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 2012
August 31st
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area included 9 Knot, 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Lapwing, 60+ Redshank, 44 Oystercatchers, 16 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, 38 Turnstones, 2 Little Egrets, 48 Canada Geese ( high count for here), 140 Teal, 4 Wigeon, single Common Gull and Great Black-backed Gull, 180 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Wheatears and at least 8 Yellow Wagtails feeding around the cattle. At least 20 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
August 30th
A dry day with a north west breeze. Once again the Northwick Warth/New Passage area produced some interesting birds including 2 Garganey, single Ruff and Greenshank, 20+ Knot, 12 Common Sandpipers, 9+Shoveler, 4 Wigeon, 30 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plover, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, single Spotted Flycatcher and Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 7 Whitethroats, 11+ Yellow Wagtails, 11 Wheatears and a fly over Tree Pipit. The Severn Beach high tide roost produced 2 Sanderling, 80 Ringed Plover and 70 Dunlin. A Greenshank was seen flying south at Aust Cliff.
August 29th
A very wet day. A Garganey, 6 Shoveler, 26 Canada Geese, a Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Redshank, at least 80 Turnstones, 3 Common Sandpipers, 5 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 6 Wheatears and 20 Yellow Wagtails were reported from New Passage/Northwick Warth. The high tide wader roost at Severn Beach produced 2 Knot, a Sanderling, 70 Ringed Plover and 35 Dunlin.
August 28th
A Garganey, 2 Ruff (first record of the year), Little Egret, 2 Knot, 15 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Sandpipers, 31 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin, 67 Redshank, 53 Oystercatchers, 44 Turnstones, 4 Wigeon, 5 Shoveler, 120 Teal, a Peregrine,a Kingfisher, 7 Wheatears and 15+ Yellow Wagtails were seen in the New Passage/Northwick Warth area. Another 6 Knot, 2 Sanderling, 70 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin, 8 Turnstones and a Wheatear were seen at Severn Beach and 18 Common Sandpipers were seen again at Aust Warth.
August 27th
A wet and breezy day. Reports from Northwick Warth included a Greenshank, 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 75 Redshank, 25 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin, 5 Turnstones, a juvenile Knot, a Little Egret, a Hobby and 10 Yellow Wagtails. An afternoon high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 7 juvenile Knot, 2 juvenile Sanderling, 40 Ringed Plover, 12 Dunlin, 2 Turnstones and 2 Wheatears.
August 26th
Reports from New Passage and Northwick Warth involved a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 64 Redshank, 10 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpipers, 50+ Turnstones, 16 Snipe, a Sanderling, a Whimbrel, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Shoveler, 10 Yellow Wagtails and 6 White Wagtails. A juvenile Sanderling, 55 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin and 2 Turnstones were seen on the afternoon high tide at Severn Beach. Another 6 Common Sandpipers and a Peregrine were reported at Aust Warth.
August 25th
A cloudy morning followed by monsoon like conditions with thunder and lightning this afternoon. Two Mediterranean Gulls (adult winter and juvenile), 150 Black-headed Gulls, a juvenile Common Gull, 2 Little Egrets, 68 Redshank, 45+ Turnstones, 5 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 7 Common Sandpiper, 11 Snipe, 2 Wheatears, 8 Yellow Wagtails and 5 White Wagtails were seen in the New Passage/Northwick Warth area. Another 20 Common Sandpipers and 3 Little Egrets were reported at Aust Warth. Just 12 Ringed Plover and 3 Dunlin were on the falling tide at Severn Beach and nearby “loads” of emerged Red-veined Darters remained in a wet area off Godcrest Way in the Western Approach Distribution Park.
newly emerged Red-veined Darter, Severn Beach 25.8.12 © Vic Savery
August 24th
A Little Egret, 19 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Common Sandpipers, 40 Turnstones, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 58 Curlew, 62 Redshank, 150 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 60 Mallard, 4 Wigeon, 300 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Wheatears and at least 13 Yellow Wagtails were seen in the Northwick Warth area. Another 2 Common Sandpipers were seen at Aust Warth.
Yellow Wagtails, Northwick Warth 24.8.12 © Allan Chard
Swallow, New Passage 24.8.12 © Allan Chard
August 23rd
A 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull, at least 3 Garganey (adult and 2 juveniles), 110 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 3 Wigeon, 2 Little Egrets, 16 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, 20 Turnstones, 8 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 7 Yellow Wagtails and 3 White Wagtails were seen in the New Passage/Northwick Warth area today.
August 22nd
Another breezy day. A pale morph Arctic Skua and a Sanderling were seen at Severn Beach this morning. A 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull, 19 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Egrets, 13 Shoveler, 155 Teal, 70 Mallard, 4 Wigeon, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, 7 Yellow Wagtails, a Kingfisher and a Wheatear were reported from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area. An incredible 100+ newly emerged Red-veined Darters were seen and photographed in an area of “ reedy puddles” at the Western Approach Distribution Park, Severn Beach today.
newly emerged Red-veined Darter, Severn Beach 22.8.12 © Vic Savery
August 21st
A cooler and breezy day. A Garganey, 148 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 4 Wigeon, 30 Shelduck, 65 Mallard, 2 Little Egrets, 19 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Grey Plover, 66 Oystercatchers, 28 Turnstones, 12 Dunlin, 22 Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, 50 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper and at least 2 Yellow Wagtails were seen in the New Passage area. Just 3 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, single Whimbrel, Kingfisher and Wheatear were reported at Severn Beach. Another 3 Common Sandpipers and 2 Kingfishers were seen at Chittening Warth,
Kingfisher, Chittening Warth 21.8.12 © Steve Hale
August 20th
An influx of waders today. Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwuck Warth area included 23 Black-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank, 70 Redshank, 64 Oystercatchers, 40 Turnstones, 8 Dunlin, 2 Grey Plover, 2 Snipe, 12 Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Little Egrets, 70 Curlew, an adult Common Tern, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, a Garganey, 50+ Teal, 15 Shoveler, single Wigeon and Gadwall, 500+ Swallows, 2 Wheatears, 28+ Yellow Wagtails, single Swift, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail. An impressive 27 Common Sandpipers were seen in Cake Pill at Aust Warth. A female/immature Redstart was found at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach.
Black-tailed Godwits, Northwick Warth 20.8.12 © Steve Hale
August 19th
An exceptional 5 Mediterranean Gulls (4 juv/1st winter & a 2nd winter) were seen from New Passage where other sightings included 600+ Black-headed Gulls, a juvenile Common Gull, 2 Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Little Egrets, a Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Redshank, 20 Turnstones, 50 Oystercatchers, 230 Curlew, 2+ Yellow Wagtails, a Tree Pipit and a Hobby. At least 80 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin were seen on the evening tide at Severn Beach.
Juvenile/1st winter Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 19.8.12 © John Martin
August 18th
Sightings from the New Passage area included a juvenile/1st winter Mediterranean Gull, 2 Garganey, 9 Common Terns, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Common Sandpipers, 60 Oystercatchers, 40 Redshank, 80 Curlew, 2 Lapwing, 2 Turnstones, 7 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, 50 Teal, 2 Shoveler, a Little Grebe, 700+ Black-headed Gulls and at least one Yellow Wagtail. Combined reports from Severn Beach involved 11 Common Sandpipers, 3 Whimbrel, 3 Knot, 100 Ringed Plover, 12 Dunlin, 22 Oystercatchers and 60 Curlew.
Common Terns, New Passage 18.8.12 © Vic Savery
August 17th
Another day of sunshine and heavy rain showers and a good selection of birds. New Passage/Northwick Warth was once again the best area producing a juvenile/1st winter Mediterranean Gull, 350 Black-headed Gulls, 30 Common Terns, a Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Common Sandpipers, a Whimbrel, 91 Curlew, 48 Redshank, 36 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, 30+ Turnstones, 48 Oystercatchers, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Garganey, 40+ Teal, 3 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Grey Wagtails, 3 Kingfishers, 500+ Swallows, 40+ Sand Martins, a Swift and a Water Vole. Another 2 Swifts were seen over Severn Beach.
August 16th
Sightings from New Passage/Northwick Warth between torrential rain showers included 2 Garganey, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, 50+ Redshank, 34 Oystercatchers, 28 Teal, a flock of at least 80 Goldfinches, a Yellow Wagtail and a Wheatear. Three Swifts and two Common Sandpipers were seen at Severn Beach and another 7 Common Sandpipers were present in Cake Pill at Aust Warth.
August 15th
Another day of sunshine and heavy rain showers. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area included 2 Garganey, at least 3 Little Egrets, 6 Wigeon, 3 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall amd 30 Mallard on the Flash, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 50+ Teal, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 8 Ringed Plover, 30 Redshank, 30 Curlew, 16 Turnstones, 300+ Black-headed Gulls, a Yellow Wagtail, 12 Pied Wagtails and 7 Swifts.
August 14th
A mainly dry and warm day. Combined reports from the New Passage area included 4 Garganey, a moulting adult Mediterranean Gull, 300 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Little Egrets, a Black-tailed Godwit, 56 Redshank, 12 Turnstones, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, 28 Teal, 3 Shoveler and 2 Gadwall.
Garganey, New Passage 14.8.12 © Andy Jordan
August 13th
A day of occasional showers. Combined reports from New Passage/Northwick Warth included 2 Little Egrets, 30 Teal, 45 Mallard, 41 Redshank, 11 Snipe, 10 Ringed Plover, a Dunlin and 350 Black-headed Gulls. A Whimbrel,
134 Ringed Plover and 29 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach on the afternoon high tide.
August 12th
Back to “normal” summer weather with torrential rain showers, thunder and lightning and the occasional sunny spell. Sightings from New Passage included 2 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 280 Black-headed Gulls (including 36 juveniles), 2 Dunlin, 14 Turnstone and 50 Redshank. Nearby there were 2 Little Egrets, 21 Snipe (on the Flash), 16 Teal and a Swift seen on Northwick Warth. At least 80 Ringed Plover and 40 Dunlin were seen from the shore at Severn Beach and nearby 3 Gadwall were seen on the Orchard Pools.
juvenile Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 12.8.12 © John Martin
August 11th
Another fine and hot day with a south east wind. Combined reports from Northwick Warth/New Passage involved single moulting adult Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank, Little Egret, Common Tern and Kingfisher, 10 Oystercatchers, 40 Curlew, 50+ Redshank, 6 Turnstones, 2 Dunlin, 100 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Yellow Wagtails. At least 39 Ringed Plover, 12 Dunlin, 3 Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper and a Hobby (chasing House Martins) were seen at Severn Beach. Reports from Aust Warth included a Little Egret, 2 Common sandpipers and another Kingfisher.
August 10th
A hot (26°C) day. A Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Redshank, 6 Dunlin and a Wheatear were seen at Aust Warth, Reports from the Northwick Warth area included 6 Golden Plover, a Little Egret, 2 Common Sandpipers, 5 Dunlin, 7 Turnstones, 40 Redshank, 11 Teal, 2 Yellow Wagtails, single Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler, A Redstart remained in the railway hedge at Severn Beach and another Common Sandpiper was seen on the Tesco Pool.
Garden Warbler, New Passage 10.8.12 © John Martin
Wheatear, Aust Warth 10.8.12 © Steve Hale
August 9th
A fine sunny day with some migrants, A cream crown Marsh Harrier flew north west at 10.40 from Northwick Warth heading towards Gwent. Single Redstart, Yellow Wagtail and Garden Warbler were seen at Severn Beach. Other reports from Northwick Warth included 2 Little Egrets, single Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel and Dunlin, 20 Turnstones, 45 Redshank, 30 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers, 200 Black=headed Gulls (11 juveniles), a Whinchat and a Redstart. Another Common Sandpiper was seen at Aust Warth.
August 8th
The first Spotted Redshank of the year and a Common Sandpiper were seen at Aust Warth. Sightings from Northwick Warth included 2 Little Egrets, a Whimbrel, 12 Turnstones, 5 Ringed Plover, 70 Dunlin, 21 Oystercatchers, 40 Curlew, 3 Redshank, 2 Teal and 2 Ravens. Single Whimbrel, Redstart and Wheatear were reported at Severn Beach.
August 7th
A return to wet weather. A morning visit to New Passage produced a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 230 Black-headed Gulls, a Grey Plover, 10 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, a Lapwing, 35 Redshank, 40 Curlew and 27 Oystercatchers and nearby a Little Grebe was back on the grebe pond on Northwick Warth. At least 20 Ringed Plover and 13 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach.
juvenile Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 7.8.12
August 6th
A dry day with sunny spells. Once again the Northwick Warth area produced most of the sightings including 7 Common Sandpipers, a Black-tailed Godwit, 45 Redshank, 60 Dunlin, 41 Turnstones, 35 Curlew, 30 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 220 Black-headed Gulls (including 6 juveniles) and 2 Wheatears. Another 6 Common Sandpipers, 3 Redshank and a Canada Goose were reported at Aust Warth. The only report from the shore at Severn Beach was of 3 Ringed Plovers.
Ringed Plover, Severn Beach 6.8.12
August 5th
Another day of rain showers. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area involved a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, an adult Knot, a Sanderling, 80 Dunlin, 21 Turnstones, 58 Redshank, 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Little Egrets, a Little Grebe and a single flock of 20 Swifts. A Whimbrel and 5 Common Sandpipers were seen at Severn Beach this morning.
Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, Northwick Warth 5.8.12 © John Martin
August 4th
An increasingly wet day with torrential rain showers, thunder and lightning from late afternoon. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area included the first juvenile Mediterranean Gull of the autumn, 4 Little Egrets, a Black-tailed Godwit, 200 Curlew, 40 Oystercatchers, 90 Dunlin, 25 Redshank, 4 Common Sandpipers and a Yellow Wagtail. A morning high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 2 Sanderling, 3 Whimbrel, 3 Turnstones, 3 Redshank,
2 Common Sandpipers, a Ringed Plover, 130 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers and a Raven
August 3rd
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area included 4 Little Egrets, a Black-tailed Godwit, 30+ Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 25 Redshank, 27 Turnstones, 28 Oystercatchers, 170+ Curlew, 140 Black-headed Gulls and 21 Swifts. A Little Egret, 12 Curlew, 2 Redshank and a Canada Goose were seen at Aust Warth. Another 90 Curlew were seen at New Pill. Chittening Warth this morning. Four Whimbrel were seen an heard heading up river from Severn Beach this morning where a Common Sandpiper was also seen and nearby a Stonechat was also present at the Tesco Pool.
August 2nd
Much of the same this evening with the adult Mediterranean Gull, 4 adult Common Terns heading down river, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Common Sandpipers, a Whimbrel, 30 Redshank, 165 Curlew, 15+ Turnstones and 60 Dunlin, a juvenile Little Grebe and a Yellow Wagtail seen from New Passage this evening. A Whimbrel flew up river past Severn Beach with the Curlew flock heading towards Northwick Warth.
Little Egret, New Passage 1.8.12
August 1st
Sightings from New Passage included an adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Little Egrets, a summer plumage Grey Plover, 7 Common Sandpipers, 85 Dunlin, 19 Turnstones, 30+ Redshank, 26 Oystercatchers, 45 Curlew and a Swift. Another 3 Little Egrets and a Common Sandpiper were seen at Aust Warth.
