SEVERNSIDE BIRDS






























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July is the equal quietest month on Severnside with only 146 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 Egrets, Mediterranean and Yellow-legged 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 spell of strong SW or W wind usually produces a few Storm Petrels

July 2009


July 31st
A dry day followed light rain in the evening. Sightings from New Passage included 13 Common Sandpipers, 80 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, 31 Turnstones, 24 Redshank, 3 Oystercatchers, 8 Curlew, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 50 Mallard, 24 Shelduck, 3 Kestrels and a Grey Wagtail. Another 20 Redshank and 3 Common Sandpipers were seen at Aust Warth.

July 30th
A morning of heavy rain showers followed by a breezy and dry afternoon. An adult Gannet (first of the year) was seen floating up river off New Passage this morning where other sightings included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, just 80 Black-headed Gulls, 85 Dunlin, 10 Turnstones, 25 Redshank, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 10 Curlew, 23 Shelduck, 40 Mallard and 2 Swifts. A Little Egret, 2 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover and a Sanderling were seen at Severn Beach. Reports from the Avonmouth Sewage Works area included 7 Green Sandpipers, 9 Lapwing, a Great Crested Grebe, 17 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 10 Mallard, a Teal and 4 Grey Wagtails.

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                                                                               Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 30.7.9

July 29th
Another very wet day with little reported. Just 35 Dunlin, 15 Curlew, 5 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Kestrels and 4 Swifts were seen from New Passage. Three Lapwing, a Great Crested Grebe, 14 Tufted Duck and 6 Gadwall were seen in the Avonmouth Sewage Works area.

July 28th
A juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 52 Dunlin, 24 Redshank, 21 Oystercatchers, 4 Turnstones, single Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk were reported from New Passage. Single Great Crested Grebe and Green Sandpiper were the highlights from Avonmouth Sewage Works.

July 27th
Sightings from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included 3 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults & a juvenile),
300 Black-headed Gulls, 50 Dunlin, 20 Redshank, 20 Curlew and 12 Oystercatchers. Two Sanderling and 8 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach and 2 Common Sandpipers were reported at Aust Warth.

July 26th
An increasingly overcast then wet day. The highlight of the morning was 2 Wood Sandpipers at Northwick Warth that eventually south flew over New Passage. Other sightings at Northwick Warth included 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls (one with a limp), 300 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Common Sandpipers, 70 Dunlin, 3 Turnstones, 40 Redshank, 90 Curlew, 55 Oystercatchers, 3 Kestrels and a Peregrine. At least 10 juvenile Sand Martins appeared on the sluice ladder at New Passage and were being fed by adults so could have bred locally. A Sanderling, 5 Dunlin and at least 12 Swifts were seen at Severn Beach this morning.

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                                                                               Mediterranean Gull, Northwick Warth 26.7.9

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                                                                              Sand Martins and Swallows, New Passage 26.7.9

July 25th
A fine warm and sunny day. Sightings from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included 3 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults & a juvenile), 400 Black-headed Gulls, a Greenshank, at least 40 Redshank, 42 Dunlin, 6 Turnstones, a Ringed Plover, 49 Oystercatchers, 90 Curlew, 35 Shelduck, 3 Ravens, 60 Linnets and the first Yellow Wagtail of the autumn. A Whimbrel and another 5 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin and 9 Shelduck were seen at Severn Beach. At least 10 Painted Lady butterflies were observed and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was found at New Passage.

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                                                                                 Mediterranean Gull, Northwick Warth 25.7.9

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                                                                              Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 25.7.9

July 24th
A morning with torrential rain, thunder and lightning followed by a breezy dry afternoon. An adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 300 Black-headed Gulls, a Little Egret, 2 Common Sandpipers, 20 Dunlin, 10 Redshank, 30 Oystercatchers, a Turnstone, 50 Curlew and 2 Swifts were reported from New Passage. An evening sea watch from Severn Beach produced no seabirds but a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin on the 14 metre high tide.Two Little Grebes, 11 Gadwall, 17 Tufted Duck and 10 Lapwing were reported from the Avonmouth Sewage Works area.

July 23rd
Once again the New Passage/Northwick Warth area provided the most interest with 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult & juvenile), a Little Egret, 3 Common Sandpipers, 14 Redshank, 6 Dunlin, 4 Turnstones, 12 Oystercatchers, 50 Curlew and a Raven. Another adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at Aust Warth  along with 2 Common Sandpipers, 25 Redshank, 20 Dunlin and a Peregrine. The 4th Mediterranean Gull (another adult) was found at Severn Beach where the first juvenile Ringed Plover of the autumn was seen.

July 22nd
Sightings from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included an adult Mediterranean Gull, 300 Black-headed Gulls, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 150 Curlew, 20 Redshank, 21 Dunlin, 11 Oystercatchers, 4 Turnstones, 3 Common Sandpipers, an exceptional party of 8 Ravens, 2 Sand Martins and a Grey Wagtail. Five Whimbrel and 80 Black-headed Gulls were seen ay Severn Beach this evening. Two nesting Little Grebes, 22 Tufted Duck and 8 Lapwing remained in the Avonmouth Sewage Works area.

July 21st
A very wet day kept the regular observers at home. The evening shift produced a Little Egret, 200 Curlew, 30 Oystercatchers, 40 Redshank, 10 Turnstones, 50 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 250 Black-headed Gulls, a Raven, 12 Swifts and 2 Sand Martins from Northwick Warth. Another 200 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Whimbrel were seen from the shore at Severn Beach and several Swifts were seen flying up under the eaves of houses in the village so are assumed to be still rearing young.

July 20th
Four Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults, a 2nd summer and a juvenile) were a nice sight at New Passage this evening where other reports today included a Little Egret, 14 Dunlin, 6 Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper, 17 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, 10 Curlew, 250 Black-headed Gulls, 30 Shelduck and a Raven. Another 2 Common Sandpipers were seen in Cake Pill at Aust Warth. Reports from Avonmouth Sewage Works included 2 Little Grebes, 29 Tufted Duck and 8 Lapwing.

July 19th
Once again a day of strong west wind with no seabirds reported. Sightings from New Passage included a Little Egret, 2 Common Sandpipers, 5 Dunlin, 8 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, 6 Curlew, 30 Shelduck and 240 Black-headed Gulls. Three Sanderling and another 140 Black-head Gulls were seen at Severn Beach.

July 18th
The adult Mediterranean Gull, at least one Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpipers, 14 Redshank, 8 Dunlin, 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstones, 30 Shelduck, 250 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Swift were reported from New Passage. Another 2 Common Sandpipers, a Redshank and 4 Ravens were seen at Aust Warth. A visit to the shore at Severn Beach produced a Sanderling, 4 Dunlin, 5 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, at least 150 Black-headed Gulls and an adult Great Black-backed Gull that was feeding on a large dead fish. Reports from Avonmouth Sewage Works included 2 Little Grebes, 26 Tufted Duck and a Green Sandpiper.

July 17th
A very wet day with a strong North West wind. Just 15 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 10 Curlew, 3 Oystercatchers, 30 Shelduck and 300 Black-headed Gulls were reported from New Passage.

July 16th
An increasingly wet day with torrential rain showers by late afternoon. Sightings from New Passage this morning included an adult Mediterranean Gull, at least 200 Black-headed Gulls, 15 Redshank, 8 Dunlin, 2 Turnstones, 3 Oystercatchers, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Peregrine.

July 15th
A breezy day with a strong South West wind. A morning sea watch from Severn Beach produced just 2 Eider (female & immature male), 5 Common Sandpipers, a Ringed Plover and an adult Sanderling. Sightings from New Passage included a Common Sandpiper, a Ringed Plover and 3 Redshank and nearby there were 3 Whimbrel, at least 80 Curlew, 5 Oystercatchers, 300 Black-headed Gulls, the first Common Gull of the autumn, 40 Mallard, 20 Shelduck, a Peregrine, 4 Kestrels and 2 Ravens on Northwick Warth. A juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 7 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin, 25 Redshank and 14 Shelduck were seen at Aust Warth. A female Teal, 26 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Little Grebes and a Common Sandpiper were reported from Avonmouth Sewage Works.

July 14th
A day of sunshine and showers with still not a great deal to report. Two Little Egrets, 7 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, 10 Curlew, 60 Mallard, 20 Shelduck, 2 Mute Swan cygnets and 200 Black-head Gulls were reported from New Passage. Another 200 Black-headed Gulls and just 2 Oystercatchers were seen from Severn Beach.

July 13th
A Little Egret, 12 Redshank, 24 Curlew, 6 Oystercatchers, a Common Sandpiper and at least 200 Black-headed Gulls were reported from New Passage. Another 14 Oystercatchers were seen at Chittening Warth. Sightings from Avonmouth Sewage Works included 31 Tufted Duck and a Little Grebe on the square pool and another
5 Tufted Duck, 11 Lapwing, 3 Green Sandpipers and a Raven at Hoar Gout.

July 12th
A breezy day with no seabirds reported. An adult Mediterranean Gull, 400 Black-headed Gulls, a Little Egret, 10 Curlew, 4 Oystercatchers, 60 Mallard and 20 Shelduck were seen from New Passage. Two adult Peregrines and 7 Oystercatchers were seen at Severn Beach.

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                                                                                   Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 12.7.9

July 11th
A dry morning followed by a wet afternoon with little to report. A visit to Cake Pill at Aust Warth produced 6 Common Sandpipers, 12 Redshank and 14 Shelduck. Single Whimbrel, Ringed Plover and Sparrowhawk were seen at Severn Beach. A Little Egret, 5 Lapwing and 2 Green Sandpipers were seen on the Hoar Gout Pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

July 10th
Sightings from New Passage included 3 Dunlin, 8 Redshank, 10 Oystercatchers, 150 Curlew, 40 Mallard, 20 Shelduck, 250 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Ravens. A Peregrine was seen on the Second Severn Crossing at Severn Beach. Reports from Avonmouth Sewage Works included 2 Little Grebes, 31 Tufted Duck, an adult and 2 juvenile Grey Wagtails and nearby a Lapwing and a Green Sandpiper were seen on the Hoar Gout/VOSA Pool

July 9th
Sightings from New Passage involved a juvenile female Peregrine, 20 Curlew, 16 Oystercatchers, 4 Redshank, 250 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Ravens and a Grey Wagtail. Reports from Avonmouth Sewage Works included 2 Little Grebes, 31 Tufted Duck, an adult and 2 juvenile Grey Wagtails and nearby a Lapwing and a Green Sandpiper were seen on the Hoar Gout/VOSA pool.

July 8th
Sightings from Northwick Warth involved at least 200 Curlew, 18 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 18 Shelduck, 30 Mallard, 2 Ravens and a Grey Wagtail. Six Common Sandpipers and 2 Redshank were seen in Cake Pill at Aust Warth. At least 4 pairs of Swallows were feeding young on the sluice ladders at New Passage.

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                                                                                     Swallows, New Passage 8.7.9

July 7th
A day of sunshine and showers with a few more signs of autumn migration. Sightings from New Passage included a Little Egret, 7 Common Sandpipers, 7 Dunlin, 8 Redshank, 16 Oystercatchers, 18 Curlew, 2 juvenile Grey Wagtails and the usual Black-headed Gulls, Mallard and Shelduck. Two Gadwall broods were reported from Avonmouth Sewage Works.

July 6th
A day with an increasing strength west wind and rain by the evening. A female Eider (first record for 3 years) was seen on the evening tide from Severn Beach. Sightings earlier in the day from New Passage included 2 Whimbrel calling and flying south,12 Curlew, 6 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatchers, the usual Mallard and Shelduck, now just 2 Mute Swan cygnets and 2 Grey Wagtails.

July 5th
The usual 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Redshank, 11 Curlew, an Oystercatcher, 40 Mallard, 15 Shelduck, 120 Black-headed Gulls, single Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher were reported from New Passage. At least 12 Common Sandpipers, 2 Redshank and 2 adult Shelduck with 12 young were seen at Aust Warth this evening. Another 11 Common Sandpipers, 5 Lapwing, 15 Gadwall and 20 Tufted Duck were seen at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

July 4th
Sightings from New Passage included a Little Egret, a Common Sandpiper, 15 Curlew, an Oystercatcher, a Grey Heron, 2 Great Crested Grebes, a drake Tufted Duck, 20 Shelduck, 40 Mallard, 150 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Ravens. A visit to Cake Pill at Aust Warth produced 3 Common Sandpipers, 24 Redshank, 2 Curlew, a Grey Heron, 14 Shelduck, 60 Black-headed Gulls and a Marbled White Butterfly. A family party of 4 ground feeding Green Woodpeckers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, 2 Jays, a pair of Bullfinches and several fledged Reed Warblers were seen at the Sea Bank pools, Chittening Warth. A evening high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 80 Curlew, 4 Oystercatchers and 2 Grey Herons.

July 3rd
A warm and sunny day. Sightings from New Passage included 2 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, 25 Curlew, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 140 Black-headed Gulls, 40 Mallard, 15 Shelduck (including 8 ducklings), 2 Mute Swans (with 3 cygnets) and 4 Ravens.

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                                                                                        Common Sandpiper, New Passage 3.7.9

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                                                                   Little Egret, New Passage 3.7.9

July 2nd
Reports from New Passage involved 3 Common Sandpipers, 6 Redshank, 6 Curlew, an Oystercatcher, a Grey Heron, 100 Black-headed Gulls, 50 Mallard, 20 Shelduck and a Kingfisher.

July 1st    
The hot (29°C) and humid weather continues. A Kingfisher, 100 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Grey Herons, 5 Curlew, 10 adult Shelduck (plus 2 broods of 8 ducklings), 60 Mallard and a family party of Reed Warblers were seen at New Passage. Reports from Avonmouth Sewage Works involved 10 Tufted Duck and a Cetti’s Warbler at the Square Pool and 10 Gadwall, single Green Sandpiper and Lapwing on Hoar Gout/ VOSA pool.