February is generally another quiet month with only a total of 158 species recorded. Gales in this month have produced Storm and Leach’s Petrel, Pomarine Skua and all records of Puffin. Other rarities seen include Spoonbill (2004), Bittern (2011&2012), Avocets, Ring-billed Gull (1987), Green-winged Teal (2015), Great Grey Shrike (1999,2000,2004), Shorelark (2004) and Cirl Bunting (1943).
February 2019
28th February
A cooler and wet day. A soggy visit to New Passage/Northwick Warth produced a hunting female Merlin, 203 Black-tailed Godwits, 163 Redshank, 40 Dunlin, 3 Knot, 3 Snipe, a Little Egret, 90+ Teal, 240 Wigeon, 90+ Shelduck, 19 Tufted Duck, a Pochard, 2 Ravens, 50+ Pied Wagtails and 3 Chiffchaffs. A male Blackcap was present on a garden feeder in Severn Beach.
27th February
Yet another warm and sunny day. Afternoon reports from the Northwick Warth/New Passage area included at least 180 Black-tailed Godwits (including a few full breeding plumage individuals), a Ruff, 90 Redshank, 200 Dunlin, a Golden Plover, 10 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 80 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 80+ Shelduck, 250 Wigeon, 80+ Teal, a Pochard, 2 Short-eared Owls, single Merlin, Kestrel and Stonechat. Reports from Severn Beach included a Woodcock (Orchard Pools), 2 singing Chiffchaffs and 6 Snipe. Another 2 Short-eared Owls and a Peregrine were seen at Aust Warth. A Grey Seal was seen from New Passage.
26th February
A visit to New Passage produced 100 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Curlew, 200 Dunlin, 110 Wigeon and 100 Shelduck. At least 62 Shelduck, 30 Teal, 70 Curlew, 10 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin, 50 Redshank, a Stonechat and a Cetti’s Warbler were reported from the Severn Beach shore. Another 25 Wigeon, 2 Kestrels and 5 Short-eared Owls were reported from Aust Warth.
25th February
The warm (18°C) spell continued. Sightings from the Northwick Warth area involved 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, 117 Redshank, 85 Curlew, 100+ Oystercatchers, 60 Turnstones, 40 Lapwing, 79 Shelduck, 250+ Wigeon, 40+ Teal, 22 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 14 Tufted Duck, single Pochard and Raven. Four Short-eared Owls and 3 Red Kites were seen from the Aust Warth area. Three dark-bellied Brent Geese were seen at Chittening Warth and then later off Severn Beach where other sightings included 24 Shelduck, 40 Wigeon, 70 Curlew, 70 Redshank and a Stonechat.
24th February
Another sunny day after early morning fog. At least 200 Knot, 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 400 Dunlin, 90 Redshank, 100 Turnstones, 40 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 400 Wigeon, 80 Shelduck, 50 Teal, 20+ Shoveler, 12 Gadwall and 14 Tufted Duck were seen in the Northwick Warth area. Two Short-eared Owls remained on Aust Warth. Another 20 Shelduck were seen from Severn Beach.
23rd February
A sunny day (17°C) after some early morning mist. Combined sightings from the Northwick Warth area included a Little Egret, 85 Shelduck, 80 Lapwing, 400 Dunlin, 75 Redshank and 70 Turnstones. At least 26 Shelduck, 50 Wigeon, 45 Turnstones and 70 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach at high tide. Aust Warth produced 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Kestrels and a Stonechat.
22nd February
A foggy morning and an even higher spring tide. A visit to New Passage/Pilning Wetland produced at least 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Lapwing, 90 Redshank, 300 Dunlin, 90 Shelduck, 300+ Wigeon, 40 Teal, 20+ Shoveler, 12+ Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 38 Coot, 2 Ravens and a Water Pipit (Chestle Pill stone wall). At least 35 Shelduck, 60 Wigeon and 2 Grey Herons were seen from Severn Beach. Two Short-eared Owls and 2 Kestrels were seen at Aust Warth.
21st February
A very high spring tide (14.2 metre) visit to Northwick Warth/New Passage produced at least 120 Black-tailed Godwits, a Knot, 130 Curlew, 150 Oystercatchers, 210 Dunlin, 90 Redshank, 150 Curlew, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, 90 Shelduck, 300 Wigeon, 12 Tufted Duck, 15 Shoveler, a Pochard, a Water Pipit, 40+ Pied Wagtails, 2 Stonechats and a Peregrine. Four Short-eared Owls, 2 Kestrels, a Peregrine, a Water Rail and 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.
Water Pipit, New Passage 21.2.19
20th February
At least 92 Shelduck, 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 95 Curlew, 220 Lapwing and 2 Stonechats were reported from Northwick Warth.
19th February
Much of the same was seen from New Passage/Northwick Warth including 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Knot, 200 Dunlin, 52 Turnstones, 200 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 2 Stonechats, a Peregrine and a Kestrel. A Short-eared Owl was reported over Aust Warth.
18th February
A brief visit to New Passage/Northwick Warth produced 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Knot, 96 Redshank, 200 Dunlin, 103 Shelduck, a Little Egret, a Water Pipit (in Chestle Pill) and a Coal Tit. A female Blackcap was seen in a Severn Beach garden.
17th February
Three Stonechats were seen at Severn Beach. A Short-eared Owl was seen at Aust Warth.
16th February
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/pilning Wetland area involved 5 White-fronted Geese, single Pochard, Water Rail and Little Egret, 147 Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Snipe, 5 Knot, 400 Lapwing, 100 Dunlin, 100 Curlew, 55+ Pied Wagtails, single Short-eared Owl, Kestrel and Chiffchaff.
15th February
An even warmer (16°C) and sunny day. Sightings from Northwick Warth/New Passage included the 5 White-fronted Geese, 80+ Shelduck, 300+ Wigeon, 20 Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Curlew, 250 Lapwing, a Short-eared Owl, a Kestrel, 2 Stonechats and a Chiffchaff. Another 70 Wigeon, 25 Shelduck, 40 Turnstones and a Stonechat were seen at Severn Beach.
14th February
A foggy morning, becoming sunny and warm (12°C). A brief early afternoon visit to New Passage produced the 5 White-fronted Geese, 80+ Shelduck, 150 Wigeon, 130+ Black-tailed Godwits and 60 Redshank. A Water Pipit was reported near Chestle Pill at New Passage late afternoon. Four Short-eared Owls were reported from Aust Warth.
13th February
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pining Wetland area included an adult Mediterranean Gull, 5 White-fronted Geese, 116 Shelduck. 60 Teal, 10 Gadwall, 16 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, a Pochard, 220 Wigeon, a Little Egret, 140 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Curlew, 200 Dunlin, 250+ Lapwing, 47 Turnstones, a Knot and 55 Pied Wagtails. Another 30 Turnstones, 120 Dunlin, 55 Redshank, 20 Curlew, 30 Shelduck and a Water Pipit were seen at Severn Beach. Two Short-eared Owls were present on Aust Warth this afternoon.
12th February
A morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 5 White-fronted Geese, 17 Canada Geese, 98 Shelduck, 12 Tufted Duck, a Pochard, 13 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, a Little Egret, 135+ Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Knot, 378 Lapwing, 200 Dunlin, 80 Redshank, 8 Snipe and 2 Water Rails. Four Short-eared Owls and a Coal Tit (unusual here) were seen at Aust Warth. A female Blackcap, 200 Dunlin and 4 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
Short-eared Owl, Aust Warth 12.2.19
11th February
The 5 White-fronted Geese remained viewable from New Passage. Three Short-eared Owls, a Barn Owl and a Stonechat were seen at Aust Warth.
10th February
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area included 5 White-fronted Geese, 350+ Wigeon, 80 Shelduck, 10 Gadwall, 11 Shoveler, 250 Lapwing, single Sparrowhawk and Little Egret. Two Short-eared Owls were seen again at Aust Warth.
9th February
Another wet and windy morning. The 5 White-fronted Geese, 130 Shelduck, 500+ Wigeon, 12+ Knot, 170+ Black-tailed Godwits, 400+ Lapwing, 250 Dunlin, a Merlin and a Short-eared Owl were reported from the Northwick Warth area. At least 2 Short-eared Owls were seen from Aust Warth and a Barn Owl was seen there at dusk.
8th February
A wet and windy day as a result of Storm Erik. A morning visit Severn Beach produced a Common Scoter, an adult Kittiwake, 12 Ringed Plover, 120 Redshank, 50 Dunlin and 20 Turnstones. The 5 White-fronted Geese, 83 Canada Geese, 76 Shelduck, 50+ Teal, 585 Wigeon, 34 Knot, 500+ Lapwing, 175 Black-tailed Godwits, 60+ Redshank, 95 Oystercatchers, 400 Dunlin, 75 Curlew and a Kingfisher were seen from New Passage at low tide.
7th February
The usual 5 White-fronted Geese, 120 Shelduck, 500+ Wigeon, 90 Teal, 10 Tufted Duck, a Little Egret, 110+ Black-tailed Godwits, 140+ Curlew, 100 Oystercatchers and 450+ Lapwing were seen in the New Passage/Northwick Warth area. A Barn Owl was seen at Aust Warth at dusk.
6th February
A brief visit to New Passage produced 5 White-fronted Geese, 90 Canada Geese, 88 Shelduck, 450+ Wigeon, 140+ Black-tailed Godwits, 300 Dunlin, 600+ Lapwing, single Golden Plover, Knot, Little Egret, Short-eared Owl and Kestrel. At least 50 Reed Buntings were seen in the Severn Beach salt marsh. Five Short-eared Owls were seen from Aust Warth where 4 Stonechats were also present.
White-fronted Geese, New Passage 6.2.19
5th February
A murky, damp day. The 5 White-fronted Geese, 150+ Black-tailed Godwits, 500+ Lapwing, 200 Dunlin and a Little Egret were seen from New Passage. Another 500 Dunlin, 90+ Turnstones and a Peregrine were seen at Severn Beach.
4th February
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/New Passage area involved 5 White-fronted Geese, 109 Shelduck, 4 Knot, 190 Black-tailed Godwits, 500 Lapwing, 70 Dunlin, 2 Kestrels and a Water Pipit. Six Short-eared Owls were hunting over Northwick Warth and Aust Warth mid afternoon where 2 Stonechats were also present. A female Blackcap was seen again in a Severn Beach garden.
3rd February
The 5 White-fronted Geese, 146 Canada Geese, 98 Shelduck, 30 Shoveler, 9 Gadwall, 2 Knot, 160 Black-tailed Godwits, 520 Lapwing, 190 Dunlin and 2 Short-eared Owls were seen on Northwick Warth. A female Blackcap was seen on garden feeders in Severn Beach.
2nd February
A sunny and warmer day. Reports from Northwick Warth included 5 White-fronted Geese, 325 Wigeon, 133 Shelduck, the Black-tailed Godwit flock, a male Merlin and 2 Kestrels. Three Short-eared Owls, single Peregrine, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were seen at Aust Warth.
Black-tailed Godwit, Northwick Warth 1.2.19
1st February
A cold day with a North wind, a covering of overnight snow and a few more flurries in the morning. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included 5 White-fronted Geese, 180+ Canada Geese, 120+ Shelduck, 400+ Wigeon, 10 Tufted Duck, 40 Black-tailed Godwits, 65 Curlew, 80 Redshank, 220 Lapwing, 7 Snipe, 150 Dunlin, single Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and male Blackcap. At least 80 Redshank and a female Blackcap were seen at Severn Beach. A Short-eared Owl was reported at Aust Warth. Click on the Godwit picture above for a short youtube video.
