SEVERNSIDE BIRDS






























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July is the quietest month on Severnside with only 147 species having been recorded. It does have a more optimistic feeling to it than June, with the appearance of returning waders and in recent years the regular appearance of Little Egrets, Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls. Unusual species seen have included dispersing Crossbill, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Goshawk and a Stone Curlew (1999). A spell of strong SW or W wind usually produces a few Storm Petrels and Manx Shearwaters.

July 2014



31st July
A good selection was reported from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth today including 3 Wood Sandpipers, a Spotted Redshank, a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Knot, 12 Ringed Plover, 160+ Dunlin, 40+ Redshank, 6 Turnstones, 3 Snipe, 36 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpipers, 80+ Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers, 4 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 72 Canada Geese, a Greylag Goose, 3 adult Tufted Duck and 4 ducklings, 5 Teal and 2 Swifts.

30th July
The 3 Wood Sandpipers remained on the Pilning Wetland at Northwick Warth where other sightings involved a Ruff, 2 Knot, 2 Little Ringed Plovers (adult & juvenile), 2 Whimbrel, 87 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 57 Redshank, 30 Lapwing, 130 Curlew, a Little Egret, 2 Little Grebes, 400 Black-headed Gulls, a Greylag Goose, 62 Canada Geese, 4 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Stock Doves, 7 Swifts, a Wheatear and 100+ Pied Wagtails. A Sanderling was seen at New Passage.

29th July
Another warm and bird filled day from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth including the 3 Wood Sandpipers, an adult Little Ringed Plover, 80 Dunlin, 25 Lapwing, 40 Redshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Knot, 2 Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, 150 Curlew, a Whimbrel, 13 Turnstones, 74 Canada Geese, 8 Teal, 3 Wheatears, a Hobby and a Yellow Wagtail.

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                                                                              Hobby, Pilning Wetland  29.7.13  © Simon Williams

28th July
Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland included the exceptional record of 3 Wood Sandpipers, 3 Common Sandpipers, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 3 Snipe, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Knot, 90+ Dunlin, 22 Redshank, 25 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 65 Canada Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal, 3 Little Grebes, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 200+ Black-headed Gulls, a Hobby, 2 Kestrels, a Yellow Wagtail and 30+ Pied Wagtails. A Whimbrel and 100 Curlew were roosting on the Northwick Warth salt marsh. Another 3 Common Sandpipers and 40 Linnets were seen at Aust Warth.

27th July
Another bird filled day with combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth of 2 Wood Sandpipers, 3 Common Sandpipers, single Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover, 4 Knot, 35 Lapwing, 43 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 49 Canada Geese, 12 Teal, 2 Stock Doves, 130 Linnet, single Peregrine, Yellow Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat and Swift. Another 60 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, flock of 6 Little Egrets, 250 Black-headed Gulls, 50 Herring Gulls, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 16 Canada Geese, 130 Mallard, a pair of Shelduck with one fresh duckling, a Garden Warbler and 5 Swifts. Another 6 Common Sandpipers, 55 Redshank and 2 Turnstones were reported at Aust Warth.

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                                                         juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Pilning Wetland  27.7.13  © Mark Coller

26th July
Yet another scorching day with a good selection on the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth including 2 Wood Sandpipers, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Sandpipers, 20 Dunlin, 52 Redshank, 5 Snipe, 37 Lapwing, 60+ Curlew, a Turnstone, 5 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 36 Canada Geese, 5 Teal, 3 adult Tufted Duck and 6 ducklings, 2 Little Grebe broods and a Peregrine, 2 Stock Doves and a Wheatear. Another 8 Common Sandpipers, 5 Redshank, a Whimbrel, 2 Stonechats and a Whinchat were reported at Aust Warth. Just a single Dunlin was seen at Severn Beach.

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                                                                               Black-tailed Godwit, Pilning Wetland 26.7.14
                                                     a colour ringed bird that dropped out of the sky with 11 others.

             UPDATE: received  28.8.14
              The bird was ringed as an adult male in Iceland in April 2012 and here are it’s sightings since:
              21.04.12 Grafarvogur, Reykjavík, SW Iceland
              20.07.12 Vatnsholt, Grímsnes, Árnessýsla, S Iceland
              05.06.13 Vatnsholt, Grímsnes, Árnessýsla, S Iceland
              03.07.13 Vatnsholt, Grímsnes, Árnessýsla, S Iceland
              18.02.14 to 04.03.14 Landje van Geijsel, Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, Noord Holland, W Netherlands
              05.03.14 to 10.03.14 Uitgeesterbroekpolder, Uitgeest, Noord Holland, W Netherland
              26.07.14 Pilning Wetland, South Gloucestershire, SW England
              28.07.14 Parc Ornithologique du Marquenterre, Somme, N France

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                                                                                    Wood Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 26.7.14

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                                                                                         Little Egrets, Pilning Wetland 26.7.14

25th July
The 2 Wood Sandpipers remained all day on the Pilning Wetland/Northẃick Warth where other sightings involved 4 Black-tailed Godwits, a Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpipers, a Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 3 Whimbrel, 26 Redshank, 39 Curlew, 5 Teal, 5 adult Tufted Duck plus 6 ducklings, 32 Canada Geese, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Pied Wagtails, 25 Goldfinch, a male Kestrel, a juvenile Whinchat, a Kingfisher, 5 Swift and a mixed roosting flock of 100 Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins. Click on the picture below to see a short video of the Godwits.

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                                                                                  Black-tailed Godwits, Pilning Wetland 25.7.14

24th July
A hot and humid day. Two Wood Sandpipers were found on the rear lagoon of the Pilning Wetland this evening where a Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, 4 Common Sandpipers, 32 Lapwing, 35 Curlew, 23 Canada Geese and a Little Egret were also present. Another 7 Common Sandpipers were reported at Aust Warth. Click on the Wood Sandpiper picture below to see some Youtube video of the 2 birds.

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                                                                                      Wood Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 24.7.14

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                                                                                     Wood Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 24.7.14

23rd July
An evening visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced the first 2 Snipe of the autumn, 3 Common Sandpipers, 42 Redshank and 20 Lapwing.

22nd July
The heat wave continued. Combined sightings from the Northwick Warth involved an adult Mediterranean Gull, 200+ Black-headed Gulls, a Golden Plover, a Whimbrel, 30 Lapwing, 52 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin, 5 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 14 Canada Geese, a Kingfisher, juvenile Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, 20+ Pied Wagtails and 8 Swifts.

21st July
A hot day. A Little Ringed Plover, 30 Lapwing, 30 Redshank, 4 Common Sandpipers, 6 Canada Geese, a Kingfisher and the 7 Tufted Duck ducklings were reported in the Northwick Warth area. Another 7 Common Sandpipers and 5 Redshank were seen at Aust Warth. An evening ringing session at the Grebe Pond reed bed produced a number of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Swallows and a control Reed Warbler (L056823) originally ringed at Chew Valley Lake as a juvenile on 2nd July 2010. Three juvenile Starlings were also radio tagged as part of a research project.

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                                                                           Starling with radio transmitter, Pilning Wetland 21.7.14
                   the transmitter is attached to the back of the bird and will is released after a short time when the bird moults feathers

20th July
Combined reports from Northwick Warth included a Golden Plover, an adult Little Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, 33 Lapwing, 3 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, an adult Yellow Wagtail and a Kingfisher. Another 2 Common Sandpipers were seen at Aust Warth. A family party of 5 Swifts remained over the seafront houses at Severn Beach.

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                                                                                                      Pilning Wetland 20.7.14
          The recently flooded sheepfield looking south from the public footpath. Should be  magnet for migrant waders over the next few months.

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                                                                                          Golden Plover, Northwick Warth 20.7.14

19th July
Thunderstorms over night dropped a few new birds onto Northwick Warth and Pilning Wetland including an adult Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, a summer plumage Golden Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plover (2 juveniles), a Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpipers, single Dunlin and Ringed Plover, 20 Lapwing, 60+ Redshank, 25 Curlew, 15 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 250+ Black-headed Gulls, a Kingfisher and a Stonechat. Click on the picture below for some video of the Spotted Redshank on Youtube.

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                                                                           Spotted Redshank, Pilning Wetland 19.7.14

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                                                                              Spotted Redshank, Pilning Wetland 19.7.14

18th July
Another humid day with thunder storms forecast for tonight. Several visits to the Northwick Warth area and Pilning Wetland
produced 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 adult Little Ringed Plovers, a summer plumage Golden Plover, 18 Lapwing, 34 Redshank, 20 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 18 Oystercatchers, 30 Curlew, a Little Egret, 2 adult Tufted Duck and 7 ducklings, 5 Canada Geese, 300+ Black-headed Gulls, a Common Gull and a Yellow Wagtail. Another 2 Common Sandpipers and 5 Redshank were reported at Aust Warth.

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                                                                                    Little Ringed Plover, Pilning Wetland 18.7.14

17th July
A hot (29°C) and humid day. Two Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 20 Lapwing, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, an adult Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin, 16 Redshank, 3 Common Gulls, 2 Kestrels and 3 Stock Doves were reported from the Northwick Warth area.

16th July
Pumping of freshwater onto the Pilning Wetland commenced today so a few waders should appear soon. Reports from here and Northwick Warth included 20 Lapwing, 100 Curlew, 10 Common Sandpipers and 9 Redshank.

15th July
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area involved 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 11 Lapwing, 33 Redshank, 100+ Curlew, 16 Oystercatchers, 3 Common Sandpipers, 4 Little Grebes, 4 Shelduck broods (30+ young), 3 adult Tufted Duck and ducklings, 250 Black-headed Gulls, 20 Pied Wagtails, a Yellow Wagtail and a Kingfisher.

14th July
A Little Ringed Plover, 28 Oystercatchers, 16 Lapwing, 90 Curlew, 16 Redshank and 200 Black-headed Gulls were seen at Northwick Warth. At least 4 Common Sandpipers were seen this evening at New Passage.

13th July
A morning visit to Northwick Warth produced a summer plumage Golden Plover, 14 Lapwing, at least 5 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers(1st sentry box pool), a Common Sandpiper, 30+ Oystercatchers, 80 Curlew, 7 Redshank and the usual Tufted Ducks. Another Common Sandpiper was seen at Aust Warth.

12th July
A Hobby was seen early morning at Severn Beach. A visit to Northwick Warth produced 11 Lapwing, 30 Curlew, 3 adult Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe broods, 200+ Black-headed Gulls, a Kestrel family (2 young) and a Raven. A Kingfisher, 3 Common Sandpipers, a Redshank, 7 Shelduck ducklings and a Yellow Wagtail were seen at Aust Warth.

11th July
Just 30 Curlew and 90 Black-headed Gulls were reported from Northwick Warth.

10th July
Two Little Egrets, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 26 Lapwing, 4 Curlew, 5 adult Tufted Duck and 6 ducklings were reported from Northwick Warth. Sixteen Canada Geese were seen at Chittening Warth. A Common Gull was seen at Severn Beach.

9th July
Reports from the Northwick Warth area included a Little Egret, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 12 Redshank, 4 Common Sandpipers, 20 Curlew, 7 Lapwing, an Oystercatcher, 2 pairs of Little Grebes (5&3 young), 11 Shelduck ducklings, 3 adult Tufted Duck plus ducklings and at least 150 Black-headed Gulls.

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                                                                                Common Sandpipers, New Passage 9.7.14

8th July
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area involved 5 Little Ringed Plovers on the flash, a Little Egret, 11 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 6 Common Sandpipers at New Passage, a Little Grebe, 3 adult Tufted Duck plus the duckling brood and 70 Black-headed Gulls.

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                                                                               Common Sandpipers, New Passage 8.7.14

7th July
An afternoon visit to Northwick Warth produced 4 Little Ringed Plovers (2 adults), 18 Curlew, 17 Lapwing, 7 Oystercatchers, 11 Redshank, 3 Dunlin, 90 Black-headed Gulls, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons and the female Tufted Duck and ducklings.

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                                                                           Little Ringed Plover, Northwick Warth flash 7.7.14

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                                                                                 Tufted Duck brood, Pilning Wetland 7.7.14

6th July
Two adult and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 5 Lapwing and a female Tufted Duck with 7 fresh ducklings (1st breeding record for here) were seen at Northwick Warth. Five Common Sandpipers were reported at Aust Warth.
      
5th July
A sunny and sometimes breezy day. Sightings from Northwick Warth included 2 Little Egrets, 7 Little Ringed Plovers, at least 20 Curlew, single Common Sandpiper and Lapwing. Another 2 Common Sandpipers were seen at Aust Warth.
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                                                                          Little Ringed Plovers, Northwick Warth flash 5.7.14
4th July
Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included 7 Little Ringed Plover (5 adults) on the flash, a Little Egret, a Redshank, 50 Back-headed Gulls (2 juveniles), a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull and 3 Sand Martins.

3rd July
An evening visit to Northwick Warth produced 5 Little Ringed Plovers (4 adults) and 3 Lapwing on the flash and 100 Black-headed Gulls in the area.

2nd July
Reports from the Northwick Warth area involved 5 Little Ringed Plovers, 14 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 2 Gadwall, a Tufted Duck and 4 flyover Siskins. A Redshank and 18 Oystercatchers were seen from the shore at Severn Beach.

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                                                                                    Bullfinch, Severn Beach  2.7.14  © Rod Holbrook

1st July
An adult and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover were seen at Northwick Warth. A Common Sandpiper was the first of the autumn at Aust Warth. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard at Chittening Warth.