September is one of the most exciting months to visit Severnside. The total of 196 species seen at least once in this month, is the third highest in the year. It is the time when most of the summer visitors will depart and a good selection of early winter visitors will arrive towards the end of the month. Any West or South West gales will produce the usual seabirds but the more exotic have occurred; Sooty Shearwater (1974), Balearic Shearwater (1988), Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull. Other rarities that have appeared in September include; Red-crested Pochard (2 in 1996), White Storks (2010), Glossy Ibis (2010), Cattle Egret (2012), Great White Egret (2013, 2016), Crane (2014), Honey Buzzard (1996), Dotterel (1974), Kentish Plover (2006), White-rumped Sandpiper (1985), Pectoral Sandpiper (1998, 2006, 2008, 2014, 2016), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (1989, 2003), Terek Sandpiper (1986), Semipalmated Sandpiper (2009), Red-rumped Swallow (1977), Wryneck (2003, 2010, 2015), Rose-coloured Starling (2004) and Yellow-browed Warbler (2017). Local rarities have included pale-bellied Brent Geese, Osprey, Spoonbill (2008, 2011), Nightjar (2006, 2013), Hawfinch (1998), Willow Tit (1992), Nightingale (1999), Lapland Bunting and Ring Ouzel.
September 2018
30th September
At least 250 Black-tailed Godwits, 100 Knot, 145 Dunlin, 70 Turnstones, 25 Ringed Plover, a Stonechat and 2 Siskins were seen in the Northwick Warth area. Five Little Egrets, 30 Oystercatchers and 35 Curlew were seen at Chittening Warth.
29th September
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area this morning included a Golden Plover, the large flock of Black-tailed Godwits and Knot, 49 Ringed Plover, 100+ Dunlin, 45 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, a flock of 16 Cormorants heading up river, 2 Ravens, 12 Swallows, 2 Wheatears and a Stonechat. A mixed flock of 50 Dunlin/Ringed Plover, 7 Redshank, a Turnstone, 160+ Curlew, 9 Little Egrets, 3 Rock Pipits, single Wheatear, Stonechat and a Clouded Yellow butterfly were seen at Severn Beach. Another Stonechat and 2 Whinchats were present on Aust Warth.
28th September
A visit to Northwick Warth/New Passage produced 150 Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Knot, 140 Dunlin, 150 Redshank and 5 Ringed Plover. A Little Egret was seen at Aust Warth.
27th September
A foggy start to the day followed by sunshine. A Sanderling, 110 Dunlin, 60 Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe and a Little Egret were seen at New Passage. A Wheatear and 3 Grey Herons were seen at Severn Beach.
26th September
The settled, dry and warm weather continued. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area involved a Sanderling, 160 Black-tailed Godwits, 57 Knot, 60 Dunlin, 35 Ringed Plover, a Snipe, 45 Turnstones, a Little Egret, 14 Shoveler, 50+ Wigeon, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Grey Wagtails and a Kingfisher. A Wheatear was seen at Aust Warth.
25th September
Another sunny day. An afternoon visit to Northwick Warth produced 240+ Canada Geese, 140+ Knot, 120+ Black-tailed Godwits, 46 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 2 Peregrines, single Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Wheatear and Siskin.
Merlin, Northwick Warth 25.9.18
24th September
A fine sunny day. The first Little Stint of the year, just 2 Grey Phalaropes, 150+ Black-tailed Godwits, 30+ Knot, 70 Dunlin, 35 Ringed Plover, 20 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 2 Wheatears, single Merlin and Whinchat were seen on Northwick Warth today. A Whimbrel and a Merlin were seen at Severn Beach this evening.
Little Stint, Dunlin and Ringed Plover, Northwick Warth 24.9.18
23rd September
A wet morning followed by a sunny afternoon. Reports from the Northwick Warth area involved 3 Grey Phalaropes, 120 Knot, a Common Sandpiper, 16 Ringed Plover, 37 Dunlin and a Wheatear. A Little Egret was seen at Severn Beach.
22nd September
A very wet day. Three Grey Phalaropes were present on Northwick Warth (1st winter on shore at New Passage and adult & 1st winter on the wetland) where other sightings included 80+ Knot, 200+ Black-tailed Godwits, single Common Sandpiper, Snipe and Little Egret, 3 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows, 3 Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail. Click here for a video of the 2 Phalaropes swimming together.
Grey Phalarope, Pilning Wetland 22.9.18
Grey Phalaropes, Pilning Wetland 22.9.18
21st September
A wet and windy night courtesy of Storm Bronagh produced no seabird sightings in the morning but a 1st winter Grey Phalarope joined the adult on Pilning Wetland in the afternoon and our third Grey Phalarope of the day, a different juvenile/1st winter, was found on the afternoon tide line at Severn Beach where a Manx Shearwater, an adult Arctic Tern, a Greenshank, a Little Egret, 12 Turnstones and a mixed flock of 140 Dunlin/Ringed Plover were also seen. Other sightings from the Northwick Warth area involved single Ruff, Greenshank and Bar-tailed Godwit, 120+ Knot, 220+ Black-tailed Godwits, 35 Turnstones, a Snipe, a Kingfisher and 2 Wheatears. Click here for a short video of the adult Grey Phalarope this morning.
Manx Shearwater, Severn Beach 21.9.18
Grey Phalarope, Severn Beach 21.9.18
20th September
Another very wet morning and an increasingly windy afternoon. A morning visit to the New Passage/Northwick Warth area produced a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 95+ Knot, 320+ Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Oystercatchers, 120 Redshank, 21 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover, 40+ Turnstones, a Snipe, a Little Egret and 3 Wheatears. An adult Grey Phalarope and 2 hunting Peregrines were found here late afternoon. An afternoon seawatch at Severn Beach produced just a drake Common Scoter and a mixed flock of 70 Dunlin/Ringed Plover.
Grey Phalarope, Pilning Wetland 20.9.18
19th September
A day with a strong South West wind and occasional rain. An afternoon seawatch at Severn Beach produced a Leach’s Petrel (1.30pm), at least one Black Tern, 12 Turnstones and a mixed flock of 60 Dunlin/Ringed Plover. A breezy afternoon at New Passage/Northwick Warth produced 100+ Knot, 300+ Black-tailed Godwits, a Wheatear and 3 Yellow Wagtails. A colour ringed Black-headed Gull was seen roosting at New Passage, a White ring with Black PZ8R
18th September
A windy day. A visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 54 Knot, 360 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Turnstones, 21 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, single Snipe and Little Egret, 30 Wigeon, a Pintail, 7 Shelduck, 2 Wheatears, single Hobby, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk. Another 20 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin and 2 Wheatears were seen at Severn Beach.
17th September
A warm and settled day. Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included 78 Knot, 300+ Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Redshank, 40 Lapwing, 52 Turnstones, 35 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, 4 Little Egrets, 200+ Canada Geese, 7 Shelduck, 140+ Teal, 7 Wigeon, a Pintail, 30+ Gadwall, 25+ Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, a Water Rail, 2 Wheatears, single Yellow Wagtail and Kingfisher. At least 80 Ringed Plover, 60 Dunlin and a Wheatear were seen at Severn Beach. A Little Egret, 8 Shelduck, 20 Teal and a Cetti’s Warbler were reported from Chittening Warth.
16th September
The only reports received were of 15 Knot, 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpiper, 12 Ringed Plover, 12 Dunlin and a Stonechat in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
15th September
There was a report today of possible Ortolan Bunting in the same location as 2 days ago which unfortunately could not be relocated. Other confirmed sightings from New Passage/Northwick Warth included 50 Knot, 300 Black-tailed Godwits, 220 Dunlin, 140 Ringed Plover, 5 Snipe, a Little Egret, a Pintail, 2 Tufted Duck, 23 Shoveler, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails, single Kingfisher and Wheatear.
14th September
A morning visit to New Passage produced just 102 Ringed Plover, 153 Dunlin, 190+ Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Curlew, single Whimbrel, Little Egret and Wheatear.
13th September
A fine autumn morning produced the first Severnside record of Ortolan Bunting on Northwick Warth (seen and heard in flight over 2nd Sentry box heading towards and landing at New Passage at 08.50. Just over 20 minutes later it was seen and heard again by 3 lucky observers).Other sightings from the Northwick Warth area included a Greenshank, 200 Dunlin/Ringed Plover, 160+ Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Knot, 140 Redshank, 40 Turnstones, single Common Sandpiper, Snipe and Little Egret, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears, the first 2 Corn Buntings for 8 years, a Kingfisher and a Peregrine. Single Whimbrel, Raven, Kestrel, Grey Wagtail and Yellow Wagtail were seen at Aust Warth.
12th September
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included single Greenshank, Whimbrel, Sanderling, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Snipe, 200+ Dunlin, 90 Ringed Plover, 260+ Black-tailed Godwits, 160 Redshank, 33 Turnstones, 40 Knot, 50 Curlew, 30 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 27 Shoveler, 3 Tufted Duck, 6 Wigeon, 40 Gadwall, 7 Shelduck, 150+ Teal, 4 Wheatears, single Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Redstart and Yellow Wagtail.
11th September
A breezy and very wet day with a 14.2 metre tide. An early morning visit to Severn Beach produced a flighty mixed flock of 200 Dunlin, 100 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderling, 2 Turnstones and 2 Grey Wagtails. A Manx Shearwater was seen here at 11.55 on the falling tide. Combined reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included a Sanderling, 200 Dunlin, 90 Ringed Plover, 325 Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Knot 112 Oystercatchers, 120 Curlew, 20 Turnstones, 40 Lapwing, 110 Redshank, a Little Egret, single Raven, Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail.
10th September
A breezy day. Combined reports from Northwick Warth/New Passage/Pilning Wetland included the 3rd Osprey of the year (South at 4.30pm), 2 Greenshank, 18 Knot, 140 Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, 47 Lapwing, a Snipe, a Little Egret, 2 Kestrels, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Peregrines, 56 Gadwall, 10+ Shoveler, 11 Wigeon, 2 Yellow Wagtails, single Rock Pipit and Wheatear. Single Sanderling and Common Sandpiper, at least 200 Dunlin, 100 Ringed Plover and 2 Grey Wagtails were seen at Severn Beach this morning and a Petrel Sp. was seen heading south at 6.25pm.
Sanderling, Severn Beach 10.9.18
Yellow Wagtail, Northwick Warth 10.9.18
9th September
Another wet and windy day. An early morning high tide visit to Severn Beach produced a moulting adult Curlew Sandpiper, 2 juvenile Sanderling, 2 Turnstones, 210 Dunlin, 170 Ringed Plover, 25 Oystercatchers, 20 Curlew and 4 Little Egrets. A Bar-tailed Godwit, at least 180 Black-tailed Godwits, 27 Knot, 90 Redshank, single Little Egret, Raven and Wheatear were seen at New Passage.
Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 9.9.18
Bar-tailed Godwit, New Passage 9.9.18
8th September
A breezy, damp day. An early morning visit to Northwick Warth/New Passage produced a summer plumage Grey Plover, 280+ Black-tailed Godwits (the French ringed individual was still present), 18 Knot, a Common Sandpiper, 100+ Redshank, 30 Dunlin, 13 Ringed Plover, 24 Turnstones, a Little Egret, 13 Wigeon, a Pintail, 2 Ravens and a Sparrowhawk. Another 6 Little Egrets and a mixed flock of 200 Dunlin/Ringed Plover were seen from Severn Beach.
7th September
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included 21 Knot, 311 Black-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel, 100+ Redshank, 20 Oystercatchers, 4 Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, 40 Lapwing, 7 Little Egrets, 22 Little Grebes, 205+ Canada Geese, 5 Shelduck, 140+ Teal. 15+ Shoveler, 40+ Gadwall, 6 Wigeon, single male Kestrel, female Sparrowhawk, Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail. A mixed flock of 300+ Dunlin/Ringed Plover were seen on the afternoon high tide at Severn Beach.
6th September
At least 278 Black-tailed Godwits, 26 Knot, 100+ Redshank, 5 Snipe, 40 Lapwing, single Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper, 272 Canada Geese, 135+ Teal, 3 Shelduck, 46 Gadwall, 20 Shoveler, 3 Wigeon, a Pintail, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, single Whinchat, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Peregrine and Kestrel.
Spotted Flycatcher, New Passage 6.9.18
5th September
Combined sightings from Northwick Warth/New Passage/Pilning Wetland involved 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, an adult Ruff, 250+ Black-tailed Godwits (including the French colour-ringed individual), 120 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 17 Knot, 5 Dunlin, 42 Turnstones, 50 Lapwing, 3 Little Egrets, 163 Canada Geese, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 180+ Teal, a Whinchat, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 16 Pied Wagtails, 4 Wheatears, single Hobby, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Just 24 Dunlin, 7 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Egrets and 4 Wheatears were seen at Severn Beach.
Knot, New Passage 5.9.18
Black-tailed Godwit, New Passage 5.9.18
This French colour-ringed individual was present for it’s 6th day
4th September
A morning visit to the Northwick Warth area on a cool, cloudy day with a North wind produced 23 Knot, 300 Black-tailed Godwits, 24 Turnstones, 45 Lapwing, 140 Redshank, single Sanderling, Whimbrel, Snipe and Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, 200+ Teal, 6 Wigeon, 30+ Gadwall and a Kingfisher.
3rd September
A good selection and number of birds were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area including 296 Black-tailed Godwits (including the French colour ringed individual seen on 31/8/18), 126 Redshank, 10 Knot, 40 Lapwing, 45 Turnstones, single Little Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Grey Plover and Common Sandpiper, 5 Ringed Plover, 9 Dunlin, 3 Little Egrets, 200+ Canada Geese, 200+ Teal, 2 Wigeon, 31 Gadwall, 16 Little Grebes, single Hobby, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Raven, Sedge Warbler, Whinchat, Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail.
Grey Plover, New Passage 3.9.18
2nd September
Reports from the Northwick Warth area involved 2 Greenshank, 180 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Knot,41 Turnstones, 4 Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 6 Little Egrets, 22 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, single Willow Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat and Wheatear. A mixed flock of 200 Dunlin/Ringed Plover, a Turnstone single Whinchat, Redstart and Wheatear were reported from Severn Beach.
juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, Severn Beach 1.9.18
juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 1.9.18
1st September
A fine sunny day. A great start to the month with a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling being found in Severn Beach late afternoon (the 3rd Severnside record with others in 2004 and 2012). Other sightings at Severn Beach included single juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling and Whimbrel, 180 Ringed Plover, 175 Dunlin, 40 Curlew, 25 Oystercatchers, 8 Little Egrets, 3 Wheatears, 18+ Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 2 Whitethroats. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 140+ Black-tailed Godwits, single Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel and Knot, 60+ Redshank, 30+ Lapwing, 40 Turnstones, a Little Egret, 150+ Canada Geese, 9 Shoveler, 6 Wigeon, 3 Tree Pipits, 3 Sedge Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffchaff, single Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Hobby, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear and Whinchat.
