June is usually 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. June has had some rarities including Red Kite (2006, 2010), Franklin’s Gull (1988) and Alpine Swift (1999).
June 2011
June 30th
A warm and sunny day. Two Little Egrets, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Turnstones, 8 Redshank, at least 100 Black-headed Gulls and a Raven were seen from New Passage.
June 29th
Combined reports from New Passage involved a Mediterranean Gull, at least 100 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Redshank, 4 Curlew, 8 Turnstones and a Raven. Another 30 Black-headed Gulls, 60 Curlew and a Redshank were seen from Severn Beach.
June 28th
An evening visit to Severn Beach produced at least 80 Curlew, 9 Oystercatchers and 35 Black-headed Gulls. At least one Common Sandpiper and 40 Black-headed Gulls were seen at New Passage.
June 27th
A humid day with an influx of birds. A first summer Mediterranean Gull, 50 Black-headed Gulls including 4 juveniles, 11 Turnstones, at least 5 Common Sandpipers, 3 Redshank, 3 Curlew, 9 Oystercatchers and a Little Egret were seen from New Passage late afternoon. Another 10 Black-headed Gulls were seen from the sea wall at Severn Beach. Another 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Redshank and a pair of Shelduck with 17 young were seen at Aust Warth.
Little Egret, New Passage 27.6.11
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 27.6.11
June 26th
A sweltering 28°C day with little reported. A Little Egret, 7 Black-headed Gulls, single Curlew and Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
June 25th
A breezy and cloudy day. Three Common Sandpipers, a Redshank, 4 Curlew, 5 Oystercatchers, 5 Black-headed Gulls and the usual ducks were seen from New Passage this morning.
June 24th
A late afternoon visit to New Passage produced 3 Redshank, 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Ravens and the usual Shelduck and Mallard flocks.
June 23rd
A breezy day with sunshine, rain and hail showers. A female Redstart was another surprise find for the time of year in a hedge on Northwick Warth where 2 Ravens, 8 Curlew, 3 Oystercatchers and the usual flocks of Shelduck and Mallard were also seen. Just 7 Turnstones and 2 Black-headed Gulls were reported from Severn Beach.
Shelducks, Northwick Warth 23.6.11
June 22nd
Just 70 Shelduck, 55 Mallard, 3 Curlew and 2 Oystercatchers were reported from New Passage.
juvenile Green Woodpecker, Honda Pools near Avonmouth Sewage Works
22.6.11 © Mike Pruett
June 21st
A pair of early returning Little Ringed Plovers were found on the shore at New Passage this evening where the only other sightings were of 4 Curlew, 35 Shelduck. 50 Mallard and 4 Black-headed Gulls.
Little Ringed Plover, New Passage 21.6.11
June 20th
Combined reports from Severn Beach involved a Little Egret at the Orchard Pools and 6 Turnstones, single Redshank and Raven from the shore. At least 14 adult Shelduck (plus 6 ducklings), 32 Mallard, 3 Oystercatchers, 14 Curlew, 2 Cormorants, 3 Grey Herons and 2 Ravens were reported from the New Passage area.
June 19th
The only report was of an adult Dunlin at Severn Beach.
June 18th
A wet and windy day. A flock of at least 150 Manx Shearwaters were pushed close to shore at Severn Beach this morning by some squally showers. A Wheatear was a surprise find on the tide line here where at least 30 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Curlew and an Oystercatcher were also seen. A Little Egret was reported at New Passage.
Manx Shearwaters, Severn Beach 18.6.11
Wheatear, Severn Beach 18.6.11
An unusual mid June record
June 17th
A brief visit to New Passage in the rain produced 11 Turnstones, a Dunlin, 4 Curlew, 4 Oystercatchers, a Black-headed Gull, 70 Mallard and 30 Shelduck. A party of at least 40 Swifts were feeding over the railway scrub at Severn Beach.
June 16th
An afternoon visit to New Passage produced at least 50 Shelduck, 19 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Oystercatchers, a Curlew and 2 Ravens. A single Dunlin and an adult Kittiwake were seen at Severn Beach in a moderate south west breeze.
June 15th
Single Little Egret, Curlew, Oystercatcher and Raven and the usual 60 Shelduck were reported from New Passage.
June 14th
A brief afternoon visit to New Passage produced just the usual 60+ Shelduck with 2 broods of ducklings, 70 moulting Mallard and a single Curlew.
June 13th
A Little Egret was seen at Severn Beach.
June 12th
A very wet day.Just 3 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover were reported from Severn Beach. Of possible interest 8 Snow Geese of unknown origin arrived at Slimbridge today. Wild birds would still be on the move and arriving in their Canadian arctic breeding grounds. I must dust off my old notes and video of 5 timid/unringed Snow Geese seen to land on Northwick Warth on a similar date of 7th June 2001.
June 11th
A fine sunny day. Sightings from the Orchard Pools at Severn Beach included a Little Egret, evidence of breeding success including a family of 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Coot broods, a young Little Grebe and several Reed Warbler broods. At least 12 Turnstones were seen roosting on the Shaft Beach at Severn Beach. The usual flock of Shelduck and 2 Ravens were seen at New Passage.
June 10th
Just 45 adult Shelduck (with 8 ducklings) and a single Oystercatcher were reported from New Passage.
June 9th
No reports were received today.
June 8th
Just 9 Turnstones and a brood of at least 8 Shelduck ducklings were seen in a brief visit to New Passage.
June 7th
Another Red Kite was reported early afternoon today at Severn Beach from the coast road over the M49. A trip to the north east of the country produced this fine specimen.
White-throated Robin, Hartlepool, Cleveland 7.6.11
This first summer female was found yesterday; the first English record
June 6th
At least 40 Shelduck (plus a new brood of 7 ducklings), 50 Mallard, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, 3 Turnstones and a family group of 4 Ravens were seen from New Passage. An adult Little Grebe and a well grown chick were seen on the Orchard Pools at Severn Beach.
June 5th
Another cool day due to the north east wind. Combined reports from New Passage involved a Little Egret, 5 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, 6 Turnstones, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Black-headed Gulls, 30 Shelduck and a juvenile Grey Wagtail.
June 4th
A dry day with a strong north east wind. Sightings from Severn Beach involved just 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 12 Curlew, 20 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Common Gulls and an adult Great Black-backed Gull.
June 3rd
An even warmer day (25°C). Just 11 Dunlin and 4 Ringed Plover were reported this afternoon at New Passage. A Barn Owl was seen again this evening just south of Severn Beach. Another Red Kite was seen just outside the patch this morning, drifting low over the Old Aust Service building towards the bridge at 9am.
Ringed Plover, New Passage 3.6.11
June 2nd
A warm (23°C) and sunny day. A late afternoon visit to New Passage produced 30 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover, 7 Curlew, at least 60 Shelduck and 6 Black-headed Gulls. Another 5 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover and 11 Black-headed Gulls were seen from the shore at Severn Beach and nearby a Little Egret was seen on a pool at the Western Approach distribution park.
June 1st
A flurry of late spring waders with at least 7 Sanderling, 170 Dunlin and 70 Ringed Plover at Severn Beach this evening and another 20 Ringed Plover and 30 Dunlin at New Passage where a Cuckoo was heard calling in The Glen this morning.
