May is the equal 3rd most productive month of the year with at least one individual of 194 species being seen. The summer migrants continue to move through including Garganey, Hobby, Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher, more Terns and Skuas with the chance of Pomarine. “Small” wader numbers should rise during the month with Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and the chance of a Curlew Sandpiper or Little Stint. Rarer records include Subalpine Warbler (2004), Golden Oriole (2016), Bee-eater (2007), Spoonbills (1998,2015,2017), Honey Buzzard (1991,2011), Montagu’s Harrier (2015), Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Kentish Plover (2004), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (1990), Temminck’s Stint (2004,2016), Broad-billed Sandpiper (1988), Dotterel (2011),Black-winged Stilt (2017), Franklin’s Gull (1984), Laughing Gull (2012), Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull, Roseate Tern (1990) and White-winged Black Tern (1990).
May 2019
31st May
A female Common Scoter was seen from New Passage and nearby 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Lapwing, 2 Shoveler, 9 Tufted Duck, 10+ Gadwall, 80+ Shelduck, a Greylag and 22 Canada Geese were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
30th May
A Little Egret and at least 2 Little Ringed Plovers were seen on Pilning Wetland.
29th May
A morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 5+ Lapwing, 3 Curlew, 8 Oystercatchers, single Little Egret and Greylag, 22 Canada Geese, 72 Shelduck, 14 Tufted Duck, 12 Gadwall and 3 Swifts.
28th May
Four Little Ringed Plovers and 2 Lapwing remained on Pilning Wetland
27th May
At least 40 Shelduck, 8 Canada Geese, a Little Egret, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and 2 Lapwing were reported from New Passage.
26th May
The usual Little Ringed Plovers, Lapwing and a Little Egret were seen on Pilning Wetland.
25th May
A morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 5+ Lapwing, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Black-headed Gulls and 90 Shelduck. At least 30 Ringed Plover and 35 Dunlin were present at high tide at Severn Beach. The Nightingale was still singing occasionally today.
24th May
A Hobby, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, single Lapwing and Greylag were reported at Pilning Wetland.
23rd May
Just a Little Egret and 2 Oystercatchers were reported from New Passage.
22nd May
Two Little Egrets, 60 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, and 2 Shoveler were reported from Northwick Warth.
21st May
Single Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher and Siskin were reported from New Passage/Northwick Warth. Reports from Severn Beach involved 18 Ringed Plover, a Grey Plover, 4 Dunlin and a Peregrine. My “Trip List” for Southern Ontario can be seen by clicking on the flag below..
20th May
Just 150+ Shelduck and 4 Little Ringed Plovers were reported from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland.
19th May
Fifty Shelduck, 2 Pintail, a Greylag, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, single Whmbrel, Little Egret and Spotted Flycatcher were reported from New Passage/Northwick Warth. One of Point Pelee’s rarities collecting nesting material today....
Prothonotary Warbler, Point Pelee, Ontario 19.5.19
18th May
The 4th Severnside record of Temminck’s Stint was found this morning on Pilning Wetland. Other sightings between here and Severn Beach included a Greenshank, 22 Sanderling, 9 Grey Plover, 100 Ringed Plover and 41 Dunlin.
Temminck’s Stint, Pilning Wetland 18.5.19 © Karle Burford
17th May
Four Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Greenshank, 2 Pintail, 2 Gadwall, a Greylag and 4 Swifts were reported from Pilning Wetland. The Nightingale was still singing today. Meanwhile in Canada, today I made an enjoyable trip to Hillman Marsh Conservation area in Ontario where waders present included Dunlin, Least Sandpipers, Semi-palmated Sandpipers, White-rumped Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitchers, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Stilt Sandpiper, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Semi-palmated Plovers, Willets and Killdeers. Throw in Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Redheads and American Wigeon making it a worthwhile visit.
Killdeer, Hillman Marsh, Ontario 17.5.19
Stilt Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs, Hillman Marsh, Ontario 17.5.19
Willets, Hillman Marsh, Ontario 17.5.19
16th May
Severn Beach produced at least 41 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, single Grey Plover and Tree Pipit. A Red Kite, a Hobby and 2 Common Terns were reported at Northwick Warth. A few more snaps from our trip to Canada today below...
Yellow Warbler, Point Pelee, Ontario 16.5.19
Golden-winged Warbler, Point Pelee, Ontario 16.5.19
Sandhill Cranes, Point Pelee, Ontario 16.5.19
15th May
At least 48 Sanderling, 35 Grey Plover, 11 Whimbrel, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits, 7 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin, single Greenshank, Redshank and Knot were reported from Severn Beach. A drake Teal, a pair of Pintail, a Greenshank, a Tree Pipit and 35+ Swifts were seen in the Northwick Warth area.. More interesting birds were seen in Canada today...
Black-billed Cuckoo, Point Pelee, Ontario 15.5.19
14th May
At least 80 Grey Plover, 25 Sanderling, 3 Greenshank, 15 Redshank, 4 Whimbrel, single Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot and 12 Arctic Terns were seen from Severn Beach. Meanwhile I am away at the moment in Canada witnessing the mass movement of migrants North though the migration hotspot of Ontario......
Blackburnian Warbler, Point Pelee, Ontario 14.5.19
13th May
Eight Whimbrel, 30 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover and 11 Arctic Terns were reported from Severn Beach.
12th May
Reports from the Northwick Warth area included a male Marsh Harrier, single Greylag, Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover and 11 Dunlin. Two Wigeon were seen at Aust Warth.
11th May
Another quiet day with 9 Whimbrel, 40+ Dunlin, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Common Gulls, a Sparrowhawk and a Cetti’s Warbler reported from Severn Beach. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Lapwing, a Whimbrel, 3 Wheatears, single Little Egret, Yellow Wagtail and Swift. A Red Kite was seen at Avonmouth Sewage Works.
10th May
A quiet day with just 4 Dunlin, 5 Lapwing, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Hobby and a Raven on Pilning Wetland today. Just 3 Whimbrel, 40 Dunlin and 10 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach. The Nightingale was still singing today.
9th May
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 80 Dunlin, 13 Ringed Plover, 4 Lapwing, 5 Whimbrel, single Common Sandpiper, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Water Rail, Greylag, Black-headed Gull, Wheatear, 15 Canada Geese, 3 Teal and 50+ Shelduck. A Sanderling, 80 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, single Whimbrel and Curlew, 6 Black-headed Gulls, a Cetti’s Warbler and a Wheatear were reported from Severn Beach.
8th May
A breezy day with sunshine and showers. Morning reports from Severn Beach included 10+ Black Terns, 16 Arctic Terns, 30+ “Commic” Terns, 5 Whimbrel, 3 Grey Plover, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Knot, 15 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 4 Common Scoter, single Short-eared Owl, Cetti’s Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipit and at least 25 Swifts. Another 55 Dunlin, 16 Ringed Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Lapwing, 3 Whimbrel, 4 Curlew, 2 Lapwing, single Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Little Egret, Greylag, 3 Wheatears and 3 Swifts were reported in the Northwick Warth/New Passage area.
7th May
Sightings from the Northwick Warth/New Passage area involved 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Common Sandpipers, 39 Dunlin, 6 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 5 Lapwing, single Ringed Plover, Little Egret, Greylag, Yellow Wagtail and 3 Wheatears. Another 5 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plovers and 3 Cetti’s Warblers were reported from Severn Beach.
6th May
Reports from the Northwick Warth area involved 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Whimbrel, single Common Sandpiper, Whinchat and Yellow Wagtail. Another 7 Whimbrel and a Cetti’s Warbler were reported at Severn Beach. The Nightingale was still heard singing today.
5th May
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area included 4 Whimbrel, 5 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Curlew, 4 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, a Greylag, 8 Black-headed Gulls, single Whinchat, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail and Raven, 2 Siskins and 3 Swifts.
4th May
A sunny day with a cold North breeze. Another quiet day with just a Greylag, 19 Canada Geese, 85+ Shelduck, 7 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, single Little Egret and Black-headed Gull, 2 Wheatears, a Yellow Wagtail and a Siskin were seen in the Northwick Warth area.
Whimbrel, Northwick Warth 4.5.19
3rd May
A Greylag, 10 Canada Geese, 70+ Shelduck, 18 Gadwall, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 7 Whimbrel, 2 Lapwing, single Common Sandpiper, Curlew and Little Egret, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 6+ Wheatears and 5 Swifts were seen in the Northwick Warth area.
2nd May
A quiet day.An early morning visit to Northwick Warth produced just 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Lapwing, a Curlew, a Little Egret, 18 Gadwall, 50 Shelduck, 6 Wheatears and 2 Ravens. Another Whimbrel and 2 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
Cuckoo, Northwick Warth 1.5.19
1st May
Combined reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included a singing Wood Warbler, a Cuckoo, 9 Wheatears, 2 Tree Pipits, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, single Whinchat and Raven, 4 Swifts, a drake Garganey, a Little Egret, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Lapwing, a Snipe, 8 Whimbrel, 5 Black-tailed Godwits and 15 Bar-tailed Godwits. A Red Kite was seen from Aust Sheep fields. Both Grasshopper Warbler and Nightingale were still singing on suitable territories today.
