June is usually one of the quietest months on Severnside with a total of only 148 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 Rose-coloured Starling (2012), Red Kite (2006, 2010), Franklin’s Gull (1988) and Alpine Swift (1999).
June 2013
June 30th
A breezy and cooler day. Combined reports from Northwick Warth involved single Little Egret, Little Grebe, Kingfisher and Hobby, 2 Redshank, 10 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers, 52 Shelduck (plus a brood of 8 ducklings), 40 Black-headed Gulls, 16 Pied Wagtails, 3 flyover Siskins and 2 Sand Martins. Another 43 Shelduck and 6 Oystercatchers were seen at Severn Beach and 5 Common Sandpipers were reported in Cake Pill at Aust Warth.
June 29th
A nice warm day. Combined reports from Northwick Warth included single Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, 6 Redshank, 30 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Mute Swans, a Canada Goose, a female Teal, 40 Shelduck, another fresh Coot brood, a Little Grebe, a Hobby hunting over the Grebe Pond and a Grey Wagtail.
Hobby, Pilning Wetland 29.6.13
June 28th
The first 2 Common Sandpipers of the autumn were reported at New Passage.
June 27th
A wet evening visit to Northwick Warth produced 4 Redshank, 24 Shelduck and 20 Black-headed Gulls (including a juvenile) on the Pilning Wetland and 40 Curlew on the salt marsh.
June 26th
An evening visit to Northwick Warth produced 3 adult Little Ringed Plovers feeding on the Pilning Wetland and 24 Curlew, a Little Egret, a drake Teal, 62 Shelduck and 50 Mallard on the shore. At least 3 Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly were seen on a small pool at Severn Beach.
Little Ringed Plover, Pilning Wetland 26.6.13
Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, Western Approach Business Park, Severn Beach 26.6.13 © Gary Thoburn
June 25th
The only report was of a Little Egret over the VOSA Pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works this evening.
June 24th
A quiet day with just 50 Shelduck, 20 Curlew, 12 Oystercatchers and 6 Black-headed Gulls reported from New Passage and 2 Tufted Duck and 3 adult and 2 Little Grebe chicks on the Orchard Pools at Severn Beach.
June 23rd
Another breezy day. A Storm Petrel was seen early morning from Severn Beach where other reports included an Arctic Skua, a Fulmar, 2 Ringed Plover and 5 Curlew.
Storm Petrel video still, Severn Beach 23.6.13
June 22nd
A windy day produced a Storm Petrel, 400+ Manx Shearwaters, 2 Fulmar, 5 Kittiwakes and 2 Gannets off Severn Beach where 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew and 4 Oystercatchers were also seen . A Mediterranean Gull was seen on the Pilning Wetland and the drake Common Scoter and 30 Oystercatchers remained off New Passage.
Kittiwakes, Severn Beach 22.6.13
June 21st
Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included the Common Scoter, 60 Shelduck (plus a brood of 9 ducklings), 70 Mallard, a Canada Goose, 80 Black-headed Gulls and 5 Curlew. Two Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
Pilning Wetland 21.6.13
A panoramic view looking east over the flooded sheep fields
June 20th
An evening visit to the Pilning Wetland produced 60+ Black-headed Gulls and nearby a juvenile Kingfisher was seen being fed by a parent at New Passage and a male Common Scoter was seen diving on the river,
Kingfisher, New Passage 20.6.13
June 19th
A warm and sunny day. An evening visit to the Pilning Wetland produced an influx of birds including 3 Mediterranean Gulls (an adult & 2 1st summer), 110+ Black-headed Gulls, 60+ Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Teal and 2 Stock Doves.
Mediterranean Gulls, Pilning Wetland 19.6.13
Stock Doves, Pilning Wetland 19.6.13
June 18th
A warm day. The first 3 Shelduck ducklings of the year, single Little Egret, Curlew and Redshank and 2 Kestrels were seen at Aust Warth. Reports from the Northwick Warth area included 29 Shelduck, a Canada Goose, 9 Oystercatchers and 9 Black-headed Gulls.
June 17th
The pumping of the pools and lagoons continued today. A brief evening visit to Northwick Warth produced a Little Grebe, 2 Grey Herons, a Canada Goose, a Gadwall, 60 Mallard, 30 Shelduck, 15 Oystercatchers and a Black-headed Gull.
June 16th
Combined reports from Northwick Warth involved 12 Oystercatchers, 30 Shelduck, 50 Mallard, a Canada Goose, 6 Mute Swans, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 50 Swifts. The Pilning Wetland was flooded with fresh water today and this will continue for a few more days. The water levels should drop to just the right level in time for the start of the return migration in August but should be worth a visit before then.
Pilning Wetland, 16.6.13
June 15th
Another breezy day produced a Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skuas, 50+ Manx Shearwaters, 4 adult Gannets, 2 Fulmar and 8 Kittiwakes. A flock of 7 Little Egrets (equalling the record count) landed on the Pilning Wetland at Northwick Warth before flying off south a few minutes later.
Little Egrets, Northwick Warth 15.6.13
June 14th
No reports were received today.
June 13th
An increasingly windy day. Combined sightings from Severn Beach included 4+ Great Skuas, 2 Arctic Skuas, 11+ Fulmar, 19 Manx Shearwaters, 20 Kittiwakes and a Peregrine.
June 12th
The only report received was of an escaped Diamond Dove in a garden at New Passage.
June 11th
Eight Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin were seen this morning at Severn Beach.
June 10th
A Cetti’s Warbler was heard again at Severn Beach. Sightings from Northwick Warth involved just 3 Canada Geese, 6 Mute Swans, 40 Shelduck, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Grey Herons, 35 Oystercatchers and 40 Swifts.
June 9th
A Red Kite flew over Aust Warth early this morning. Reports from Northwick Warth included 3 Little Grebes, 20 Canada Geese, 47 Mallard, 40 Shelduck and 32 Oystercatchers.
Red Kite, Aust Warth 9.6.13 © Rod Holbrook
June 8th
Reports from the Severn Beach area involved 4 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Cetti’s Warbler. A drake Pochard and 9 Tufted Duck were reported on the Square Pool at Avonmouth Sewage Works.
June 7th
An evening visit to Northwick Warth produced a pair of Little Grebes and 5 Lapwing on the Grebe Pond, 5 Ringed Plover on the flash and a Kingfisher at Chestle Pill.
June 6th
A warm and sunny day. A brief visit to the shore at Severn Beach at high tide produced a summer plumage Golden Plover and a Ringed Plover.
Golden Plover, Severn Beach 6.6.13
Golden Plover, Severn Beach 6.6.13
June 5th
A Little Egret and 2 Lapwing were seen on the Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth. Just 6 Black-headed Gulls were reported on the afternoon high tide at Severn Beach.
June 4th
An evening visit to New Passage produced 5 Mute Swans, 3 Canada Geese, 48 Mallard, 30 Shelduck, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, 2 Gadwall, a pair of Shoveler and 2 Kingfishers.
Kingfisher, New Passage 4.6.13
June 3rd
The only reports from Northwick Warth involved a late male Wheatear, 2 Gadwall, 3 Canada Geese, 3 Grey Herons, 40 Shelduck and 40 Mallard.
June 2nd
Another warm and sunny day. Just 2 Gadwall, 40 Shelduck, single Little Ringed Plover and Little Egret were reported from the Northwick Warth area. Combined reports from the Severn Beach area involved 13 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler, a Sedge Warbler and 9 Reed Warblers.
June 1st
A fine sunny day. A Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Dunlin were seen at New Passage this morning. Combined reports from the Severn Beach area included 28 Canada Geese, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, single Dunlin, Cetti’s Warbler, Garden Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher. A Little Egret was reported at Chittening Warth.
