July is the equal quietest month on Severnside with only 145 species having been recorded. It does have a more optimistic feeling to it than June, with the appearance of returning waders and in recent years the regular appearance of Little Egret, Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Herring Gulls (usually towards the end of the month). Unusual species seen have included dispersing Crossbill, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Goshawk and a Stone Curlew (1999). A good July gale has yet to happen but could produce some real seabird goodies....
July 31st
A cool and wet end to the month. A morning visit to New Passage produced a juvenile and an adult Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Whimbrel, 3 Dunlin, 12 Turnstones, 5 Redshank and a Yellow Wagtail. There were 10 Ringed Plovers, 2 Oystercatchers and a Whimbrel at Severn Beach.
July 30th
A visit to New Passage produced a Black-tailed Godwit, 22 Turnstones, 20 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 10 Redshank, single Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Teal. The only reports from Severn Beach were 2 Ringed Plover, single Whimbrel, Dunlin and Oystercatcher.
July 29th
A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was found at New Passage along with 180 Black-headed Gulls, a Common Gull, 12 Redshank, 20 Turnstones, 6 Common Sandpipers, 25 Dunlin, an Oystercatcher, 3 Yellow Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail. There were 3 Lapwing, a Shoveler and 2 Lesser Whitethroats on Northwick Warth. Another 10 Common Sandpipers and a brood of 5 small Shelduck were found in Cake Pill, Aust Warth. A Grey Seal was still feeding here.
Common Sandpiper, Aust Warth 29.7.6
July 28th
One of the adult Mediterranean Gulls was seen again from New Passage along with 4 Common Sandpipers, 12 Turnstones, 13 Redshank, 21 Dunlin, single Sanderling and Oystercatcher. Other sightings of interest here
included a Clouded Yellow butterfly and a Grey Seal feeding on fish.
July 27th
The 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls remained at New Passage along with 6 Common Sandpipers, 14 Redshank, 12 Turnstones, 12 Dunlin, single Whimbrel and Hobby.
July 26th
Two moulting adult Mediterranean Gulls were seen at New Passage along with a Whimbrel, 13 Turnstones, 18 Dunlin, 12 Redshank, 3 Ravens, single Oystercatcher, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper. The only reports from Severn Beach today were 2 Common Gulls and a Clouded Yellow.
July 25th
Much of the same today with 4 Ravens, 2 Oystercatchers, 6 Lapwing, 15 Redshank, 14 Dunlin, 11 Turnstones, single Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel seen from New Passage. A Common Gull was seen at Severn Beach.
July 24th
A good selection of birds seen from New Passage included 2 Common Sandpipers, 12 Dunlin, 9 Redshank, 45 Curlew, 7 Lapwing (including a juvenile), 3 Ravens, single Oystercatcher, Whimbrel, Ringed Plover and Peregrine. There were 15 Dunlin and 60 Curlew at Severn Beach.
July 23rd
Sightings from New Passage included a Hobby, 13 Redshank, 9 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Oystercatchers, 5 Lapwing, 30 Curlew, single Common Sandpiper and Grey Wagtail.
July 22nd
Visits to New Passage produced the juvenile Mediterranean Gull, a Whimbrel, 12 Redshank, 9 Turnstones, 3 Oystercatchers, 5 Lapwing, 30 Curlew, 30 Shelduck, single Raven, Wigeon and Common Sandpiper.
July 21st
A fresh juvenile Mediterranean Gull, the female Common Scoter, 4 Redshank, 5 Turnstone, 6 Lapwing, 20 Curlew, single Oystercatcher, Wigeon and Great Black-backed Gull were seen from New Passage today.
July 20th
The female Common Scoter was seen again from New Passage along with 3 Whimbrel, a Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Turnstones, 5 Redshank, 5 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatchers, 15 Curlew and a Common Sandpiper. The only report from Severn Beach was of a single Turnstone.
July 19th
Today was the hottest recorded July day with the temperature passing 35°C. Sigthings from New Passage included the adult Mediterranean Gull, the female Common Scoter, a Common Gull, 2 Common Sandpipers, 7 Redshank, 2 Lapwing, 3 Turnstones, 20 Curlew and a Raven.
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 19.7.6
July 18th
The hottest day of the year so far with the temperature exceeding 34°C. Sightings from New Passage included an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Common Gull, the female Common Scoter, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 4 Lapwing, 20 Curlew and 3 Common Sandpipers. Severn Beach remains quiet with just 2 Dunlin, single Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher to report.
July 17th
The heatwave continued today exceeding 33°C. Sightings from Northwick Warth included an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Little Egret, a female Common Scoter, 8 Redshank, 7 Oystercatchers, 20 Curlew, 2 Lapwing and a Common Sandpiper.
July 16th
A hot day (32°C). One lucky observer flushed the first Severnside record of Quail at the Orchard Pools, Severn Beach late this morning. It could not be relocated despite a thorough search. A Hobby was also seen here. Single juvenile Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Green Sandpiper, 5 Lapwing and 5 Ravens were seen on Northwick Warth. The female Common Scoter, 7 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper and 3 Teal were seen at New Passage. Sightings from the shore at Severn Beach included 2 Ravens flying North, 2 drake Common Scoters, 2 Teal and 5 Dunlin.
Raven, Severn Beach 16.7.6
July 15th
A hot day with a North East wind produced an adult Mediterranean Gull, a female Common Scoter, 30 Curlew, 4 Raven, 4 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Lapwing, 2 Teal and 130 Shelduck from New Passage. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 2 Dunlin, a Lesser Whitethroat and 20 Sand Martins were seen at Severn Beach.
Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Severn Beach 15.7.6
July 14th
A visit to Northwick Warth produced the female Common Scoter, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, 100 Curlew, the usual 160 Shelduck, a Teal and 5 Ravens. A Little Egret was seen at the Orchard Pools, Severn Beach and a Hobby was reported at Old Passage. The drake Ring-necked Duck and Goldeneye remained on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works along with 3 Green Sandpipers.
July 13th
A fine warm day with a light North East wind produced a small number of new migrants. Sightings from New Passage included a female Common Scoter, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Redshank, 10 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 6 Oystercatchers, 120 Curlew, 4 Ravens, 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Sand Martins, 150 Shelduck and 150 Black-headed Gulls. An adult Great Crested Grebe was seen from Severn Beach.
July 12th
Typical sightings for the time of the year included 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Dunlin, 6 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwing, 21 Curlew, a Redshank, 4 Ravens and at least 160 Shelduck at Northwick Warth. Another 2 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach.
July 11th
A visit to Severn Beach produced 40 Curlew and 10 juvenile Black-headed Gulls. Sightings from New Passage included the usual 170 Shelduck, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Ravens, single Peregrine, Redshank, Lapwing and Grey Wagtail. The drake Ring-necked Duck and Goldeneye remained on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works along with 4 Green Sandpipers.
July 10th
Very little was reported today. There were just 9 Dunlin at Severn Beach, a Common Sandpiper at New Passage and 150 plus Shelduck on Northwick Warth.
July 9th
A windy day produced 2 Storm Petrels, 2 Arctic Skuas, a first Summer Mediterranean Gull and just 10 Dunlin at Severn Beach. Sightings from New Passage included 170 plus Shelduck, 60 Curlew, single Common Sandpiper, Raven and Lapwing.
Storm Petrel, Severn Beach 9.7.6
Arctic Skua, Severn Beach 9.7.6
July 8th
A distant flock of 18 Common Scoter, 17 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers and a steady passage of 300 Swifts were seen from Severn Beach. Sightings from New Passage included an adult Mediterranean Gull, 80 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Redshank, 2 Lapwing, single Green Sandpiper and Whimbrel, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, 5 Ravens and 170 Shelduck.
July 7th
Sightings from New Passage today included 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Redshanks, single Lapwing and Common Sandpiper, at least 150 adult Shelduck with 6 young, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Ravens and a Grey Wagtail. There were 4 Common Sandpipers, 6 Dunlin, 3 Oystercatchers and 80 Black-headed Gulls at Severn Beach.
July 6th
A night followed by a morning of thunderstorms and heavy rain “dropped” a few birds today. A moulting adult Sandwich Tern, 5 Common Sandpipers, 6 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 40 Curlew and 60 Black-headed Gulls were seen at Severn Beach. Another 2 Common Sandpipers and 2 Redshank were seen at New Passage along with 13 summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwits, one of which was colour ringed (orange over pale green above knee on right leg, orange above knee and red below knee on left leg). The usual 150 Shelduck and 6 Ravens were seen on Northwick Warth. Update 10/7/6: the Godwit was ringed at Thorney Island, Chichester Harbour, West Sussex on 26th June 2005 as a first summer male.
Black-tailed Godwits, New Passage 6.7.6
July 5th
Sightings from New Passage included at least 150 Shelduck, 40 Curlew, an Oystercatcher, 80 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Ravens and 7 Pied Wagtails. A high tide visit to Chittening Warth produced a distant flock of 20 “Sea Duck” (probably Scoters), 2 Grey Plover, 60 Curlew and 90 Black-headed Gulls. Ten Pyramidal Orchids were seen in Severn Beach. The drake Ring-necked Duck and Goldeneye (also known as Posh & Becks!) remained on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works along with a Green Sandpiper.
July 4th
The flock of 150 Shelduck remained on Northwick Warth with 2 Shoveler, 3 Curlew and a Lapwing. There were 4 Redshank and 2 Sand Martins at New Passage. Seven Curlew were seen at Severn Beach. At least one Red Veined Darter remained at the Orchard Pools.
July 3rd
The heatwave continued with the temperature exceeding 32°C. A Common Sandpiper was seen at New Passage. Sightings on Northwick Warth included at least 150 Shelduck, 120 Black-headed Gulls, 7 Curlew and a Redshank. At least 80 Black-headed Gulls were seen on the shore at Severn Beach. A Red Veined Darter was seen and photographed at the Orchard Pools.
Red Veined Darter, Severn Beach © Richard Mielcarek
July 2nd
An even hotter (32°C) and humid day. The Shelduck flock continued to grow at Northwick Warth with 158 adults, 6 young and the hybrid being counted. Other sightings here included at least 100 Black-headed Gulls, 8 Curlew, 2 Redshank and a Lapwing. A Red Veined Darter was seen at the Orchard Pools, Severn Beach.
Juvenile Swallows, New Passage 2.7.6
July 1st
A hot day with temperatures exceeding 29°C. A visit to New Passage produced the usual flock of 120 Shelduck, the hybrid Shelduck, single Tufted Duck and Wigeon, 10 Curlew, 2 Lapwing, a Redshank, 4 Grey Wagtails and a migrant Sand Martin. A Lesser Whitethroat was seen at the Grebe Pond, Northwick Warth.
