April is the second most productive month of the year in the number of species seen. At least one individual of 204 species have been recorded in April. A month when the last of the “winter” birds depart and most “summer” birds arrive. Birds to expect are at least three Tern species, Skuas, “ sylvia” Warblers, Common Redstarts, Whinchats, Yellow Wagtails with the chance of Pied Flycatcher, Grasshopper Warbler, Wood Warbler and Hobby. Rarer sightings include; Stone Curlew (2006), White Stork (2015), Slavonian Grebe (1989, 2000), Ring-necked Duck (1988), Green-winged Teal (2015), Sabine’s Gull (1990, 1992), Red-rumped Swallow (1988), Red-throated Pipit (2012), Willow Tit (1988), Mealy Redpoll (2004), Ospreys and Long-eared Owl (2006)
April 2017
30th April
A day with moderate strength East/North East wind and rain from mid afternoon. As expected produced some decent birds. The star of the morning was a male Hen Harrier that quickly flew North East low over Northwick Warth. Other sightings from here included single Common Tern and Arctic Tern and a flock of c.50 “Commic” Terns (probably Arctic, flew East), 7 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Little Egrets, 2 summer plumaged Grey Plover, 26 Dunlin, 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 16 Whimbrel, a Curlew, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Redshank, 6 Lapwing, 2 Wheatears, a male Yellow Wagtail and a Peregrine. An Arctic Tern, 60+ “Commic” Terns, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Wheatears and a singing Cetti’s Warbler were reported from Severn Beach. Click on Harrier picture below for a short, shaky, slow motion video on Youtube.
Hen Harrier, Northwick Warth 30.4.17
Common Tern, New Passage 30.4.17
29th April
A high tide visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced an Avocet, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 5+ Little Ringed Plover, 17 Whimbrel, a Curlew, 12 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Redshank, 7 Lapwing, 45+ Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 47 Shelduck, the usual Gadwall and Tufted Ducks, single female Wigeon, drake Shoveler and drake Teal, a Lesser Whitethroat and the first Swift of the year. The first Whinchat of the year was reported at Aust Warth. Two Whimbrel and a singing Cetti’s Warbler were reported at Severn Beach.
28th April
A warmer day and another very high spring tide. Reports from the Northwick Warth area involved c.30 Arctic Terns (circled off very high and North), 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 7 Lapwing, 12 Dunlin, a Snipe, 45 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Canada Geese, 17 Tufted Duck, 18+ Gadwall, 30+ Shelduck, 4 Teal, a drake Shoveler, a Short-eared Owl (washed out of salt marsh near the flash at 09.30), 2 Wheatears, single Little Owl, Lesser Whitethroat and Tree Pipit. The presumed same Short-eared Owl (10.40), a Marsh Harrier and 2 Kestrels were reported at Aust Warth. A Raven and a Cetti’s Warbler were reported at Severn Beach.
Short-eared Owl, Aust Warth 28.4.17 © Dan White
Short-eared Owl, Aust Warth 28.4.17 © Dan White
Wheatear, Northwick Warth 28.4.17
27th April
A cold and sunny morning. A visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland over the Spring high tide produced 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Sandpipers, 8 Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Dunlin, 5 Redshank, 45 Oystercatchers, 7 Lapwing, 3 Teal, single Little Owl, Raven, Yellow Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat and Wheatear. A Raven, 2 Black-headed Gulls and a Cetti’s Warbler were reported at Severn Beach.
26th April
A cold morning with a North East breeze. A visit to Northwick Warth produced 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Whimbrel, 30 Oystercatchers, 4 Dunlin, a Curlew, 6 Redshank, 5 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 5 Canada Geese, 40+ Shelduck, a female Wigeon, 5 Teal, a drake Shoveler, 2 Peregrines, a Little Owl, 7 Wheatears and a Lesser Whitethroat. The Cetti’s Warbler was still singing in Severn Beach.
25th April
Another cold day and the first heavy rain showers for some time. The only report received was of single Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit and Common Sandpiper, 15 Dunlin, 13 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plover, 6 Redshank, a female Wigeon, a Shoveler, 4 Teal and 55 Sand Martins in the New Passage/Northwick Warth area. A Cetti’s Warbler was still singing at Severn Beach near the railway platform.
24th April
A cool day. At least 5 Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, single Black-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Little Egret, Black-headed Gull and Raven, 2 Little Grebes, 18 Gadwall, 19 Tufted Duck, 3 Teal, a drake Shoveler, 2 Canada Geese and 4 Wheatears were seen in the Northwick Warth area.
23rd April
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area involved 9 Bar-tailed Godwits, 11 Whimbrel, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, single Snipe and Little Egret, 4 Canada Geese, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal, 4 Cormorants, 6 Sedge Warblers, 3 Wheatears and 2 Siskins. Another 30 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Whimbrel, 13 Dunlin, a Grey Plover, 14 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Common Gulls, a drake Wigeon, 2 Wheatears, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Cetti’s Warbler and 3 Whitethroats were reported at Severn Beach.
Whimbrel, Severn Beach 23.4.17
22nd April
A Ruff, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Dunlin, 5 Lapwing, a Snipe, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Whimbrel, a Little Egret, a female Wigeon, 3 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Wheatears and a Peregrine were reported from the Northwick Warth area. Reports from Severn Beach included 55 Bar-tailed Godwits, 18 Whimbrel, 30 Oystercatchers, 35 Dunlin, 30+ Shelduck, a drake Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, a Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Whitethroats, a Cetti’s Warbler and 2 Wheatears. Click on the waders below for a short video on Youtube of the Godwits and Whimbrel at Severn Beach.
Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel, Severn Beach 22.4.17
21st April
A cool and cloudy day but some decent new migrants but no large influx yet. Star birds were a Great White Egret flying South over Pilning Wetland at 12.50 (Severnside’s 8th record) and a Spoonbill on the Northwick Warth Flash 2 hours later before being flushed by dogs and flying North (12th record). Other reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included single Ruff and Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Bar-tailed Godwits, 10+ Whimbrel, 2 Snipe, 6 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 22 Gadwall, 12+ Tufted Duck, 16 Shoveler, 5 Teal, a female Wigeon, a Short-eared Owl (this evening), a “reeling” Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Wheatears, 2 Sedge Warblers and 6+ Reed Warblers. At least 14 Whimbrel, 16 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Greenshank, 8 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, 31 Shelduck, a drake Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 5 Whitethroats and a Cetti’s Warbler were present at Severn Beach this afternoon. Another Short-eared Owl was seen at Chittening Warth this morning. Click HERE for a short video of a Little Ringed Plover feeding on the flash.
Spoonbill and Little Egret, Northwick Warth Flash 21.4.17 © Ben Ofield
Spoonbill, Northwick Warth Flash 21.4.17 © Ben Ofield
Greenshank, Severn Beach 21.4.17
20th April
Combined reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included a Ruff, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Common Sandpipers, 8 Lapwing, 3 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 3 Turnstones, single Whimbrel and Curlew, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Little Grebes, 10 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Canada Geese, 20 Tufted Duck, 25+ Shoveler, 15+ Gadwall, 16 Teal, 30+ Shelduck, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Tree Pipits, 6 Wheatears, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Mistle Thrushes, a Kingfisher and the earliest record of Spotted Flycatcher. Reports from the Severn Beach shore included 26 Bar-tailed Godwits, 13 Whimbrel, 4 Curlew, a Little Egret, 7 Black-headed Gulls, 51 Shelduck, 12 Teal, a Peregrine, 3 Wheatears and a singing Cetti’s Warbler. Nearby a Hobby and 2 Water Rails were reported at the Orchard Pools.
Yellow Wagtail, Pilning Wetland 20.4.17
Ruff and Gadwall, Pilning Wetland 20.4.17
Black-tailed Godwit, Pilning Wetland 20.4.17
19th April
A Ruff, 4 Whimbrel, a Greenshank, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Little Ringed Plover, a Snipe, 8 Lapwing, 8 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 9 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitehroats, 5 Reed Warblers and a Sedge Warbler were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area. Reports from Severn Beach included 35 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Whimbrel, a Dunlin, 3 Whitethroats, single Lesser Whitethroat, Cetti’s Warbler and Peregrine.
Bar-tailed Godwits, Severn Beach 19.4.17
18th April
The sunniest day of the year so far but with a cool North East wind. Reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included a male Pied Flycatcher (1st record since 2013), a male Redstart, 5 male Yellow Wagtails, 3 Wheatears, 20 Pied Wagtails, 2 Jays, 3+ Reed Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, 4 House Martins, single Raven, Little Owl, Little Egret and Common Sandpiper, 8 Lapwing, 6 Redshank, 70+ Shelduck, 3 Canada Geese, a Bar-headed Goose, a Wigeon, 12 Teal, 20+ Tufted Duck, 16+ Gadwall and 18 Shoveler. A Whimbrel, 19 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Ringed Plover, single Peregrine, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat and Cetti’s Warbler were reported at Severn Beach.
Pied Flycatcher, New Passage 18.4.17 © John Martin
Jays, Northwick Warth 18.4.17
17th April
Combined reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 7 Black-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 4 Snipe, 2 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Little Egrets, 8 Black-headed Gulls, a female Wigeon, the usual Tufted Ducks, Gadwall and Shoveler, the first Mallard brood of the year (11 ducklings), 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Tree Pipits, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Yellow Wagtail and 2 Siskins. At least 45 Shelduck, 7 Redshank, 30 Oystercatchers, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, a Tree Pipit and a Cetti’s Warbler were reported from Severn Beach.
16th April
Another dry day with a cool breeze. Reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 4 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 30+ Oystercatchers, 30+ Redshank, 11 Turnstones, 8 Lapwing, 5 Snipe, 5 Little Ringed Plover, a Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Little Grebes, 2 Canada Geese, 16 Shoveler, 26 Tufted Duck, 23 Gadwall, 8 Teal, 28 Shelduck, 3 Ravens, 2 Reed Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat, A Short-eared Owl was reported at Aust Warth. The Cetti’s Warbler was still at Severn Beach railway station.
15th April
Four Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin, 5 Lapwing, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 House Martins, a few Swallows, 14 Sand Martins, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Tree Pipit were seen in the Northwick Warth area. A Cetti’s Warbler was singing all day near Severn Beach railway station.
14th April
Another cool and breezy day. A Ruff, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Sandpipers, 45 Redshank, 8 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, 45 Turnstones, a Little Egret, a female Wigeon, 12 Swallows, 4 House Martins, 35 Sand Martins, single Siskin, Yellow Wagtail and Reed Warbler were reported from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland.
13th April
A cooler and cloudier day. Reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included single Grey Plover and Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpipers, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 77 Redshank, 6 Lapwing, 45 Turnstones, 7 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, 8 Canada Geese, 2 Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, 18 Tufted Duck (plus the Hybrid), a Peregrine, 2 House Martins, 2 Swallows, 12 Sand Martins. 2 Wheatears and a Lesser Whitethroat. A Short-eared Owl, 2 Cetti’s Warblers and 3 Lesser Whitethroats were reported at Chittening Warth.
12th April
Reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included a Common Sandpiper, 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, a Snipe, 6 Lapwing, 45 Redshank, 35 Turnstones, 35 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 4 Little Grebes, a Wigeon, 24 Tufted Duck (plus a presumed Ring-necked Duck x Tufted Duck hybrid), 32 Gadwall, 58 Shelduck, 30+ Shoveler, 20 Teal, 8 Swallows, 35 Sand Martins, 3 Wheatears, single Lesser Whitethroat, Raven, Kestrel, male Grey Wagtail and “Siberian” Chiffchaff. The singing Cetti’s Warbler remained near Severn Beach railway station.
11th April
Combined reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included a Common Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 14 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Lapwing, 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Little Egrets, 6 Little Grebes, 2 Canada Geese, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Pintail, 35+ Shelduck, 22 Shoveler, 14 Tufted Duck, 8 Gadwall, 20 Teal, 2 Little Owls, 2 Ravens, 2 White Wagtails, 4 Swallows, single Merlin, Kestrel, Sand Martin, Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler. A Cetti’s Warbler was still singing near Severn Beach railway station.
10th April
A sunny but cooler day with a North West breeze. An Osprey flew low North East over Pilning Wetland at 11.25 where other reports from here and Northwick Warth included 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 21 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Lapwing, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Little Grebes, 3 Canada Geese, 9 Tufted Duck, 30+ Shoveler, 2 Pintail, 12 Gadwall, 20 Teal, a Peregrine, a Kestrel, a Little Owl, 2 Stock Doves, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 White Wagtails, 30 Sand Martins, 2 Swallows and a House Martin. Reports from Severn Beach included single female Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler (Orchard Pools), Wheatear, Redpoll and White Wagtail, 3 Cetti’s Warblers (2 at Orchard Pools, one in railway scrub) and 2 Swallows. At least one Short-Eared Owl was seen at Aust Warth.
Osprey, Pilning Wetland 10.4.17
Osprey, Pilning Wetland 10.4.17
Redstart, Severn Beach 10.4.17
9th April
The first Grasshopper Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat of the year were found on Northwick Warth this morning. Other reports from here and Pilning Wetland included 11 Black-tailed Godwits, a Redpoll and 2 Sand Martins. Morning reports from Severn Beach involved the singing Cetti’s Warbler, 40 Shelduck, 4 Teal, 40 Oystercatchers and 30 Curlew and the breezy evening tide produced 8 Eider (2 drakes), 2 Pintail and 2 Canada Geese.
Eider, Severn Beach 9.4.17
8th April
A foggy start followed by a warm and sunny day. A Cetti’s Warbler was in full song at 3 am near the railway platform at Severn Beach. Sightings from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included 5 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Ringed Plover, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Curlew, 6 Lapwing, a Snipe, 35 Turnstones, 40 Redshank, a Little Egret, a Black-headed Gull, 4+ Little Grebes, 2 Pintail, 26 Shoveler, 10+ Tufted Duck, 2 Canada Geese, 4 White Wagtails, single Redpoll and Swallow, the first Sedge Warbler of the year. Another Sedge Warbler and 2 Little Egrets were reported at Chittening Warth. At least 3 Short-eared Owls were reported at Aust Warth.
Black-tailed Godwits, Pilning Wetland 8.4.17
Little Ringed Plover, Northwick Warth 8.4.17
7th April
Another dry and sunny day. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area involved 22 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Grey Plover, 102 Redshank, 35 Turnstones, 7 Lapwing, 3 Little Egrets, 5 Canada Geese, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Pintail, 30+ Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 10+ Tufted Duck, 30 Teal, a Little Owl, 3 Short-eared Owls, 4 Redpolls, single White Wagtail, Sand Martin and Swallow. A Cetti’s Warbler, a Swallow, a Sparrowhawk and 5 Buzzards were present near Severn Beach railway station.
6th April
The sunniest day of the year so far following a cool and windless morning. The first Severnside record of Serin was located this morning at New Passage (following a sighting of a small “yellow finch” there yesterday evening). A smart male bird seen and heard in flight and then perched briefly in a bare Ash tree at 8.25. Other sightings from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 7 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 10 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 14 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 2 Water Pipits, 4 White Wagtails, 25 Sand Martins, 8 Swallows and a House Martin. Another 2 Wigeon, 30 Shelduck and a Grey Plover were seen at Severn Beach. A Cetti’s Warbler was singing at the Seabank Pools, Chittening Warth.
White Wagtail, New Passage 6.4.17
5th April
Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 7 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, a Little Egret, 20 Shoveler, 20 Tufted Duck, 9 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, 2 White Wagtails and a Swallow. Three Short-eared Owls were seen at Aust Warth.
4th April
Two Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 4 Pintail, a Whitethroat and a White Wagtail were reported from the Northwick Warth area. Two Short-eared Owls, a Tree Pipit and 2 Swallows were seen at Aust Warth and a Cetti’s Warbler was still singing by Severn Beach railway platform.
3rd April
The first Avocet of the year, 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 100+ Turnstones, 130 Redshank, 4 Curlew, a single Dunlin, 20 Teal, 30 Shelduck, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 3 White Wagtails, 3 Sand Martins and a Swallow were seen from New Passage. Three Lapwing remained on Pilning Wetland. A Merlin was seen at the North end of Northwick Warth. At least 2 Short-eared Owls and 2 Kestrels were seen on Aust Warth. The Cetti’s Warbler remained vocal near Severn Beach railway platform.
Avocet, New Passage 3.4.17
Short-eared Owl, Aust Warth 3.4.17
Short-eared Owl, Aust Warth 3.4.17
2nd April
Another sunny day. Two Little Ringed Plovers, 50+ Turnstones, 4 Little Egrets, the first Yellow Wagtail of the year, 2 White Wagtails, single Swallow and Kestrel were reported from New Passage/Pilning Wetland. A Cetti’s Warbler remained near the railway platform in Severn Beach. Four Short-eared Owl were reported at Aust Warth.
1st April
A day of sunshine and occasional showers. Combined reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland involved 5 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 120+ Redshank, 100+ Turnstones, 2 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, a distant Tern Species, a dark-bellied Brent Goose, at least 2 Short-eared Owls, 5+ Water Pipits, 3 White Wagtails, a Swallow, 60+ Sand Martins and 8 singing Willow Warblers.
