November is still a month worth looking for birds. It has a respectable total of 183 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 2018
30th November
A breezy day. A female Merlin, 49 Canada Geese, 14 Shelduck, 100 Teal, 350+ Wigeon, 200+ Lapwing, 90 Black-tailed Godwits, 400 Dunlin and a Raven were seen from New Passage. Another 150 Dunlin, 120 Turnstones, 24 Ringed Plover, 6 Redshank and 3 Shelduck were seen at Severn Beach. A Short-eared Owl was seen at Aust Warth.
29th November
A very windy morning with heavy rain showers. Sightings from Severn Beach included a Petrel Sp., a 1st winter Little Gull, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers heading upriver, a Great Crested Grebe, 30+ Kittiwakes, 29 Ringed Plover, 17 Turnstones, 70 Dunlin and a Peregrine. At least 90 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Curlew, 15 Common Gulls and 80 Stock Doves were reported from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland.
28th November
An increasingly windy day. Two adult Kittiwakes, a female Common Scoter, 12 Shelduck, 10 Wigeon and a mixed flock of 60 Dunlin and Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
27th November
A wet day. A brief visit to New Passage produced 250 Dunlin, 90 Curlew, 200 Lapwing, 350 Wigeon and 90+ Canada Geese. Another 150 Dunlin, 6 Shoveler and 8 Shelduck were seen at Severn Beach. Two Stonechats were reported at Aust Warth.
26th November
A mid morning visit to New Passage produced 94 Canada Geese, 450 Wigeon, 90 Black-tailed Godwits, 90+ Curlew, 280 Lapwing, 80 Oystercatchers, 600+ Dunlin, a hunting Peregrine and a Water Pipit. A Short-eared Owl was seen at Aust Warth this evening.
25th November
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area involved single male Merlin, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, 140+ Black-tailed Godwits, 330 Lapwing, 800+ Dunlin, 10 Knot, 500 Wigeon, 4 Tufted Duck, 15 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall and 3 Chiffchaff. Another Chiffchaff, a Stonechat and 9 Shelduck were seen at Severn Beach. A Little Egret and a Stonechat were seen at Aust Warth.
Stonechat, Aust Warth 25.11.18
24th November
Another wet, grey and cold day. The male Merlin and the large flocks of Wigeon and Black-tailed Godwits were seen on Northwick Warth.
23rd November
A damp, grey and cold day. A visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 170+ Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Knot, 800+ Dunlin, 228 Lapwing, 60 Redshank, 8 Snipe, a Little Egret, 106 Canada Geese, 70 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, 600+ Wigeon and 40 Stock Doves.
22nd November
An icy dawn followed by a dry and sunny day. Combined reports from New Passage to Aust Warth included male and female Merlin, male and female Peregrine, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 178 Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Knot, 1200+ Dunlin, 80 Redshank, 6 Snipe, 250 Lapwing, 80 Canada Geese, 400 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 15 Shelduck, single Little Egret, Sparrowhawk and Raven.
21st November
A male Merlin, 115 Black-tailed Godwits, 250 Lapwing, 500 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 80 Oystercatchers, 118 Canada Geese, 550+ Wigeon, 2 Pintail and a Water Rail were reported from Northwick Warth this afternoon.
20th November
Another cold and windy day. The only report received was of 80 Black-tailed Godwits, 79 Lapwing, 68 Stock Doves and 2 Ravens reported from the Northwick Warth area.
19th November
An even colder day with a North East wind. Reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 118 Black-tailed Godwits, 19 Knot, 90 Redshank, 220 Dunlin, 9 Snipe, 220 Lapwing, 83 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 90 Canada Geese, 450+ Wigeon, 70 Teal, a Pintail, 3 Shelduck, 20 Pied Wagtails, single Raven and Kestrel. Another 200 Dunlin, 2 Stonechats and a Kestrel were reported at Aust Warth.
18th November
Another day with cold East wind. The first 6 Bewick’s Swans of the year were seen to fly from Pilning Wetland towards and beyond Aust Warth. Other reports from the Northwick Warth area included 3 Ruff, 200+ Lapwing, 65 Black-tailed Godwits, 24 Shoveler, 22 Gadwall, single Short-eared Owl, Black Redstart and Water Pipit. A Little Egret, 16 Shelduck, 550 Black-headed Gulls, 20 Lapwing and a Stonechat were seen at Severn Beach
17th November
A sunny cool day with an East wind. A female Merlin, a pair of Common Scoter, 60+ Canada Geese, 250+ Wigeon, 16 Ruff (record November count), 500+ Dunlin, 90 Redshank, 280 Lapwing, 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Snipe, a Little Egret and 2 Ravens were seen from New Passage. A White-fronted Goose was reported heading North East over Northwick Warth late afternoon. Two “Grey Geese” (presumed White-fronted) flew East over Severn Beach at 3 pm. Two Short-eared Owls, the female Merlin and 2 Stonechats were seen from Aust Warth.
Common Scoters, New Passage 17.11.18
16th November
The Black Redstart was relocated on the rocks below the Sea wall at Severn Beach. A male Merlin, a Peregrine, 65 Black-tailed Godwits, 150+ Redshank, single Little Egret and flyover Redpoll were seen at New Passage this morning.
Black Redstart, Severn Beach 16.11.18
15th November
The first Black Redstart of the year was found on the seawall at New Passage this afternoon. Other reports from New Passage, North towards Aust Warth involved the female Merlin, 2 Short-eared Owls, a Barnacle Goose, 65 Canada Geese, 24 Ringed Plover, 150 Lapwing, 60 Black-tailed Godwits, a Little Egret and a Stonechat.
14th November
The highlight of the day was a Richard’s Pipit, heard and seen, flying low East over Pilning Wetland early afternoon (only the 6th Severnside record, first record November 1993). Other reports between New Passage to Aust Warth included the female Merlin, 2 Short-eared Owls, 53 Black-tailed Godwits, 22 Knot, 250 Dunlin, 140+ Lapwing, 100 Redshank, 45 Curlew, 400+ Wigeon, 40 Teal, 3 Shelduck, a Little Egret, 40 Common Gulls, 45 Stock Doves, 2 Ravens, single Cetti’s Warbler, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Kestrel.
13th November
Combined reports from Northwick Warth involved the female Merlin, at least 2 Short-eared Owls, 20 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Knot, 250 Dunlin, 90 Redshank, 140+ Lapwing, 80 Curlew, a Little Egret, 400+ Wigeon, 100 Stock Doves, 3 Stonechats, single Cetti’s Warbler, Peregrine and Raven.
12th November
Reports from the Northwick area involved a female Merlin, 91 Redshank, 80 Oystercatchers, 200+ Dunlin, 40 Knot, 40 Turnstones, 77 Curlew, 138 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 300+ Wigeon, 13 Shelduck, 31 Common Gulls, 28 Stock Doves and 2 Ravens. A Short-eared Owl was seen at Aust Warth.
11th November
Combined reports from New Passage to Aust Warth included 2 Merlin, 3 Short-eared Owls, a Grey Plover, a mixed flock of Knot and Dunlin, 2 Sparrowhawks and 2 Stonechats. At least 20 Shelduck were seem at Severn Beach.
10th November
The only reports were of a Merlin on Northwick Warth and a Short-eared Owl at Aust Warth.
9th November
A female Merlin, 400+ Wigeon, 150 Lapwing, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Dunlin, a Grey Plover and a Kestrel were reported from the Northwick Warth area. A male Blackcap was seen on feeders in a Severn Beach garden.
8th November
A Water Pipit, 2 Rock Pipits, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, a Knot, 135 Oystercatchers, 135 Lapwing, 145 Stock Doves, single Merlin and Kestrel were seen on Northwick Warth.
7th November
A very wet and increasingly breezy day. A male Merlin, 260+ Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Knot, 300+ Lapwings, 180 Redshank, 400 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 80 Teal and 500 Wigeon were seen on Northwick Warth.
Merlin, Northwick Warth 7.11.18
6th November
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area involved a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, 200+ Dunlin, 140 Redshank, 60 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 95+ Canada Geese, 450 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, a Pochard and a Water Pipit.
5th November
Another cloudy day. A late afternoon visit to Northwick Warth/Pining Wetland produced 2 Merlins (male & female), 114 Canada Geese, 520 Wigeon, a Little Egret, 140 Black-tailed Godwits, 215+ Lapwing, 90 Curlew, 80 Oystercatchers, 180 Dunlin, 15+ Ringed Plover, 2 Water Rails, a Water Pipit and a Kingfisher.
4th November
A grey day with an East wind and occasional rain showers. A visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced a Little Egret, 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, 50 Knot, 155 Redshank, 90 Curlew, 30 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 300+ Wigeon, 2 Ravens and a Sparrowhawk. Another Raven and a Stonechat were seen at Aust Warth.
3rd November
An afternoon visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Knot, an influx of 250 Lapwing, 140 Dunlin, 120 Redshank, 2 Little Egrets, 51 Canada Geese, 300 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 40+ Gadwall, 25+ Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, single Pochard and Pintail.
2nd November
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area involved much the same as yesterday with a pair of Merlins, a female Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, 2 Little Egrets, 51 Canada Geese, 300+ Wigeon, 80 Teal, 5 Shelduck, 20+ Shoveler, 30+ Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, a Pochard, a Water Rail, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 15 Lapwing, 50+ Curlew, 100 Dunlin, 110 Redshank, 17 Ringed Plover, a Snipe, 2 Ravens, 46 Stock Dove, single Kingfisher and Brambling.
Merlin, Northwick Warth 1.11.18
1st November
A visit to to Northwick Warth produced 2 Merlins (male & female), 2 Little Egrets, a Black-tailed Godwit, 200 Dunlin, 69 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 2 Water Rails, a Greylag Goose, 35 Canada Geese, 240+ Wigeon, 40 Gadwall, a Pochard, 24 Stock Doves and a Kestrel.
