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 2017
28th February
The only reports from Pilning Wetland involved the usual ducks, a Little Egret and 40 Lapwing. Most of the waders were at Cake Pill, Aust Warth and included 300+ Knot, 1500+ Dunlin, 55+ Grey Plover, 4 Jack Snipe, 25 Snipe along with 100 Wigeon, 30 Teal, a Kestrel and 3 Stonechats.
27th February
Just 6 Canada Geese, 20 Gadwall, 17 Tufted Duck, 18 Shoveler, 120 Teal and 130 Wigeon were seen on Pilning Wetland in a brief visit. Four Stonechats were reported at the Tesco Pool in Severn Beach.
26th February
The singing Cetti’s Warbler, 33 Shoveler, 25 Tufted Duck, a Little Egret and the large flock of Knot remained in the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area.
25th February
Combined reports today involved a Short-eared Owl, 400 Knot, 2 Jack Snipe, 115 Black-tailed Godwits, 63 Redshank, a Little Egret, 2 Stonechats and a singing Cetti’s Warbler (at Grebe Pond).
24th February
At least 140 Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Grey Plover, 100 Knot, 2000 Dunlin, 80 Lapwing, 60 Curlew, 90 Redshank,15 Turnstones and a Little Egret were seen from New Passage.
23rd February
A very windy day as Storm Doris moved across the region. A visit to Pilning Wetland produced 170 Knot, 86 Black-tailed Godwits, 21 Tufted Duck, 90 Teal, 300+ Wigeon, 16 Gadwall, 18 Shoveler and 2 Canada Geese. Nearby there were 70 Shelduck on Northwick Warth. A flock of at least 80 Kittiwakes lingered most of the afternoon at Severn Beach.
Kittiwakes, Severn Beach 23.2.17
22nd February
A brief visit to Pilning Wetland on a wet and windy afternoon produced fewer waders due to the higher water levels and choppy conditions. Just 80 Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Curlew (zero Knot, Lapwing and Dunlin), a Little Egret, 19 Tufted Duck, 300 Wigeon, 70 Teal, 10 Gadwall, 15 Shoveler, a 2nd Winter Mediterranean Gull and 90 Black-headed Gulls were seen.
Mediterranean Gull, Pilning Wetland 22.2.17
Mediterranean Gull, Pilning Wetland 22.2.17
21st February
A Little Egret, 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Canada Geese, 19 Tufted Duck, 17 Gadwall, 20 Shoveler and 90 Teal were seen on Pilning Wetland. A flock of 140 Turnstones were seen on the rocky beach at New Passage.
20th February
An unusual combination of a stiff breeze and fog resulted in less being reported today. Just 13 Shelduck, 140 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, 10 Tufted Duck, a Little Egret, 2 Little Grebes, 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 55 Lapwing, 45 Curlew, 12 Redshank, 9 Knot, 40 Pied Wagtails and 30 Meadow Pipits were reported from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland. Another 60 Shelduck and 30 Wigeon were seen at Severn Beach.
19th February
At least 450 Knot, 145 Black-tailed Godwits, 1500 Dunlin, 350 Lapwing, the usual wildfowl and a Sparrowhawk were seen on Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth today. The first Bar-tailed Godwit of the year, 45 Oystercatchers, 20 Gadwall, 4 Stonechats and a Cetti’s Warbler were reported at Chittening Warth. Another 5 Stonechats were seen on Aust Warth.
18th February
Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth involved a female Merlin, 2 Peregrines, a Sparrowhawk, 15 Canada Geese, 55 Shelduck, 380 Wigeon, 18 Gadwall, 110 Teal, 15 Shoveler, 17 Tufted Duck, a Little Egret, a flock of 10 Golden Plover, 350+ Lapwing, 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 700+ Knot, 90 Curlew, 2000 Dunlin, 50 Redshank, single Snipe and Kingfisher. Another 16 Wigeon, 22 Shelduck, 70 Dunlin, 2 Turnstones and 3 Stonechats were seen at Severn Beach.
17th February
At least 800 Knot, 200 Black-tailed Godwits, 2000 Dunlin, 90 Redshank, 15 Turnstones, a Golden Plover, 100 Curlew, 500 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 2 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 50 Shelduck, 12 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, 9 Tufted Duck, 110 Teal, 550 Wigeon and 2 flyover Siskins were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. A Merlin and 3 Stonechats were reported at Aust Warth.
16th February
At least 220 Black-tailed Godwits, 600 Knot, 3000 Dunlin, 80 Curlew, a Golden Plover, 650 Lapwing, 90 Redshank, a Little Egret, 95 Shelduck, 9 Gadwall, 200 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 9 Tufted Duck, 40 Pied Wagtails and a Chiffchaff were seen this afternoon in the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area. A Stonechat was seen at Aust Warth.
15th February
A brief low tide visit to New Passage produced 55 Shelduck, 80 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Knot and 800 Dunlin.
14th February
At least 600 Knot, 150 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Dunlin, 600 Lapwing, 80 Curlew, 2 Canada Geese, 80 Shelduck, 8 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 500+ Wigeon and a Sparrowhawk were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Another 140 Dunlin, 65 Turnstones and 13 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
Knot, Pilning Wetland 14.2.17
13th February
Once again most reports were from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth where a Little Egret, at least 600 Knot, 2000+ Dunlin, 150 Black-tailed Godwits, 500 Lapwing, 80 Curlew, 60 Shelduck, 130 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, single Peregrine and Kestrel. A high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 19 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin and another 6 Shelduck.
12th February
The usual Wigeon and Teal flocks, 21 Shoveler, 76 Shelduck, 15 Tufted Duck, 600+ Lapwing, 180 Black-tailed Godwits, 2000 Dunlin and 450+ Knot were seen in the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area.
11th February
Another cold day with occasional snow and sleet. A brief afternoon visit to Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth produced 180 Black-tailed Godwits, at least 500 Knot, 2000+ Dunlin, 80 Curlew, 40 Redshank, 600+ Lapwing, 9 Tufted Duck, 11 Gadwall, 60 Teal, 2 Shoveler and 20 Shelduck.
10th February
A cold day with a biting East wind. At least 300 Knot, 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 1200 Dunlin, 400 Lapwing, 60 Curlew, 4 Tufted Duck, 500 Wigeon, 80 Teal and a Chiffchaff were seen in the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area. Three Jack Snipe, 160 Wigeon, 70 Lapwing, single Kestrel and Peregrine were seen at Aust Warth.
9th February
A flock of at least 600 Knot were seen from New Passage today where at least 2000 Dunlin and 600 Wigeon were also present. Sightings on Pilning Wetland included 2 Little Egrets, 30 Black-tailed Godwits, 450 Lapwing, 8 Canada Geese, 4 Tufted Duck and 60 Teal.
8th February
The only report received was of a Black Redstart on Pilning Wetland.
7th February
Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth involved the large flock of at least 500 Knot, 160 Black-tailed Godwits, 250 Dunlin, 350 Lapwing, 120 Curlew, 30 Turnstones, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Canada Geese, 32 Shelduck, 170 Teal, 15 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 10 Shoveler, 450 Wigeon, 2 Little Grebes, 20 Coot and 35 Pied Wagtails.
6th February
An icy dawn. At least 500 Knot (click HERE for a short video), 300 Black-tailed Godwits, 500 Lapwing, 50 Dunlin, 80 Redshank, 60 Curlew, a Snipe, a Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, 2 Canada Geese, a Pintail, 14 Tufted Duck, 13 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, 35 Shelduck, 600+ Wigeon were seen on Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth today. Another 36 Shelduck, 20 Wigeon, 10 Redshank, 2 Lapwing and a male Stonechat were seen at Severn Beach.
5th February
A record flock of 1120 Knot, many Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin and Lapwing remained in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area where 90 Turnstones were also reported. Four Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.
4th February
Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth involved 2 Little Egrets, 2000+ Dunlin, 400 Lapwing, 520 Knot, 200+ Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Redshank, 70 Curlew, 3 Water Rails, 730 Wigeon, 21 Tufted Duck, 13 Shoveler, 17 Gadwall, 95 Teal, single Water Pipit, Chiffchaff and Sparrowhawk. Sightings from the Severn Beach shore included 2 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Pintail (2 drakes & 5 females), 20 Wigeon, 17 Ringed Plover, 140 Turnstones, a male Stonechat and a Rock Pipit. Nearby a Cetti’s Warbler was reported at the Orchard Pools.
3rd February
The only reports were from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth/New Passage area and included the usual flocks of Black-tailed Godwits, Knot, Dunlin and Lapwing, a Golden Plover, 3 Water Rails, a Little Egret, 12 Gadwall, 21 Tufted Duck, 2 Stock Doves, single Peregrine, Chiffchaff, Kingfisher and Water Pipit.
2nd February
A brief visit to Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth produced impressive numbers including 3000 Dunlin, 300+ Black-tailed Godwits, 250 Knot, 450 Lapwing, 190 Curlew, 90 Redshank, 50 Oystercatchers, 10 Turnstones, 2 Grey Plover, a Little Egret, 65 Shelduck, 430 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, 12 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, a Water Pipit and 2 Ravens.
Dunlin, Pilning Wetland 2.2.17
A fraction of the wader flocks roosting on the wetland today.
1st February
At least 300 Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Knot, 1000 Dunlin, 450 Lapwing, 80 Curlew, 80 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 12 Canada Geese, 35 Shelduck, 120 Teal, 400 Wigeon, 10 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck and a Raven were seen in the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area. Another 38 Shelduck, 50 Curlew, 60 Oystercatchers, 30 Dunlin, 60 Redshank and a Stonechat were reported from Chittening Warth.
