November is still a month worth looking for birds. It has a respectable total of 182 species recorded during the month with a few surprise birds. Remarkable records include; Britain’s first Black-bellied Storm Petrel and Britain’s 5th Pacific Diver just 2 days apart in 2009. Other national and local rarities include American Golden Plover (2013), Great Northern Diver (1984,2015), Black Guillemot (2015), Ring-necked Duck (2000), Smew (2010), Green-winged Teal (2014), White-rumped Sandpiper (1998), Long-tailed Skua (1994), Glossy Ibis (2015), Woodlark, Shorelark, Snow Bunting, Lapland Bunting, Cory’s Shearwater (2000), Whooper Swan (1983) and Richard’s Pipit (1993), Dartford Warbler (2005,2015) and Waxwing (2005). A Merlin or two can usually be seen perched on posts anywhere between New Passage and Aust Warth. Short-eared Owls can often be seen hunting at dusk over the salt marsh at Aust Warth. Seabirds seen in South West gales include Leach’s Petrel, Pomarine Skua and Little Auk.
November 2017
30th November
Another cold day with no reports received.
29th November
A cold day with a North wind. A brief afternoon visit to New Passage produced just 180 Wigeon and 10 Shelduck. Four Stonechats were reported at Severn Beach. With very few new birds being seen on Severnside I was tempted to travel to Berkshire this morning to see some of a recent influx of Parrot Crossbills. I managed to see at a flock of 15 mixed age and sex in one tree. Click on the image below for a short Youtube video of a male feeding.
Parrot Crossbill, Swinley Forest, Berkshire 29.11.17
28th November
A cool and sunny day. A morning visit to the Northwick Warth/New Passage area produced At least 16 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Dunlin, 110 Redshank, 180 Lapwing, 30 Turnstones, a Little Egret, 150 Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, a swimming Water Rail, 11 Stock Doves and a Stonechat. The Black Redstart, 2 Stonechats and 16 Shelduck were seen at Severn Beach.
27th November
A breezy day. A Black Redstart, 2 Stonechats, 16 Ringed Plover, 50 Turnstones, 30 Dunlin, 2 Grey Herons and 7 Shelduck were seen at Severn Beach. A Short-eared Owl appeared at dusk over Aust Warth.
Black Redstart, Severn Beach 27.11.17
26th November
The usual Wigeon and wader flocks remained at New Passage and 2 Stonechats were present at Northwick Warth.
25th November
Cold day. At least 30 Black-tailed Godwits, 150 Dunlin, 160 Lapwing, 350 Wigeon, 2 Greylags, 50 Canada Geese, a Little Egret, 2 male Merlin, a Kestrel and a Raven were seen in the Northwick Warth area. A Merlin, Kestrel and Raven were also reported at Aust Warth.
24th November
Reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included 500+ Dunlin, 160 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 44 Canada Geese, 17 Shelduck, 350+ Wigeon, 2 Stonechats, single Merlin, Water Rail, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail. Two Short-eared Owls were seen on Aust Warth at dusk. Another 2 Stonechats were seen at Severn Beach.
23rd November
A day with strong South West wind but no seabirds. The usual 500 Dunlin and 200 Lapwing were reported from New Passage.
22nd November
An increasingly windy day. The usual 450+ Wigeon, 14 Shelduck, 60 Canada Geese, 60 Curlew and 250 Dunlin were seen from New Passage
21st November
A morning visit to New Passage/Northwick Warth produced 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 400 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 150 Lapwing, 60 Curlew, 80 Redshank, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Water Rail, 90 Canada Geese, 450+ Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, 40 Teal, 14 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 3 Little Grebes, a Water Pipit and a Kestrel.
20th November
A dismal wet and breezy day. At least 45 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Redshank, 80 Curlew, 150 Lapwing, 130 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, a Little Egret, 60 Canada Geese, 480 Wigeon and 14 Shelduck were seen at Northwick Warth.
19th November
Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included 46 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Knot, 7 Ringed Plover, 1600+ Dunlin, 90 Redshank, 145 Lapwing, a Grey Plover, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Water Rails, 50 Canada Geese, 16 Shelduck, 9 Tufted Duck, 20 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, 470+ Wigeon, 120+ Teal, 2 Stonechats, single Kingfisher, Kestrel and Rock Pipit. Another 14 Ringed Plover, 47 Oystercatchers, 40 Dunlin and 38 Curlew were seen at Severn Beach
18th November
Six Grey Herons were seen at Severn Beach. A Merlin and at least 2200 Dunlin were reported at Northwick Warth.
17th November
A quiet day with just 56 Canada Geese, 5 Gadwall, 450 Wigeon, 260 Dunlin, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 130 Lapwing, single Little Egret and Water Rail reported from New Passage/Northwick Warth. Two Kestrels were seen at Aust Warth.
16th November
A late afternoon high tide visit to New Passage produced 450+ Wigeon, 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 250 Dunlin, 150 Lapwing and an unwelcome low flying drone causing panic to the waders.
15th November
A Little Egret, 500 Dunlin, 19 Ringed Plover, 150+ Lapwing, 90 Redshank and 60 Black-tailed Godwits were reported from New Passage. Nine Gadwall were seen at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach.
14th November
An afternoon visit to New Passage produced 80 Canada Geese, 550+ Wigeon, 18 Shelduck and 150 Lapwing. A Merlin, 25 Ringed Plover and 6 Grey Herons were seen at Severn Beach.
13th November
A brief visit to the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area produced 80 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Knot, 500 Dunlin, 100+ Redshank, 90 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, a Water Rail, 60 Canada Geese, 470 Wigeon, 16 Shelduck, 90 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 30 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, a male Merlin, a Kestrel, 2 Ravens, a Water Pipit, 2 Stock Doves and 2 Stonechats. Another 2 Kestrels, 2 Pintail, single Sparrowhawk and Little Egret were seen from Aust Warth.
Merlin, Northwick Warth 13.11.17
12th November
The usual flocks of Wigeon, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits were reported from New Passage. A Short-eared Owl was seen again at Aust Warth.
11th November
Reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included 120 Canada Geese, 10 Tufted Duck, 400+ Wigeon, 15 Shelduck, 60 Teal, 20+ Shoveler, 16 Gadwall. 2+ Water Rails, 2 Little Egrets, 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 70 Curlew, 150 Lapwing, 120 Redshank, 600 Dunlin, 30 Knot, a Merlin and 2 Redpolls. Another 30 Dunlin, 29 Ringed Plover, 60 Turnstones and 11 Shelduck were seen at Severn Beach.
10th November
A cool and breezy day. A high tide visit to Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth produced 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 48 Knot, 175 Redshank, 90 Lapwing, 400 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 2+ Water Rails, 60 Canada Geese, 15 Shelduck, 350+ Wigeon, 70 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 20+ Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, a Merlin, 2 Kestrels and 2 Stonechats. A Short-eared Owl was reported at Aust Warth.
9th November
An injured Tawny Owl was found trapped on barbed wire near Chittening Warth and taken into care.
8th November
A frosty morning followed by a cool and sunny day. Reports from Pilning Wetland involved 800 Dunlin, 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Stonechats and a Cetti’s Warbler. Another Cetti’s Warbler, Water Rail and Stonechat were reported from Aust Warth.
7th November
A wet and gloomy day. The usual flock of Black-tailed Godwits, Knot, Dunlin and Wigeon were reported from New Passage.
Severn Bridge and rainbow 7.11.17 © John Luke
6th November
A morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced at least 130 Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Knot, 110 Redshank, 900 Dunlin, 90 Curlew, 110 Oystercatchers, 80 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, a Little Egret, 2+ Water Rails, 120 Teal, 8 Shelduck, 350 Wigeon, 6 Tufted Duck, 12 Gadwall, 14 Shoveler, single Merlin, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, 2 Stonechats and a Redpoll.
5th November
Reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area this morning included 130+ Black-tailed Godwits, 30+ Knot, 1200+ Dunlin, 120 Redshank, 70 Turnstones, 80 Lapwing, 70 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Water Rails, a Water Pipit, 4 Stonechats, a Peregrine, 2 Kestrel and a Redpoll.
Water Pipit, Pilning Wetland 4.11.17
4th November
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included a Spotted Redshank, 38 Knot, 4 Golden Plover, 5 Grey Plover, 105 Lapwing, 160 Black-tailed Godwits, 190 Redshank, 1000 Dunlin, 19 Ringed Plover, 60 Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Water Rails, 100 Canada Geese, 9 Shelduck, 100+ Teal, 9 Tufted Duck, 14 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 400+ Wigeon, a Water Pipit, 2 Stonechats, a Brambling and a Kestrel.
Spotted Redshank, Pilning Wetland 4.11.17
3rd November
Another foggy start to the morning. Reports from New Passage included 110 Black-tailed Godwits, 35+ Knot, 90 Redshank, 650 Dunlin, a Little Egret, 60 Canada Geese and 300+ Wigeon. A Merlin and 2 Kestrels were seen at Aust Warth late afternoon. Another 2 Little Egrets, 6 Shelduck and 3 Stonechats were seen at Severn Beach this morning.
2nd November
A foggy morning. A late afternoon visit to Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth produced a Spotted Redshank, 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Redshank, 800 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets and 2 Water Rails.
Merlin, Northwick Warth 1.11.17
1st November
A cool and sunny day. Reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 3 Merlin (2 males having a dispute and a female), 2 Peregrines, a Kestrel, a Spotted Redshank, an influx of 800+ Dunlin, 45 Knot, 100 Black-tailed Godwits, 110 Redshank, 80 Lapwing, 60 Oystercatchers, 19 Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, 3 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 3 Little Grebes, 3+ Water Rails, 400 Wigeon, 95 Canada Geese, 20+ Shoveler, 9 Tufted Duck, 4 Mute Swans, 16 Gadwall, 40 Teal, 2 Stonechats, 2 Redpoll, single Siskin and Chiffchaff. A Short-eared Owl, 4 Stonechats, single Cetti’s Warbler and Peregrine were reported at Aust Warth. A late afternoon high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 14 Shelduck, 17 Wigeon, 20 Redshank and 70 Curlew.
