May is the third most productive month of the year with at least one individual of 182 species being seen. The summer migrants continue to move through including Garganey, Hobby, Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher, more Terns and Skuas with the chance of Pomarine. “Small” wader numbers should rise during the month with Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and the chance of a Curlew Sandpiper or Little Stint. Rarer records include Subalpine Warbler (2004), Bee-eater (2007), Spoonbill (1998), Honey Buzzard (1991), Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Kentish Plover (2004), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (1990), Temminck’s Stint (2004), Broad-billed Sandpiper (1988), Franklin’s Gull (1984), Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull, Roseate Tern (1990) and White-winged Black Tern (1990).
May 2010
May 31st
Two Ravens were seen near the Second Severn Crossing and the first brood of local Swallows was seen in Severn Beach.The usual array of species were reported from Northwick Warth including Buzzards, a Little Grebe and summer visitors including Sedge Warbler, Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Swifts. The evening high tide produced just 2 Ringed Plover at Severn Beach. Never mind, things will improve by August.
May 30th
Reports today involved just 4 Dunlin on the Severn Beach shore and Little Grebe, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk, a Garden Warbler, Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroat nearby at the Orchard Pools. A Peregrine was seen from New Passage. It would seem the June doldrums have arrived early.
May 29th
A wet morning and a breezy afternoon. Combined reports from Severn Beach involved 3 Sanderling, 13 Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin, 3 Curlew, a Little Egret, 12 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, a Hobby, a Peregrine and a Spotted Flycatcher. A morning high tide visit to Aust Warth procuced just 20 Shelduck, 20 Mallard and a Curlew.
May 28th
An even quieter day with just 11 Ringed Plover, 7 Dunlin and 7 Oystercatchers reported from Severn Beach. Another 15 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, 30 Shelduck and 40 Mallard were seen from New Passage.
May 27th
The only reports on a breezy evening at Severn Beach involved 3 Sanderling, 40 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin.
May 26th
A Red Kite was seen flying over the wader roost at Severn Beach at 06.55. It headed off north west towards the Welsh end of the Second Severn Crossing. Other reports from Severn Beach involved 14 Sanderling, 65 Ringed Plover, 29 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 2 Oystercatchers, single Whimbrel, Turnstone, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine, 12 Shelduck and 21 Black-headed Gulls.
May 25th
Sightings from Severn Beach included 2 Grey Plover, 18 Sanderling, 90 Ringed Plover and 70 Dunlin. A Yellow Wagtail and 2 Ravens were reported at Chittening Warth this morning and a Cetti’s Warbler was heard at Hoar Gout near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
Grey Plover, Severn Beach 25.5.10
Grey Plover, Severn Beach 25.5.10
May 24th
The heat wave continued. The Severn Beach high tide wader roost contained at least 24 Sanderling, 80 Ringed Plover, 90 Dunlin and a Turnstone. Just 75 Shelduck and 15 Oystercatchers were reported from Northwick Warth.
Sanderling, Severn Beach 24.5.10
May 23rd
The warmest day of the year so far with the temperature reaching 27°C. Reports from Severn Beach over the afternoon high tide included 3 Arctic Terns, 13 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Whimbrel, 5 Sanderling, a Turnstone, 50 Ringed Plover and 80 Dunlin.
Turnstone, Severn Beach 23.5.10
Broad-bodied Chaser, Severn Beach 23.5.10 © Allan Chard
May 22nd
Another scorcher of a day with swimmers and sunbathers. Away from the tourists at Severn Beach sightings included 2 Knot, 5 Sanderling, 2 Whimbrel, 60 Ringed Plover, at least 80 Dunlin, a Turnstone and 3 Black-headed Gulls (most of the waders were roosting on the rocky beach just below the Second Severn Crossing). The only reports from New Passage involved 80 Shelduck, 32 Mallard, a Curlew and 20 Oystercatchers.
Dunlin and Sanderling, Severn Beach 22.5.10
Dunlin and Sanderling, Severn Beach 22.5.10
May 21st
Another warm day (25°C). At least 100 Shelduck, 20 Oystercatchers and a Curlew were seen from New Passage. A Wheatear, 4 Reed buntings, 2 Reed Warblers and 2 Ravens were seen at Aust Warth this morning.
May 20th
An increasingly warm day. Sightings from Severn Beach over the afternoon high tide included 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Sanderling, 50 Dunlin and 30 Ringed Plover. The resident 40 Shelduck and 20 Oystercatchers remained on Northwick Warth.
May 19th
The only reports involved a mixed flock of 50 Dunlin and Ringed Plover at Severn Beach and 40 Shelduck and 20 Oystercatchers from New Passage.
May 18th
Sightings from Severn Beach included 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 70 Dunlin, 45 Ringed Plover and a Whimbrel. An evening low tide visit to New Passage produced an impressive 101 Shelduck and 34 Oystercatchers. Another Little Grebe chick was seen on the VOSA Pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works,
May 17th
A dry day. The only reports from New Passage involved a Whimbrel, 4 Dunlin, 25 Oystercatchers and 70 Shelduck.
At least 40 Ringed Plover and 50 Dunlin were seen from the shore at Severn Beach and nearby the first Little Grebe chick of the year was seen on the Orchard pools.
May 16th
A breezy day with frequent rain showers. Another quiet day with just 2 Whimbrel, 9 Dunlin and 4 Ringed Plover reported from Severn Beach. A visit to New Passage produced 25 Turnstones, single Dunlin, Whimbrel and Curlew, 28 Oystercatchers, 30 Shelduck and 2 Wheatears. A Cuckoo was seen on a roadside fencepost at Aust Warth this morning.
A female Marsh Harrier was seen at Avonmouth Sewage Works this afternoon.
May 15th
Reports from Severn Beach involved 2 Sanderling, 30 Ringed Plover, 45 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 4 Oystercatchers, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 12 Shelduck and a Gadwall. A Cuckoo and a Wheatear were reported from New Passage.
May 14th
It remains quiet with just 24 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 5 Oystercatchers and a Peregrine reported from Severn Beach. Another Whimbrel, a Turnstone, 34 Oystercatchers, 40 Shelduck and 9 Black-headed Gulls were seen from New Passage.
Ringed Plover, Severn Beach 14.5.10
Dunlin, Severn Beach 14.5.10
May 13th
At least 24 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover, single Turnstone, Wheatear and Peregrine were seen at Severn Beach. A baby Grass Snake was found here this evening.
May 12th
An evening visit to Northwick Warth produced 6 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers, a Common Sandpiper, 40 Shelduck, at least 30 Swifts and 3 Sand Martins. The only reports from Severn Beach involved 15 Ringed Plover and 5 Dunlin.
May 11th
The only reports received from Severn Beach involved 2 Whimbrel, 24 Dunlin and 19 Ringed Plover. The usual 50 Shelduck and 20 Oystercatchers were seen from New Passage.
May 10th
The first Cuckoo of the year was heard at Severn Beach this morning. A brief high tide visit to the shore at Severn Beach this evening produced just 5 Whimbrel, 22 Dunlin and 21 Ringed Plover. At least 4 Wheatears were seen from New Passage.
May 9th
A late afternoon visit to the shore at Severn Beach produced a flock of 25 “Commic” Terns (probably Arctic), 7 Whimbrel, a summer plumaged Sanderling, 75 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, 6 Oystercatchers, 14 Shelduck, a drake Gadwall, a Yellow Wagtail and at least 70 Swift heading north east.
May 8th
A day with a cool north east wind and rain showers. Sightings from the Severn Beach shore included a Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel, 8 Oystercatchers, 40 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover and 20 Shelduck. A brief visit to Northwick Warth produced a Little Egret, 7 Whimbrel, 24 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plover, 60 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 5 Wheatear and 6 Swifts.
Bar-tailed Godwit, Severn Beach 8.5.10
May 7th
Despite the “low” (just 9.3m) high tide a few waders were seen from Severn Beach this afternoon including 2 summer plumaged Grey Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 8 Oystercatchers, 25 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover. Other sightings here included a Whinchat and 2 Swifts.
Grey Plover, Severn Beach 7.5.10
May 6th
A day with a north east wind with rain showers and a hint of some migration. Sightings from Northwick Warth included 50 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 8 Whimbrel, 20 Oystercatchers, a Peregrine, 4 Wheatears, a male Yellow Wagtail, a White Wagtail, 6 Sand Martins, 2 Swifts, a flyover Redpoll and 2 flyover Siskins. Another 5 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 12 Oystercatchers, 13 Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin, a Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 20 Shelduck, a Black-headed Gull and a Peregrine were seen at Severn Beach. Another 2 Wheatears, 2 Gadwall and 6 Sedge Warblers were reported from Chittening Warth,
May 5th
Another quiet day, spring migration seems to be suffering from the equivalent of constipation at the moment! Combined reports from Severn Beach involved 11 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 15 Dunlin, 8 Oystercatchers, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 26 Shelduck, 2 Peregrines, a Wheatear and 2 flyover Yellow Wagtails. The only reports from Northwick Warth involved 40 Shelduck, 20 Oystercatchers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Swift.
May 4th
A cream crowned Marsh Harrier eventually flew east from Severn Beach at 12.35 after initially being watched flying up the middle of the river from the south west. Other reports from here involved 14 Arctic Terns, 16 Black-headed Gulls, 9 Whimbrel, 8 Oystercatchers, a single Dunlin, 5 Wheatears and a Swift. Another 11 Whimbrel, 28 Oystercatchers, 40 Shelduck, 4 Lesser Whitethroats and the first Hobby of the year were reported from Northwick Warth.
Whimbrel, Severn Beach 4.5.10
May 3rd
A dry and cool day with a north wind produced 11 Whimbrel at Chittening Warth and 10 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, a Wheatear and 3 Swifts reported from Severn Beach.
May 2nd
Little improvement with a wet morning and a strong north east wind. Reports from Severn Beach involved just a Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Ringed Plover, 24 Dunlin, a Peregrine, a Wheatear and at least 40 Swifts.
May 1st
A very quiet start to the month. The only reports from Severn Beach involved 6 Whimbrel, just 2 Dunlin, 40 Black-headed Gulls and a single Wheatear. Another 2 Whimbrel, 80 Shelduck, 20 Black-headed Gulls and a Swift were seen from New Passage and a session of mist netting on Northwick Warth this afternoon resulted in the ringing of 4 Reed Warblers.
