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 2010
July 31st
The moulting adult Mediterranean Gull, 350 Black-headed Gulls, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Egrets, 40 Redshank, 10 Turnstones, 3 Curlew, single Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher and Dunlin, 40 Shelduck, 40 Mallard and a Shoveler were seen from New Passage this morning. Another 11 Oystercatchers and 150 Black-headed Gulls were seen from Severn Beach. Four Common Sandpipers, 4 Redshank and 2 Peregrines were reported at Aust Warth. A Little Egret and 2 Grey Herons were still at the VOSA Pool.
Mediterranean Gull on a favourite rock, New Passage 31.7.10
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 31.7.10
July 30th
Reports from Aust Warth included 2 Whimbrel, 6 Redshank and 2 Common Sandpipers. A Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 2 Little Grebes, a pair of Mute Swans with 5 cygnets were seen at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach. Another Little Egret and 3 Grey Herons remained on the VOSA Pool.
July 29th
A moulting adult Mediterranean Gull was seen roosting with 300 Black-headed Gulls at New Passage and a Kingfisher was seen here in Chestle Pill. A Little Egret and 2 Grey Herons remained on the VOSA Pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
July 28th
Reports from the New Passage area included a Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 23 Oystercatchers, 8 Dunlin, 55 Curlew, 28 Redshank, 4 Turnstones, a Kestrel and 200 Black-headed Gulls. Nearby another 38 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Kestrel and 90 Black-headed Gulls were seen at Aust Warth. Another Little Egret was reported at Severn Beach.
July 27th
The only reports received involved 2 Ringed Plover at Severn Beach and a Little Egret at the VOSA Pool.
July 26th
A warm (23°C) and sunny day. Combined reports from New Passage involved 3 Turnstones, 30 Redshank, 15 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, 22 Oystercatchers, 130 Curlew, 700 Black-headed Gulls and a Peregrine. Nine Common Sandpipers were seen at Aust Warth where an immature Peregrine caught a Meadow Pipit from a flock of 20. A Little Egret and 6 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach and another Little Egret remained on the VOSA/Hoar Gout Pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
July 25th
Reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included 3 Common Sandpipers, a Turnstone, 9 Dunlin, 80 Curlew, 300 Black-headed Gulls, a Kestrel being mobbed by 20 Goldfinches, 5 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, a Grey Wagtail and 2 Goldcrests (only the 3rd record this year following the freezing winter). Sightings from the shore at Severn Beach included 20 Dunlin, a Sanderling, 5 Ringed Plover, 20 Oystercatchers and 100 Curlew. Nearby a Little Egret was seen on the Orchard Pools. Another Little Egret was reported on the VOSA/Hoar Gout Pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
July 24th
At least 30 Dunlin, 30 Redshank, 40 Curlew, single Lapwing and Common Sandpiper, 60 Shelduck, 200 Black-headed Gulls and a juvenile Coal Tit were seen at New Passage. Another 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Redshank and a Dunlin were seen at Cake Pill, Aust Warth and 20 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover and a Redshank were present at Severn Beach.
July 23rd
A mainly cloudy day with a north east breeze in the morning. Sightings from New Passage included 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Whimbrel, 30 Redshank, 20 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Oystercatchers, 40 Curlew, 50 Shelduck, 350 Black-headed Gulls, a Hobby, the first Wheatear of the autumn and a flyover Siskin. The 2 Black-tailed Godwits were relocated at Severn Beach in the afternoon where a Little Egret, 3 Whimbrel and 250 Black-headed Gulls were also seen. A Green Sandpiper and a Lapwing were reported from the Hoar Gout/VOSA Pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
July 22nd
A brief evening visit to New Passage in the rain produced at least 600 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Common Sandpipers, 10 Oystercatchers, 20 Curlew, 30 Shelduck and 10 Sand Martins.
July 21st
Combined reports from New Passage involved just 2 Turnstones, 32 Dunlin, 11 Redshank, 20 Oystercatchers, 4 Curlew and 40 Shelduck.
July 20th
The only reports from New Passage involved an adult Mediterranean Gull, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Common Sandpipers, 12 Redshank, 9 Dunlin and 8 Curlew. A Little Egret and 10 Oystercatchers were seen at Severn Beach. Another Common Sandpiper was reported at Chittening Warth.
July 19th
Only one adult Mediterranean Gull was reported roosting with Black-headed Gulls at New Passage today. Other reports from here involved 13 Redshank, 9 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers and a family party of 6 Ravens. Sightings from the shore at Severn Beach included a Little Egret, 9 Oystercatchers, 5 Curlew and 2 Redshank and nearby a pair of Mute Swans (with 5 cygnets), single Little Grebe and Raven were seen at the Orchard Pools. A Yellow Wagtail was seen at Cake Pill, Aust Warth.
July 18th
At least 3 (possibly 4) adult Mediterranean Gulls were seen roosting with 250 Black-headed Gulls. Four Common Sandpipers were seen in Chestle Pill here. A Green Sandpiper was seen on the VOSA pool and 6 Tufted Duck were seen on the square pool at Avonmouth Sewage Works.
July 17th
An adult Mediterranean Gull was roosting again with 200 Black-headed Gulls at New Passage where other sightings included 2 Little Egrets, 5 Common Sandpipers, 10 Redshank, 9 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, 30 Oystercatchers and 20 Curlew. Another Little Egret and a Whimbrel were seen at Chittening Warth this morning.
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 17.7.10
In just 2 days this bird has already lost some of the summer hood and developed 2 large white cheek patches.
July 16th
Another breezy day but no seabirds were reported. A Little Egret was seen flying down river from Severn Beach.
The adult Mediterranean Gull was seen again with Black-headed Gulls at New Passage where other reports involved 10 Common Sandpipers, 9 Dunlin, 12 Redshank, 30 Oystercatchers and the usual Shelduck.
July 15th
The wettest day for several months and a moderate strength south west wind. Seawatching from Severn Beach produced just 7 Fulmars, 6 Shelduck and at least 20 Dunlin. A visit to New Passage produced 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult and juvenile) roosting with 200 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Turnstones, 9 Redshank, 12 Dunlin, 30 Oystercatchers, 120 Curlew and 15 adult Shelduck.
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 15.7.10
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 15.7.10
July 14th
The adult Mediterranean Gull remained at New Passage this morning with 300 Black-headed Gulls, 9 Dunlin, 7 Common Sandpipers, 32 Oystercatchers, 8 Redshank, 140 Curlew and a Yellow Wagtail. Reports from Northwick Warth included 42 Pied Wagtails, 4 juvenile Grey Wagtails and 2 Sedge Warblers. A Common Sandpiper, 110 Black-headed Gulls, 80 Swallows and 35 Linnets were seen at Aust Warth. Single adult Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper were seen on the VOSA/Hoar Gout pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
July 13th
An adult Mediterranean Gull, 200 Black-headed Gulls, an adult Common Gull, 11 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, 60 Curlew and 20 Oystercatchers were seen from New Passage.
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 13.7.10
July 12th
Combined reports from New Passage included 3 Common Sandpipers, 8 Dunlin, 10 Redshank, 20 Oystercatchers, at least 100 Curlew, 150 Black-headed Gulls and the usual Shelduck broods. Two Little Egrets were seen at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach and a Green Sandpiper remained on the VOSA Pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
July 11th
Another warm but breezy day following an overnight rain shower. Reports from New Passage included 2 Common Sandpipers, 5 Redshank, 140 Curlew, 30 Oystercatchers, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 2 young Ravens, a steady passage of Swifts heading south and a trapping session around the Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth resulted in the ringing of amongst others, 4 Reed Warblers. Three Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher were seen at Stupp Pill, Chittening Warth.
Raven, New Passage 11.7.10
Ravens, New Passage 11.7.10
July 10th
Another warm and muggy day (24°C). Sightings from New Passage this morning included single Little Egret, Common Sandpiper and Ringed Plover, 9 Oystercatchers, 4 Curlew, 6 adult Shelduck with 45 plus ducklings(one of which was eaten by a Great Black-backed Gull), 70 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Sand Martins and a Yellow Wagtail. Reports from the Severn Beach shore involved just 6 Oystercatchers and 40 Black-headed Gulls. Two Green Sandpipers were seen on the Orchard Pools.
White-tailed Lapwing, Slimbridge WWT © Richard Ford
Many thank to Rich Ford for the image above that I was unable to take. I have heavily cropped the original.
July 9th
A warm (25°C) and humid day. The star bird was found at Slimbridge WWT (less than than 20 miles north of Severnside) in the form of a White-tailed Lapwing. Things were a lot quieter here with just 250 Black-headed Gulls (15 juveniles), a Redshank and the first Yellow Wagtail of the autumn being seen from New Passage.
July 8th
A warm, dry and mainly cloudy day. An evening visit to New Passage produced a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 60 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers and 50 Shelduck.
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 8.7.10
July 7th
A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was found roosting at New Passage this evening until it flew inland onto the hidden sewage works pools behind Chestle Pill. Other sightings from New Passage involved 4 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, a Curlew, 80 Black-headed Gulls (12 juveniles) and 48 Shelduck ducklings with 4 adults.
Juvenile and adult Black-headed Gulls with juvenile Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 7.7.10
July 6th
At least 8 Common Sandpipers, 2 Oystercatchers and 30 Black-headed Gulls were seen at New Passage this evening.
A family of Green Woodpeckers and plenty of Warblers were seen around the Orchard Pools at Severn Beach. A Kingfisher was seen in Stupp Pill at Chittening Warth and a Green Sandpiper remained on the VOSA Pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
Whitethroat, Orchard Pools 6.7.10 © Richard Ford
July 5th
Just 6 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers and 100 Black-headed Gulls (10 juveniles) and a Kingfisher were reported from New Passage. A Little Egret and another 3 Oystercatchers were seen from Severn Beach.
July 4th
A breezy day with rain by late afternoon. A visit to New Passage produced 8 Redshank, 3 Curlew, 5 Oystercatchers, at least 100 Black-headed Gulls (12 juveniles), 40 Mallard and the usual Shelducks with 40 plus ducklings. A Little Egret was seen at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach. A Green Sandpiper was reported on the VOSA/Hoar Gout Pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
Little Egret, Orchard Pools 4.7.10 © Richard Ford
July 3rd
Another quiet day. A Little Egret, a Common Sandpiper, a Turnstone, 4 Redshank, single Curlew and Oystercatcher, 90 Black-headed Gulls, 60 Mallard, 20 adult Shelduck with 45 ducklings were seen from New Passage. Just 60 Curlew and 2 Oystercatchers were seen from Severn Beach.
Common Sandpiper, New Passage 3.7.10
Little Egret, New Passage 3.7.10
July 2nd
Some overnight rain and another dry day. Sightings from New Passage involved 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Redshank, single Curlew and Oystercatcher, 45 Black-headed Gulls (10 juveniles), 60 Mallard, 30 adult Shelduck and at least 40 ducklings.
July 1st
No “daytime” reports were received. A brief evening visit to New Passage produced 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Redshank, 5 Oystercatchers, 40 Black-headed Gulls (3 juveniles), 50 Mallard and the usual Shelduck families.
