November is still a month worth looking for birds. It has a respectable total of 176 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 American Golden Plover (2013), 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 2014
30th November
A mainly foggy day. Reports from the Northwick Warth area involved 50+ Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Redshank, 90 Curlew, 200 Lapwing, 70 Dunlin, a Little Egret, 54 Canada Geese, 3 Tufted Duck, 15 Shelduck, 700 Wigeon/Teal and a Water Rail. Two Short-eared Owls showed after dusk at Aust Warth where a Merlin, a Raven and 3 Stonechats were also seen.
29th November
A cool and misty morning followed by a sunny afternoon. A female Red-breasted Merganser was seen floating down river off New Passage late morning where other sightings included 600+ Wigeon/Teal, 4 Shoveler and a Yellowhammer. Nearby, reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland involved 40+ Black-tailed Godwits, 250 Lapwing, 140 Curlew, 12 Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 45 Canada Geese, 11 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 2 Water Rails, a Chiffchaff, a Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Stonechats, a Little Owl and a Water Vole. Eleven Ringed Plovers were seen at Severn Beach.
28th November
A Merlin, 2 Little Egrets, 120 Lapwing, 100+ Curlew, 60 Canada Geese, 500 Wigeon/Teal, 13 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 8 Shelduck, a Little Grebe, a Water Rail, 48 Common Gulls, a Kingfisher and a Stonechat were reported from the Northwick Warth area. Sightings from the shore at Severn Beach involved 21 Ringed Plover, 80 Dunlin and 2 Stonechats with a Water Rail and 7 Tufted Duck at the Orchard Pools. At least 70 Turnstones, 45 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers and 16 Shelduck were seen at Chittening Warth.
27th November
A female Common Scoter was seen floating down river off New Passage/Northwick Warth where other reports involved 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Redshank, 700 Dunlin, 160 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 42 Canada Geese, 12 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 7 Tufted Duck, 350 Wigeon, 120 Teal, 2 Water Rails, single Merlin, Peregrine, Water Pipit and Chiffchaff. A high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 5 Ringed Plover, 5 Snipe, 10 Shelduck, 5 Rock Pipits and 2 Stonechats.
Common Scoter, New Passage 27.11.14
26th November
A Merlin, 200 Wigeon, 15 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 6 Little Egrets, 150 Lapwing, 150 Dunlin, 30 Redshank and a Chiffchaff were reported from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area. Five Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.
25th November
Another cold and foggy morning. No reports were received today.
24th November
A frosty and foggy stat to the morning. Reports from New Passage/Northwick Warth involved 700 Wigeon/Teal, 32 Canada Geese, 2 Little Egrets, a Water Rail, 900 Dunlin, 53 Redshank, 33 Oystercatchers, single Merlin and Kestrel, 60+ Pied Wagtails and a Water Pipit. A Short-eared Owl was flushed from the salt marsh at Severn Beach and nearby 7 Tufted Duck were seen on the Orchard Pools. Another Water Rail, a Snipe, 2 Stonechats and a Chiffchaff were reported at Chittening Warth.
23rd November
A cloudy and cooler day with good numbers and variety in the New Passage/Northwick Warth area including the drake Green-winged Teal, 700+ Teal, 400 Wigeon, 9 Shoveler, 30 Shelduck, 16 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Duck, 44 Canada Geese, a Greylag, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Water Rails, 12 Moorhen, 14 Coot, 2 Little Egrets, 2000+ Dunlin, 360 Lapwing, 240 Curlew, 200 Redshank, 120 Oystercatchers, 7 Back-tailed Godwits, 4 Golden Plover, 2 Grey Plover, a Knot, a female Merlin, 2 Ravens, 100 Pied Wagtails and a Stonechat. A Peregrine, 4 Jack Snipe, 5 Snipe, a Stonechat and a possible Twite were reported at Aust Warth.
Green-winged Teal, New Passage 23.11.14 © Mark Coller
22nd November
A drake Green-winged Teal was found at New Passage on the low tide at 2pm amongst 700+ Teal and 150 Wigeon where other sightings included a drake Shoveler, 60 Canada Geese, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Grey Plover, 40 Dunlin, 60 Oystercatchers, 90 Lapwing, 70 Curlew, 10 Snipe, a Little Egret and a female Merlin that gave excellent views perched and hunting, male Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. At least 3 Jack Snipe, 10 Snipe, 200 Dunlin, a Water Rail, 6 Stonechats and a Kestrel were reported from Aust Warth.
21st November
A brief afternoon visit to New Passage produced 83 Canada Geese, a Greylag, 11 Shelduck, hundreds of Wigeon and Teal, 200+ Redshank, 80 Dunlin, 60 Oystercatchers and 40 Lapwing.
20th November
A Merlin, 2 Little Egrets, single Rock Pipit and Redpoll were seen from New Passage. A Stonechat and a Water Rail were seen at Aust Warth.
19th November
Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area involved 45 Black-tailed Godwits, 85 Redshank, 60 Oystercatchers, 600 Dunlin, 10 Turnstones, 150+ Lapwing, 3 Snipe, a Grey Plover, a male Merlin, 9 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, a Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck, the usual Wigeon and Teal, 120+ Canada Geese, 2 Little Egrets and a Stonechat. Another 8 Tufted Duck, single Little Grebe, Water Rail and Cetti’s Warbler were reported at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach.
18th November
A Grey Plover, 45 Lapwing, 52 Redshank, 32 Dunlin, 100 Canada Geese, a Greylag, 2 Pintail, 3 Gadwall, 2 Rock Pipits and 2 Ravens were reported from New Passage. Three Stonechats were reported at Severn Beach and another 2 at Aust Warth.
17th November
No reports were received today.
16th November
A Short-eared Owl, 80 Turnstones, 21 Ringed Plover, a Snipe, 14 Shelduck, 2 Rock Pipits, 4 Redpoll, 2 Stonechats and 2 Chiffchaffs were seen at Severn Beach. Two Water Rails, 2 Jack Snipe, 10 Snipe, 2 Water Pipits, a Cetti’s Warbler and a Peregrine were reported from Chittening Warth. At least 350 Dunlin and another 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.
Short-eared Owl, Severn Beach 16.11.14 © Tony Scott
15th November
A foggy morning. A Short-eared Owl, 6 Jack Snipe, 6 Snipe a Water Rail and 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth. Combined sightings from New Passage/Northwick Warth included the usual 500+ Wigeon/Teal, dark-bellied Brent Goose, Greylag, 140 Canada Geese, 8 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 10 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 100+ Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, single Water Rail, Raven, Merlin, Kestrel and the same or another Short-eared Owl. Another 2 Jack Snipe, 19 Snipe, a Water Rail, 2 Cetti’s Warblers and 2 Stonechats were reported at Chittening Warth and another Stonechat and 20 Redwing at Severn Beach.
14th November
A good selection was reported from New Passage/Northwick Warth again today including 110 Canada Geese, single Greylag and dark-bellied Brent Goose, 500+ Wigeon/Teal, 6 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, a Water Rail, 2 Little Egrets, 500+ Dunlin, 68 Curlew, 53 Redshank, 32 Common Gulls, single Merlin and Sparrowhawk, 70+ Pied Wagtails, 30 Meadow Pipits, a Cetti’s Warbler and a Stonechat. Two Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.
13th November
Reports from the Northwick Warth area involved the dark-bellied Brent Goose, 6 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, 10 Tufted Duck, a Goldeneye, 2 Little Egrets, a Water Rail, single Little Stint, Green Sandpiper and Golden Plover, 105 Lapwing, 300 Dunlin, 2 Ravens (seen to kill and eat a Curlew), a Water Pipit, a Cetti’s Warbler, a Coal Tit, 40 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare and a Siskin.
12th November
Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth included the usual dark-bellied Brent Goose, the Greylag, 42 Canada Geese, 14 Shelduck, 9 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, a mixed flock of 900+ Wigeon/Teal, 2 Little Egrets, a Water Rail, 38 Oystercatchers, 5 Ringed Plover, 105 Lapwing, a Golden Plover, 6 Knot, 800+ Dunlin, 72 Curlew, 30 Redshank, 8 Common Gulls, 50 Pied Wagtails, single Kingfisher and Merlin. Four Stonechats, single Jack Snipe and Snipe were seen at Aust Warth.
11th November 
The dark-bellied Brent Goose and 90 Lapwing were seen from New Passage.
10th November
An adult Mediterranean Gull, a drake Goosander, 100 Canada Geese were seen from New Passage. Single Jack Snipe, Snipe, Little Egret and Stonechat were reported at Aust Warth.
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 10.11.14 © Tony Scott
9th November
A sunny day for a change. At least 800 Dunlin, 150 Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew, 120 Redshank, 80 Lapwing, 9 Shelduck, 600 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 40 Canada Geese, a Greylag, a dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Little Egrets, 2+ Water Rails, 2 Ravens, a female Merlin and 4 probable Twite were reported from the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area. Three Jack Snipe, 10+ Snipe, 4 Stonechats and a Rock Pipit were seen at Aust Warth.
High tide from New Passage 9.11.14
8th November
A wet and breezy day. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area involved the dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Greylag, 70 Canada Geese, 700+ Wigeon, 200 Teal, 20 Shoveler, 7 Shelduck, 9 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, a Water Rail, 2 Little Egrets, 1200 Dunlin, 100+ Lapwing, 166 Oystercatchers, 80 Curlew, 2 Snipe, 200 Redshank and a female Merlin. A male Merlin was seen at Aust Warth. A Water Vole was seen on the Grebe Pond this evening.
Brent Goose and Canada Geese, New Passage 8.11.14
7th November
At least 160 Lapwing, 30 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 30 Canada Geese, a Greylag and the large flock of Wigeon and Teal were seen on a brief wet visit to New Passage. A Short-eared Owl was reported here during the night.
6th November
Much of the same from New Passage today with the Brent Goose, 60 Canada Geese, a Greylag, the Wigeon and Teal flock, 2 Little Egrets, 82 Lapwing, 30 Knot, 100 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 70 Redshank and 20 Fieldfares all being reported. Three Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.
5th November
The Brent Goose, at least 250 Wigeon, 2 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 70 Curlew, 80 Lapwing, just 20 Dunlin, 100 Redshank, single Peregrine, singing male Cetti’s Warbler and Kingfisher were reported in the Northwick Warth area. The first Short-eared Owl of the winter was flushed on Aust Warth late morning.
4th November
A brief afternoon visit to New Passage produced the dark-bellied Brent Goose, 50 Canada Geese, the huge flock of Wigeon and Teal, 2 Little Egrets and 200 Dunlin. A Stonechat and 150 Dunlin were present at dusk at Aust Warth.
3rd November
A dark-bellied Brent Goose, 45 Canada Geese, 3 Little Egrets, 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 75 Oystercatchers, 55 Lapwing, 300 Dunlin, 50+ Redshank, a Ringed Plover and the large flock of Wigeon and Teal were seen from New Passage. Two Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth and another were present at Chittening Warth.
2nd November
A breezy day with heavy rain showers. Reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area involved 2 dark-bellied Brent Geese, 80+ Canada Geese, a Greylag, 700 Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, a Water Rail, a Little Egret, 10 Golden Plover, 43 Lapwing, 30 Knot, 19 Snipe, 600 Dunlin, 110 Black-tailed Godwits, a Merlin and a Coal Tit. Sightings from Severn Beach included 19 Ringed Plover, 65 Turnstones and a Raven. Two Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.
1st November
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area included a dark-bellied Brent Goose, 64 Canada Geese, a Greylag, 640 Wigeon, 170 Teal, 27 Shoveler, a drake Pochard, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egrets, 45 Knot, 140 Black-tailed Godwits, 66 Turnstones, 3 Grey Plover, 90 Redshank, 300 Dunlin, single Water Rail, Kingfisher, Stonechat and Rock Pipit, 4 Redwings and a total of 1,900 Wood Pigeons heading south east. The 3rd ever Severnside record of Bittern, was flushed from the pool at Stupp Pill, Chittening Warth this morning where single Jack Snipe, Kingfisher and Cetti’s Warbler and 4 Stonechats were also reported.
