November is still a month worth looking for birds. It has a respectable total of 174 species recorded during the month with a few surprise birds. Remarkable records include; Britain’s first Black-bellied Storm Petrel and Britain’s 5th Pacific Diver just 2 days apart in 2009. Other national and local rarities include Great Northern Diver (1984), Ring-necked Duck (2000), Smew (2010), White-rumped Sandpiper (1998), Long-tailed Skua (1994), Woodlark, Shorelark, Snow Bunting, Lapland Bunting, Cory’s Shearwater (2000), Whooper Swan (1983) and Richard’s Pipit (1993), Dartford Warbler (2005) and Waxwing (2005). A Merlin or two can usually be seen perched on posts anywhere between New Passage and Aust Warth. Short-eared Owls can often be seen hunting at dusk over the salt marsh at Aust Warth. Seabirds seen in South West gales include Leach’s Petrel, Pomarine Skua and Little Auk.
November 2013
30th November
A morning viist to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 237 Black-tailed Godwits, 150 Lapwing, 300 Dunlin, a Little Egret, 45 Canada Geese, 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Gadwall, single Pintail and Shoveler, 250 Wigeon, 40 Teal, a Water Rail and 2 Rock Pipits.At least 5000 Starlings were seen to to to roost here this evening. This evening a Merlin, a Little Egret, 400 Wigeon and a Short-eared Owl (16.40) were seen at Aust Warth.
29th November
Just 43 Canada Geese, 400 Wigeon, 48 Lapwing, 200 Dunlin and 12 Turnstones were reported from New Passage late afternoon. A brief visit to Severn Beach on the afternoon high tide produced 16 Ringed Plover, 11 Oystercatchers, 4 Turnstones and 10 Shelduck. A Little Egret flew inland from Aust Warth.
28th November
No reports were received again today.
27th November
A 1st winter Little Gull, a Grey Plover, 14 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin, 8 Curlew, 50 Turnstones, 55 Oystercatchers, 16 Shelduck and 20 Wigeon were seen from the shore at Severn Beach and nearby 3 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, single Water Rail and Little Egret were reported at the Orchard Pools. Reports from Northwick Warth included 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Egrets, 58 Redshank, 200+ Dunlin, 90+ Lapwing, 8 Curlew, a Water Rail, 30 Meadow Pipits, 24 Pied Wagtails and 8 Goldfinches. Another 67 Oystercatchers, 62 Turnstones, 9 Redshank and 50 Dunlin were seen at Chittening Warth, A Raven and 20 Canada Geese were seen from Aust Warth.
26th November
The only report received was of a Water Rail at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach.
25th November
At least 42 Canada Geese, 100 Wigeon, 5 Gadwall, 9 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egrets, 10 Ringed Plover, 220 Lapwing, 120 Dunlin, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Redshank, 62 Turnstones and a Water Rail were reported from Northwick Warth. Just 15 Shelduck, 70 Oystercatchers and 5 Snipe were reported from Severn Beach and nearby 50 Redshank, 62 Curlew, 80 Dunlin, 13 Oystercatchers, a Snipe and 4 Shelduck were seen at Chittening Warth.
24th November
Another icy morning followed by a cloudy day. Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 208 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Egrets, 44 Canada Geese, 600 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 3 Shelduck, 11 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 2 Water Rails, 140 Lapwing, 60 Redshank and 400 Dunlin. A high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 3 Goosanders (drake & 2 females), 20 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 30 Teal, 20 Wigeon, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 9 Snipe, 49 Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew, 140 Redshank, 90 Dunlin, 4 Turnstones and 3 Rock Pipits. Two Stonechats remained around the reed bed at Aust Warth.
23rd November
A frosty morning with most of the flashes on Northwick Warth frozen. Sightings from Northwick Warth involved a Spotted Redshank, 165 Black-tailed Godwits, a Knot, 400+ Dunlin, 240 Lapwing, 30 Turnstones, 60 Redshank, 5 Ringed Plover, 40 Curlew, a Snipe, a Little Egret, 7 Bewick’s Swans, 40+ Canada Geese, 600 Wigeon, 40 Teal, a Shelduck, a drake Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 5 Gadwall, single Little Grebe, Water Rail and Kingfisher, a female Merlin, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk, 5 Redpolls and 2 Siskins. Two Stonechats were reported at Aust Warth
Bewick’s Swans, Northwick Warth 23.11.13
Black-tailed Godwits, Northwick Warth 23.11.13
22nd November
A day with a biting cold north wind. Sightings from the Northwick Warth area included a female Merlin, 42 Canada Geese, 275 Wigeon, 35 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, a Little Egret, 200 Lapwing, 200 Dunlin, 48 Curlew, 55 Redshank, 60 Turnstones, a Raven and at least 2000 Starlings going to roost in the Grebe Pond reed bed. Another 12 Wigeon, 8 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 100 Dunlin, 35 Redsahnk, 4 Turnstone and a Peregrine were reported from the Severn Beach shore and nearby 4 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck and a Water Rail were present at the Orchard Pools. At least 40 Teal, 30 Dunlin, 18 Redshank, 4 Snipe, single Water Rail and Jack Snipe were reported from Chittening Warth.
21st November
Two White-fronted Geese were present with 35 Canada Geese on Northwick Warth where 100 Dunlin, a Little Egret and a Peregrine were also seen. A Raven was seen at Aust Warth.
20th November
No reports were received again today.
19th November
A cold day. Sightings from Northwick Warth involved a first winter Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Little Egrets, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 2000+ Dunlin, 110 Lapwing, 120 Redshank, 90 Oystercatchers, 80 Curlew, male Peregrine, female Merlin, 42 Canada Geese, 3 Shelduck, 5 Tufted Duck, 5 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 250 Wigeon, 30 Teal, a Water Rail, 44 Pied Wagtails and 10 Fieldfares. Nine Shelduck were seen at Severn Beach and a Raven and 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.
Merlin, Northwick Warth 19.11.13
18th November
No reports were received today.
17th November
The only report received was of a Short-eared Owl over Aust Warth at dusk.
16th November
A foggy start to the day. An early morning visit to Northwick Warth produced a Merlin, 2 Little Egrets, 36 Black-tailed Godwits, 160 Lapwing, 110 Redshank, 80 Oystercatchers, 350 Dunlin, 43 Canada Geese, 600 Wigeon/Teal, 5 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 3 Tufted Duck, 7 Shelduck, single Little Grebe, Water Rail and Redpoll. Click on the Merlin picture below to see some You Tube video of it’s pre flight check.
Merlin, Northwick Warth 16.11.13
15th November
No reports were received today.
14th November
The only report today was of a Raven at Severn Beach.
13th November
The first frosty morning of the winter produced 41 Canada Geese, 76 Lapwing, 60 Redshank, 25 Oystercatchers, 800 Wigeon, 200 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 5 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Little Egrets. A Merlin was seen on Northwick Warth late afternoon. Sixty Lapwing, 2 Kestrels, single Merlin, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk were reported at Aust Warth.
12th November
A female Merlin, a Peregrine, 34 Canada Geese, 60 Oystercatchers, 80 Redshank, 80 Turnstones, 8 Ringed Plover, 15 Shelduck, 300 Wigeon, a Little Egret and a Raven were seen at New Passage. Two Short-eared Owls, 2 Stonechats and another Raven were seen at Aust Warth. Eleven Common Scoter were reported off Severn Beach mid afternoon.
11th November 
Two Short-eared Owls were seen at Aust Warth late afternoon and 5000 Starlings were seen pre roost at the Pilning Wetland this evening.
10th November
Two Great Crested Grebes, 36 Canada Geese, 280 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 2 Little Egrets, 90 Redshank, 60 Lapwing and a Kingfisher were seen from New Passage this morning. Two Short-eared Owls were out hunting over Northwick Warth this afternoon. A Water Rail and 4 Tufted Duck were seen at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach and 3 Ravens and 20 Turnstones were seen from the sea wall Another Little Egret, 8 Shelduck, 3 Stonechats and a Cetti’s Warbler were reported at Chittening Warth. Two Stonechats and a late Swallow were reported at Aust Warth. Nearby, 68,000+ Wood Pigeons, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Yellowhammers, a Brambling and a Swallow were the pick of visible migrants from Aust Cliff.
Stonechat, Aust Warth 10.11.13 © Vic Savery
9th November
A Purple Sandpiper, 180 Turnstones, 40 Redshank, 30 Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew, 200 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, a Snipe, 3 Shelduck, 3 Rock Pipits and a Stonechat were seen this morning at Severn Beach. A Short-eared Owl was hunting over Northwick Warth and Pilning Wetland just after midday where other sightings included 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Egrets, 300+ Dunlin, 100 Redshank, 100 Turnstones, 60 Lapwing, 40 Oystercatchers, 33 Canada Geese, 3 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 300 Wigeon, 50 Teal, a 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull and a female Merlin. Two Ravens were seen at Aust Warth.
8th November
The only reports were of 2 Little Egrets, a Kingfisher and a thousands of migrating Wood Pigeons at New Passage.
7th November
A Black-tailed Godwit, 900 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 60 Lapwing, 26 Canada Geese, 4 Pintail, a Peregrine and a late Wheatear were reported from New Passage. A Short-eared Owl was seen on Aust Warth at 3.30 pm.
6th November
No reports were received today.
5th November
Two Little Egrets were seen from the Severn Beach-Bristol train at Chittening Warth. The usual 32 Canada Geese, 400 Wigeon/Teal, 80 Redshank, 700+ Dunlin, 48 Lapwing, 90 Oystercatchers and 2 Ravens were reported from New Passage.
4th November
The American Golden Plover was reported being heard again on Northwick Warth near rhe 2nd sentry box. A Knot, 90 Redshank, 30 Lapwing, 170 Dunlin, 27 Canada Geese, 1000 Wigeon, 300 Teal and a female Merlin were reported from New Passage.
3rd November
An adult Whooper Swan flew low upriver past Severn Beach at 09.50 where a Shag, an Auk sp., an Arctic Skua, a Kittiwake, a Jack Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 120 Redshank, 120 Turnstones, 60 Curlew, 200 Dunlin, just 2 Shelduck and a Wheatear were also seen. The Whooper Swan was seen a few minutes later over Northwick Warth before it headed off north towards Chepstow. Other reports at Northwick Warth included 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Grey Plover, 3 Knot, 183 Redshank, 140 Curlew, 300 Dunlin, 36 Lapwing, 3 Little Grebes, a Little Egret, 37 Canada Geese, 1000 Wigeon, 200+ Teal, a Merlin, a Wheatear, flyover Crossbills, Siskin and Redpolls. A Short-eared Owl showed late afternoon at Aust Warth.
2nd November
An increasingly wet and stormy day with gales by late afternoon. The American Golden Plover was seen again flying off Northwick Warth where other sightings included 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Grey Plover, a Little Egret, 130+ Redshank, 40 Dunlin, 34 Lapwing, 50 Oystercatchers, 37 Canada Geese, a Shoveler, 230+ Teal, 600+ Wigeon, 2 Ravens, a Kingfisher and a Peregrine. A Great Northern Diver, a Guillemot, a Great Skua, 50 Kittiwakes, 2 Pintail, a Little Egret and 80 Turnstones were seen at Severn Beach. Two Peregrines were seen at Aust Warth.
Kittiwakes, Severn Beach 2.11.13
1st November
A Short-eared Owl was hunting over Aust Warth at 4.15pm and 2 Stonechats were also seen here A Wheatear and 3 Little Egrets were reported at Northwick Warth.
