Despite the onset of winter and the decrease in hours of daylight, October is a month with the highest number of recorded species, with a grand total of 212. Rarities have included records of Black-necked Grebe (1996,2015), Red-footed Falcon (2014), Long-billed Dowitcher (1977), Lesser Yellowlegs (1984), White-rumped Sandpiper (1985), Red-necked Phalarope (2001), American Golden Plover (2013), Black Guillemot (1998), Bearded Tits (2012), Yellow-browed Warbler (2001,2013,2015,2016) and Red-throated Pipit (2015). Other national and local rarities recorded include Glossy Ibis (2009), Ring-billed Gull, Spoonbills,Great White Egrets (2016), Cranes (2016), Whooper Swans, Mandarin (2017), Roseate Tern, Hooded Crow, Dartford Warbler, Montagu’s Harrier (1991), Hen Harrier, Ring Ouzel, Shorelark, Woodlark, Mealy Redpoll, Common Rosefinch (2017), Firecrest, Hawfinch and Common Crossbill.
October 2019
31st October
The murky weather and cool North East breeze continued producing 3 Goldeneye (one drake), a Brent Goose, 200+ Teal, 200+ Wigeon, 5 Tufted Duck, 60+ Gadwall, 60+ Shoveler, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Water Rails, 400 Dunlin, 90 Curlew, single Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Snipe, 160 Lapwing, a Short-Eared Owl being mobbed by Corvids, a hunting Peregrine and a male Stonechat in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area. A flyover Brambling and 4 Grey Plover were reported at Severn Beach.
Short-eared Owl, Northwick Warth 31.10.19
30th October
Another cloudy day with a North East breeze. Reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included a Great White Egret heading South, 4 Brent Geese, 2 Golden Plover, 3 Grey Plover, a Brambling and a late Swallow. Two Kestrels were seen at Aust Warth.
29th Otcober
A cloudy day with a biting cold North East wind. Combined reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, single Little Stint, Greenshank and Knot, 150 Redshank, 50 Dunlin, 100+ Lapwing, 46 Turnstones, the first Goldeneye for 3 years, a Great Crested Grebe, single Great White Egret, Little Egret and Water Rail, 108 Canada Geese, 60+ Shoveler, 66 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Pintail, 400 Teal, 180 Wigeon and a Kingfisher. Click on the Goldeneye image below for a short Youtube video.
Goldeneye, New Passage 29.10.19
28th October
A frosty dawn followed by sunshine. A good selection was reported from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetlnd area including 2 late Little Stints, single Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit, 230 Redshank, 120 Dunlin, 70+ Lapwing, a Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Water Rails, 160 Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swans, 3 Pintail, 47 Gadwall, 50+ Shoveler, 220 Teal, 180 Wigeon, 2 Ravens, a Kestrel, 6+ Siskins and a Redpoll.
Little Stint and Lapwing, Pilning Wetland 28.10.19
27th October
The Greenshank, 80+ Lapwing and a Little Egret were reported from Pilning Wetland.
26th October
Windy and very wet all day. Reports from Severn Beach involved a Gannet, a juvenile Kittiwake, 24 Shelduck, 300+ Dunlin, 57 Curlew, 51 Oystercatchers and 27 Turnstones.
25th October
A wet and increasingly windy day.Just 200+ Redshank, 55 Turnstones, 65 Shoveler, single Little Egret and Kingfisher were reported from New Passage.
24th October
Two Little Egrets, 4 Stonechats, single Water Rail, Snipe, Kestrel, Peregrine and Grey Wagtail were reported from New Passage.
23rd October
A foggy morning slow to clear. Reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 80+ Redshank, 60 Curlew, 30+ Snipe, 6 Dunlin, 70+ Lapwing, a Little Egret and Water Rail, 40 Shoveler, 30 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 7 flyover Siskins and a Sparrowhawk. A Brambling was seen with Chaffinches in a garden at New Passage and a Short-eared Owl flew south from here as the fog cleared. A Merlin was reported at Aust Warth.
22nd October
The Cattle Egret, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 18 Knot, 35 Turnstones, 220 Redshank, 90+ Lapwing, 80 Curlews, 5 Snipe, 2+ Little Egrets, 2 Water Rails, 100+ Canada Geese, 12 Mute Swans, 45+ Shelduck, 40 Shoveler, 160 Wigeon, 140 Teal, a hunting Merlin, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Stonechats, a Brambling, a good selection and number of overhead migrants including Redwing, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Siskin, Reed Bunting, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Jackdaw and single late House Martin.
Cattle Egret, Pilning Wetland 22.10.19
21st October
An overcast day with a North East breeze produced a good variety of sightings including what was just the 4th Severnside Cattle Egret on Pilning Wetland and other reports from the Northwick Warth area included a Greenshank, 10 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Redshank, 90 Curlew, 100 Lapwing, 3 Little Egrets, 70 Turnstones, 45 Shelduck, 140 Wigeon, 30 Gadwall, 20 Shoveler, 100+ Canada Geese, flyover migrants including a Twite, Fieldfares and Redwings. Reports from the Severn Beach area included 2 Grey Plover, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Snipe, 40 Turnstones, 35 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 25 Shelduck and a steady flow of winter Thrushes and Finches heading North East into the wind.
Cattle Egret, Pilning Wetland 21.10.19 © Lisa Presland
20th October
Reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included an Avocet, a Greenshank, 15 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Snipe, 20 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, 35 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 150 Canada Geese, 130 Wigeon, 4 Tufted Duck,,24+ Gadwall, 30+ Shoveler, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff. A Grey Plover, 93 Turnstones, 15 Oystercatchers and a Stonechat were seen at Severn Beach. A Jack Snipe and Kestrel were seen at Aust Warth.
19th October
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area involved a Greenshank, 5 Snipe, 50+ Lapwing, 100+ Dunlin, a Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, 100+ Canada Geese, 120 Wigeon, 2 Ravens and a Kestrel. Another Kestrel was sen at Aust Warth.
18th October
A breezy day with some heavy rain showers. A Great White Egret, a Jack Snipe and a female Merlin were seen at Aust Warth this afternoon.
17th October
A calm and sunny morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced a Greenshank, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, a Knot, 70 Redshank, 300+ Dunlin, 40+ Lapwing, 5 Snipe, a Little Egret, 2+ Water Rails, 77 Canada Geese, 11 Mute Swans, 54 Shelduck, 40+ Shoveler, 20 Gadwall and a singing Cetti’s Warbler. Another 2 Little Egrets, 40 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover and a flyover flock of 200+ Jackdaws (heading South) were seen at Severn Beach. A Little Egret, 4 Stonechats and a Kestrel were reported at Aust Warth.
16th October
A morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced single Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit and Knot, 140 Oystercatchers,, 110 Curlew, 45 Lapwing, 80 Redshank, just one Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Water Rails, 60 Canada Geese, 42 Shelduck, a female Merlin, 2 singing Cetti’s Warblers, a Coal Tit and the first Brambling of the year. Another 21 Shelduck were seen at Severn Beach.
15th October
At least 16 Shelduck were seen at Severn Beach. A Peregrine and a Kestrel were seen on Aust Warth late afternoon.
14th October
A Red Kite flew South over and New Passage late morning. Other sightings from here and Northwick Warth included a Greenshank, 16 Knot, 55 Black-tailed Godwits, 130 Redshank, 120 Dunlin, 60+ Turnstones, 35+ Lapwing, 2 Snipe, a Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, 400+ Teal, 120+ Wigeon, 35+ Shoveler, 25+ Gadwall and a Pintail.
13th October
Combined reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 150+ Knot, 80+ Oystercatchers, 150+ Curlew, 4 Snipe, 40+ Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 60 Canada Geese, 9 Mute Swans, 15+ Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Pintail, 50 Shelduck, a Kingfisher and a Wheatear.
12th October
A damp and grey day. Reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included a Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 40+ Knot, 36 Snipe, 20+ Lapwing, 100+ Curlew, 150 Redshank, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, 3 Water Rails, 30 Canada Geese, 9 Mute Swans, 30+ Gadwall, 5 Tufted Ducks, single singing Cetti’s Warbler, Stonechat, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. At least 14 Shelduck were seen from Severn Beach.
11th October
Still very wet and breezy. The only reports were from New Passage and involved 204 Knot, 170 Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Redshank, 55 Oystercatchers and a Little Egret.
10th October
A wet and windy day. Just 6 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 6 Curlew and a Great Black-backed Gull were reported from Severn Beach. A Lapland Bunting was apparently reported at Northwick Warth.
9th October
A less windy day with heavy rain showers and sunshine. A breezy visit to New Passage/Northwick Warth produced 17 Black-tailed Godwits, 36 Knot, 19 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, 530 Teal, 80 Wigeon, a Pintail, 30+ Gadwall and 3 Redpolls. An afternoon high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 60 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 9 Wigeon, a Rock Pipit and a Wheatear.
8th October
A wet and windy day. A late afternoon high tide visit to Severn Beach produced a Leach’s Petrel, 3 Brent Geese, 5 Wigeon, 90 Turnstones, 6+ Rock Pipits and a Wheatear. Reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 12 Knot, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 86 Redshank, 37 Curlew, 6 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets and a flock of 120 Linnets. Click on the Petrel image below for a short Youtube video.
Leach’s Petrel, Severn Beach 8.10.19
Brent Geese, Severn Beach 8.10.19
7th October
Two Avocets, a Greenshank, 115 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Knot, 10 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 25 Lapwing, 40+ Redshank, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Water Rails, 60 Canada Geese, 500 Teal, 150 Wigeon, 36 Shoveler, 30+ Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Pintail and 24+ Shelduck were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
Avocets, New Passage 7.10.19
6th October
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 40 Canada Geese, 20 Shelduck, 120 Teal, 80 Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck 19 Gadwall, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Water Rails, a Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 15+ Snipe, 90 Redshank, 30 Lapwing, a Grey Wagtail and a singing Cetti’s Warbler. Another 10 Little Egrets, 9 Shelduck and 5 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
5th October
A Greenshank, at least 90 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 50 Knot, a Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, 3 Common Gulls, several fly over Siskins and Redpolls, a Grey Wagtail, a Wheatear and a singing Cetti’s Warbler were reported from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
4th October
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included a Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, at least one Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Grey Plover, 600 Dunlin, 30 Knot, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 15 Ringed Plover, 2 Greylag Geese, single Peregrine, White Wagtail and Cetti’s Warbler. A Wheatear was seen at Severn Beach.
3rd October
A morning visit to the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area produced single juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Greenshank, Grey Plover and Common Sandpiper, 650+ Dunlin, 60 Knot, 120 Redshank, 20+ Lapwing, a Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, a Sparrowhawk and a singing Cetti’s Warbler. At least 60 Black-tailed Godwits were seen off Aust Warth.
2nd October
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included a Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, single Greenshank, Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Golden Plover and Grey Plover, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 105 Knot, 25 Lapwing, 30 Ringed Plover, 150 Dunlin, 65 Redshank, 65 Curlew, a Little Egret, 78 Canada Geese, 10 Mute Swans, 27 Shelduck, 38 Gadwall, 6 Wheatears, 2 Stonechats, a Whinchat and a White Wagtail. A Merlin, 5 Little Egrets, single Snipe and Wheatear were seen at Severn Beach.
Little Stint, Pilning Wetland 1.10.19
Common Tern, New Passage 1.10.19
Great Crested Grebe, New Passage 1.10.19
1st October
An excellent start to the month with a dry morning and a high spring tide. A juvenile Little Stint, 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, single Avocet, Ruff, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Grey Plover and Greenshank, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 24 Lapwing, 400+ Knot, 600 Dunlin, 140 Oystercatchers, 230+ Redshank, 110 Curlew, 30 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Egrets, the first Great Crested Grebe of the year, a Common Tern, 38 Shelduck, 50+ House Martins, 2 Sand Martins, 10 Swallows, 2 singing Cetti’s Warblers, 4 Wheatears, single Whinchat, Stonechat, Raven and Peregrine.
