December is one of the quietest months with only 160 species recorded during the month. It can be a good month for wildfowl with the chance of Red-breasted Merganser and Goosander if inland waters freeze or some fly by Bewick’s Swans. A good selection of seabirds have occurred in December gales including Black-throated and Great Northern Divers, Leach’s Petrel, Little Auk, Grey Phalarope and Pomarine Skua. Other rarities have included a stunning male Desert Wheatear (2013), Green-winged Teal (2013), Glaucous Gull, Waxwing (2010) and in the winters of 1940 & 1941, Cirl Bunting.
December 2014
31st December
A quiet end to the year. A Water Pipit, 170 Black-tailed Godwits, 180 Dunlin, 70 Lapwing, 90 Curlew, a Little Egret, 35 Canada Geese, 24 Shelduck, 600 Wigeon, 11 Gadwall, 9 Shoveler, 14 Tufted Duck, 30 Fieldfare, single Water Rail, Raven and Coal Tit were reported from New Passage/Northwick Warth. Two Jack Snipe and 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth and 18 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin and 18 Redshank were present on the shore at Severn Beach.
30th December
A cold and frosty morning. A Merlin, 2 Stonechats and a Kingfisher were seen at Aust Warth. Five Bewick’s Swans (3 adults) were seen from Severn Beach late afternoon.
29th December
Another icy (-3°C) dawn followed by a sunny day. Three Short-eared Owls, a Peregrine, 4 Jack Snipe, 20+ Snipe, 4 Stonechats and 6+ Rock Pipits were seen in the salt marsh at Severn Beach today and nearby 2 Water Rails were reported at the Orchard Pools. Reports from the Northwick Warth area included 55 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Egrets, 10 Gadwall, single Coal Tit and and Chiffchaff. Another Jack Snipe, a Snipe, 150 Dunlin, 25 Wigeon and 75 Teal were seen at Aust Warth.
Short-eared Owl, Severn Beach 29.12.14
28th December
A cold and sunny day after an icy dawn. Combined reports from Northwick Warth included 2 Golden Plover, 90 Lapwing, 500 Dunlin, 6 Snipe, 50 Curlew, a Little Egret, 23 Canada Geese, 11 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 30 Shelduck, 23 Shoveler, 2 Water Rails, 20 Fieldfare and a Chiffchaff. Another 150 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover and a Stonechat were seen at Severn Beach. The first 2 Bewick’s Swans of the year flew north past Aust Warth late afternoon.
27th December
The usual 450 Wigeon/Teal, 47 Shelduck, 8 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, 6 Tufted Duck, 45 Curlew, 90 Lapwing, single Golden Plover and Little Egret were reported from Northwick Warth. A Jack Snipe, at least 31 Snipe, 50 Turnstones, 12 Ringed Plover, 80 Redshank, 30 Dunlin, 7 Grey Herons, 6 Rock Pipits and 2 Stonechats were seen at Severn Beach.
26th December
A wet day. A brief visit to the Northwick Warth area produced 14 Canada Geese, 40 Shelduck, 450 Wigeon/Teal, 9 Shoveler, 9 Tufted Duck, 9 Gadwall, 50 Lapwing, 14 Snipe, a Little Egret and a Water Rail. Another 45 Snipe, 9 Jack Snipe and a Stonechat were reported at Aust Warth.
25th December
Two Jack Snipe were washed out of the salt marsh at Severn Beach by the high tide. At least 31 Shelduck, 12 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, a Water Rail, 2 Snipe and a Stonechat were reported from the Northwick Warth area.
24th December
The only reports were of 2 Kestrels, 2 Ravens and a Stonechat at Aust Warth.
23rd December
Combined reports from the New Passage area involved 31 Canada Geese, 29 Shelduck, 7 Gadwall, 85 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 22 Oystercatchers, 220 Lapwing, 265 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, a Black-tailed Godwit and 53 Redshank. A Stonechat was seen at Aust Warth. A male Blackcap remained in a Severn Beach garden and 3 Little Egrets were seen near the shore.
22nd December
A Little Egret, a Raven and 45 Fieldfares were reported from New Passage.
21st December
A brief visit to New Passage produced just 300 Dunlin, 70 Oystercatchers, 50 Redshank, 22 Canada Geese, 20 Shelduck and a mixed flock of 300 Wigeon/Teal.
20th December
Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area involved single Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Egrets, 20+ Snipe, 400+ Lapwing, 15 Dunlin, 90 Curlew, 7 Tufted Duck, a Shoveler, 6 Gadwall and a Merlin.
Lapwing, Pilning Wetland 20.12.14
19th December
Reports from Aust Warth involved 7 Jack Snipe, a Snipe, 2 Ravens and plenty of Skylarks and Reed Buntings. Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area involved a Bar-tailed Godwit, 119 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 2 Snipe, a Water Rail, 7 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Ravens, 46 Redwing, a Stonechat and 2 Grey Wagtails.
18th December
A adult Mediterranean Gull and 70 Common Gulls were reported at New Passage. Just 16 Turnstones and 55 Dunlin were reported at Severn Beach. A Little Egret was seen at Aust Warth.
17th December
A female Merlin, 42 Shelduck, the usual Wigeon and Teal flocks, 90 Oystercatchers, 250 Lapwing, 110 Curlew, 8 Turnstones and 60+ Pied Wagtails were seen from New Passage.
16th December
An adult Mediterranean Gull, 32 Dunlin, 50 Redshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Curlew, 34 Lapwing, 200 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 38 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler were reported off New Passage and a male Bearded Tit was found on the Pilning Wetland at Northwick Warth this morning. A Stonechat remained on Aust Warth.
15th December
Much of the same today in the Northwick Warth area with 32 Shelduck, 10 Gadwall, 2 Water Rails, 260 Lapwing, 35 Curlew, a Stonechat and a Water Pipit being reported. Reports from Severn Beach involved 60 Redshank and 2 Stonechats near the shore, 6 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck and a Little Grebe at the Orchard Pools and a male Blackcap in a garden. Another Stonechat was seen at Aust Warth.
14th December
A brief visit to the Pilning Wetland produced 23 Snipe, 200 Lapwing and 9 Gadwall.
13th December
The usual 30+ Canada Geese, 35 Shelduck, 6 Shoveler, 9 Tufted Duck, 9 Gadwall, Water Rail, 12 Snipe 350 Lapwing, 100 Curlew and a Merlin were reported from Northwick Warth. Just 15 Ringed Plover, 50 Dunlin and a Rock Pipit were seen at Severn Beach. Three Stonechats were reported at Chittening Warth.
12th December
At least 32 Canada Geese, 31 Shelduck, 8 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 6 Tufted Duck, 200 Wigeon/Teal, 2 Water Rails, a Little Egret, 100+ Oystercatchers, 9 Snipe, 100+ Curlew, 23 Turnstones, single Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, Stonechat and Coal Tit were reported in the New Passage/Northwick Warth area. Reports from Severn Beach involved a Red Kite (Western Distribution Park), 140 Turnstones, 30 Dunlin, 2 Ravens, a Peregrine and a male Blackcap.
11th December
Just 2 Pintail, 80 Dunlin/Ringed Plover and 4 Turnstones were reported from Severn Beach. The Water Pipit and Stonechat were reported again at Northwick Warth. A male Blackcap was in a Severn Beach Garden.
10th December
The Water Pipit remained near the 1st sentry box on Northwick Warth where other sightings included 32 Canada Geese, 24 Shelduck, 250 Wigeon/Teal, 23 Oystercatchers, 70 Dunlin, 26 Curlew, 38 Redshank and a Stonechat. Sixteen Ringed Plover and 95 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach and another Stonechat was at Aust Warth.
Wigeon, New Passage 10.12.14 © Mark Coller
9th December
A Water Pipit, 15 Black-tailed Godwits, a Water Rail and 2 Gadwall were reported from Northwick Warth.
8th December
No reports were received today.
7th December
Just 57 Canada Geese, 16 Shelduck, 9 Tufted Duck, 350 Wigeon, 100 Teal, 6 Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, a Water Rail, a Little Egret, 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Snipe, 350 Dunlin, 170 Lapwing and a Stonechat were reported from the Northwick Warth area.
Black-tailed Godwits, New Passage 7.12.14
6th December
A frosty dawn followed by a sunny day. Another good selection were seen from New Passage this morning including 2 Little Egrets, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, a Knot, 150 Dunlin, 150 Lapwing, 90 Redshank, 120 Oystercatchers, 10 Shelduck, 5 Tufted Duck, 12 Shoveler, 400 Wigeon/Teal, a Little Grebe, a Kingfisher and a Stonechat. Another 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth where a flyover Woodcock was reported at dusk.
5th December
A good number of birds were seen from New Passage including 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 260 Lapwing, 167 Oystercatchers, 400 Dunlin, 90 Redshank, a Knot, a Little Egret, 9 Shoveler, 400 Wigeon, 140 Teal, 51 Canada Geese and a Raven. Two Water Pipits were seen at Aust Warth.
4th December
No reports were received today.
3rd December
A Merlin, a Peregrine, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Lapwing, 60 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, a Little Grebe, 13 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck and a Chiffchaff were reported from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area. Another Little Egret, a Snipe and 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.
2nd December
Four Golden Plover, 220 Lapwing, 25 Redshank, 7 Gadwall and a Water Rail were reported from Northwick Warth. A late afternoon high tide visit to the Severn Beach shore produced at least 140 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plover, 16 Shelduck and 16 Linnets.
1st December
Two dark-bellied Brent Geese, single Merlin, Water Rail, Little Grebe, Little Egret and Kingfisher, 2 Chiffchaffs and 80 Redwing were reported in the Northwick Warth area. Two Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.
