Page 109

June 30th
The month ended with more dismal wet weather. Sightings from Severn Beach included a tide line Manx Shearwater corpse, 15 Curlew, 12 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls and a brood of 8 young Shelduck. There were still at least 40 Shelduck, a Curlew, a Redshank, 2 Lapwings and a Kingfisher at New Passage. The drake Ring-necked Duck, female Goldeneye, 20 Tufted Ducks and 2 Pochard were seen on the square pool at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

June 29th
Sightings from New Passage today included single Hobby, Common Sandpiper, 7 Redshank, 8 Oystercatchers, 40 Curlew, 42 Shelduck, single Great Black-backed Gull and Sand Martin. There were another 36 Curlew, 8 Oystercatchers, 35 Black-headed Gulls and 30 Shelduck at Severn Beach. The drake Ring-necked Duck was reported again from Avonmouth Sewage Works.

June 28th
A brief sea watch from Severn Beach this evening produced 3 dark morph Arctic Skuas heading South West and a party of at least 15 Common Scoters. Sightings from New Passage included a Great Crested Grebe, 6 Curlew, 5 Redshank, 9 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 8 Black-headed Gulls including the first juvenile of the year, 2 Ravens and a Kingfisher. The drake Ring-necked Duck, female Goldeneye, 3 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and 3 Green Sandpipers were seen at Avonmouth Sewage Works. Two Common Spotted Orchids were found in Severn Beach.

June 27th
Sightings from New Passage included a Common Sandpiper, 5 Redshank, a Dunlin, 8 Curlew, 11 Oystercatcher, a Lapwing, 46 Shelduck and 3 Ravens. The eclipse Ring-necked Duck and a Green Sandpiper remained on the square pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

June 26th
Sightings from New Passage included a Common Tern, 15 Oystercatchers, 6 Curlew, a Great Black-backed Gull, 40 Shelduck and a Lesser Whitethroat. The drake Ring-necked Duck, female Goldeneye and 3 Green Sandpipers were seen again on the square pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

June 25th
A morning of torrential rain and and by evening an almost gale force North West wind. Sightings from New Passage included the first Common Sandpiper of the autumn, 30 Curlew, 9 Oystercatchers, a Lapwing, the drake Pintail, 46 Shelduck and a Grey Wagtail. A Turnstone, 2 Curlew, 5 Oystercatchers and another 23 Shelduck were seen from Severn Beach.

June 24th
Sightings from Northwick Warth included 13 Curlew, 16 Oystercatchers, at least 1 Lapwing, 9 Black-headed Gulls, 44 Shelduck, a singing Lesser Whitethroat and a Hobby chasing the Swallows. Three Tufted Duck were seen on the Orchard Pools, Severn Beach.

                                                                                            Hobby, Northwick Warth 24.6.7

Lapwing, Northwick Warth 24.6.7

June 23rd
The only reports from New Passage involved a Teal, a Grey Wagtail, 14 Oystercatchers, a Curlew and another 2 Shelduck broods of 2 and 5 young. The drake Ring-necked Duck, female Goldeneye and 5 Green Sandpipers were reported on the square pool at Avonmouth Sewage Works. A male Red-veined Darter was seen on the Orchard Pools at Severn Beach

June 22nd
The drake Pintail, 2 Teal, 49 Shelduck, 14 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, a Redshank and 2 Lapwings were seen from New Passage. Sightings at Severn Beach included another Redshank, 9 Curlew and 13 Oystercatchers from the shore and out of season drake Pochard at the Orchard Pools. The drake Ring-necked Duck was reported again at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

June 21st
A typical selection of birds for mid summers day. Sightings from New Passage included 8 Curlew, 14 Oystercatchers and 42 Shelduck. Another 7 Curlew, a Turnstone and 6 Black-headed Gulls were seen from Severn Beach. A brood of 8 Shelduck were reported from Chittening Warth. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

June 20th
Another quiet day with just 2 Curlew, 16 Oystercatchers and 42 Shelduck reported from New Passage. There were another 14 Curlew, 5 Oystercatchers and 20 Black-headed Gulls at Severn Beach. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

June 19th
A warm day ending in torrential rain and some impressive thunderstorms. A single Ringed Plover and 5 Oystercatchers were seen at Severn Beach. Another 16 Oystercatchers, 2 Dunlin, a Curlew, 40 Shelduck, the drake Pintail, 2 Teal and 21 Black-headed Gulls were seen from New Passage. The drake Ring-necked Duck and a female Goldeneye remained on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works where the first 2 Green Sandpipers of the year were found.

June 18th
A brief evening visit to New Passage produced just 4 Curlew, 26 Oystercatchers and 40 Shelduck. The drake Ring-necked Duck and a female Goldeneye were seen on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

June 17th
Sightings from New Passage this morning included 2 Little Ringed Plovers and the drake Pintail. Some Bee Orchids were found near Severn Beach and a Red-veined Darter was seen at the Orchard Pools.

June 16th
A visit to the shore at Severn Beach produced just 8 Dunlin. Sightings from Northwick Warth included 17 Curlew, 25 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwing, a Redshank, the drake Pintail, 20 Shelduck, singing Lesser Whitethroat, Reed and Sedge Warblers. Another Lesser Whitethroat was singing at New Passage. A Weasel was seen at the Orchard Pools.

Sedge Warbler, Northwick Warth 16.6.7

June 15th
A wet day with periods of torrential rain. No waders were seen at Severn Beach on either the morning or evening high tides. Reports from New Passage involved just 20 Oystercatchers, a single Curlew, the drake Pintail and 5 juvenile Pied Wagtails. A Peregrine was seen again at Aust Warth. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

June 14th
There were still small number of waders at Severn Beach this morning including 13 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin and 12 Curlew. Sightings from New Passage included 20 Canada Geese, the moulting drake Pintail, 2 Curlew and 15 Oystercatchers

June 13th
The only report from Severn Beach involved 13 Curlew. Sightings from New Passage included another 5 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers, 4 Lapwings, 44 Shelduck, 6 Black-headed Gulls and a Lesser Whitethroat. There were just 3 Oystercatchers, 6 Gadwall, 6 Sedge Warblers and 4 Reed Warblers reported from Chittening Warth. A single Peregrine was present at Aust Warth and a Hobby was seen here over the coast road.

June 12th
There were 5 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, 2 Curlew and a Peregrine at Severn Beach. The drake Pintail, 18 Oystercatchers, a Curlew and 2 Black-headed Gulls were seen from New Passage. It can only get better!

June 11th
Sightings from Severn Beach included a Sanderling, 16 Ringed Plovers, 5 Dunlin, 2 Curlew and a Peregrine. The drake Pintail, 2 Curlew, 6 Black-headed Gulls and a Lesser Whitethroat were seen at New Passage.

June 10th
An even hotter day with with even fewer reports. The drake Pintail remained off New Passage. There were 3 Red-veined Darters at the Orchard Pools including a mating pair.

June 9th
Few reports were received on a hot sunny day. There were 25 Ringed Plover and 6 Dunlin on the shore at Severn Beach. The drake Pintail remained off Northwick Warth with the usual Shelducks and Oystercatchers. The first Red-veined Darter of the year was seen on the Orchard Pools at Severn Beach.

                                                                                     Red-veined Darter, Orchard Pools 9.6.7
                                                                                                        © Richard Ford
June 8th
Sightings from Severn Beach included 2 Sanderling, 28 Ringed Plover, 12 Dunlin, a Peregrine, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Painted Lady butterfly. The drake Pintail remained on Northwick Warth with 22 Shelduck and 20 Oystercatchers.

June 7th
A quiet day with just 22 Ringed Plover, 11 Dunlin and 5 Curlew at Severn Beach and 3 out of season Tufted Ducks on the Grebe Pond at Northwick Warth. There was a noticeable movement of Swifts, all heading North East into the wind.

June 6th
The same weather and the same birds today including 33 Ringed Plover, 14 Dunlin and 6 Black-headed Gulls at Severn Beach. The drake Pintail was still at New Passage where single Curlew and Turnstone joined the 24 Oystercatchers and 40 Shelduck. Singing Lesser Whitethroats were still present at New Passage and the Orchard Pools. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

June 5th
A bright sunny day with a North East wind. Waders reported from Severn Beach this morning included 33 Ringed Plover and 14 Dunlin. A drake Pintail, the first June record, was found amongst the Mallard flock off New Passage late this afternoon.The usual Lapwings, 50 Shelduck and 24 Oystercatchers remained on Northwick Warth.

June 4th
Sightings from Severn Beach included 35 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin and 13 Canada Geese. There were still 4 Lapwings, 50 Shelduck, 24 Oystercatchers, 8 Black-headed Gulls, 8 Pied Wagtails and a Peregrine on Northwick Warth. A Lesser Whitethroat was still singing at New Passage. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

June 3rd
A dark morph, sub adult, Pomarine Skua was a surprise find floating off Severn Beach this morning. It flew off South West but returned later, eventually passing over the Second Severn Crossing and continuing up the river. A Hobby was also seen here and there were still 2 Sanderling, 32 Ringed Plovers and 15 Dunlin on the shore. A visit to Northwick Warth produced 4 Lapwings, 20 Oystercatchers and 40 Shelduck. A Spitfire flew low over Northwick Warth and then over the old Severn Bridge.

Spitfire, Northwick Warth 3.6.7

June 2nd
A warm, bright and sunny day. Sightings from the Severn Beach shore this morning included 2 Sanderling, 47 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, a Whimbrel and a late Wheatear. A Hobby was seen nearby at the Orchard Pools. There were 3 Lapwing, 20 Oystercatchers, 2 Ravens, 7 Black-headed Gulls and a Lesser Whitethroat on Northwick Warth. A Spotted Flycatcher and another 2 Lesser Whitethroats were present at New Passage. A Sanderling, 20 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin were still present on the evening tide. A Slow Worm and 2 Pyramidal Orchids were found at Severn Beach.

Wheatear, Severn Beach 2.6.7

June 1st
Sightings from the Severn Beach shore included 11 Sanderling, 55 Ringed Plover and 30 Dunlin. Nearby a Lesser Whitethroat, a brood of 5 young Coot and a juvenile Grey Wagtail were seen at the Orchard Pools and the first Pied Flycatcher of the year was reported from a garden in the village. A sheep carcass attracted 5 Ravens on Northwick Warth where the usual 2 Lapwings, Shelduck and Oystercatchers remained. Another Lesser Whitethroat was singing in The Glen at New Passage.