January is a slightly better month than December, the daylight hours slowly lengthen resulting in a monthly total of 164 species. Like any of the mid winter months it can be good for wildfowl sightings if inland waters freeze, with the chance of Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander or some fly by Bewick’s Swans. Seabirds seen in gales have included Cory’s Shearwater (2004), Storm Petrel, Leach’s Petrel, Little Auk, Red-throated Diver and Grey Phalarope. Other January birds include; Slavonian Grebe (2010), American Golden Plover (2002), Great Grey Shrike (2004) and Shorelark (2004), Waxwing, two Common Cranes that flew over Severn Beach (2000), two Whooper Swans (2005), Bittern (2011), Glaucous Gull and a few rare sightings of Hen Harrier.
January 2014
31st January
A brief afternoon visit to New Passage produced just 63 Shelduck, 350 Wigeon/Teal, 106 Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew and 1200+ Dunlin.
30th January
Another quiet day with just 40 Lapwing and a Raven reported from the Severn Beach shore and a Water Rail and 4 Tufted Duck nearby at the Orchard Pools.
29th January
A change to a cool east wind today. At least 2 Twite and 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth today. Reports from the Northwick Warth area included a Little Egret, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 29 Lapwing, 260 Dunlin, 52 Redshank, 45 Oystercatchers, a Snipe, 5 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 9 Tufted Duck, 58 Shelduck and 300 Wigeon/Teal.
Twite, Aust Warth 29.1.14 © Allan Chard
28th January
A wet and dismal day.The only report was of a Redshank feeding in the same garden where last September’s Nightjar was found on Northwick Warth.
Redshank, Northwick Warth 28.1.14 © Jackie Latham
27th January
The only report was from the Pilning Wetland area of a Jack Snipe, 25 Lapwing, Shoveler and Tufted Ducks.
26th January
Another breezy day with sunshine and torrential showers. A Purple Sandpiper, 10 Ringed Plover, at least 100 Turnstones, 12 Redshank, 40 Oystercatchers, just 4 Dunlin and 2 Ravens were seen at Severn Beach.
Purple Sandpiper and Turnstones, Severn Beach 26.1.13
25th January
A dry morning followed by strong wind and rain in the afternoon. Reports from the Northwick Warth area involved
a Little Egret, 15 Gadwall, 15 Tufted Duck, 30 Shelduck, 200+ Wigeon, 25+ Canada Geese (including the Todd’s) and 45 Turnstones. Two Twite, 2 Stonechats, a Peregrine and at least 10 Reed Buntings were seen at Aust Warth. At least 30 Kittiwakes were seen off Severn Beach mid afternoon.
24th January
A brief afternoon visit to New Passage produced just 27 Canada Geese, 33 Shelduck, 106 Teal, 140 Wigeon, 32 Redshank and 40 Dunlin.
23rd January
The usual 27 Canada Geese, 26 Shelduck, Wigeon and Teal flocks, 300 Dunlin, 60 Redshank, 60 Oystercatchers, 35 Lapwing, 70 Curlew and 20+ Pied Wagtails were reported from Northwick Warth.
22nd January
A quiet day with the only reports received being 2 Stonechats at Aust Warth, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Snipe and 18 Turnstones at Severn Beach, 22 Oystercatchers and 33 Curlew at Chittening Warth and another 60 Oystercatchers, 40 Dunlin, 60 Curlew, 5 Shoveler and 35 Shelduck at New Passage.
21st January
The only reports received were of the 2 Twite and 2 Stonechats at Aust Warth.
20th January
A Short-eared Owl, 2 Stonechats and 2 Twite were seen again at Aust Warth. The usual 24 Canada Geese, 6 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 12 Tufted Duck, single Little Egret and Water Rail, 110 Lapwing, 90 Curlew and 120 Dunlin were reported from Northwick Warth.
19th January
Reports from Aust Warth involved 4 Short-eared Owls, 2 Twite, 2 Stonechats, 2 Peregrines, 7 Snipe and a Water Rail. A Little Egret, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Jack Snipe, 450 Dunlin, 70 Redshank, 140 Curlew, 80 Lapwing, 80 Teal, 400 Wigeon and 2 Water Rails were reported from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
Short-eared Owl, Aust Warth 19.1.14 © Allan Chard
Twite, Aust Warth 19.1.14 © Vic Savery
18th January
A thorough search of Aust Warth produced 2 Twite, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Stonechats. 20 Skylarks, 3 Rock Pipits, 4 Jack Snipe, 7 Snipe, 40 Dunlin, 30 Redshank, 100+ Teal, 40 Wigeon and 29 Canada Geese. Another 100 Teal, 400 Wigeon, 45 Shelduck, 10 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck, 5 Shoveler, a Little Grebe, 300 Dunlin, 130 Curlew, 110 Lapwing, 80 Oystercatchers and 70 Redshank were seen in the New Passage area. Nine Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
17th January
Combined visits to Northwick Warth on a day of rain showers produced a Water Pipit, 96 Teal, 16 Shelduck, 140 Wigeon, 10 Gadwall, 16 Tufted Duck, 5 Shoveler, 34 Canada Geese, a Little Grebe, 110 Lapwing, 121 Curlew, 76 Redshank, 73 Oystercatchers, 18 Turnstones, 30 Dunlin and a Raven.
16th January
Combined reports from New Passage involved just 75 Dunlin, 90 Curlew, 38 Oystercatchers, 46 Redshank, 20+ Canada Geese, 150 Wigeon, 60 Teal and 34 Shelduck. Two Stonechats and 2 Ravens were seen at Aust Warth.
15th January
A Little Egret, 30 Redshank, 120 Dunlin, 86 Curlew, 36 Oystercatchers, 42 Lapwing, 350 Wigeon, 10 Teal and 18 Shelduck were seen from New Passage on the morning high tide.
14th January
The only reports were from the Avonmouth Sewage Works area involving 7 Gadwall, 24 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck and a Chiffchaff.
13th January
Two Twite were reported again at Old Passage/Aust Warth where 2 Stonechats and a Peregrine were also seen. The usual 29 Canada Geese, 22 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 110 Lapwing, 45 Dunlin, 13 Curlew and a Little Egret were seen at Northwick Warth. A Water Rail and 4 Tufted Duck were reported at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach.
12th January
A frosty dawn followed by a cloudy grey day. An afternoon visit to Pilning Wetland and New Passage produced an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Brent Goose, a Little Egret, 65 Redshank, 200 Dunlin, 90 Lapwing, 80 Curlew, a Snipe, 31 Canada Geese, 8 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Shoveler, 80 Teal, 450 Wigeon, 2 Water Rails and 2 Ravens.
Brent Goose, Pilning Wetland 12.1.13
11th January
A fine and sunny day. Combined reports from New Passage/Northwick Warth involved a Little Egret, 30 Canada Geese, 90 Teal, 350 Wigeon, 9 Shoveler, 27 Shelduck, a drake Pintail, 100 Lapwing, 250 Dunlin, 62 Redshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit and 90 Curlew. A Guillemot drifted up river off Severn Beach at 1.30pm where other sightings included a Purple Sandpiper, 142 Turnstones, 30 Redshank and 20 Dunlin. Three Stonechats were seen at Chittening Warth.
Purple Sandpiper, Severn Beach 11.1.13
10th January
Five Little Egrets, 12 Snipe, 170 Wigeon, 9 Shelduck, 25 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 24 Oystercatchers, 46 Redshank. 30 Dunlin, a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Water Rails were reported from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area. At least 40 Turnstones and 7 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
9th January
An afternoon visit to New Passage/Pilning Wetland produced just 30 Redshank, 200 Curlew, 100 Lapwing, 300 Dunlin, 20 Canada Geese, 8 Gadwall, 120 Teal, 380 Wigeon, 21 Shelduck, 10 Tufted Duck, 8 Shoveler and 2 Water Rails. Three Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
8th January
A female Merlin and at least 200 Dunlin were seen at Northwick Warth. Two Stonechats remained at Aust Warth.
7th January
Just 21 Canada Geese, 8 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 12 Tufted Duck, 22 Oystercatchers, 290 Dunlin and 105 Curlew were reported from Northwick Warth. At least 20 Turnstones were reported from Severn Beach.
6th January
Nothing was reported today.
5th January
A Merlin was seen hunting on Northwick Warth this morning and an afternoon visit to New Passage/Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland in wet and overcast conditions produced the Todd’s Canada Goose look alike with 57 Canada Geese, 12 Shelduck, 200 Teal, 500+ Wigeon, 25 Shoveler, 7 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebes, 2+ Water Rails, 320 Lapwing, 200 Curlew, 300 Dunlin and 40 Redshank. Two Stonechats were still present with 12+ Reed Buntings at Aust Warth.
Canada Goose and Todd’s, New Passage 5.1.13
4th January
Another very high tide and a grey and damp day. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area included a Little Egret, at least 45 Canada Geese (including the small individual), a Pintail, 29 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 12 Shelduck, 20 Mallard, 250 Teal, 400 Wigeon, 2 Little Grebes, 30 Coot, 2+ Water Rails, 600 Dunlin, 70 Redshank, 65 Lapwing, 170 Curlew, a Black-tailed Godwit, 80 Oystercatchers, an adult Kittiwake, an adult Great Black-backed Gull, a Water Pipit, 2 Rock Pipits, single Peregrine and Kestrel. Two Stonechats, 2 Buzzards and a Kestrel were reported at Aust Warth.
3rd January
A few sightings today with the most impressive being the exceptional high tide. At Severn Beach dozens of Short-tailed Voles, a few Pygmy Shrews and a Mole were seen swimming to safety as the salt marsh flooded. At least 60 Turnstones and 70 Lapwing were seen flying around here with nowhere to roost. At least 1000 Dunlin, 100 Redshank, 56 Canada Geese, 13 Shelduck, 700 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 16 Shoveler, 13 Tufted Duck and 2 Rock Pipits were reported from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area.
2nd January
Another wet day. At least 6 Turnstones, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, 500 Dunlin, 140 Redshank, 100 Curlew, 40 Lapwing, 20 Oystercatchers, 30 Canada Geese, 400 Wigeon and 35 Shelduck were seen from the seawall at New Passage.
1st January
A very wet day and nothing reported.
