February is generally another quiet month with only a total of 158 species recorded. Gales in this month have produced Storm and Leach’s Petrel, Pomarine Skua and all records of Puffin. Other rarities seen include Spoonbill (2004), Bittern (2011&2012), Avocets, Ring-billed Gull (1987), Green-winged Teal (2015), Great Grey Shrike (1999,2000,2004), Shorelark (2004) and Cirl Bunting (1943).
February 2016
29th February
Reports from Pilning Wetland/New Passage involved a Greylag, 9 Mute Swans, 23 Canada Geese, 23 Shelduck, 300+ Wigeon, 120 Teal, a Pochard, 16 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, 3 Little Grebes, a Little Egret, 250 Dunlin, a Snipe, 30 Redshank, 2 Buzzards, single Chiffchaff, Stonechat and Water Rail. Another 26 Snipe, 8 Redshank, 23 Curlew, 5 Shelduck and a Kestrel were seen at Aust Warth.
28th February
Another day with a cold North East wind. The only reports from the Pilning Wetland area involved a Greylag, 9 Mute Swans, a Little Egret, 90 Teal, 20+ Gadwall, 20 Shoveler and a flyover Siskin. A male Yellowhammer was seen on the salt marsh at Severn Beach where 16 Redshank, 250 Dunlin, 50 Curlew, 60 Oystercatchers, 18 Wigeon, 23 Shelduck, 2 Rock Pipits and 5 Linnets were also seen.
27th February
A cool day with a biting North East wind. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included a Greylag, 19 Canada Geese, 10 Mute Swans, 45 Shelduck, 220+ Wigeon, 130 Teal, 25 Gadwall, 17 Shoveler, 16 Tufted Duck, the first Pochard of the year, 30+ Coot, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Water Rails, 3 Little Egrets, single Merlin, Peregrine and Raven, 500 Dunlin, 130 Curlew, 2 Lapwing, 57 Redshank, 6+ Snipe, single Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Water Pipit. A Coal Tit was seen in a coastal garden at Severn Beach.
Pochard, Grebe Pond/Pilning Wetland 27.2.16
a scarce bird here with only one individual seen last year
Merlin, Northwick Warth 27.2.16
26th February
A brief visit to New Passage produced 56 Shelduck, 6 Canada Geese, 45 Oystercatchers, 120 Curlew, 35 Redshank and a flyover Siskin. A Peregrine was seen at Severn Beach.
25th February
Much of the same was reported from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area including 2 Little Egrets, a Greylag, 20 Canada Geese, 10 Mute Swans, 57 Shelduck, 300+ Wigeon, 140 Teal, 40 Shoveler, 20+ Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, a Water Rail, 100 Oystercatchers, 120 Curlew, 400 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, 4 Snipe, 2 Siskins, 2 Peregrine, 20+ Pied Wagtails and 3 Water Pipits.
24th February
A Greylag, 20 Canada Geese, 10 Mute Swans, 50+ Shelduck, 10 Tufted Duck, 20+ Gadwall, 45+ Shoveler, 120 Teal, 150 Wigeon, 2 Little Grebes, 32+ Coot, 4 Little Egrets, a Stonechat and a Kingfisher were seen at Pilning Wetland/New Passage. Another 50 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 160 Dunlin,14 Curlew, 22 Snipe and 9 Redshank were reported from Aust Warth. Another Snipe, 2 Water Rails and a Cetti’s Warbler were reported at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach.
23rd February
Just 2 Little Egrets, 20 Canada Geese, 56 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 150 Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 20+ Gadwall, 30+ Shoveler, 300 Dunlin and a Water Pipit were reported from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland this morning. Three Cranes (probably from the Great Crane Project) were reported flying North over Severn Beach at 4.30pm.
22nd February
Sightings from New Passage/Pilning Wetland included the return of the Greylag, 9 Mute Swans, 3 Canada Geese, 66 Shelduck, 270 Wigeon, 120 Teal, 24 Gadwall, 30 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 600 Dunlin, 140 Curlew, 60 Oystercatchers, 40 Redshank, 12 Lapwing, 2 Rock Pipits, single Ringed Plover, Kingfisher and Water Rail.
Water Rail, New Passage 22.2.16 © Lisa Presland
A regular bird that appears in the afternoon feeding on the sewage works outflow. Some video from March 2015 HERE
21st February
A wet and windy day produced 7 Common Scoter and 50+ Kittiwakes off Severn Beach. A Stonechat was seen at Aust Warth.
Kittiwakes, Severn Beach 21.2.16 © Dan White
20th February
Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth involved 2 Little Egrets, 25 Lapwing, 5 Snipe, 400 Dunlin, 60 Oystercatchers, 140 Curlew, 50 Redshank, 280 Wigeon, 145 Teal, 30+ Shoveler, 29 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, a Water Rail, 2 Buzzards, 20 Pied Wagtails and 3 Water Pipits.
Water Pipit, Northwick Warth 20.2.16 © Mark Dowie
19th February
No reports were received today.
18th February
Two Water Pipits remained on Northwick Warth where other sightings from here and Pilning Wetland included 2 Little Egrets, 33 Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swans, 74 Shelduck, 300+ Wigeon, 90 Teal, 3 Pintail, just 8 Shoveler, 27 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 8 Snipe, 800 Dunlin, 50+ Redshank, 40 Lapwing and 140 Curlew. A Short-eared Owl, 23 Snipe, a Jack Snipe, 170 Dunlin, 43 Curlew, 8 Redshank, 2 Shelduck, 125 Wigeon, 64 Teal, 2 Stonechats and a Kestrel were seen at Aust Warth. A Water Rail was reported at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach.
Water Pipit, Northwick Warth 18.2.16
17th February
A day of rain and little sunshine. A brief visit to Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth produced 3 Little Egrets, 170 Lapwing including some displaying birds, 140 Curlew, 60 Redshank, 500 Dunlin, 50 Oystercatchers, 74 Shelduck, 27 Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swans, 20+ Gadwall, 17 Tufted Duck, 400+ Wigeon, 110 Teal, 30 Shoveler, a Chiffchaff and a very wet male Kestrel.
Lapwing, Pilning Wetland 17.2.16
16th February
An icy -5°C dawn. Sightings from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warrh included 10 Mute Swans, 20 Canada Geese, 42 Shelduck, 14 Tufted Duck, 400+ Wigeon, 120 Teal, 30+ Shoveler, 15 Gadwall, 32 Coot (high number for here), 500 Dunlin, 20 Lapwing, 70 Curlew, 30 Redshank and 60 Oystercatchers. A Jack Snipe, 2 Ravens, 10 Skylarks, 4 Stonechats and 5 Rock Pipits were seen at Aust Warth.
15th February
A cold day with a biting North wind. Sightings from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 62 Shelduck, 16 Tufted Duck, 26 Canada Geese, 20 Lapwing, 200 Dunlin, 60 Curlew, 40 Oystercatchers, 26 Redshank, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons and 2 Peregrines. Another 40 Oystercatchers and 5 Ringed Plovers were seen at Severn Beach.
14th February
Reports from Pilning Wetand/Northwick Warth involved the dark-bellied Brent Goose, 17 Tufted Duck, 140 Curlew, 3 Snipe, a Peregrine and a Water Pipit. A Stonechat, 2 Rock Pipits, a Grey Wagtail and 3 Snipe were seen at Severn Beach.
13th February
A cool and wet day with a cold east breeze. The only reports were from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area where the dark-bellied Brent Goose, 42 Canada Geese, 64 Shelduck, 7 Tufted Duck, 24 Gadwall, 55 Shoveler, 14 Coot, 4 Little Egrets, 25 Lapwing and 170 Curlew were seen.
12th February
Another dry day with a North East breeze. The dark-bellied Brent Goose, 85 Turnstones, a Little Egret, 3 Water Pipits, single Merlin, Kestrel, Stonechat, Kingfisher and Coal Tit were reported from Pilning Wetland/New Passage/Northwick Warth. A Merlin, 2 Peregrines, 2 Stonechats and 3 Pintail were seen at Aust Warth. The same or another Merlin was seen at Severn Beach where other sightings involved 900 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, 200 Redshank, 60 Turnstones, 5 Buzzards, 6 Shoveler and 2 Gadwall.
11th February
A frosty dawn followed by a fine sunny day with a 14.2 metre high tide. Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included a record 13 Little Egrets, single Greylag and dark-bellied Brent Goose, 35 Canada Geese, 500+ Wigeon, 56 Shelduck, 13 Gadwall, 32 Shoveler, 60 Redshank, 800 Dunlin, 24 Lapwing, 250 Curlew, 146 Oystercatchers, 2 Ravens, 4 Water Pipits and a Rock Pipit. The high tide at Aust Warth produced another feeding frenzy of Crows and Gulls on Voles and also pushed out the Short-eared Owl from roost where other sightings included a Mediterranean Gull, 2 Peregrines, 2 Buzzards, a Kestrel, 3 Jack Snipe, 14 Snipe, 2+ Stonechats, a flyover Siskin and a Rock Pipit. Another 4 Snipe, single Rock Pipit and Coal tit were seen at Severn Beach.
Jack Snipe, Aust Warth 11.2.16 © Dan White
Jack Snipe, Aust Warth 11.2.16 © Dan White
Short-eared Owl, Aust Warth 11.2.16 © Dan White
Short-eared Owl and Kestrel, Aust Warth 11.2.16
Carrion Crow with Short-tailed Vole, Aust Warth 11.2.16 © Ed Drewitt
Water Pipit, Northwick Warth 11.2.16 © John Martin
10th February
A dry day with a 14+ metre high Spring tide. A Short-eared Owl was pushed out of the salt marsh at Aust Warth where Gulls and Crows were feeding on Voles trying to escape the rapidly rising water level and a Kittiwake was seen here at low tide. Reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included the usual dark-bellied Brent Goose, Greylag, 8 Mute Swans, 40+ Canada Geese, 600 Wigeon, 32 Shelduck, 24 Gadwall, 30+ Shoveler, a Little Grebe, 2 Water Rails, a Little Egret, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 300 Curlew, 110 Oystercatchers, 12 Lapwing, 45 Redshank, 250 Dunlin, 5 Water Pipits and a Peregrine.
Spring high tide, New Passage 10.2.16
9th February
A calm day. No seabirds were reported from Severn Beach but 9 Ringed Plover and a Rock Pipit were seen here at high tide. Sightings from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included single dark-bellied Brent Goose and Greylag, 28 Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swans, 27 Gadwall, 29 Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck, 170 Teal, 18 Coot, a Peregrine and 5 Water Pipits.
8th February
A stormy day with wind gusts of 75mph. At least 4 Great Skuas, 2 Little Gulls, 60+ Kittiwakes, a Fulmar, a Common Scoter and at least 400 Dunlin were seen from Severn Beach. A brief visit to Pilniing Wetland/Northwick Warth produced the usual Greylag, 8 Mute Swans, 15 Shelduck, 30 Shoveler and 12 Gadwall. A nice selection of seabirds below courtesy of Storm Imogen and Dan White.
Little Gull, Severn Beach 8.2.16 © Dan White
Little Gull and Black-headed Gull, Severn Beach 8.2.16 © Dan White
Great Skua, Severn Beach 8.2.16 © Dan White
7th February
An atrocious wet day. Little was reported other than the Greylag, 12 Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swans, 19 Gadwall, 30+ Shoveler, 7 Tufted Duck, 110 Teal, 40+ Shelduck, 400+ Wigeon, 50 Redshank, 80 Dunlin and 24 Turnstones were seen at Pilning Wetland/New Passage. Storm Imogen started to produce some strong wind by mid evening.
6th February
A very wet day with a strong Southerly wind. The only reports were of a Water Rail in Chestle Pill at New Passage and a Greylag, 8 Mute Swans, 17 Gadwall, 120 Teal and 110 Curlew on Pilning Wetland.
5th February
An afternoon visit to Pilning Wetland/New Passage produced a Little Egret, the Greylag, 8 Mute Swans, 25 Canada Geese, 69 Shelduck, 6 Tufted Duck, 180 Teal, 300 Wigeon, 140 Curlew, 200 Lapwing, 40 Redshank, 2 Water Rails, single Peregrine, male Sparrowhawk and Kingfisher.
4th February
Combined sightings from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth/New Passage included 2 Little Egrets, single dark-bellied Brent Goose and Greylag, 8 Mute Swans, 27 Canada Geese, 67 Shelduck, 2 drake Pintail, 64 Shoveler, 9 Tufted Duck, 25 Gadwall, 450+ Wigeon, 140 Teal, 16 Coot, 140 Lapwing, 150 Curlew, 100 Dunlin, 50 Pied Wagtails, single Rock Pipit, Kingfisher, Great Black-backed Gull and Peregrine.
Greylag Goose, Pilning Wetland 4.2.16
3rd February
A Great Crested Grebe was seen off Severn Beach on the afternoon high tide. Sightings from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included 4 Little Egrets, a Greylag, 30 Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swans, 50 Shelduck, 24 Gadwall, 30+ Shoveler, 550 Wigeon, 7 Tufted Duck, 350 Lapwing, 45 Redshank, 300 Dunlin and 140 Curlew.
2nd February
Sightings from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included 2 Little Egrets, single dark-bellied Brent Goose and Greylag, 60+ Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swans, 32 Shelduck, 450+ Wigeon, 120 Lapwing and 180 Curlew. Six Kittiwakes were seen from Aust Warth.
Kittiwakes, Severn Beach 1.2.16 © Lee Gardiner
1st February
Another windy day. An adult Gannet, a dark-bellied Brent Goose and a Peregrine were seen in a brief visit to New Passage. Several hours seawatching from Severn Beach produced just 54 Kittiwakes, 150 Turnstones and 120+ Dunlin. Another 40+ Kittiwakes were seen from Aust Warth.
