June is the quietest month on Severnside with a total of only 146 species seen. It is the month to do those jobs at home unless any strong West or South West winds occur. This weather can produce a good selection of seabirds including Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Fulmar and Storm Petrel. The first parties of young Shelduck appear. June has had some rarities including Red Kite (2006), Franklin’s Gull (1988) and Alpine Swift (1999).
June 2009
June 30th
A humid end to the month. A Little Egret, 11 Curlew, 6 Oystercatchers, 120 Black-headed Gulls, 70 Mallard, 25 Shelduck and 2 Ravens were seen at Northwick Warth. Another Little Egret, 4 Grey Herons and 120 Black-headed Gulls were reported from Severn Beach.
June 29th
A hot and humid day following heavy rain early morning. Two Little Egrets were seen on a shingle island off Severn Beach, one of which flew north over Severn Beach railway platform. The first 2 Common Sandpipers of the autumn were seen at New Passage where other sightings included a Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, 7 Oystercatchers, 3 Curlew, 60 Mallard, 30 Shelduck and 140 Black-headed Gulls. Another 3 Grey Herons, 16 Gadwall, a Lesser Whitethroat and a few Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers were reported from Chittening Warth. Reports from Avonmouth Sewage Works included a Great Crested Grebe, 10 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Ducks, 4 Grey Herons, a Cetti’s Warbler and 3 Lesser Whitethroats.
June 28th
A Little Egret flew up river at Severn Beach being seen later at Northwick Warth where 9 Oystercatchers, 150 Black-headed Gulls, 70 Mallard, 35 Shelduck and 3 Mute Swan cygnets were also seen.
June 27th
A hot day with little to report. Just 100 Black-headed Gulls, 9 Oystercatchers, 30 Shelduck and 80 Mallard were seen from New Passage. Two Peregrines were seen on the Second Severn Crossing at Severn Beach.
June 26th
A warm and wet day. Sightings from Northwick Warth included a Little Egret, 11 Curlew, 9 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank, 70 Mallard, 35 Shelduck, a Little Grebe, 100 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Ravens, 2 Siskins, several pairs of Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers feeding young and 6 Sand Martins. A Kingfisher was reported from New Passage.
Reed Warbler, Northwick Warth 26.6.9
June 25th
A dry day with a moderate strength north east wind. Sightings from New Passage involved 2 Little Egrets, a Redshank, 12 Oystercatchers and 200 Black-headed Gulls (including 2 juveniles). Another 50 Black-headed Gulls (with 2 juveniles), 70 Curlew and a Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
June 24th
The dry and settled weather continues. An influx of at least 150 Black-headed Gulls (including 2 juveniles) were seen from New Passage along with 20 Curlew, a Redshank, 10 Oystercatchers, 80 Mallard, 40 Shelduck, 2 Mute Swans with just 3 surviving cygnets. Another 30 Black-headed Gulls (one juvenile) and 3 Ringed Plovers were seen from Severn Beach.
June 23rd
A warm and sunny mid summers day with signs of autumn migration. Sightings from Northwick Warth included a Little Egret, 110 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 12 Oystercatchers, 50 Black-headed Gulls (including the first juvenile of the year), 40 adult Shelduck (plus 2 broods of 9 ducklings), 110 Mallard, 2 Mute Swans (with 5 cygnets) and 9 Sand Martins. A Lesser Whitethroat remained at New Passage. Reports from Severn Beach involved 3 Ringed Plovers and 4 Black-headed Gulls.
Curlew, Northwick Warth 23.6.9
June 22nd
The usual Mallard and Shelduck flocks, 2 Redshank, 3 Curlew, 6 Oystercatchers, 7 Black-headed Gulls were seen from New Passage where at least 25, mainly juvenile Swallows were waiting on the sluice ladders to be fed. Four Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, a Curlew, 5 Black-headed Gulls and 7 Shelduck ducklings were reported from Severn Beach. Reports from Avonmouth Sewage Works included a Great Crested Grebe, 10 Gadwall, 14 Tufted Ducks, a Cetti’s Warbler, 4 food carrying Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat and a few Reed Warblers.
June 21st
A Little Egret, 13 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, a Reed Bunting and a Sparrowhawk were reported from Aust Warth. The large Mallard flock, 23 Shelduck, 6 Oystercatchers, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Ravens and 5 Mute Swan cygnets were seen from New Passage. A pair of Shelduck and 7 half grown ducklings and 2 Curlew were seen at Severn Beach.
June 20th
The only reports received involved 25 Curlew and 4 Oystercatchers at Severn Beach this evening and a Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Oystercatchers and 3 Black-headed Gulls at New Passage this morning.
June 19th
A Little Egret, 10 Oystercatchers, at least 100 Mallard and 27 Shelduck were reported from New Passage.Just 4 Ringed Plovers were seen at Severn Beach. The two young Kestrels were seen on the nest this morning but one had flown by the afternoon.
June 18th
A dry and breezy day. Sightings from New Passage involved the large gathering of Mallard, 25 Shelduck, 6 Oystercatchers and 2 Black-headed Gulls. Another 3 Black-headed Gulls and 4 Ringed Plovers were seen at Severn Beach.
June 17th
A dry start to the day followed by rain showers and a moderate strength south west wind. A brief early evening visit to Severn Beach produced a dark form Arctic Skua chasing a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Little Tern, single Curlew and Black-headed Gull. Sightings from New Passage included 30 Shelduck and a new brood of 8 ducklings (total of 34 ducklings from 4 broods so far), at least 100 Mallard, 7 Oystercatchers and 4 Black-headed Gulls. Two Great Crested Grebes, a Little Grebe, a drake Teal, 28 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall and 2 Cetti’s Warblers were reported from Avonmouth Sewage Works.
June 16th
The quiet spell continues. Sightings from New Passage involved a 3rd summer Great Black-backed Gull eating a large fish, 4 Ravens and at least 15 Shelduck. The only reports from Severn Beach involved 12 Oystercatchers from the estuary and 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers at the Orchard Pools.
June 15th
A Redshank, 7 Oystercatchers and the usual Shelduck were reported from New Passage. Another 14 Oystercatchers, 6 Black-headed Gulls and a Peregrine were seen at Severn Beach. Two young Kestrels remained in their nest. At least 6 Reed Warblers and 3 Sedge Warblers were reported from Chittening Warth. Reports from Avonmouth Sewage Works included a Little Grebe, 14 Gadwall, 13 Tufted Duck and 2 Cetti’s Warblers.
June 14th
A warm and sunny day. A Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlew, 7 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 25 Shelduck and 80 Mallard were seen from New Passage. Another Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Ringed Plover, a Curlew, a Peregrine and a pair of Shelduck with 9 young were seen from Severn Beach.
June 13th
Just 6 Ringed Plover and the Shelduck brood were reported from Severn Beach. At least 20 Reed Warblers, 9 Sedge Warblers, 2 male Reed Buntings, a female Pheasant with 4 young were reported from Chittening Warth. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard at Avonmouth Sewage Works.
June 12th
Even less of the same was reported today with a few Shelduck and Oystercatchers present off New Passage and the brood of 9 Shelduck ducklings were still present at Severn Beach. Two Great Crested Grebes, 24 Tufted Duck,10 Gadwall and 3 Cetti’s Warblers were reported from Avonmouth Sewage Works.
June 11th
Just 6 Ringed Plover, 9 Dunlin, 6 Shelduck and a Peregrine were reported from Severn Beach. The usual 20 Shelduck and 16 Oystercatchers were seen from New Passage.
June 10th
Another quiet day with just 27 adult Shelduck (plus 2 broods) and 2 Curlew reported from Northwick Warth. There were another 4 Shelduck (plus brood of 9), 30 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin at Severn Beach.
June 9th
Sightings from the shore at Severn Beach include 36 Ringed Plover, 14 Dunlin and an adult Shelduck with a brood of 9 ducklings. At least 20 adult Shelduck (plus at least 15 ducklings), 3 Canada Geese, a Little Egret, 17 Oystercatchers, a Curlew, 2 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Ravens were seen at Northwick Warth. Two Great Crested Grebes, a Little Grebe, 10 Tufted Duck and 2 Cetti’s Warblers were reported from Avonmouth Sewage Works. At least 5 Painted Ladies were seen at New Passage.
Shelduck, Northwick Warth 9.6.9
June 8th
Sightings from New Passage included 25 Shelduck (plus 2 broods of 8 & 7 ducklings), 5 Canada Geese, 17 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew and a Sparrowhawk. At least 30 Ringed Plover, 14 Dunlin and a Black-headed Gull were seen from Severn Beach and 2 Peregrines were seen here on the Second Severn Crossing. Another 2 Peregrines were seen at Sea Bank Power station Chittening Warth. At least 2 young Kestrels were found today. Two Red-veined Darters were seen again at Hoar Gout near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
June 7th
A day of mixed weather with sunshine and torrential rain showers. At least 30 Ringed Plover, 12 Dunlin, a Curlew and 12 Shelduck were seen from Severn Beach. Sightings from New Passage involved 3 Little Egrets, 17 Oystercatchers, 3 Black-headed Gulls, 20 Shelduck and 2 Ravens.
June 6th
A morning with heavy rain resulted in few reports today. Sightings from Severn Beach included 70 Ringed Plover, 16 Dunlin, a Curlew, 4 Shelduck, 2 Black-headed Gulls and a Great Black-backed Gull. The usual 25 Shelduck and 15 Oystercatchers remained on Northwick Warth.
Ringed Plover and Dunlin, Severn Beach 6.6.9
June 5th
A cooler day with heavy rain showers by early evening. The only reports involved 4 Ravens, 30 Shelduck and 15 Oystercatchers at Northwick Warth and 30 Ringed Plover and 10 Dunlin at Severn Beach.
June 4th
Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were a pleasant and surprising find this evening at Severn Beach. Both birds had rings on their left legs and eventually flew off South East. Other sightings from Severn Beach included 35 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, 6 Shelduck and a Black-headed Gull. A Lesser Whitethroat,15 Oystercatchers and 25 Shelduck were reported from New Passage. At least 5 Red-veined Darters and an Emperor Dragonfly were seen at Hoar Gout near Avonmouth Sewage Works this afternoon.
Mediterranean Gulls, Severn Beach 4.6.9
Mediterranean Gulls, Severn Beach 4.6.9
June 3rd
The only reports from Northwick Warth involved 13 Oystercatchers and 30 Shelduck. A Little Grebe, 12 Shelduck, 33 Mallard, 2 Oystercatchers, a Peregrine, a Lesser Whitethroat, several Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers were reported from Chittening Warth. Sightings from Avonmouth Sewage Works included 13 Tufted Duck, 14 Gadwall, a Kingfisher and 2 Cetti’s Warblers.
June 2nd
Another scorcher of a day. An evening visit to Northwick Warth produced 17 Oystercatchers, 35 Shelduck plus the brood of 9 ducklings, several young Skylark, a singing Reed Bunting, Coot with young, Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers carrying food and at least 10 Painted Ladies. Just 6 Black-headed Gulls were seen from Severn Beach. A Cetti’s Warbler remained at Chittening Warth. At least 10 Red-veined Darters were still at Hoar Gout and a Red-eyed Damselfly found at the Orchard Pools was the first recorded at this site
Shelduck, Northwick Warth 2.6.9
June 1st
The hottest day of the year so far (27°C). Three Ravens, 17 Oystercatchers, 15 Black-headed Gulls, the usual Shelduck flock and the brood of 9 ducklings were seen from New Passage.The only report from the shore at Severn Beach involved 2 Canada Geese. A Cetti’s Warbler was still present at Chittening Warth. A Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 9 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, a Cetti’s Warbler, several Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers were reported from Avonmouth Sewage Works and at least 10 Red-veined Darters were seen nearby on the Hoar Gout/VOSA pool.
