December is one of the quietest months with only 164 species recorded during the month. It can be a good month for wildfowl with the chance of Red-breasted Merganser and Goosander if inland waters freeze or some fly by Bewick’s Swans. A good selection of seabirds have occurred in December gales including Black-throated and Great Northern Divers, Leach’s Petrel, Little Auk, Grey Phalarope and Pomarine Skua. Other rarities have included a stunning male Desert Wheatear (2013), Green-winged Teal (2013), Egyptian Goose (2013), Glaucous Gull, Waxwing (2010) and in the winters of 1940 & 1941, Cirl Bunting.
December 2018
31st December
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 2 Golden Plover, 500+ Lapwing, 115 Black-tailed Godwits, 50 Redshank, 37 Canada Geese, 32 Shelduck, 11 Tufted Duck, 2 Pintail, 175 Common Gulls, single Little Egret, Sparrowhawk and Water Pipit. Another 13 Shelduck were seen from Severn Beach. A Short-eared Owl and at least 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth this afternoon.
30th December
A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, 3 Pintail, 7 Tufted Duck, 31 Shoveler, 24 Gadwall, a Little Egret, 30+ Black-tailed Godwits, 450+ Lapwing, a Sparrowhawk and a Water Pipit were reported from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
29th December
A male Merlin, 300+ Wigeon, 30 Shelduck, 120+ Canada Geese, 65 Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Curlew, 500+ Lapwing, 60 Dunlin and a Kingfisher were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area this morning. At least 50 Turnstones were seen at Severn Beach.
28th December
Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 65 Black-tailed Godwits, 500+ Lapwing, 60 Curlew, 18 Ringed Plover, a Golden Plover, 11 Tufted Duck, 35 Shoveler, 2 drake Pintail, 180 Teal, 35 Coot, single Kingfisher and Raven.
27th December
A pair of Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.
26th December
The usual Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwits and Teal flocks remained on Pilning Wetland.
25th December
A Raven, 15 Shelduck and 30 Wigeon were seen at Severn Beach.
24th December
The only reports from Severn Beach were of 14 Shelduck and a male Blackcap.
23rd December
Combined reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland involved a female Merlin, 51 Black-tailed Godwits, 500+ Lapwing, 300 Dunlin, 30 Redshank, 70 Curlew, 30 Canada Geese, 380 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 8 Tufted Duck, 13 Moorhens, 2 Ravens and a Water Pipit.
22nd December
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 83 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Dunlin, 60 Curlew, 595 Lapwing, 2 Pintail, 200+ Teal, 17 Shelduck, 31 Shoveler, 10 Tufted Duck, 30+ Gadwall, 250+ Wigeon, 41 Common Gulls, single Water Pipit and Raven. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach. A male Yellowhammer was seen at Aust Warth.
21st December
Another windy day. A Sparrowhawk and a Blackcap were seen in Severn Beach.
20th December
A breezy and increasingly wet day. Two Stonechats and a Kestrel were seen at Aust Warth.
19th December
Sightings from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included a female Merlin, 66 Black-tailed Godwits, 350+ Lapwing, 200 Dunlin, a dark-bellied Brent Goose, 42 Shelduck, 56 Shoveler, 280+ Teal, 300+ Wigeon, 2 drake Pintail, 6 Tufted Duck, a Water Pipit and a flyover Siskin. A Firecrest and 3 Woodcock were seen in Severn Beach.
18th December
A day of continuous rain. No reports were received today.
17th December
A morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced a dark-bellied Brent Goose, 88 Canada Geese, 350+ Wigeon, 20 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 46 Shoveler, 30 Gadwall, 120 Teal, 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 390 Lapwing, 180 Dunlin, 24 Pied Wagtails, single Raven, Little Egret and Water Pipit. At least 200 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, 9 Grey Herons, 35 Wigeon and 20 Shelduck were seen from the Severn Beach shore and nearby the first Firecrest of the year and a Cetti’s Warbler were seen in the Ableton Lane area of Severn Beach and a Nordic Jackdaw was seen again in Little Green Lane.
16th December
Another very wet day. At least 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 250 Dunlin, 90 Canada Geese, 11 Shelduck, 250 Wigeon and a Little Egret were seen from New Passage. A Stonechat was seen at Severn Beach.
15th December
A very wet and increasingly windy day. A brief high tide scan from Severn Beach produced 5 Grey Herons, 120 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, 30 Redshank, 40 Oystercatchers, 30 Wigeon and 20 Shelduck.
14th December
A cold day following an icy dawn (-2°C). A ringtail Hen Harrier flew South along Northwick Warth early afternoon where other reports included 80 Black-tailed Godwits, 150 Dunlin, a Knot, 2 Snipe, a Little Egret, a dark-bellied Brent Goose, 50 Canada Geese, 19 Shelduck, 180 Teal, 200 Wigeon, 38 Coot, 2 Water Rails, a Peregrine and a Chiffchaff. An afternoon visit to the Severn Beach shore produced 200+ Dunlin, 60 Turnstones, 80 Redshank, 35 Curlew, 45 Oystercatchers, 11 Snipe, 3 Grey Herons, 20 Shelduck, 35 Wigeon, single Great Black-backed Gull, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit and Stonechat. Two hunting Peregrines and a Kestrel were seen at Aust Warth.
Brent Goose, Northwick Warth 14.12.18
Hen Harrier, Northwick Warth 14.12.18
13th December
A cold and sunny day with an East breeze. A brief visit to New Passage produced a dark-bellied Brent Goose, 70 Canada Geese, 230 Wigeon and 30 Black-tailed Godwits. A Stonechat was seen at Severn Beach.
12th December
A dark-bellied Brent Goose, 40 Shelduck, 12 Wigeon, 60 Oystercatchers, 60 Curlew, 280 Dunlin and 2 Stonechats were seen from Severn Beach.
11th December
A cool, grey day with an East wind. A late morning visit to the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area produced the dark-bellied Brent Goose, 110+ Canada Geese, 400+ Wigeon, 90+ Teal, a drake Pintail, 6 Tufted Duck, 30+ Gadwall, 22 Shoveler, 29 Coot, 46 Black-tailed Godwits, 158 Lapwing, a Knot, 4 Snipe, 60 Redshank, 90 Curlew, 230 Dunlin, a Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, 146 Common Gulls, 27 Pied Wagtails, single female Merlin, Peregrine and Raven. At least 15 Shelduck were seen at Severn Beach. A Short-eared Owl was seen on Aust Warth at dusk.
Merlin, Northwick Warth 11.12.18
10th December
A morning visit to the Northwick Warth area produced the dark-bellied Brent Goose with 100+ Canada Geese, 13 Shelduck, 550 Wigeon, 110 Teal, 10 Tufted Duck, 31 Shoveler, 40 Gadwall, 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 220 Lapwing, 63 Redshank. 600+ Dunlin, 158 Curlew, 60 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret and a Water Pipit.
9th December
A drier day. A female type Black Redstart was reported at New Passage. Other reports from the Northwck Warth area included the dark-bellied Brent Goose, 100+ Canada Geese, 550+ Wigeon, 110 Teal, 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 70 Redshank, 200+ Lapwing and 400 Dunlin. At least 14 Shelduck, 85 Turnstones, 120 Dunlin and 5 Ringed Plover (including an Avonmouth colour ringed individual from 2010).
8th December
A very windy day with occasional rain showers. A Snow Bunting was found on the shore at Severn Beach (click on the image below for a short video) where other sightings included 22 Ringed Plover, 30 Turnstones and 180 Dunlin. The Brent Goose remained on Northwick Warth.
Snow Bunting, Severn Beach 8.12.18
7th December
The grey, damp weather continued. A brief early afternoon visit to windswept New Passage produced a Brent Goose, 82 Canada Geese, 22 Shelduck, 50+ Black-tailed Godwits and 37 Oystercatchers. A Stonechat was seen at Severn Beach.
6th December
Another grey and damp day. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included a Bar-tailed Godwit, 63 Black-tailed Godwits, 70 Curlew, 40 Oystercatchers, 24 Turnstones, 40 Redshank, 250+ Lapwing, just 30 Dunlin, a Little Egret, a Brent Goose, 82 Canada Geese, 270+ Teal, 400+ Wigeon, 8 Tufted Duck, 24 Shoveler, 23 Gadwall, single Kingfisher, male Merlin and Peregrine.
Bar-tailed Godwit, New Passage 6.12.18
5th December
A very wet day. The Brent Goose remained with the Canada Geese on Northwick Warth.
4th December
An afternoon visit to New Passage produced a muddy shore covered in birds including a dark-bellied Brent Goose, at least 50 Canada Geese, 500 Wigeon, 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 800 Dunlin, 85 Redshank and 80 Curlew plus a Kingfisher in the Pill and at least 2 flyover Siskins. At least 8 Grey Herons, 50 Wigeon, 20 Redshank and 200 Dunlin were seen from the shore at Severn Beach.
Brent Goose, New Passage 4.12.18
3rd December
A late morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced a female Merlin. 2 Ruff, 56 Black-tailed Godwits, 250+ Lapwing, 140 Curlew, a Little Egret, 9 Shelduck, 500+ Wigeon and 200 Teal.
2nd December
A dismal wet and grey day. The usual flocks of Wigeon, Black-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Lapwing and Redshank were seen from New Passage.
1st December
A mixed flock of 120 Dunlin/Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
