Description
The new reedbeds, saline lagoons and wet grasslands have already attracted a wealth of wetland birds including internationally important number of overwintering lžičák pestrý and ostralka štíhlá with numbers of hvízdák eurasijský and čírka obecná rapidly approaching the same level of importance. Other wintering wildfowl include kopřivka obecná, polák velký and hohol severní, with the occasional polák kaholka.
bukač velký may be seen at the Uskmouth Reedbeds in winter along with moták pilich and kalous pustovka. Up to 50,000 špaček obecný use the reedbeds to roost in winter.
The scrub around the reedbeds has cetie jižní which are resident all year, a recent survey revealed around 70 singing males! Also rákosník obecný and rákosník proužkovaný in summer along with a few cvrčilka zelená in the reedbeds through the summer. A good number of pěnice pokřovní are found around the hedgerows during the summer and are joined passage rehek zahradní, rehek domácí, bramborníček hnědý and flycatchers during the spring an autumn.
Details
Access
By car, join the A48 at either junction 24 or 28 of the M4. Follow the A48 until you come to the Spytty Retail Park roundabout. Exit onto the A4810 Queensway Meadows. At the first roundabout take the third exit onto Meadows Road and follow the brown tourist signs to the reserve. By bike, Sustrans National Cycle Network route 4 has a branch to Newport Wetlands using existing roads. The car park has a covered cycle stand. By bus, number 63 bus from Newport city centre goes to the visitor centre, is a demand responsive service.
Note: the car park is accessed thru a rising barrier, exit requires a token obtained at the visitor centre, free to RSPB members, chargeable to non-members (£5.50 as at June 2025). Car park is locked at 5pm, so don't get caught. There's limited roadside parking and pedestrian access isn't controlled.
