September is one of the most exciting months to visit Severnside. The total of 192 species seen at least once in this month, is the third highest in the year. It is the time when most of the summer visitors will depart and a good selection of early winter visitors will arrive towards the end of the month. Any West or South West gales will produce the usual seabirds but the more exotic have occurred; Sooty Shearwater (1974), Balearic Shearwater (1988), Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull. Other rarities that have appeared in September include; Red-crested Pochard (2 in 1996), White Storks (2010), Glossy Ibis (2010), Cattle Egret (2012), Great White Egret (2013), Crane (2014), Honey Buzzard (1996), Dotterel (1974), Kentish Plover (2006), White-rumped Sandpiper (1985), Pectoral Sandpiper (1998, 2006, 2008 and 2014), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (1989, 2003), Terek Sandpiper (1986), Semipalmated Sandpiper (2009), Red-rumped Swallow (1977), Wryneck (2003, 2010) and Rose-coloured Starling (2004). Local rarities have included pale-bellied Brent Geese, Osprey, Spoonbill (2008, 2011), Nightjar (2006, 2013), Hawfinch (1998), Willow Tit (1992), Nightingale (1999), Lapland Bunting and Ring Ouzel.
September 2015
30th September
Single Greenshank and Ruff, 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 60+ Knot, 350 Dunlin, a Grey Plover, 5 Little Egrets, 90 Shoveler, 2 Pintail, a Siskin and at least 2 Chiffchaffs were reported in the New Passage/Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
29th September
A Curlew Sandpiper, a Greenshank, at least 45 Knot, 41 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Grey Plover, 350 Dunlin, 24 Ringed Plover, 3 Snipe, 40 Turnstones, 110 Oystercatchers, 45 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Yellow Wagtails, single Whinchat and Wheatear were seen in the New Passage/Northwick Warth area. A Little Egret, a Kingfisher, 2 Cetti’s Warblers and a Chiffchaff were reported from the Orchard Pools at Severn Beach. Sightings from Aust Warth involved 60 Canada Geese and a Stonechat.
28th September
Reports from New Passage/Northwick Warth involved a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Greenshank, 14 Knot, 150 Dunlin, 24 Black-tailed Godwits, a Grey Plover, 30 Shoveler, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Wheatear.
27th September
Combined reports from New Passage/Northwick 110 Knot, 30 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Grey Plover, a Ringed Plover, 70 Snipe, 80 Dunlin, 210 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, 40 Shoveler, 3 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Redpoll. Nearby, a morning mist netting session on the Pilning Wetland plantation area resulted in the the capture and ringing of a good selection of birds including a Cetti’s Warbler, 22 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs and 5 Goldcrests. Sightings from Severn Beach included 3 Little Egrets, 5 Common Sandpipers, 5 Ringed Plover and 20 Turnstones. A Barn Owl was seen hunting over Aust Warth at 7.30pm.
26th September
A Whimbrel, 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 74 Oystercatchers, a Grey Plover, 2 Lapwing, 80 Knot, 100 Dunlin, 110 Curlew, 101 Redshank, 2 Little Egrets, 8 Gadwall, 125 Teal, 2 Pintail, 46 Shoveler, a Kingfisher, a Raven 2 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcaps, single Whitethroat, Stonechat and Wheatear were reported from New Passage/Northwick Warth. Away up far north today on the way to Shetland we spent a couple of hours watching on the Ythan Estuary with good numbers of Eider, Red Throated Diver, Red-breasted Mergansers, Grey and Common Seals followed by 2 Minke Whales, Dolphins, Puffins, Black Guillemots and more from the Shetland car ferry.
Eider, Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire 26.9.15
25th September
A Grey Phalarope was seen and “phonescoped” off New Passage early morning on the falling tide. Other sightings from here and the Pilning Wetland involved the Black Tern, 10 Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Knot, 40 Oystercatchers, 70 Redshank, 35 Dunlin, the Wigeon/Teal fock, 2 Pintail, 12 Shoveler and a Peregrine. A Whitethroat and 6 Little Egrets were seen at Severn Beach.
Grey Phalarope, New Passage 25.9.15 © Karle Burford
24th September
The juvenile Black Tern, a Greenshank, 143 Knot, 80+ Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Grey Plover, 30 Oystercatchers, 80 Redshank, 120+ Dunlin, 17 Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 600+ Teal/Wigeon, 15 Shoveler, 8 Pintail, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Peregrines, single Merlin, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, 3 Sand Martins, 4 Blackcaps, 60 Goldfinches, single Coal Tit, Yellow Wagtail, Mistle Thrush and Redpoll were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. At least 40 Ringed Plover and 300 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach.
23rd September
Combined reports from New Passage/Pilning Wetland included single Ruff and Greenshank on the shore with 160+ Black-tailed Godwits, 122 Knot, 25 Dunlin, 85 Redshank, 8 Snipe, the first Lapwing of the autumn, 300 Teal, 90 Wigeon, 29 Shoveler, 20 Pintail, 3 Tufted Duck, 5 Little Grebes, the juvenile Black Tern, a Common Gull, 2 Little Egrets, a Merlin, 2 Wheatears, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Ravens, 15 Sand Martins, 2 Redpolls, 2 Siskin, 2 Grey Wagtails, 11 Blackcaps (trapped and ringed), single Kingfisher, Stonechat, Reed Warbler and Whitethroat. A Kingfisher and 30 Oystercatchers were reported from Chittening Warth. Another presumed Essex ringed adult Black-headed Gull was seen at New Passage this morning bearing a Yellow plastic ring on the left leg with Black alphanumeric code 2DHN. Update: The bird was ringed at Rainham Marsh by North Thames Gull Group as an adult on 22.2.14.
Black Tern, Pilning Wetland 23.9.15
22nd September
An impressive number of birds remained at New Passage shore including 150 Black-tailed Godwits, 110 Knot, 5 Grey Plover, a Sanderling, 80 Redshank, 40 Curlew, 6 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, 130 Wigeon, 350 Teal, 22 Pintail, 20 Shoveler, 2 Little Egrets, single Common Gull, Kingfisher and Peregrine. Nearby, the juvenile Black Tern (with missing feathers in right wing) reappeared on the Pilning Wetland where other sightings involved a Little Egret, 17 Snipe, 5 Little Grebes, 7 Sand Martins, 5 Wheatears, 50 Goldfinch, 40 Linnet and a Siskin. A high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 8 Grey Plover, 3 Knot, 250 Dunlin and 40 Ringed Plover. A Short-eared Owl and Barn Owl were reported at Aust Warth this evening.
Black-tailed Godwits, Knot, Grey Plover and Dunlin, New Passage 22.9.15
Snipe, Pilning Wetland 22.9.15
21st September
Once again, the New Passage and Northwick Warth shoreline were dripping in birds including 4 juvenile Little Stints, 180 Black-tailed Godwits, 110 Knot, single Greenshank and Grey Plover, 40 Curlew, 80 Redshank, 9 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin, 30+ Snipe, a Little Egret, 400+ Teal, 140 Wigeon, 15 Pintail, 4 Wheatears, single Hobby, Stonechat, Yellow Wagtail and Siskin. At least 240 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, 80 Turnstones and a Knot were seen at Severn Beach.
20th September
Combined reports from New Passage/Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland involved a Little Stint, 180 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Knot, 95 Redshank, 41 Snipe, 5 Grey Plover, 6 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, 500+ Teal/Wigeon, 22 Pintail, a Gadwall, 22 Shoveler, 130+ Canada Geese, 6 Little Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Coal Tit, a Kingfisher and 15 flyover Siskins. A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 60 Turnstones, 40 Ringed Plover, 240 Dunlin and a Wheatear were seen at Severn Beach. A Barn Owl was seen again at Aust Warth this evening.
Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 20.9.15 © Mark Coller
19th September
The juvenile Black Tern, 140 Black-tailed Godwits, 36 Knot, 5 Grey Plover, a Golden Plover, 40 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, 22 Pintail, 4 Shoveler, 450 Teal/Wigeon, a Common Gull, 2 Ravens, 4 Wheatear, 2 Redpolls, a Whinchat were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Reports from Severn Beach included 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 5 Knot, 200 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover, 60 Linnets and single flyover Redpoll and Siskin. Single Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher and Wheatear were seen at Aust Warth today where a Barn Owl was seen in the evening.
18th September
A Marsh Harrier was watched hunting over the reed bed at Pilning Wetland (surprisingly our first September record) before it eventually drifted off East. Other sightings from here and Northwick Warth/New Passage included the Black Tern, 40+ Knot, 40 Dunlin, 150+ Black-tailed Godwits, a Grey Plover, 80 Redshank, 52+ Snipe, 90 Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 130 Canada Geese, 6 Mute Swans, 500 Wigeon/Teal, 18 Pintail, 5 Shoveler, 4 Whinchats, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 20+ Pied Wagtails, 7 Wheatears, a Spotted Flycatcher, 7 Siskins, 2 Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler and 6 Chiffchaff. A Curlew Sandpiper, 150 Dunlin, 50 Ringed Plover, 30 Turnstones and 4 Wheatears were seen at Severn Beach. Click on the Harrier picture below for a short Youtube video.
Marsh Harrier, Pilning Wetland 18.9.15
Black Tern, Pilning Wetland 18.9.15 © Matt Scott
17th September
Combined reports from Pilning/Wetland/Northwick Warth/New Passage included the Black Tern, a Greenshank, 2 Golden Plover, 7 Ringed Plover, 77 Knot, 150+ Black-tailed Godwits, 50 Curlew, 80 Redshank, 30 Turnstones, 90 Oystercatchers, 75 Dunlin, 20+ Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 9 Mute Swans, 30 Canada Geese, 14 Pintail, 6 Shoveler, 4 Tufted Duck, 400 Wigeon/Teal, 6 Little Grebes, 4 Whinchats, 8 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 12 Sand Martins, 5+ Siskins, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, single Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Redpoll, Kingfisher and Peregrine. At least 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 150 Dunlin, 70 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling and 4 Wheatears were reported at Severn Beach.
16th September
A cool day with a North East wind. A Wryneck was seen early morning at Severn Lodge Farm, New Passage but not relocated (there are quite a few mature gardens that look Wryneck friendly here but are impossible to view). Other reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included the Black Tern feeding all day, a Wood Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 20+ Snipe, a Greenshank, 150+ Black-tailed Godwits, 35 Knot, 90 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 500 Teal/Wigeon, 15 Pintail, 5 Tufted Duck, 6 Shoveler, 5 Little Grebes, a Kingfisher, 4 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 30 Pied Wagtails, 20 Meadow Pipits, 40 Linnets, 5 flyover Reed Buntings, a flyover Redpoll, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, single Peregrine, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk, 150 mixed Swallows/House Martins and 2 Sand Martins. An early morning visit to the Severn Beach wader roost produced single Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling and Turnstone, 85 Ringed Plover and 280 Dunlin.
Black Tern, Pilning Wetland 16.9.15
Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 16.9.15
15th September
A Black Tern, a Curlew Sandpiper, 35 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 4 Ruff, 60+ Knot, 160 Black-tailed Godwits, a Grey Plover, 25+ Snipe, 80 Redshank, 30 Turnstones, 90 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 230 Canada Geese, 12 Pintail, 3 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebes, 2 Whinchats, 8 Wheatears, 2 Sand Martins and 4 Yellow Wagtails were seen in the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area. Another Curlew Sandpiper, single Sanderling, Knot and Turnstone, 300 Dunlin, 60 Ringed Plover and 4 Wheatears were seen on the morning high tide at Severn Beach.
Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 15.9.15
Curlew Sandpiper, Northwick Warth 15.9.15
Black Tern, Pilning Wetland 15.9.15
Black Tern, Pilning Wetland 15.9.15
14th September
A very wet and increasingly windy day. An evening sea watch at Severn Beach produced 2 Leach’s Petrel together (at 7.20pm) and a Manx Shearwater (6.20pm-7.30pm). Sightings from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included 2 Ruff, at least 155 Black-tailed Godwits, 46 Knot, 25 Snipe, 2 Grey Plover, 163 Canada Geese, 10 Pintail, 2 Gadwall, 9 Shoveler, single Water Rail, Hobby, Yellow Wagtail, Raven, Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. A Swift was seen at Chittening Warth.
13th September
The only reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area involved a Mediterranean Gull, the Wood Sandpiper, 3 Ruff, 145 Black-tailed Godwits, 39 Knot, 90 Redshank, 2 Little Grebes, 140 Canada Geese, 100+ Wigeon, 300 Teal, single Whinchat, Stonechat and Yellow Wagtail, 8 Wheatears, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 18+ Blackcaps, 3 Siskins and a Coal Tit. At least 120 Dunlin, 80 Ringed Plover, 4 Little Egrets and 5 Wigeon were seen from Severn Beach. Seven Siskins were reported from Sea Bank at Chittening Warth.
12th September
Sightings from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included the Wood Sandpiper, 38 Knot, 125+ Black-tailed Godwits, 3+ Ruff, 20 Snipe, 90 Oystercatchers, 95 Redshank, 30 Curlew, 15 Turnstones, 2 Ringed Plover, 25 Dunlin, a Little Egret, 3 Little Grebes, 225 Canada Geese, 145 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 360 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck, 22 Pintail, 6 Shoveler, a juvenile Hobby, a late Swift, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Sand Martins, a Whitethroat and 3 Siskins. A Sanderling, 270 Dunlin and 85 Ringed Plover remained at Severn Beach.
11th September
An Avocet, the juvenile Wood Sandpiper, 4 Ruff, 126 Black-tailed Godwits, 13 Knot, 20+ Snipe, 20 Turnstones, 115 Redshank, 3 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 240 Canada Geese, 3 Mute Swans, 16 Pintail, 8 Shoveler, a Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 55 Wigeon, 360 Teal, 2 Little Grebes, 5 Cormorants, 2 Coal Tits, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 11 Sand Martins, 9 Siskins, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Kingfisher, a Peregrine, 3 Grey Wagtails and 4 Yellow Wagtails were seen in the Pilning Wetland/Norhwick Warth area. Sightings from Severn Beach involved a Sanderling, a mixed flock of 300 Dunlin/Ringed Plover, 3 Little Egrets and 7 flyover Siskins.
Sanderling, Severn Beach 11.9.15
Yellow Wagtail, Northwick Warth 11.9.15
10th September
Sightings from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included the juvenile Wood Sandpiper, 4 Ruff, 123 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Knot, 12 Snipe, 80 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, 26 Curlew, 18 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Egrets, 9 Pintail, single Gadwall and Shoveler, 350+ Teal, 60+ Wigeon, 120 Canada Geese, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Siskins, a Yellow Wagtail and 4 Sand Martins. An evening visit to Severn Beach produced a Sanderling, 150 Dunlin, 130 Ringed Plover, a Turnstone, 3 Little Egrets and a flyover Siskin.
Wood Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 10.9.15
9th September
The first Little Stint of the year was reported from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland where other sightings included a juvenile Wood Sandpiper, 4 Ruff, 10+ Snipe, 108 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Knot, 11 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, single Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper, 80 Redshank, a Little Egret, 250 Teal, 50+ Wigeon, 3 Tufted Duck, 230 Canada Geese, 6 Pintail, a Gadwall, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Kingfisher and 15 Sand Martins.
8th September
A mid morning visit to New Passage/Pilning Wetland produced a juvenile Wood Sandpiper, 3 Ruff, 31 Black-tailed Godwits, 70+ Redshank, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Snipe, 6 Pintail, 2 Gadwall, 55 Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 225 Canada Geese, 4 Little Grebes, single Hobby, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk, 10 Siskins, 4 Yellow Wagtails and 4 Sand Martins. A Knot, 16 Turnstones and a mixed flock of 200 Ringed Plover/Dunlin were seen from the Severn Beach shore and a Coal Tit was an unusual visitor to Severn Beach garden. A Kingfisher and 2 Common Sandpipers were seen at Aust Warth.
Ruff, Pilning Wetland 8.9.15
7th September
The only reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area involved 3 Ruff, 5 Snipe, 8 Dunlin, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Curlew, 3 Pintail, 50 Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 2 Little Egrets and a Siskin. At least 300 Dunlin/Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstones and a Little Egret were seen at Severn Beach.
6th September
A Mediterranean Gull, a Wood Sandpiper, 5 Ruff, 17 Black-tailed Godwits, single Golden Plover and 10+ Snipe, 65 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, a Pintail, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 9 Siskins, 6 Sand Martins, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, single Coal Tit, Garden Warbler and Peregrine were reported from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth. A Little Egret, a mixed flock of 300 Dunlin/Ringed Plover, a Knot and 3 Turnstones were seen at Severn Beach. A Common Sandpiper was reported at Chittening Warth.
5th September
Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included another juvenile Wood Sandpiper, a Ruff, 41 Black-tailed Godwits, 17 Ringed Plover, 65 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 5+ Knot, 41 Turnstones, 60 Redshank, 2 Pintail, 130 Teal, 40 Wigeon, 2 Wheatears, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Siskins, single Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail.
Wood Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 5.9.15
4th September
Reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included 45+ Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Knot, a Golden Plover, 5 Snipe, 50 Dunlin, 27 Ringed Plover, 40 Turnstones, 65 Redshank, 60 Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew, 140 Teal, 40 Wigeon, a Pintail, 120 Canada Geese, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Wheatears, 2 Whinchat, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 80 Swallows/House Martins, a Sand Martin, 5 flyover Siskin, a Kingfisher and a ringing session included a Redstart, a Garden Warbler, 10 Blackcaps and 2 Whitethroats.
Redstart, Pilning Wetland 4.9.15
3rd September
At least 54 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Knot, 55 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plover, 60 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, 5 Snipe, a Little Egret, 19 Wigeon, 140 Teal, single Pintail and Shoveler, 65 Canada Geese, 4 Little Grebes, a Kingfisher, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Great Black-backed Gull and a Peregrine were seen in the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area. Five Ringed Plover, single Little Egret, Lesser Whitethroat and Whinchat were reported from Severn Beach and a Barn Owl was present this evening at Aust Warth.
2nd September
Sightings from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included a Ruff, 31 Black-tailed Godwits, 13 Snipe, 6 Knot, a Common Sandpiper, 11 Dunlin, 60 Redshank, 35 Turnstones, 2 Little Egrets, a Pintail, 6 Tufted Duck, 11 Wigeon, 140 Teal, 160 Canada Geese, a Common Gull, 3 Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail. Two Barn Owls were hunting again over Aust Warth at 8.20pm.
Mediterranean Gull, Pilning Wetland 1.9.15
3 of the Ruff & Mediterranean Gull, Pilning Wetland 1.9.15
1st September
Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included an adult Mediterranean Gull, 4 juvenile Ruff, 24 Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Knot, 6 Snipe, 60+Redshank, single Little Egret, Common Sandpiper, 10 Tufted Duck, a Pochard, 110 Canada Geese, single Yellow Wagtail, Kingfisher, Siskin and Sand Martin. A mixed flock 70 Dunlin/Ringed Plover and 7 Wheatears were seen at Severn Beach. A Whinchat was seen on Aust Warth where 3 Barn Owls appeared at 8.30pm near Cake Pill.
