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August 2007

Following two of the quietest months of the year, August can be an interesting month with a total of 167 species having been recorded during this month. The numbers and variety of waders increase, as do the numbers of migrating warblers, Whinchat and Wheatears. Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls are expected. Rarities in August have included Slavonian Grebe (1996), Red Crested Pochard (1998), Goshawk, Osprey, Sabine’s Gull, Kentish Plover, White-rumped Sandpiper (1995, 2001), Wryneck (1976,1984 and 2003) and Red-backed Shrike (2003).

August 31st
The month ends on the same theme. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included the Mediterranean Gull, 6 Knot, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 85 Turnstones, 40 Oystercatchers, 50 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 2 Ringed Plover, 7 Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail and a Kingfisher. A Little Egret and a mixed flock of 250 Dunlin and Ringed Plover were reported from Severn Beach.

August 30th
The adult Mediterranean Gull was seen again from New Passage where other sightings included a Little Egret, 60 Turnstones, 45 Oystercatchers, 150 Curlew, 15 Knot, 50 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 9 Shelduck, 2 Peregrines, a Hobby, a Wheatear and 3 Yellow Wagtails. A Greenshank  and 3 Snipe were seen on Northwick Warth. There were just 60 Ringed Plover, 50 Dunlin and a Wheatear at Severn Beach this morning.

                               
                                                                              Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 30.8.7

August 29th
The wader numbers at Severn Beach dropped today with just a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and a mixed flock of 150 Ringed Plover and Dunlin reported. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included a Little Egret, 10 Knot, 200 Curlew, 47 Redshank, 70 Turnstones, 35 Oystercatchers, 19 Snipe, single Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Pintail, Raven and Kingfisher, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 3 Sedge Warblers. A Whinchat was seen at Aust Warth where a flock of at least 200 Swallows were seen heading into the North East wind.

August 28th
Sightings from Severn Beach included 2 Curlew Sandpipers (juvenile & moulting adult), 250 Ringed Plover, 250 Dunlin, 12 Knot, single Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Little Egret and 2 Peregrines. Reports from New Passage and Northwick Warth included a Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper, 50 Redshank, 75 Turnstones, 40 Oystercatchers, 13 Knot, a Hobby, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Yellow Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail.

                              
                                                    Moulting adult Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 28.8.7  © John Martin

August 27th
Sightings from Severn Beach included the juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 12 Knot, at least 340 Ringed Plover, 260 Dunlin, 40 Turnstones, 2 Little Egrets and 3 Common Terns. A few migrants were found  here including a Grasshopper Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, several Whitethroats and a Kingfisher. Reports from New Passage and Northwick Warth included 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 70 Redshank, 50 Turnstones, 19 Snipe, a Wheatear, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Yellow Wagtail.

                    
                                               Ringed Plover and juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 27.8.7
                                 A record shot of the first Curlew Sandpiper this year. Taken at over 60 metres
                                            range with just a 400mm lens. I am sure there will better images in the next month.

August 26th  
Dawn and dusk high tides at Severn beach Severn Beach  produced a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 25 Knot, 500 Ringed Plover, 200 Dunlin, a Sanderling, a Whimbrel, a Black-tailed Godwit, 150 Curlew, 15 Oystercatchers and a Wheatear. At least 10 Blackcaps and a few Whitethroats were found in the scrub here. Sightings from Northwick Warth included a Greenshank, 9 Snipe, 75 Redshank, a Raven, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 2 Sedge Warblers. There were 3 Common Sandpipers, a Kingfisher and 2 Peregrines at Aust Warth.

August 25th
A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, the first of the year, was reported at Severn Beach where 3 Little Egrets, 15 Knot, a Sanderling, at least 300 Ringed Plover and 100 Dunlin were also seen. Sightings from New Passage included a first winter Kittiwake, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 50 Redshank and a few other migrants including, a Jay, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Coal Tit, 2 Tree Pipits, 8 Yellow Wagtails and a Lesser Whitethroat.

August 24th
Another hot day, perhaps summer has arrived! Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included an adult Mediterranean Gull, the usual Redshanks, Oystercatchers and  Turnstones, single Greenshank, Knot, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper, 80 Teal, the Pintail, a Hobby, a Kingfisher, 3 Wheatears, 8 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Grey Wagtails. Two Little Egrets and a distant wader flock of 12 Knot, 120 Ringed Plover and 70 Dunlin were seen from Severn Beach

August 23rd
A warm, sunny day with a light North wind. A reasonable selection of birds were seen from New Passage and Northwick Warth including 3 Greenshank, a Whimbrel, a Green Sandpiper, a Knot, a Common Sandpiper, 38 Redshank, 28 Oystercatchers, 40 Curlew, 60 Turnstones, 7 Snipe, 40 Teal, the first 6 Wigeon of the autumn, a Pintail, 6 Wheatears, 8 Yellow Wagtails amongst the cattle, a Kingfisher, a Garden Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat. There were 170 Ringed Plovers, 80 Dunlin, 13 Knot, a Sanderling, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Whitethroats and a Whinchat at Severn Beach.

        
                                                                              Yellow Wagtails, Northwick Warth  23.8.7

August 22nd
A sunny day with the wind still from the North. Sightings from the shore at Severn Beach involved 270 Ringed Plovers, 150 Dunlin, 17 Knot, 18 Turnstones, a Peregrine and a Wheatear. Nearby, at least 4 Small Red-eyed Damselflies remained at the Orchard Pools. Another 3 Wheatears, a Peregrine, 26 Oystercatchers and 2 Little Grebes were reported from Chittening Warth. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included a Little Egret, 37 Redshank, 12 Snipe, 18 Oystercatchers, a Knot and 9 Canada Geese. A Redstart was seen near Avonmouth Sewage Works at Hoar Gout.

August 21st
Sightings from New Passage this morning in a brisk North wind included 11 Knot, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 37 Redshank, 18 Oystercatchers, a Common Sandpiper, 66 Teal, single Grey Wagtail and Great Black-backed Gull. There were 180 Ringed Plover, 150 Dunlin, 50 Turnstones, a Knot and a Whimbrel at Severn Beach. Two Green Sandpipers and a Hobby were seen at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

August 20th
The 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull was seen again from Severn Beach along with 400 Ringed Plover, 200 Dunlin, 55 Turnstones and a Sanderling. A visit to New Passage and Northwick Warth produced single Little Egret, Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit, 18 Knot, 30 Redshank, 65 Turnstones, 20 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Pintail, 2 Common Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, a Wheatear, a Grey Wagtail and 3 Lesser Whitethroats.

August 19th
A 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull was seen early morning off Severn Beach. The wader numbers increased on the falling tide to at least 450 Ringed Plovers, 250 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel and 2 Sanderling. Other reports from here included a Redstart, a Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Wheatear. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth involved a Greenshank, 18 Knot (17 juveniles, 1 adult), 3 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, 80 Turnstones, 25 Oystercatchers, 31 Redshank, 5 Ringed Plover, 4 Snipe, a Pintail, 34 Teal, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Sand Martins, at least one Redstart (male), 7 Chiffchaffs, 6 Whitethroats, 3 Garden Warblers, 9 Blackcap, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Sedge Warblers and 3 Reed Warblers.

August 18th
A moderate strength Southerly wind followed by heavy rain by late morning. The first 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (1st winter & adult) of the year were found on the shingle island off Severn Beach. Other reports from Severn Beach included 240 Ringed Plover, 170 Dunlin, a Knot, a Sanderling, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 4 Whitethroats. Sightings from New Passage included 16 Knot, a Sanderling, a Whimbrel, 4 Common Sandpipers, 27 Redshank, 22 Oystercatchers, a Green Sandpiper, 20 Teal, a Pintail, a Hobby, a Kingfisher and 2 Garden Warblers. A Little Egret, 12 Snipe and 4 Yellow Wagtails were seen at the flash on Northwick Warth.

       
                                                                                     Ringed Plovers, Severn Beach 18.8.7

                           

                                                                        Juvenile Dunlin, Northwick Warth  18.8.7  © Richard Ford

August 17th
Almost a repeat of yesterday. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included single Ruff, Greenshank, Whimbrel and Grey Plover, 60 Curlew, 6 Common Sandpipers, 15 Knot, 85 Turnstones, 22 Oystercatchers, 24 Redshank, 19 Snipe, 12 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover and a Wheatear. There were 250 Ringed Plovers, 150 Dunlin, 3 Whimbrel, a Sanderling and 8 Canada Geese from the shore at Severn Beach. Nearby a Hobby and at least 7 Small Red-eyed Damselflies were seen at the Orchard Pools.

August 16th
A drier and brighter day. A morning visit to the shore at Severn Beach  produced 200 Ringed Plover, 150 Dunlin, 4 juvenile Knot, 3 Whimbrel and a Sanderling. Sightings from New Passage included 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Common Sandpipers, 29 Redshank, 22 Oystercatchers, 70 Turnstones, 4 Ringed Plover, just 3 Dunlin, 4 Knot, 25 Teal, 500 Black-headed Gulls, a Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail. An evening visit to Northwick Warth produced  a Ruff, a Greenshank, 27 Snipe and another Yellow Wagtail on the flash. A Little Egret was seen at Aust Warth. There were 2 Small Red-eyed Damselflies at the Orchard Pools, Severn Beach.

                                             
                                                                                             Knot, Severn Beach 16.8.7

                               
                                                                                         Ruff, Northwick Warth  16.8.7

August 15th
Another day of showers. A Knot, 4 Common Sandpipers, 80 Turnstones, 38 Oystercatchers, 26 Redshank, 8 Canada Geese, a Pintail, a Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail remained viewable from New Passage. There were 5 Sanderling, 150 Ringed Plover and 150 Dunlin at Severn Beach.

August 14th
A wet and unsettled day produced a reasonable selection of birds. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included a moulting adult Knot, 2 Common Sandpipers, 8 Redshank, 52 Oystercatchers, 60 Turnstones, 12 Ringed Plover, 42 Snipe, 295 Curlew, single Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Whimbrel, 8 Canada Geese, 20 Shelduck, 10 Teal, a Pintail and 2 Yellow Wagtails. The Severn Beach wader roost contained 150 Ringed Plover and 100 Dunlin.

August 13th
Reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included 2 Knot, 4 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, 23 Redshank, 22 Oystercatchers, 35 Snipe, 72 Turnstones, 3 Ringed Plover, at least 10 Teal, a Pintail, 2 Shoveler, a Redstart, 2 Garden Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, a Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warblers, single Yellow Wagtail and Grey Wagtail. At least 110 Ringed Plover, 90 Dunlin a Wheatear and a Peregrine were seen at Severn Beach. Another Lesser Whitethroat and a Stoat were reported from Chittening Warth.

August 12th
Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included 40 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpipers, 73 Turnstones, 27 Redshank, 10 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plover, single Green Sandpiper, Hobby, Wheatear, Kingfisher  and 4 Yellow Wagtails. Waders at Severn Beach included 100 Ringed Plover, 100 Dunlin, 40 Turnstones and 2 Whimbrel.

August 11th
A misty start to the day followed by hot sunny weather. Two Common Terns, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 62 Turnstones, 10 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, a high early autumn count of 27 Snipe, 26 Teal, a Kingfisher, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Wheatear, a Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Sedge Warblers, 5 Reed Warblers and a Garden Warbler were seen from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area. Reports from Severn Beach included 90 Ringed Plover, 60 Dunlin, 8 Turnstones, 3 Common Sandpipers and 2 Redshank from the shore, a Redstart in the railway hedge and at least 16 Small Red-eyed Damselflies at the Orchard Pools. Another 3 Common Sandpipers were found at Aust Warth. A Honey Buzzard was seen a few hundred metres off the “patch”, flying East over Aust Village.

August 10th
Reports from New Passage included 2 Common Sandpipers, 45 Turnstones, 4 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, 5 Oystercatchers, a Kingfisher, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Garden Warbler. There were still 110 Ringed Plovers, 80 Dunlin, 20 Turnstones and a Greenshank from the shore at Severn Beach and at least 5 Small Red-eyed Damselflies were seen at the Orchard Pools.

August 9th
Another warm and sunny day. Sightings from New Passage included a Common Sandpiper, 24 Redshank, 10 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin, 5 Turnstones, 16 Oystercatchers, a Yellow Wagtail and a Kingfisher. Another 2 Yellow Wagtails, 20 Pied Wagtails, a Wheatear,  2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Garden Warbler were seen on Northwick Warth. The afternoon wader roost at Severn Beach contained at least 110 Ringed Plover, 70 Dunlin, 35 Turnstones and a juvenile Knot.

August 8th
The weather and birds remain much the same. The adult Mediterranean Gull, 16 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, 13 Dunlin, 6 Turnstones and a Wheatear were seen from New Passage. A Whimbrel and 2 Yellow Wagtails were found on Northwick Warth this evening. There were 97 Ringed Plover, 70 Dunlin and a Knot on the shore at Severn Beach and a Small Red-eyed Damselfly was seen nearby at the Orchard Pools.

August 7th
Another warm and settled day. Sightings from New Passage included the adult Mediterranean Gull, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpipers, 30 Turnstones, 33 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 24 Redshank, 17 Oystercatchers and 5 Teal. Wader numbers at Severn Beach increased to 63 Ringed Plover, 50 Dunlin and 40 Turnstones. Sightings from Chittening Warth included a Greenshank on the foreshore, 2 Reed Warblers and some well grown Little Grebe chicks on the pool near Stupp Pill. Five Green Sandpipers were reported from Avonmouth Sewage Works.

August 6th
The adult Mediterranean Gull, 300 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Common Sandpipers, 21 Redshank, 40 Turnstones, 17 Oystercatchers, 35 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, a Kingfisher, a Yellow Wagtail and 2 Wheatears were seen from New Passage. A Green Sandpiper was found on the pools on Northwick Warth this evening. Another 16 Ringed Plover and 10 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach.

August 5th
The hottest day for months with temperatures exceeding 27°C. Sightings from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included the adult Mediterranean Gull, at least 5 Common Sandpipers, 20 Redshank, 70 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plovers, a Pied Flycatcher, 3 Yellow Wagtails, a Wheatear, several Common Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Hobby and the first Coal Tit of the year.The only reports from Severn Beach involved single Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Whimbrel and several Common Whitethroats.

                          
                                                                                     Ringed Plover, New Passage 5.8.7

August 4th
Sightings from New Passage included 80 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpipers, 21 Redshank, 20 Oystercatchers, 6 Snipe and 2 Yellow Wagtails. The adult Mediterranean Gull was feeding with Black-headed Gulls in a mowed hay field on Northwick Warth where other sightings included a Whimbrel, 3 Ravens, single Redstart and Sedge Warbler. Reports from Severn Beach included 20 Dunlin, 18 Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Whimbrel and a Wheatear.

                       
                                                                      Mediterranean Gull, Northwick Warth 4.8.7      

August 3rd
The adult Mediterranean Gull remained at New Passage along with the summer plumaged Grey Plover, 4 Common Sandpipers, 70 Dunlin, 9 Ringed Plover, 9 Redshank, 50 Turnstones, 24 Oystercatchers, 2 Teal, 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Sand Martins, 2 Wheatears and a Peregrine. Another 2 Peregrines and 2 Ringed Plovers were seen at Severn Beach.

August 2nd
An adult Mediterranean Gull, summer plumaged Grey Plover, 6 Common Sandpipers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 70 Dunlin, 24 Oystercatchers, 42 Turnstones, 6 Redshank, a Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Lesser Whitethroats were seen at New Passage. Another Wheatear was seen at Severn Beach.

August 1st
A good selection of bird were seen to start the month. Sightings from New Passage included 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult & juvenile), 6 Common Sandpipers, 70 Dunlin, 31 Redshank, 45 Turnstones, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Wheatear and a Garden Warbler. A Little Owl and a Hobby were reported from Northwick Warth. A Wheatear and a Peregrine were seen from the shore at Severn Beach. Two Small Red-eyed Damselflies were seen nearby at the Orchard Pools.