September is one of the most exciting months to visit Severnside. The total of 197 species seen at least once in this month, is the third highest in the year. It is the time when most of the summer visitors will depart and a good selection of early winter visitors will arrive towards the end of the month. Any West or South West gales will produce the usual seabirds but the more exotic have occurred; Sooty Shearwater (1974), Balearic Shearwater (1988), Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull. Other rarities that have appeared in September include; Red-crested Pochard (2 in 1996), White Storks (2010), Glossy Ibis (2010), Cattle Egret (2012), Great White Egret (2013, 2016), Crane (2014), Honey Buzzard (1996), Dotterel (1974), Kentish Plover (2006), White-rumped Sandpiper (1985), Pectoral Sandpiper (1998, 2006, 2008, 2014, 2016), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (1989, 2003), Terek Sandpiper (1986), Semipalmated Sandpiper (2009), Red-rumped Swallow (1977), Wryneck (2003, 2010, 2015), Rose-coloured Starling (2004, 2018), Ortolan Bunting (2018) and Yellow-browed Warbler (2017). Local rarities have included pale-bellied Brent Geese, Osprey, Spoonbill (2008, 2011), Nightjar (2006, 2013), Hawfinch (1998), Willow Tit (1992), Nightingale (1999), Lapland Bunting and Ring Ouzel.
September 2019
30th September
A massive 14.4 metre high tide covered the whole of the salt marsh this morning. Three juvenile Little Stints, a Greenshank, 18 Black-tailed Godwits, 500 Knot, 25 Lapwing, a Grey Plover, 150 Oystercatchers, 200+ Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover, 140 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 50 Canada Geese, 10 Mute Swans, 4 Pintail, 90+ Wigeon, 35+ Gadwall, 12+ Shoveler, 30 Shelduck, 300+ Teal, a hunting Peregrine, 2 Kestrels, 60 Swallows, 30 House Martins, 2 Wheatears, 2 singing Cetti’s Warblers (Grebe pond), 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, single Whinchat, Stonechat and Rock Pipit were reported in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
Greenshank, Pilning Wetland 30.9.19
Little Stint and Dunlin, Pilning Wetland 30.9.19
29th September
A day of sunshine and heavy rain showers with a gusty wind. An Arctic Skua, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 33 Ringed Plovers, 51 Oystercatchers, 12 Turnstones and 4 Little Egrets were seen at Severn Beach. A juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 500 Knot, a Black-tailed Godwit, 60 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover, 90 Redshank, 23 Lapwing, 130 Oystercatchers, 140 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, a Common Tern, 9 Swallows, 2 Wheatears, single Whinchat and Kestrel were seen on Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland.
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 29.9.19
28th September
Another breezy and wet day. Single Manx Shearwater, Gannet, “Commic” Tern and a mixed flock of 50 Ringed Plover/Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 2 Greenshank, 500 Knot, 10 Lapwing, 100 Dunlin/Ringed Plover, 10 Turnstones, 150 Redshank, a Little Egret, 38 Canada Geese, 12 Mute Swans (one full grown cygnet), 20 Shelduck, 39 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck, 15+ Shoveler, a Pintail, a singing Cetti’s Warbler (Chestle Pill), 2 Swallows, 2 Stonechats, 2 Wheatears, single Whinchat and Rock Pipit.
27th September
A wet and windy day. A morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced a Greenshank, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, 60 Knot, 200+ Redshank, 130 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 80 Canada Geese, 35 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, 20 Shoveler, 280 Teal. 80 Wigeon, a Kingfisher and a singing Cetti’s Warbler (Grebe Pond). An evening high tide visit to Severn Beach produced a Grey Phalarope (swimming off Shaft Beach before flying over Prince of Wales bridge and upriver), a Leach’s Petrel, 5 Ringed Plover and a Turnstone.
Leach’s Petrel, Severn Beach 27.9.19
26th September
A windy morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced a Ruff, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 500 Knot, just one Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, 15 Lapwing, 4 Ringed Plover, 120 Oystercatchers, 150 Redshank, 2 Little Egrets, 88 Canada Geese, a Greylag, 400 Teal, 80 Wigeon, 7 Pintail, 12 Shoveler, single adult Common Tern, Water Rail, singing Cetti’s Warbler, Kingfisher, Whinchat, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
25th September
Another wet morning. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area involved the first Snow Bunting of the year (flew over South), single Ruff, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover, 220 Knot, 17 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Cetti’s Warblers, 100 Linnets, single Wheatear and Whinchat.
Another 20+ Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach.
24th September
A wet morning visit to Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland produced a Ruff, 17 Black-tailed Godwits, 240 Knot, 140 Redshank, just one Dunlin, 2 Turnstones, a Little Egret, a Great Black-backed Gull (feeding on what appeared to be a dead Conger Eel), 250+ Teal, 80 Wigeon, 7 Pintail, 120+ Linnets, 2 Ravens, 2 Wheatears and 2 Cetti’s Warblers (Grebe pond & Chestle Pill).
Ruff, Pilning Wetland 24.9.19
Great Black-backed Gull, New Passage 23.9.19
23rd September
An increasingly wet day. A Ruff, 250 Knot, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 150 Redshank, a Little Egret, 200+ Teal, 50+ Wigeon, 36 Shelduck, 7 Pintail, 3 Kestrels and a Rock Pipit were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area this morning.
22nd September
A wet morning becoming drier by early afternoon. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 200 Knot, 26 Black-tailed Godwits, 160 Redshank, 24 Lapwing, 12 Snipe, 15 Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin, a Little Egret, 12 Common Terns, 230+ Teal, 30+ Wigeon, 10 Shoveler, 4 Tufted Duck, 30 Gadwall, 120+ Mallard, 9 Mute Swans, 2 singing Cetti’s Warblers, 2 Grey Wagtails, single Kingfisher, Sedge Warbler, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. At least 9 Little Egrets, 60 Turnstones, 150 Curlew, 45 Oystercatchers and 10 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
21st September
The weather remained the same. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area involved a record flock of 6 Great White Egrets heading North East (continued up river past the Berkeley shore 50 minutes later), a female/juvenile Marsh Harrier, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 130 Knot, 140 Redshank, 25 Lapwing, 30 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, 3 Little Egrets, a flock of 11 Cormorants flying South, 250+ Teal, 30 Wigeon, 5 Pintail, 4 Tufted Duck, single Whinchat, Kingfisher and singing Cetti’s Warbler. Another 5 Little Egrets and 150 Curlew were present off Severn Beach.
Great White Egrets, 21.9.19 © Paul Taylor
20th September
The sunny weather and East breeze continued. A Pectoral Sandpiper was reported in flight at Pilning Wetland this evening where other reports from here and Northwick Warth included a juvenile Spotted Redshank, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 160 Knot, 160 Redshank, 31 Dunlin, 26 Ringed Plover, 30 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, a Little Egret, 2 Tufted Duck, 30 Wigeon, 36 Shelduck, a flock of 35 Skylarks, 2+ White Wagtails, single Kingfisher, Raven, Wheatear, singing Cetti’s Warbler, juvenile Peregrine and 2 Kestrels. A Great White Egret flew South West over Severn Beach and landed on the shore where 10 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons and 150+ Curlew were also seen. A Grey Seal was seen from New Passage.
Great White Egret, Severn Beach 20.9.19
19th September
Another sunny day with a light East breeze. A female Marsh Harrier, 300+ Knot, 30 Black-tailed Godwits, 15 Turnstones, 21 Lapwing, 40 Dunlin, 26 Ringed Plover, 120 Redshank, single Snipe and Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 22 Shelduck, 90 Wigeon, 200 Teal, 6 Pintail, an adult Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel, 2 Stonechats, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 White Wagtails, a singing Cetti’s Warbler and a Clouded Yellow butterfly were reported in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area. Nine Little Egrets were seen at Severn Beach.
18th September
A sunny day with a North East breeze. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 300+ Knot, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Redshank, 70 Dunlin, 32 Ringed Plover, 9 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 8 Little Grebes, 120+ Linnets, 2 Wheatears, single Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat and Cetti’s Warbler. Eight Little Egrets and a Grey Seal were seen from Severn Beach.
17th September
A juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 80 Black-tailed Godwits, 230 Knot, 70 Dunlin, 210 Teal, 36 Wigeon, 7 Pintail, single Raven and Yellow Wagtail were seen on Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland. Two adult Peregrines, 8 Little Egrets, 116 Curlew, 25 Oystercatchers, 12 Blackcaps, single Lesser Whitethroat, Wheatear and Stonechat were reported from Severn Beach.
16th September
A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper (rear wader pool on wetland), 500 Knot, 65 Black-tailed Godwits, 170 Redshank, 120 Curlew, 135 Oystercatchers, 150 Dunlin, 45 Ringed Plover, 11 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, 9 Pintail, 200+ Teal, 12 Wigeon, 18 Shelduck, 21 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 110+ Mallard, 60 Canada Geese, 9 Mute Swans, single Peregrine, Wheatear and Cetti’s Warbler (Grebe pond hedge) were seen on Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland. Six Little Egrets and 7 Ringed Plover were seen from Severn Beach. Another Cetti’s Warbler was heard at the Sea Bank cycle track at Chittening Warth.
15th September
Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 450 Knot, 26 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Redshank, 100 Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plover, 10 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 12 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 7 Pintail, 18 Shelduck, a Tree Pipit and a Spotted Flycatcher. Another 7 Knot, 15 Turnstones, 30 Ringed Plover/Dunlin, 2 Wheatears, a Whinchat and a Cetti’s Warbler were present at Severn Beach. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard at Chittening Warth.
14th September
Sightings from the New Passage/Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 4 Avocets, 4 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 200 Knot, 145 Redshank, 50 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover, 10 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Lapwing, a Golden Plover, 105 Oystercatchers, 130 Curlew, a Little Egret, 20 Wigeon, 90+ Teal, 3 Pintail, a Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail. Two Tree Pipits, 2 Whinchats and a Wheatear were seen at Severn Beach.
13th September
Single juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, juvenile Little Ringed Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Common Sandpipers, 85 Black-tailed Godwits, 105 Knot, 150 Redshank, 18 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 18 Wigeon, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 5 Ravens, 2 Grey Wagtails, single Peregrine, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Whinchat and Cetti’s Warbler (singing behind the Glen) were reported in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area. Another Cetti’s Warbler was heard near Severn Beach railway platform.
12th September
A Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 85 Knot, 150 Redshank, 75 Oystercatchers and 20 Wigeon were seen from New Passage.
Knot, New Passage 12.9.19
Bar-tailed Godwit, New Passage 12.9.19
11th September
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 100 Knot, 100 Black-tailed Godwits, 170 Dunlin, 80 Curlew, 150 Redshank, 20 Ringed Plover, 26 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, a Little Egret, 219 Canada Geese, a Greylag, 12 Wigeon, 10 Shoveler, 2 Pintail, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Peregrine. Five Little Egrets, 60 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover and a Cetti’s Warbler were reported from Severn Beach.
10th September
The Great White Egret, 4 Little Egrets, 100 Knot, 200 Black-tailed Godwits, 150 Redshank, 40 Turnstones, 2 Common Sandpipers, 120 Teal, 6 Pintail, 19 Wigeon, 5 Shoveler, 22 Shelduck, 4 Wheatears and a Peregrine were seen in the Northwick Warth /Pilning Wetland area. Another 2 Little Egrets, 60 Curlew, 120 Dunlin/Ringed Plover and 5 Wheatears were reported from Severn Beach.
Great White Egret, Pilning Wetland 10.9.19
9th September
A wet day. An Avocet, 103 Knot, 183 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plover, 100+ Redshank, single Common Sandpiper, Snipe and Little Egret, 110 Teal, 3 Pintail, 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Shoveler, 8 Chiffchaffs, 2 Wheatears and 5 Yellow Wagtails were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area. A mixed flock of 70 Dunlin and 30 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach shore and a Cetti’s Warbler was singing near the railway platform.
Avocet, Pilning Wetland 9.9.19 © Aravind Ramesh
8th September
At least 200 Black-tailed Godwits, 52 Knot, 145 Redshank, 60 Turnstones, 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Little Egrets and a Wheatear were seen at New Passage.
7th September
A settled day with just a 10 metre afternoon high tide. Two Curlew Sandpipers, 150+ Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plover, 60 Curlew, 3 Little Egrets, single Redstart and Wheatear were present at Severn Beach. The Great White Egret, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ruff, 205 Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Knot, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, 30+ Teal, 2 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 2 Yellow Wagtails, single Hobby, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Raven were reported from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area. A Whinchat and 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.
6th September
A breezy day with a West wind. A Manx Shearwater, 90 Turnstones, 100+ Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plover and 5 Little Egrets were seen from Severn Beach. Two juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 250 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Knot, 181 Dunlin, 80 Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, 60 Redshank, 22 Shelduck, 9 Mute Swans (one cygnet), single Little Egret, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail were reported from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
juvenile Little Ringed Plover, Pilning Wetland 6.9.19
5th September
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 140+ Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Knot, 65 Redshank, 80 Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plover, 20 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Snipe, a Great White Egret, 2 Little Egrets, 250 Canada Geese, 2 Pintail, 3 Wheatears, 5 Yellow Wagtails, single Whinchat and Tree Pipit.
Ruff, Northwick Warth 5.9.19
4th September
A breezy day. A morning visit to the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area produced 3 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, a Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 150+ Black-tailed Godwits, 65 Redshank, 20 Lapwing, 20 Knot, 210 Dunlin, 76 Ringed Plover, a Great White Egret, 2 Little Egrets, 253 Canada Geese, 2 Greylags, 20+ Teal, 2 Shoveler and a hunting Peregrine. At least 130 Turnstones, 2 Ringed Plover, single Rock Pipit and Wheatear were seen on the Severn Beach shore and a Cetti’s Warbler was singing near the railway platform.
3rd September
The first Little Stint of the year, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 15 Knot and 150+ Black-tailed Godwits were reported from New Passage/Pilning Wetland today. Meanwhile, I spent the morning in Cornwall watching a Brown Booby on the Lizard and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Davidstow airfield.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Davidstow Airfield, Cormwall 3.9.19
Brown Booby, Kynance Cove, Cormwall 3.9.19
2nd September
Four Curlew Sandpipers (adult & 3 juveniles), 20 Knot, 225 Black-tailed Godwits, 100 Ringed Plover, 180 Dunlin, 22 Lapwing, 7 Snipe, 70 Turnstones, single Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Peregrines and 4 Yellow Wagtails were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area. Another Common Sandpiper, 4 Little Egrets, a Redstart and Wheatear were seen at Severn Beach.
Dunlin and Curlew Sandpiper, Northwick Warth 2.9.19
1st September
A cooler but still sunny day. Reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 3 Curlew Sandpipers (adult & 2 juveniles), 2 Ruff, 150+ Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 130+ Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plover, 45 Turnstones, 3 Snipe, single Greenshank, Grey Plover, Whimbrel, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Great White Egret, 4 Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail. Another 20 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstones and 2 Grey Wagtails were seen at Severn Beach and 5 Little Egrets were roosting on Chittening Warth on the 14 metre high tide.
