January is a slightly better month than December, the daylight hours slowly lengthen resulting in a monthly total of 165 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), Green-winged Teal (2015), American Golden Plover (2002), Great Grey Shrike (2004), 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 2016
31st January
Another increasingly windy day with the arrival of Storm Henry produced a Great Skua and at least 40 Kittiwakes at Severn Beach. Sightings from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included 2 Little Egrets, 8 Mute Swans, a Greylag Goose, 18 Canada Geese, 4 Pintail, 32 Gadwall, 35 Shoveler, 30 Shelduck, 14 Tufted Duck, 600+ Wigeon, 80 Teal, 180 Curlew, 40 Redshank, 70 Oystercatchers, 300+ Dunlin, single Rock Pipit, Peregrine and Brambling.
30th January
Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth/New Passage included 2 Little Egrets, 50 Oystercatchers, 185 Curlew, 200 Lapwing. 47 Redshank, a Snipe, 3 Grey Herons, 10 Mute Swans, a Greylag Goose, 700 Wigeon, 25 Gadwall, 34 Shoveler, 7 Tufted Duck, 32 Sheldck, 110 Teal, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Coal Tits, single Rock Pipit, Peregrine and Kestrel.
29th January
The tail end of Storm Gertrude produced a gusty South West wind all day. A few hours seawatching from Severn Beach produced at least 120 Kittiwakes in several flocks, 90+ Turnstones and 6 Shelduck. An adult Mediterranean Gull, 200+ Lapwing, 90 Dunlin, 250 Curlew, 8 Mute Swans, 80+ Canada Geese, a Greylag Goose, 9 Tufted Duck, 120 Teal, 450 Wigeon, 24 Gadwall, at least 20 Shoveler, 2 Ravens and a Sparrowhawk were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area.
Kittiwakes with Black-headed Gulls, Severn Beach 29.1.16
Mediterranean Gull, Pilning Wetland 29.1.16
28th January
Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included a Merlin, a Little Egret, 10 Mute Swans, 81 Canada Geese, a Greylag Goose, 12 Tufted Duck, 34 Shelduck, 30+ Shoveler, 20+ Gadwall, 110 Teal, 500 Wigeon, 270 Lapwing, 102 Oystercatchers, 280 Curlew, 45 Redshank, 300+ Dunlin, 2 Water Rails and a Water Pipit. A female Merlin, 4 Ringed Plover and a Snipe were seen at Severn Beach.
27th January
Another very wet day with a moderate strength Southerly wind. A Little Egret, 6 Tufted Duck, 20+ Gadwall, 30 Shoveler, 120 Teal, 300 Lapwing, 60 Redshank, 130 Curlew and 200 Dunlin were seen on Pilning Wetland. A Kingfisher and a Water Rail were seen in Chestle Pill at New Passage. At least 120 Turnstones were present over the high tide at Severn Beach.
26th January
A windy and very wet day. A brief visit to Pilning Wetland produced a Greylag Goose, 78 Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swans, 37 Shelduck, 200 Lapwing, 140 Curlew and a Little Egret.
25th January
Reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included 3 Little Egrets, 100+ Oystercatchers, 400+ Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, 185 Curlew, 400 Dunlin, 30 Redshank, 62 Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swans, a Greylag Goose, 34 Shelduck, 22 Gadwall, 30+ Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck, 160 Teal, 300+ Wigeon, 2 Water Rails, single Raven and Stonechat, 2 Rock Pipits and 60 Pied Wagtails.
24th January
Sightings from New Passage/Pilning Wetland involved a Knot, 65+ Redshank, 700 Dunlin, 200+ Lapwing, 3 Little Egrets, a Greylag Goose, 95 Canada Geese, 37 Shelduck, 2 Water Pipits, a Rock Pipit, 2 Kingfishers, a Blackcap and a Coal Tit.
23rd January
Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Wath/New Passage included 2 Little Egrets, a Greylag Goose, 15 Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swans, 37 Shelduck, 25 Shoveler, a Knot, 800+ Dunlin, 200+ Lapwing, 10 Snipe, 55 Turnstones, 3 Water Rails, 3 Water Pipits, single Raven, Peregrine and Yellowhammer.
22nd January
A warmer day and a complete thaw of the pools with plenty to see. A Little Egret, 480+ Lapwing, 300+ Curlew, a Black-tailed Godwit, 1000+ Dunlin, 60 Redshank, 80 Oystercatchers a Greylag Goose, 77 Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swans, 6 Tufted Duck, 12 Gadwall, 350 Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 27 Shelduck, 2 Water Rails, an adult Great Black-backed Gull, at least 3 Water Pipits, 26 Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Ravens, a male Kestrel and a female Merlin were reported this afternoon in the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area. Click on the picture below for a short and shaky video of the Merlin on Youtube.
Merlin, Pilning Wetland 22.1.16
Water Pipit, Northwick Warth 22.1.16
21st January
A warmer day but most of the pools remained half frozen. Sightings from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 42 Shelduck, one Greylag Goose, 45 Canada Geese, 10 Mute Swans, 12 Tufted Duck, 4 Pintail, 700+ Wigeon, 20 Gadwall, 30+ Shoveler, 150 Teal, 18 Coot, 1000+ Dunlin and 80 Lapwing.
20th January
Another icy (-6°C) dawn and day with a North East breeze. Sightings from the near completely frozen Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included 2 Greylag Geese, 10 Mute Swans, 31 Canada Geese, 350+Wigeon, 90 Teal, 12 Tufted Duck, 19 Pintail, 35+ Shoveler, 30 Shelduck, 10 Gadwall, 20 Coot, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Snipe, 55 Oystercatchers, 400 Dunlin, 90 Lapwing, a Rock Pipit and a flyover Siskin. Combined reports from the Severn Beach shore included a Jack Snipe, 18 Snipe, 30 Curlew, 50 Turnstones, 20 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin, 200 Oystercatchers, a Coot on the Severn, 15 Shelduck, a Merlin, 5 Rock Pipits and as Stonechat. Another Jack Snipe, 2 Snipe, 150 Dunlin, 40 Lapwing, 22 Shoveler and a Rock Pipit were seen at Aust Warth.
Greylag Geese, Pilning Wetland 20.1.16
Lapwing, Pilning Wetland 20.1.16
19th January
A cold day following an icy (-3°C) dawn. The only reports from Northwick Warth were of 32 Shelduck, 250+ Wigeon, 20+ Shoveler, 200 Dunlin and the first Little Owl of the year.
18th January
The Purple Sandpiper, at least 200 Turnstones and a Grey Plover were seen at Severn Beach. The only report from New Passage was of 27 Canada Geese, 30 Shelduck and at least 450 Lapwing.
17th January
A day of low cloud and heavy drizzle. Combined reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 3 Little Egrets, 3 Snipe, 40 Lapwing, 400+ Dunlin, 130+ Curlew, 33 Canada Geese, 7 Mute Swans, 19 Shelduck, 14 Gadwall, 40+ Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck, 450+Wigeon, 80+ Teal, 3 Water Pipits, 9 Stock Doves and a Merlin. A brief visit to Aust Warth produced just 30 Dunlin, 12 Redshank and 15 Teal. A Purple Sandpiper, 130+ Turnstones, 16 Ringed Plover, 900+ Dunlin, 56 Redshank, 100 Oystercatchers, 45 Curlew, 4 Grey Herons and a Great Black-backed Gull were seen from the Severn Beach shore and the first Coal Tit of the year was seen on a garden feeder.
Purple Sandpiper and Turnstones, Severn Beach 17.1.16
16th January
A cold day with some ice on the freshwater pools. A dark-bellied Brent Goose, 20 Canada Geese, 7 Mute Swans, 40 Shelduck, 49 Shoveler, 12 Tufted Duck, 24 Gadwall, 80+ Teal, 400+ Wigeon, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Water Rails, 250 Lapwing, 100+ Turnstones, 80 Oystercatchers, 300 Dunlin, 120 Curlew, 35 Redshank, a female Merlin, 2 Water Pipits and a male Stonechat were reported from the New Passage/Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area. Reports from Chittening Warth included a Woodcock, 4 Snipe, 800 Dunlin, 30 Turnstones, 4 Shelduck, 25 Teal, 12 Gadwall. A Water Rail, 2 Pheasants, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Stonechats and 4 Rock Pipits. Another Stonechat was seen at Aust Warth.
15th January
Another cold day. A high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 7 Ringed Plover, 31 Snipe, 22 Redshank, 80 Turnstones, 80 Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew, 4 Cormorants, 3 Shelduck, 30 Mallard and 2 Rock Pipits. Reports from Pilning Wetland included 2 Little Egrets, 2 Snipe, 140 Curlew, 160 Lapwing, 30 Redshank, 7 Mute Swans, 8 Canada Geese, 2 Water Rails, 2 Little Grebes, 51 Shoveler, 20+ Gadwall, a female Pintail, 11 Tufted Duck, 110 Teal and 2 Water Pipits. A male Merlin, 100 Oystercatchers, 500 Dunlin, 25+ Redshank, 130 Curlew, 32 Shelduck, 500+ Wigeon and a Rock Pipit were seen on Northwick Warth.
14th January
A cold day with a moderate strength North West breeze. A brief visit to Pilning Wetland/New Passage produced a pair of Pintail, 7 Mute Swans, 9 Canada Geese, 22 Gadwall, 35+ Shoveler, 7 Tufted Duck, 400+ Wigeon, 120+ Teal, 140 Lapwing and 800 Dunlin.
13th January
Reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland/New Passage included 2 Little Egrets, 140 Lapwing, 2000 Dunlin, 70 Redshank, 30 Turnstones, 190 Curlew, 160 Oystercatchers, a Snipe, 7 Mute Swans, 400 Wigeon, 110 Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, 35 Shelduck, 20 Gadwall, 35 Shoveler, 3 Water Rails, 3 Water Pipits, single Cetti’s Warbler, Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail. Single Jack Snipe, Stonechat and Grey Wagtail were seen at Severn Beach.
12th January
Reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included the Slavonian Grebe, 900+ Dunlin, 100 Curlew, 40 Redshank, 12 Turnstones, 140 Lapwing, 35 Shelduck, 5 Tufted Duck, 30 Gadwall and at least 3 Water Pipits. A Peregrine and 6 Ringed Plover were seen a Severn Beach.
11th January
The Slavonian Grebe remained on the Pilning Wetland where other sightings from here and Northwick Warth included a Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 30+ Shelduck, 19 Canada Geese, 350+ Wigeon, 140 Teal, 40 Shoveler, 15 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, a drake Pintail, a Little Grebe, 160 Oystercatchers, 200+ Lapwing, 1800 Dunlin, 230 Curlew, 70 Common Gulls and 2 Water Pipits. Click on the Grebe picture below for a short Youtube video.
Slavonian Grebe, Pilning Wetland 11.1.16
Slavonian Grebe, Pilning Wetland 11.1.16
10th January
A Slavonian Grebe was photographed on the Pilning Wetland today (only the 5th Severnside record, last reported 2010) where other reports from the Northwick Warth area included a Little Egret, 35 Shelduck, 350+ Wigeon, 40 Oystercatchers, 170 Lapwing, 120 Curlew and 120 Redshank. Single Cetti’s Warbler, Treecreeper and Water Rail were reported from the Orchard Pools at Severn Beach.
9th January
At least 5 Water Pipits, single Brambling and Chiffchaff, 2 Little Egrets, 22 Gadwall and 37 Shoveler were reported from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland.
8th January
At least 4 Water Pipits, a Little Egret, 22 Canada Geese, 500+ Wigeon, 120 Teal, 11 Gadwall, 20+ Shoveler, 7 Tufted Duck, 40 Shelduck, 350 Lapwing, 140 Curlew, 30 Redshank, 70 Oystercatchers, 900+ Dunlin, a Water Rail and 2 Stock Doves were reported from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland. Single Jack Snipe, Snipe and Stonechat were seen on Aust Warth and another pair of Stock Doves were found nesting here in the sheep fields. A Firecrest was seen again this morning at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach.
7th January
An increasingly breezy day. Two Water Pipits remained near the 2nd sentry box on Northwick Warth where other sightings included 40 Shelduck, 7 Mute Swans, 400+ Wigeon, 130 Curlew and 500 Dunlin. A flock of 16 Kittiwakes were seen from Severn Beach this afternoon.
6th January
A Short-eared Owl, 21 Canada Geese and 2 Stonechats were seen early afternoon at Aust Warth. At least 620 Wigeon, 250 Teal, 40 Shelduck, 450 Lapwing and a Chiffchaff were reported in the Nortwick Warh/Pilning Wetland area.
5th January
A Merlin was seen at Aust Warth and the Firecrest was seen again near the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach.
4th January
The heavy rain showers continued for most of the day. Sightings from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included a Little Egret, 55 Canada Geese, 7 Tufted Duck, 40 Shelduck, 120 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 30+ Shoveler, 600+ Wigeon, 400+ Lapwing, 200 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, 170 Curlew, a Grey Plover, 3 Snipe and 2 Ravens. At least 240 Turnstones were seen on the high tide at Severn Beach and nearby a Firecrest was found at the in the hedge next to the Orchard Pools. A Jack Snipe, 3 Snipe and 30 Redshank were seen at Aust Warth.
3rd January
Another breezy and wet day. An adult Little Gull was seen on the Pilning Wetland this afternoon where other sightings included 140 Curlew, 350 Dunlin and 200 Lapwing. At least 25 Canada Geese, 41 Shelduck and 600+ Wigeon were seen on Northwick Warth.
2nd January
A morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 5 Water Pipits, a Knot, a Little Egret, 150 Dunlin, 240+ Curlew, 60 Oystercatchers, 35 Redshank, 400+ Lapwing, 5 Snipe, 51 Canada Geese, 23 Gadwall, 35+ Shoveler, 40 Shelduck, 230 Teal and 450+ Wigeon. Two dark-bellied Brent Geese, 19 Ringed Plover, 280 Turnstones, 30 Oystercatchers, 40 Redshank, 80 Dunlin, 2 Rock Pipits and 2 Stonechats were seen at Severn Beach.
Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Severn Beach 2.1.16
1st January
Combined reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 2 Water Pipits, 35 Shelduck, 40 Shoveler, 12 Tufted Duck, 16 Gadwall, 140 Teal, 450 Wigeon, a Little Grebe, 1000 Dunlin, 300 Lapwing, 140 Curlew, 40 Oystercatchers and 2 Ravens. Another Raven was seen at Severn Beach.
