June is usually one of the quietest months on Severnside with a total of only 158 species seen. It is the month to do those jobs at home unless any strong West or South West winds occur. This weather can produce a good selection of seabirds including Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Fulmar and Storm Petrel. June has had some rarities including Great White Egret (2015), Spoonbill (2017), Rose-coloured Starling (2012), Woodlark (2018), Red Kite (2006, 2010, 2013), Franklin’s Gull (1988) and Alpine Swift (1999).
June 2019
30th June
Combined reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 3 Mediterranean Gulls (1st summer, 2nd summer and adult), 150 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 12 Redshank, 10 Lapwing (at least 4 juveniles), 2 Curlew, single Ringed Plover and Little Egret, 4 Ravens and 4 Stock Doves.
Adult and 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls, Pilning Wetland 30.6.19
29th June
An even hotter day with the temperature passing 30°C. A late afternoon high tide visit to Northwick Warth produced 6+ Little Ringed Plovers, 12 Redshank, 6 Curlew, 2 Lapwing, just 2 Mute Swan cygnets, 70+ Shelduck, 120+ Black-headed Gulls and a hunting Peregrine.
28th June
A hot (27°C) sunny day. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area involved 11 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Redshank, 6 Lapwing, single Common Sandpiper and Little Egret, a Little Grebe brood and at least 175 Black-headed Gulls. A Hobby was seen over the shoreline at Severn Beach.
27th June
At least 10 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Common Sandpipers, single Dunlin and Little Egret were seen on an afternoon visit to Northwick Warth/New Passage.
26th June
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included single Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, drake Teal, Wheatear and 30+ Black-headed Gulls. At least 4 Kestrels were seen at Aust Warth.
25th June
A very wet morning with several hours of torrential rain.When the rain stopped, a brief visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 11 Little Ringed Plovers (one full grown juvenile), the first Common Sandpiper of the autumn, 9 Redshank, 21 Curlew, 5+ Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 30+ Black-headed Gulls, 60+ Shelduck, 3 Stock Doves, single Hobby, Kestrel and Coal Tit.
24th June
Five adult Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 74 Shelduck (3 ducklings), a drake Shoveler, 3 Mute Swan cygnets, 100+ Black-headed Gulls and 3 Ravens were seen in a morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland. Another 5 Little Egrets, 20+ Curlew, 7 Shelduck, 12 Black-headed Gulls and a Cetti’s Warbler were present at Severn Beach. Painted Lady butterflies were seen at New Passage and Severn Beach.
23rd June
An afternoon visit to Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth produced 10 Little Ringed Plovers (8 adults & 2 full grown juveniles) and 10+ Black-headed Gulls when news broke of a male Little Bustard being found 20 or so miles North on the Dumbles, a tall grassy area on the salt marsh at Slimbridge WWT, habitat similar to parts of Northwick Warth! A Red Kite was seen flying East over Redwick/New Passage late morning.
Little Bustard, Slimbridge WWT Gloucestershire 23.6.19
22nd June
Another quiet day with 4 adult and a full grown juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 10+ Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 25+ Black-headed Gulls and a flyover Siskin were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area. Another 30+ Curlew, 2 Little Egrets and 2 singing Cetti’s Warblers were reported at Severn Beach.
21st June
A sunny, dry day. Reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 6 Little Ringed Plovers, single Lapwing and Little Egret, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 3 drake Teal, 3 Mute Swan cygnets and 2 Ravens. Another 11 Black-headed Gulls and a singing Cetti’s Warbler were present at Severn Beach.
20th June
A morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced a Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 5 Little Ringed Plovers, 6 Dunlin, 3 adult Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 3 drake Teal, 31 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Ravens and 5 Swifts. A Cetti’s Warbler was singing again near Severn Beach railway platform.
19th June
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 2+ Lapwings, 3 Little Egrets, 10 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Ravens, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Spotted Flycatcher. At least 25 Curlew were seen between Severn Beach and New Passage.
18th June
A wet day. The usual Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Lapwing chicks and a juvenile Black-headed Gull were seen on Pilning Wetland.
17th June
Five Dunlin, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 24 Curlew, a Redshank, 2 Little Egrets, a Black-headed Gull and a new brood of 7 Shelduck ducklings were seen on Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland. Reports from Severn Beach included a Green Sandpiper and Cetti’s Warbler at the Orchard Pools and another singing Cetti’s Warbler near the railway platform.
16th June
The usual Little Ringed Plovers and 4 Lapwing chicks were reported on Pilning Wetland.
15th June
Just 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Curlew and a few Black-headed Gulls were reported from Northwick Warth.
14th June
A breezy, wet day.An afternoon visit to Northwick Warth produced a Little Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, single Redshank, Curlew and Little Egret, 2 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Swifts.
13th June
An evening visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 5 Little Ringed Plovers, 9 adult Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, 6+ adult Lapwing, 8 Black-headed Gulls, a drake Teal, a Kingfisher and just 2 Swifts. Another 3 Black-headed Gulls were present at Severn Beach.
12th June
Sightings from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 3 Little Ringed Plovers, single Ringed Plover, a Lapwing chick and Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons and 25 Gadwall. A brood of 14 Shelduck ducklings were seen from Aust Warth.
11th June
A cold, wet day with a North wind. An afternoon visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced a Green Sandpiper, 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Ringed Plover, 2+ Lapwing, a Redshank, 7 Curlew, 4 Black-headed Gulls and a Little Egret.
Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover, Pilning Wetland 11.6.19
Green Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 11.6.19
10th June
A visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced the first brood of 16 Shelduck ducklings of the year, a juvenile Black-headed Gull and 7 adults, 4 Mute Swan cygnets, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, a Redshank and 2 Lapwing. A Ringed Plover was seen at Severn Beach.
9th June
Three Avocets, 12 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 9 Canada Geese and the usual Shelduck flock were seen from New Passage this morning.
8th June
A windy day following the overnight arrival of Storm Miguel. Morning sightings from Severn Beach involved a Storm Petrel, 2+ Fulmars, a dark morph Arctic Skua, 2 Guillemots, an adult Mediterranean Gull (chased the Petrel!) and a Peregrine. At least 2 Little Ringed Plovers remained on Northwick Warth. Click on the image below for a slow motion video of the Petrel.
Storm Petrel, Severn Beach 8.6.19
7th June
A visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 7 adult Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 3 Ravens and 3 Swifts.
6th June
A Cetti’s Warbler was heard singing at Chittening Warth. The usual Little Ringed Plovers, Lapwing and Shelduck flock were seen on Northwick Warth. A Nightingale was reported still singing in suitable breeding habitat.
5th June
A Little Tern flew down river off New Passage at high tide this morning and nearby 3 Little Ringed Plovers, a Greylag, 4 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Ravens, single Kestrel and Grey Wagtail were present in the Northwick Warth area. Just a single Dunlin and 3 Oystercatchers were seen this morning at Severn Beach.
4th June
The early morning high tide at Severn Beach produced just 13 Sanderling. At least 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 7 adult Lapwing, 11 Canada Geese, a Greylag, 4 Mute Swan cygnets, 6 Black-headed Gulls, single Little Egret and Kestrel were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
Sanderlings, Severn Beach 3.6.19
3rd June
Sightings from Severn Beach involved 40 Sanderling, 25 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover, a Grey Wagtail and 2 Swifts. The female Common Scoter remained anchored off New Passage and 130 Shelduck, 4 Mute Swan cygnets, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, the usual Lapwings, 2 Redshank, a Ringed Plover, 3 Ravens, 4 Black-headed Gulls and 4 Swifts were seen this morning on Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland.
Barnacle Geese, Northwick Warth 2.6.19
2nd June
A cooler day with rain by late morning. At least 40 Sanderling, 30 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin and 4 Swifts were seen at Severn Beach. Sightings from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 3+ Little Ringed Plovers, 4+ Redshank, 6 adult Lapwing plus 3 broods (2,2 and 3), 18 Barnacle Geese ( high over to North West), 20+ Canada Geese, a Greylag, 70+ Shelduck, the female Common Scoter, 2 Shoveler, 3 Black-headed Gulls and 5 Ravens.
Common Scoter, New Passage 1.6.19
Sanderling, Severn Beach 1.6.19
1st June
A warm and sunny start to the month. Two Whimbrel, 38 Sanderling, 19 Dunlin and 29 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach. The female Common Scoter remained off New Passage and nearby sightings from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included a Little Ringed Plover, 6 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, a Little Egret, 4 Black-headed Gulls, 50+ Shelduck, 20+ Canada Geese, a Greylag, 2 Mute Swans with 4 fresh cygnets, a family group of 5 Ravens, single unseasonal Siskin and Sand Martin.
