Following two of the quietest months of the year, August can be an interesting month with a total of 169 species having been recorded during this month. The numbers and variety of waders increase, as do the numbers of migrating warblers, Yellow Wagtails, Whinchat and Wheatears. Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls are expected. Rarities in August have included Slavonian Grebe (1996), Red Crested Pochard (1998), Goshawk, Osprey, Sabine’s Gull, Kentish Plover, White-rumped Sandpiper (1995, 2001), Grey Phalarope, Wryneck (1976,1984,2003 and 2010), Marsh Warbler (2009) and Red-backed Shrike (2003).
August 2011
August 31st
A quieter day with just a single Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Sanderling, 3 Turnstones, 30 Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, 35 Curlew, 6 Grey Herons, 40 Pied Wagtails and a Wheatear reported from Severn Beach.
Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 31.8.11 © Tony Scott
August 30th
Combined reports from Severn Beach on the morning and evening tides involved 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Knot, 4 Sanderling, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Turnstones, 100 Ringed Plover and 65 Dunlin. Reports from the New Passage area included 3 Teal, 26 Oystercatchers, 22 Turnstones, 17 Redshank, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Grey Wagtails, 27 Pied Wagtails, 2 Wheatears, 35 Linnets, a Sand Martin and 40 Swallows. An influx of 19 Wigeon, 9 Redshank, single Wheatear, Raven and Green Woodpecker were seen at Aust Warth this morning.
Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 30.8.11 © Matt Plenty
August 29th
Reports from Severn Beach involved a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 2 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Sanderling, 2 Whimbrel, a Little Egret, 120 Ringed Plover, 65 Dunlin, a Turnstone, 25 Oystercatchers, 110 Curlew, a Wheatear and a Peregrine.
Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 29.8.11 © Rich Andrews see CVL Birding
Sanderling, Severn Beach 29.8.11
Sanderling, Severn Beach 29.8.11
August 28th
A dry morning with torrential rain showers in the afternoon. Morning and evening high tide visits to Severn Beach produced a juvenile/first winter Mediterranean Gull, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 6 Sanderling, 4 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers. 2 Whimbrel, 4 Curlew, 150 Ringed Plover, 80 Dunlin, 2 Turnstones, 4 Wheatears, a Garden Warbler, single flyover Tree Pipit and 5 Ravens. Reports from the Orchard Pools at Severn Beach involved a Gadwall, 5 Mute Swans, single Green Woodpecker and Sparrowhawk. The usual Little Egret, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 60+ Redshank, 20 Oystercatchers, 300 Black-headed Gulls, a Wigeon, 19 Teal, 10 Wheatears, 14 Yellow Wagtails, 50 Linnets, a Spotted Flycatcher, 11+ Blackcaps, 10 Whitethroats, 2 Sparrowhawks and 2 Ravens were seen in the New Passage area. Two Common Sandpipers, a Wheatear and 2 Green Woodpeckers were seen at Aust Warth this evening.
Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 28.8.11 © Vic Savery
Wheatear, New Passage 28.8.11 © Vic Savery
August 27th
A breezy day. Morning and evening high tide visits to Severn Beach produced 3 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 2 juvenile Knot, 2 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Sanderling, 2 Whimbrel, 4 Curlew, 95 Ringed Plover, 70 Dunlin, 3 Turnstones, a Little Egret, a Wheatear and a fly over Tree Pipit. Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area involved a Little Egret, 6 Knot, 2 Common Sandpipers, 70 Redshank, 15 Oystercatchers, a Ringed Plover, 19 Teal, a Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Whinchats, 7 Wheatears, at least 20 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Pied Wagtails, 3 Grey Wagtails, 2 Ravens, 2 Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk. A pair of Little Grebes with 3 young were reported on the VOSA Pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
Little Ringed Plover, Severn Beach 27.8.11
Sanderling, Severn Beach 27.8.11
Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 27.8.11
August 26th
An increasingly wet and breezy day. A morning visit to New Passage produced a Wigeon, 20 Teal, a Little Egret, 60 Redshank, 20 Turnstones and 2 Kingfishers. A wet late afternoon visit to Severn Beach produced a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, a Golden Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plover (scarce here in autumn), 2 Sanderling, a Whimbrel, 55 Ringed Plover, 5 Turnstones, at least 10 Dunlin, a Little Egret and a Wheatear.
August 25th
A few migrants but still no small waders moving through. Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area involved a Little Egret, a Common Sandpiper, at least 60 Redshank, 35 Turnstones, 2 Dunlin, 400 Black-headed Gulls, 14 Teal, 4 Whinchat, 3 Wheatears, 18 Yellow Wagtails around one cow, a Redstart and 60 Linnets. Another 2 Common Sandpipers were seen in Cake Pill at Aust Warth. Just 2 Ringed Plover and 4 Wheatears were reported at Severn Beach.
August 24th
A dry and sunny morning with some torrential rain showers in the afternoon. Sightings from New Passage involved a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper, 60 Redshank, 20 Turnstones, 6 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, 350 Black-headed Gulls, 15 Teal, 2 Ravens, 5 Wheatears and at least 15 Yellow Wagtails.
August 23rd
Combined reports from the New Passage area included the adult Mediterranean Gull with 200 Black-headed Gulls, a Little Egret, 60 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, 20 Turnstones, 8 Ringed Plover, 18 Teal, a Peregrine, 2 Grey Wagtails and at least 18 Yellow Wagtails. A Water Rail, 18 Ringed Plover and 22 Dunlin were reported at Chittening Warth and just 9 Turnstones and a Whimbrel were seen at Severn Beach on the not very high tide (just 9.5 metre).
Grey Wagtail, New Passage 23.8.11 © Vic Savery
August 22nd
A foggy start followed by a warm sunny day. Combined reports from New Passage included an adult Mediterranean Gull, single Sanderling and Knot, 3 Dunlin, 45 Redshank, 40 Turnstones, 10 Teal, 2 Ravens, a Sparrowhawk, flyover Tree Pipit, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, at least 15 Blackcaps and 4 Whitethroats. A Spotted Flycatcher was found at Aust Warth this morning. Sightings from the sea wall south of Severn Beach involved an adult Great Crested Grebe, just 2 Dunlin and 2 Redshank, a Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Whitethroats, single Yellow Wagtail, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk. Another selection of warblers was reported from Chittening Warth including 12 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, a Sedge Warbler and 2 Chiffchaffs.
Spotted Flycatcher, Aust Warth 22.8.11 © Rod Holbrook
August 21st
The adult Mediterranean Gull, single Bar-tailed Godwit and juvenile Knot, 40 Redshank, 40 Turnstones, 35 Curlew, 3 Dunlin, 6 Teal, 2 Ravens, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Yellow Wagtails and 4 Wheatears were reported at New Passage.
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 21.8.11
roosting on it’s favourite rock again.
August 20th
Sightings from the New Passage area included an adult Mediterranean Gull with 200 Black-headed Gulls, roosting on the salt marsh and feeding behind diggers on the Pilning Wetland, a summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, a juvenile Knot, 35 Curlew, 50 Redshank, 60 Turnstones, just one Dunlin, a Kingfisher, female Sparrowhawk and 2 Yellow Wagtails. A Common Scoter, a Whimbrel and 2 Wheatears were seen at Severn Beach.
August 19th
A fine sunny and dry day. Sightings from the New Passage area included a Little Egret, a summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, 55 Redshank, 35 Turnstones, just 2 Dunlin, 9 Teal, a juvenile Common Gull, 8 species of Warbler in the Brambles, Hawthorns and Elders behind the Glen (Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Whitethroats, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers), 2 Tree Pipits, at least 6 Yellow Wagtails, single Raven and Sparrowhawk. A Redstart, a Lesser Whitethroat, at least 5 Whitethroats and 3 Sparrowhawks were seen in the scrub along the railway at Severn Beach where 2 Whimbrel, just a single Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin were seen on the shore at high tide.
Garden Warbler, New Passage 19.8.11
Yellow Wagtail, Northwick Warth 19.8.11
August 18th
A very wet day with a north east wind. An early morning visit to Severn Beach produced 23 Ringed Plover, just 2 Dunlin, a Whimbrel, 70 Curlew, 2 Wheatears, at least 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Sedge Warbler. Reports from the Northwick Warth/New Passage area included 55 Redshank, 20 Turnstones, single Dunlin and Common Sandpiper, 3 Teal, a party of 4 Ravens and at least 9 Yellow Wagtails. Another Whimbrel, 4 Common Sandpipers, 6 Ringed Plover and 4 Redshank were seen in Cake Pill at Aust Warth.
August 17th
A change in wind direction to the north east and a hint of a few migrants. A morning visit to New Passage produced
a Little Egret, 3 Teal, 2 Common Sandpipers, 50 Redshank, 20 Dunlin, 40 Turnstones, 60 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers, 7 Yellow Wagtails, a Tree Pipit, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Whitethroats. 4 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Sedge Warbler and 2 Ravens. A Whimbrel was seen at Severn Beach.
August 16th
A morning visit to New Passage produced a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 2 adult Arctic Terns that flew south, a juvenile Common Tern that roosted with the 200 Black-headed Gulls, 60 Redshank, 60 Turnstones, 30 Dunlin, 70 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers, single Sanderling, Common Sandpiper and Ringed Plover, 2 Teal, 2 Ravens, single Peregrine and Wheatear. Single Little Egret, Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper and Teal, 20 Curlew, 15 Redshank and 2 Peregrines were seen at Aust Warth.
juvenile Common Tern, New Passage 16.8.11
August 15th
Combined reports the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included the usual 50 Redshank, 40 Dunlin, 40 Turnstones, 80 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers, 3 Kestrels, a Kingfisher, 4 Yellow Wagtails around the cattle, a Wheatear, a Redstart, a Lesser Whitethroat and 4 Whitethroats. A Teal, 3 Common Sandpipers and another 12 Redshank were seen at Aust Warth. Just 6 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin were seen on the morning high tide at Severn Beach.
Yellow Wagtails, Northwick Warth 15.8.11
August 14th
At least 55 Redshank, 40 Dunlin, 90 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Raven and a Peregrine were seen in the New Passage area. At least 5 Common Sandpipers remained at Aust Warth. A morning high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 2 Sanderling, 28 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin.
August 13th
Early morning reports from Aust Warth included an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Green Sandpiper, a Whimbrel, 5 Common Sandpipers, 30 Redshank and 3 Kestrels. Another Whimbrel, 2 Sanderling, 70 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, 4 Turnstones, 3 Grey Herons and a Redstart were reported from the coastal strip at Severn Beach and nearby 3 Gadwall and 2 Green Woodpeckers were reported at the Orchard Pools. Sightings from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included 40 Dunlin, 40 Turnstones, 20 Redshank, a Ringed Plover, 25 Curlew, 15 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Sandpipers, single Yellow Wagtail and Wheatear.
Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Sanderling, Severn Beach 13.8.11
August 12th
The juvenile Mediterranean Gull was seen roosting again with 180 Black-headed Gulls at New Passage where 60 Dunlin, 60 Turnstones, 5 Ringed Plover, 20 Redshank, 20 Oystercatchers and 40 Curlew were also seen. Another 22 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers and 90 Black-headed Gulls were seen at Aust Warth. Reports from Severn Beach involved 50 Ringed Plover, 25 Dunlin and 2 Turnstones on the shore and 2 Gadwall at the Orchard Pools.
August 11th
The adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gulls remained at New Passage with 150 Black-headed Gulls, a Little Egret, 40 Dunlin and 48 Turnstones this evening. A Sanderling, 55 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin were seen roosting at Severn Beach on the evening tide.
Mediterranean Gulls, New Passage 11.8.11
August 10th
A dry and increasingly windy day. Late afternoon sightings from Severn Beach included a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull flying south with Black-headed Gulls, a Sanderling, at least 45 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin and 3 Turnstones. Another 60 Dunlin, 20 Redshank, 50 Curlew and a Peregrine. Three Common Sandpipers remained in Cake Pill at Aust Warth.
August 9th
The juvenile Mediterranean Gull remained at New Passage where 300 Black-headed Gulls, single Little Egret and Grey Heron, 2 Sanderling, at least 100 Dunlin, 38 Redshank, 65 Turnstones, 2 Common Sandpipers, 10 Oystercatchers and 2 Ringed Plover were also seen. Another 5 Common Sandpipers, 5 Redshank, 3 Kestrels and 4 Great Black-backed Gulls were reported at Aust Warth.
Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 9.8.11
August 8th
A juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 350 Black-headed Gulls, at least 160 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, 50 Turnstones, 30 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 20 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 9 Oystercatchers and a Kingfisher were seen at New Passage. Another 3 Common Sandpipers and 2 Buzzards were reported at Aust Warth.
August 7th
A day of sunshine and very heavy rain showers. Reports from New Passage/Northwick Warth involved the 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult & juvenile), 300 Black-headed Gulls, 7 Little Egrets (high count), a Grey Heron, 2 Whimbrel, 18 Curlew, 6 Oystercatchers, 38 Turnstones, at least 100 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpipers, 34 Redshank, 4 Yellow Wagtails, female Redstart, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, single Swift and Sand Martin. An adult Mediterranean Gull (presumed the New Passage bird), at least 100 Black-headed Gulls, a Whimbrel. 50+ Curlew, 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Wheatear were reported from Severn Beach.
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 7.8.11
August 6th
Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area involved 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult and juvenile), 300 plus Black-headed Gulls, a Common Tern roosting on the shore, at least 80 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 40 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 40 Turnstones, 2 Redstarts, at least 10 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Pied Wagtails, 20 Meadow Pipits and 40 Linnets. A female Common Scoter, 150 Black-headed Gulls, 70 Curlew, another 30+ Dunlin, a Turnstone, 2 Wheatears and a Lesser Whitethroat were seen at Severn Beach.
Common Scoter, Severn Beach 6.8.11
August 5th
An adult winter plumage Mediterranean Gull, 80 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, 6 Common Sandpipers and 3 Oystercatchers were seen at New Passage this morning. Just 6 Ringed Plover,single Dunlin and Turnstone were reported from Severn Beach. At least 5 Kestrels, 2 Ravens, another 5 Common Sandpipers, a Shelduck brood, single Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were reported at Aust Warth late afternoon.
New Passage and Pilning Wetland August 2011 © John Luke
August 4th
A wet morning and dry but breezy afternoon. Combined reports from the New Passage area involved 9 Common Sandpipers, at least 100 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, 100 Curlew, 30 Turnstones, 6 Ringed Plover, 16 Oystercatchers, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 130 Swallows and 2 Grey Wagtails. Another 7 Common Sandpipers, 10 Redshank, a Whimbrel, 90 Black-headed Gulls and at least 4 Kestrels were seen at Aust Warth.
Swallow, New Passage 4.8.11 © BOC Sightings
August 3rd
Combined reports from New Passage involved an adult Mediterranean Gull, 200 Back-headed Gulls, at least 12 Common Sandpipers, 2 Whimbrel, 30 Turnstones, 90 Dunlin, 50 Redshank, 20 Curlew, 2 Ringed Plover and 15 Oystercatchers. An early Short-eared Owl, 3 Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk were seen at Aust Warth this evening.
Short-eared Owl, Aust Warth 3.8.11 © Vic Savery
August 2nd
The 2 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls reappeared at New Passage this evening where other reports included 280 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Whimbrel, 5 Common Sandpipers, 120 Dunlin, 120 Curlew, 30 Turnstones, 40 Redshank, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Whitethroats and a Grey Wagtail. Another 3 Common Sandpipers and 19 Dunlin were seen at Aust Warth this morning. At least 8 Whitethroats, 4 Chiffchaff and a female Sparrowhawk were reported at Chittening Warth. An adult Mediterranean Gull flew south past Severn Beach this evening and party of 20 Swifts were reported over the shops here.
Woodchat Shrike, Chipping Sodbury Common 2.8.11 © Vic Savery
Just 13 miles as the Shrike flies from Severnside and present for it’s 4th day. With plenty of suitable shrike bushes on
Severnside and previous Great Grey and Red-backed records hopefully one of these will be found one day
August 1st
Combined reports from the New Passage area involved 2 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, a female Common Scoter, 6 Common Sandpipers, 90 Dunlin, 70 Redshank, 35 Turnstones, at least 100 Curlew and 120 Black-headed Gulls. Another 3 Common Sandpipers were seen in Cake Pill at Aust Warth and nearby a Tree Pipit, 38 Meadow Pipits, 13 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers and a Blackcap were reported at the north end of Northwick Warth.
