand Lizards, Slow Worm and Common Lizards, but also introduced populations of Wall Lizard and Green Lizard, the latter of which the Naturetrek group made the first recorded sighting of the year for the species on the British mainland. Beautiful Demoiselle, Heath Tiger beetle, Rose Chafer, multiple Emperor Moths, Green Hairstreak, Dartford Warbler and Bearded Tit were just a selection of some of the other wildlife highlights on this superb two-and-a-half-day break.’

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Undiscovered Iceland

May 2023

'Despite some challenging weather conditions at times, our intrepid and determined "Team Undiscovered Iceland 2023" timed our excursions to mostly miss the rain and snow but had to battle through some gusty days to thoroughly enjoy the sights and sounds of this tour of a truly epic country!’ writes leader Neil McMahon. ‘Waterfalls with spray, glistening rocks and flying Fulmars greeted us as we navigated first to the east, espying an all white Arctic Fox en route (well spotted Claire) and walking paths to stand next to glaciers and their melt water lakes, moraine dumps and erratics. We listened to the constant chatter of Redwings and the bleating, chipping and drumming of countless numbers of displaying Common Snipe as we stalked through Lupins, Dwarf Willow and Silver Birch scrub.

A blue lake with icebergs, a beach strewn with 'diamond ice' boulders, larva fields adorned with mosses and lichen provided awe-inspiring views with dormant and not so dormant volcanoes and snow-capped peaks all around. An excursion to an isolated headland nature reserve provided close views of Puffin and Great Skua as we drove across a volcanic black sand desert to reach it.

Iceland and Glaucous Gulls, Purple Sandpipers and Ptarmigan, Pink-footed and Barnacle Geese were seen in numbers as we enjoyed the sight of Whooper Swans mixing with Reindeer and Icelandic horses on the green grass fields.

Stunning plumage and evocative calls – the Great Northern and Red-throated Divers breeding here take some beating; flocks of Arctic Terns called and perched all around us.

Our journey around Iceland took us to the north where we undertook a whale-watching trip which provided views of Minke and Humpback Whales and a good range of sea-birds. The wonderful Myvatn area provided a fitting climax to the tour with geo-thermal fumaroles, troll-infested larva escarpments, craters and pseudo craters and the very impressive waterfalls of Gullfoss and Dettifoss. The River Laxa proved popular with confiding Harlequin Ducks and Barrow's Goldeneye and the lake was a magnet for all things duck, Red-necked Phalaropes, gorgeous and very close Slavonian Grebes and plenty more.

Comfortable and warm hotels, an excellent road network and traditional Icelandic hospitality provided all the creature comforts we needed to fully exploit and explore the dramatic landscape and wildlife of Iceland.'

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June 2023

‘A beautiful day to explore Berry Head’s natural history!’ says leader Mike Langman. ‘Around the headland we found a Peregrine, Cirl Buntings, Whitethroats, Bullfinches, Linnet and Chiffchaffs. Botanising the southern headland, the flowers were good with very rare specialities: Small Hare’s-ear, Honewort, Small Rest-harrow (struggling in the dry weather) and White Rock-rose.

In a deep gulley Shags sat with well grown young, while the Guillemot colony held a few Razorbills and Kittiwakes. In the quarry Small Blues were the most common butterfly despite their county rarity status. Fulmars were on the ledges and we found several Rock Pipits, Swollen-thighed Beetles, Common Eel and a Lesser Whitethroat. Off the headland we saw one first-summer Mediterranean Gull and flyby Kittiwakes.

Finally, we enjoyed a visit to Gillard Road Nature Reserve to see the work being carried out for Cirl Buntings, which a pair were making use of.’

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April 2023

‘We met at Newport Wetlands on a rainy morning’ says tour leader Marcus John. ‘As we walked around the reedbeds, we heard the songs of a Whitethroat, Cetti’s Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler. On the open water we spotted a Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Little Grebe. A Marsh Harrier floated across the back of the reeds and a male Sparrowhawk flew right past us.

At the lighthouse we heard a distant Cuckoo and then the call of a Whimbrel, which we soon spotted through the scope. Around the reedbeds, we watched dozens of Swallows as they fed low in the rain. We also had good views of a male Reed Bunting.

After enjoying some hot drinks, we drove to visit the Gwent Wildlife Trust reserve. The rain was still falling, so we headed to the viewing screen which overlooks a heronry; we counted five Grey Herons and 33 Little Egrets. Afterwards, we saw a Stonechat through the scope and another Reed Bunting.

We arrived at the Goldcliff end of Newport Wetlands where we saw Marsh Harriers flying alongside Lapwings and Redshanks. We also saw other waders including Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Common Sandpiper.

The rain finally abated, and we heard another Cuckoo. So, we quickly stepped onto the nearest viewing platform and everyone viewed it through the scope. Three Common Swifts were also spotted.

We finished the day back at Uskmouth and although we did not find any new species, we did appreciate the view of the golden reedbeds as the sun finally came out!’

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