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September 2007

September is one of the most exciting months to visit Severnside. The total of 179 species seen at least once in this month, is the third highest in the year. It is the time when most of the summer visitors will depart and a good selection of early winter visitors will arrive towards the end of the month. The weather can be very changeable, rain and gale force winds are likely, but calm warm days will also occur. Any West or South West gales will produce the usual seabirds but the more exotic have occurred; Sooty Shearwater (1974), Balearic Shearwater (1988), Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull. Other rarities that have appeared in September include; Red-crested Pochard (2 in 1996), Honey Buzzard (1996), Dotterel (1974), Kentish Plover (2006), White-rumped Sandpiper (1985), Pectoral Sandpiper (1998 and 2006), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (1989, 2003), Terek Sandpiper (1986),  Red-rumped Swallow (1977), Wryneck (2003) and Rose-coloured Starling (2004). Local rarities have included Osprey, Nightjar (2006), Hawfinch (1998), Willow Tit (1992), Nightingale (1999) and Ring Ouzel (2001).

September 30th
The grey sky and cool North East breeze continued. Northwick Warth had the more interesting sightings with single Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Little Stint, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit and Little Egret, 35 Redshank, 40 Turnstones, 100 Dunlin, 40 Oystercatchers, 22 Wigeon, 3 Wheatears, a Whinchat and 2 fly over Redpolls. Reports from Severn Beach included 20 Dunlin, 120 Curlew, a Peregrine, 3 Stonechats, 2 Blackcaps and a Whitethroat. A Little Egret was seen from Aust Warth and once again there was a noticeable passage of Swallows and Martins into the wind.

                                 
                                                                 Stonechat, Severn Beach 30.9.7

September 29th  
An overcast morning with a light North East wind and an almost 14 metre high tide produced some interesting birds. Sightings from the flooded Northwick Warth included a Spotted Redshank, 2 Ruff, a Little Stint, a Jack Snipe, at least 100 Dunlin, 4 Knot, 8 Grey Plover, 30 Redshank, 50 Turnstones, 60 Curlew, a Lapwing, 5 Snipe, 50 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, a Common Tern, 17 Wigeon, 150 Teal, a Wheatear and 2 Peregrines (one of which caught and ate a Teal). The falling tide at Severn Beach produced 20 Dunlin, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Ringed Plover and an adult Peregrine. A Common Sandpiper was flushed off the beach here on the after dark high tide. There were many Swallows, House Martins and a few Sand Martins streaming by in a North East and East direction. A Kingfisher was seen at Chittening Warth. The drake Ring-necked Duck was still on the square pool at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

                                      
                                                               Spotted Redshank, Northwick Warth 29.9.7

September 28th
Another cool day with a North East wind. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included a 1st winter Little Gull swimming in the pill at New Passage, a Little Egret, 24 Redshank, 52 Oystercatchers, 4 Lapwing, single Grey Plover and Snipe, 17 Wigeon, a Redpoll and a Wheatear. The Little Stint remained on the shore at Severn Beach where 7 Ringed Plover, 55 Dunlin and a Stonechat were also seen. There were 19 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler and a Pintail on the Orchard Pools. Another Stonechat was seen on Aust Warth.

September 27th
A cool day with a fresh North East wind. Reports from the Severn Beach shore included an adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Gulls, 70 Dunlin, 30 Turnstones, 5 Ringed Plover and a Wigeon. Nineteen Gadwall remained nearby on the Orchard Pools. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included 30 Redshank, 30 Oystercatchers, 60 Turnstones, 7 Dunlin, single Lapwing, Wheatear, Kingfisher and Siskin. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained on the square pool at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

September 26th
Sightings from Severn Beach shore included a Little Stint, 3 Ringed Plover, just one Dunlin, a Great Black-backed Gull and a Stonechat. Nearby, there were 19 Gadwall and 2 Shoveler at the Orchard Pools. A Little Egret, 7 Knot, 30 Redshank, 40 Oystercatchers and a Kingfisher were reported from New Passage. The drake Ring-necked Duck was still on the square pool at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

September 25th
The first Little Stint of the year was found at dusk on Severn Beach. Other reports from Severn Beach today included an Arctic Tern, 50 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, 30 Turnstones, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Wheatears and a Peregrine. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included a Little Egret, 2 Knot, 40 Turnstones, 20 Oystercatchers, 30 Redshank, 160 Teal, 12 Wigeon, 8 Wheatears and a Whinchat. A Raven was seen at Aust Warth.
                           
                                
                                                                Little Stint, Severn Beach 25.9.7

September 24th
A windy day that produced less than hoped for. Sightings from Severn Beach included single Manx Shearwater, adult Mediterranean Gull and adult Kittiwake, 4 Common Terns, a Pintail, 8 Knot, 17 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, 40 Oystercatchers and 70 Curlew. Two Little Egrets, 7 Oystercatchers, 12 Wigeon, 3 Wheatears and a Peregrine were reported from New Passage. The drake Ring-necked Duck was back on his square pool at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

                             
                                                                                  Manx Shearwater, Severn Beach 24.9.7

September 23rd
A day of showers and a moderate South wind. Sightings from Severn Beach included a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, just 7 Dunlin, 30 Turnstones, 55 Oystercatchers, 80 Curlew, 9 Shelduck, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 13 Wheatears,  a Whinchat and a steady passage of Swallows, House Martins and a few Sand Martins heading South East. Reports from the New Passage area  included an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Little Egret, 49 Redshank, 24 Oystercatchers, 70 Turnstones, 2 Pintail, 6 Wigeon, a Peregrine and another 3 Wheatears.

September 22nd
A dry and settled day but there was only a 9.5m high tide keeping most waders distant. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included the juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, 7 Dunlin, a Knot, 21 Redshank, 6 Turnstones, 6 Oystercatchers, 3 Pintail, 5 Wigeon, a Common Gull and 6 Wheatears. A visit  to the shore at Severn Beach produced 2 Knot, 120 Curlew, 30 Oystercatchers, 60 Turnstones and another 15 Wheatears. Nearby, there were 23 Gadwall on the Orchard Pools. A Whinchat was reported from Aust Warth.

September 21st
A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, just 9 Dunlin, 5 Knot, 58 Redshank, 140 Turnstones, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Wigeon and 2 Grey Wagtails were seen from New Passage. The only reports from Severn Beach involved 19 Gadwall and 2 Shoveler at the Orchard Pools.

September 20th
A wet and breezy day that produced no seabirds. An adult Mediterranean Gull and a Bar-tailed Godwit were seen at New Pill, Chittening Warth. Between the downpours, 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and 9 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach. Sightings from New Passage included 110 Turnstones, 55 Redshank, 15 Oystercatchers, 8 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Wigeon, 90 Teal, a Wheatear and a Grey Wagtail. A Hobby was seen over Old Passage.

September 19th
A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 130 Turnstones, 5 Dunlin and 3 Grey Wagtails were seen from New Passage. Two Little Egrets were seen on Northwick Warth along with 2 Pintail, 30 Redshank and 6 Knot. Another 9 Knot and a Peregrine were reported from Severn Beach.

September 18th
A  cooler and fresher day. Just one juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 100 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 5 Knot and a Wheatear were reported from Severn Beach. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included 2 Little Egrets, 60 Redshank, 90 Turnstones, 5 Dunlin, 2 Knot, 9 Wigeon and a Grey Wagtail.

September 17th
Three juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 250 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover and a Knot were seen from the shore at Severn Beach and 11 Gadwall were seen at the Orchard Pools. There were 50 Redshank, 120 Turnstones, a Snipe, 5 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, a Wheatear, 3 Grey Wagtails and a Yellow Wagtail  reported from New Passage and Northwick Warth.

September 16th
A fresher day with a noticeable South West wind. Sightings from Severn Beach included 6 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 200 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover and a Wheatear. There were 2 Little Egrets, 3 Knot, 140 Turnstones, at least 120 Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, 9 Wigeon, 80 Teal and 3 Grey Wagtails at New Passage.

September 15th
A good selection of migrants were found around the Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth including a Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Whinchats, single Tree Pipit, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 2 Whitehroats, 6 Blackcaps and 3 Chiffchaffs. A white headed and white bodied Buzzard and 2 Little Egrets were also seen on Northwick Warth. Three juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 200 Dunlin, 18 Ringed Plover and a Peregrine were seen at Severn Beach. A Hobby was seen over New Passage.                                          

                                                  
                                                                      Pale Common Buzzard, Northwick Warth 15.9.7
                                                        
September 14th
A cloudy and fresher day with a decrease in wader numbers. There were just 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 200 Dunlin and 16 Ringed Plovers at Severn Beach. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included a Little Egret, 120 Turnstones, 54 Oystercatchers, 10 Wigeon, 2 Wheatears and a Kingfisher. A Hobby caught a Swallow at Old Passage.

September 13th
A misty dawn followed by another bright sunny and hot day. Sightings from Severn Beach included a 1st winter Little Gull flying up river, at least 7 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 450 Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plover, 3 Wheatears and a Tree Pipit. Two Little Egrets, 5 Knot, 50 Redshank, 122 Turnstones, 20 Oystercatchers, 10 Wigeon, 4 Wheatears, 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Kingfishers were seen from New Passage. Northwick Warth produced some surprise migrants in the form of 2 Tree Sparrows and a roosting Short-eared Owl. Two Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.

                        
                                                                     juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 13.9.7

                              
                                                                                 Little Egrets, New Passage 13.9.7
                              
                              
                                                                          Short-eared Owl, Northwick Warth 13.9.7

September 12th
Yet another dry and warm day. At least 6 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 450 Dunlin and 30 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach this morning. Two Little Egrets, 80 Turnstones, 50 Redshank, 30 Oystercatchers, 7 Wigeon, single Kingfisher, Lesser Whitethroat and Grey Wagtail were seen from New Passage.

September 11th
Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included 2 Little Egrets, 9 Knot, 50 Redshank, 30 Oystercatchers, 7 Wigeon, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, single Kingfisher, Whitethroat and Garden Warbler. The evening high tide produced at least 5 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, a very flighty flock of 500 Dunlin and 60 Ringed Plover, 210 Curlew, 45 Oystercatchers and a Bar-tailed Godwit at Severn Beach.

September 10th
The settled warm weather continues and almost identical birds reported today. The adult and 4 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Knot, 700 Dunlin, 70 Ringed Plover and a Little Egret were seen at Severn Beach this morning. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included another Little Egret, 150 Teal, 7 Wigeon, 5 Knot, 50 Redshank, 33 Oystercatchers, 110 Turnstones, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Wheatear. The drake Ring-necked Duck reappeared at Avonmouth Sewage Works after a brief visit to Portbury Wharf and 2 Ravens were also seen here.

September 9th
The evening wader flock at Severn Beach was subjected to a lot of disturbance from anglers and day trippers but at least 5 Curlew Sandpipers (a moulting adult & 4 juveniles), 2 Knot, 700 Dunlin and 80 Ringed Plover were seen. Other reports from Severn Beach included a Wheatear, a Lesser Whitethroat and 22 Shelduck. Sightings from New Passage included a Bar-tailed Godwit, 9 Knot, 85 Turnstones, 7 Wigeon, at least 90 Teal and a Kingfisher. A Hobby was watched hunting amongst a mixed flock of 400 Swallows and House Martins above Old Passage.

September 8th
Sightings from the Severn Beach shore included at least 4 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 350 Dunlin, 70 Ringed Plover, 50 Turnsones (recently nearly all of the waders have been roosting on the rocky beach, 200 yards south of the Second Severn Crossing),  2 Little Egrets, 41 Oystercatchers and 6 Gadwall. Another 18 Gadwall and a Shoveler were seen nearby at the Orchard Pools. Two Mediterranean Gulls (adult & 1st winter), another Little Egret, 11 Knot, a Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Snipe, a Peregrine, 2 Ravens and a Redstart were seen from New Passage and Northwick Warth.

                       
                                                                              juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 8.9.7

September 7th
Another warm and sunny day. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included 10 Knot, 55 Redshank, 14 Oystercatchers, 2 Wigeon, a Shoveler, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, a Common Gull, 3 Wheatears, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, a Whitethroat, 2 Grey Wagtails and 2 Kingfishers. An evening visit to Severn Beach produced 3 Little Egrets and a distant mixed flock of at least 350 Dunlin and Ringed Plover on the shore. Single Garden Warbler, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat were seen in the coastal scrub here. The drake Ring-necked Duck was reported again at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

September 6th
The adult Mediterranean Gull, 10 Knot, a Black-tailed Godwit, 52 Redshank, 50 Turnstones, 4 Snipe, 2 Wigeon, 2 Wheatears, 3 Grey Wagtails and a Kingfisher were reported from New Passage and Northwick Warth. Sightings from Severn Beach included a Little Egret, 220 Dunlin, 80 Ringed Plover and 45 Turnstones.

September 5th
The warm and settled weather continues. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included the adult Mediterranean Gull roosting with 140 Black-headed Gulls, 9 Knot, 66 Redshank, 80 Turnstones, 95 Teal, 2 Wigeon, a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Willow Warblers and 3 Grey Wagtails. There were 180 Dunlin, 80 Ringed Plover, 4 Little Egrets and a Peregrine from the shore at Severn Beach and 11 Gadwall were seen at the Orchard Pools. The drake Ring-necked Duck was reported again at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

            
                                                              Adult Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 5.9.7                                           

September 4th
A warm and sunny day. A 1st winter Guillemot was an unusual find at New Passage considering the weather. It was seen resting on the shore at low tide, eventually floating off as the tide came in and watched preening. Other sightings from here and Northwick Warth included 3 Knot, 50 Turnstones, 52 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 10 Snipe, a Wigeon, a Common Gull, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, single Kingfisher, Yellow Wagtail and Wheatear. There were 150 Dunlin, 60 Ringed Plover, a Knot and 2 Little Egrets at Severn Beach. Another Kingfisher, a Common Sandpiper and 18 Redshank were reported from Aust Warth.

September 3rd
A slight drop in number and variety today. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included a Greenshank, 2 Knot, 52 Redshank, 80 Turnstones, 18 Oystercatchers, a Common Gull, 8 Yellow Wagtails, a Kingfisher and a Wheatear. There were 240 Dunlin, 60 Ringed Plover and 12 Turnstones roosting on the rocks above the Severn Tunnel at Severn Beach. The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

September 2nd
A  cloudy day with a South West breeze. A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper remained at Severn Beach where 300 Dunlin, 70 Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, a Common Gull and a Wheatear were also seen. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included 2 Greenshank, 7 Knot, single Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper and Little Egret, 100 Turnstones, at least 50 Oystercatchers, 60 Redshank, 50 Curlew, a Wigeon, 40 Teal,10 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Grey Wagtails and 5 Lesser Whitethroats. Another Little Egret, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Peregrine were seen at Aust Warth. The drake Ring-necked Duck has returned to the Square Pool at Avonmouth Sewage works after his tour of Barrow Gurney Reservoirs and Portbury Wharf since mid July.

                                 
                                                                             juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 2.9.7
          
                                    
                                                              Tufted and Ring-necked Duck, Avonmouth Sewage Works 2.9.7  
                                                                                      
September 1st
Sightings from Severn Beach on the falling tide included 2 Curlew Sandpipers (juvenile & moulting adult) and a mobile flock of at least 160 Ringed Plover and 320 Dunlin. There was a better variety of birds at New Passage and Northwick Warth including an adult Golden Plover, single Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Knot, 2 Common Sandpipers, 9 Snipe, 66 Oystercatchers, 70 Turnstones, 50 Redshank, 80 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 60 Teal, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Yellow Wagtails, single Whinchat, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail. A Black-tailed Godwit, 35 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Whinchat were reported from Aust Warth.