December is one of the quietest months with only 164 species recorded during the month. It can be a good month for wildfowl with the chance of Red-breasted Merganser and Goosander if inland waters freeze or some fly by Bewick’s Swans. A good selection of seabirds have occurred in December gales including Black-throated and Great Northern Divers, Leach’s Petrel, Little Auk, Grey Phalarope and Pomarine Skua. Other rarities have included a stunning male Desert Wheatear (2013), Green-winged Teal (2013), Egyptian Goose (2013), Glaucous Gull, Waxwing (2010) and in the winters of 1940 & 1941, Cirl Bunting.
December 2019
31st December
A mild and quiet end to the year. The usual wildfowl and waders were reported from New Passage and 170 Lapwing remained on Pilning Wetland. Hopefully things will improve in the new decade tomorrow,
30th December
No reports were received today.
29th December
The usual wildfowl and Lapwing flock were seen ay New Passage/Pilning Wetland. At least 20 Shelduck remained off Severn Beach.
28th December
A Brent Goose, 30+ Wigeon, 10 Shelduck, 40+ Turnstones and 3 Rock Pipits were seen at Severn Beach this morning. A Little Egret, 130 Redshank, 400 Dunlin, 200+ Lapwing, 60 Curlew, 200+ Wigeon, 90 Teal, 10 Shoveler and 20 Gadwall were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area. A pair of Stonechats were seen on Aust Warth.
27th December
At least 200 Lapwings and 120 Teal remained on Pilning Wetland.
26th December
No reports were received today.
25th December
A Brent Goose, 90 Canada Geese, 30 Shelduck, 180 Wigeon, 12 Shoveler, 22 Gadwall, a Water Rail, 250 Dunlin, 120 Redshank and 2 Snipe were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area. Two Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth and a female Blackcap was present in Severn Beach.
24th December
Another quiet day with just 40 Canada Geese, 300+ Wigeon, 240 Teal, 40+ Shelduck, 20 Shoveler. 30 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Grey Herons, 350 Dunlin, 140 Redshank, 150 Curlew, 140 Oystercatchers and 250+ Lapwing seen on Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland.
23rd December
No reports were received today.
22nd December
Reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 90 Canada Geese, 30 Shelduck, 36 Gadwall, 16 Shoveler, 250 Wigeon, 180 Teal, 6 Tufted Duck, a Little Egret, 90 Curlew, 220 Lapwing, 110 Redshank, 200 Dunlin, 5 Snipe and a Kestrel.
21st December
No reports were received today.
20th December
Another very wet day. Most pools on the wetland are now full with the Grebe Pond and new Curlew field scrape looking like one large pool. A late morning visit to Pilning Wetland/New Passage produced single Little Egret and Black-tailed Godwit, 170 Curlew, 130 Redshank, 300+ Lapwing, 600+ Dunlin, 7 Snipe, 400+ Wigeon, 300+ Teal, 45 Shelduck, 38 Gadwall, 18 Shoveler, 2 Water Rails and 300+ Black-headed Gulls.
19th December
A wet day. A brief visit to Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth produced a Little Egret, 38 Shelduck, 120 Curlew, 300 Dunlin, 250 Lapwing, a Black-tailed Godwit, 230 Teal, 35 Gadwall, 15 Shoveler and a Peregrine.
18th December
No reports were received today.
17th December
A Little Egret, 200 Dunlin, 300 Lapwing, 110 Curlew, 200 Teal, 40 Gadwall, 18 Shoveler, 3 Tufted Duck and 30 Shelduck were seen on Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland, A Short-eared Owl and a Stonechat were seen from Aust Warth late afternoon. A male Blackcap was present in a Severn Beach garden.
16th December
Single Water Rail, Kingfisher, Snipe, Blackcap and Grey Wagtail were reported from New Passage. A Short-eared Owl was seen on Aust Warth late afternoon and a Stonechat was seen at Severn Beach.
Kingfisher, New Passage 16.12.19 © Lisa Presland
15th December
Another breezy day. The usual 80+ Canada Geese, 30 Shelduck, 150+ Teal, 400+ Wigeon, 32 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, 130 Curlew, 250+ Lapwing and 600+ Dunlin were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
14th December
A windy day. An adult Kittiwake and 20 Shelduck were seen from Severn Beach this morning. At least 250 Lapwing, 200 Dunlin, 80 Teal, 25 Gadwall and 12 Shoveler were seen at Pilning Wetland this afternoon. The large flock of Wigeon and at least 600 Dunlin were seen from New Passage.
13th December
A breezy visit to New Passage produced 700+ Dunlin, 146 Oystercatchers, 80 Curlew, 250+ Lapwing, 118 Canada Geese, 35 Shelduck and 75 Teal.
12th December
No reports were received today.
11th December
A female Merlin, 80 Canada Geese, 30 Shelduck, 9 Shoveler, 25 Gadwall, 320 Wigeon, 200 Teal, 11 Tufted Duck, 120 Lapwing, 100 Curlew, 210 Dunlin, 100 Redshank, a Kestrel and a Coal Tit were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland/New Passage area this morning.
10th December
Another wet, windy and horrible day. No reports were received today but I was given some recent drone images of Pilning Wetland. Click on either image below for a short 360 degree video image.
Pilning Wetland, looking North over Butts Pool, Grebe Pond & reed bed, the new Curlew Field scrape and the rear wader pool, in the top right.
Pilning Wetland, looking East over Butts Pool, the rear wader pool, the Signals Pool and the 1st Sentry box pool, bottom right
9th December
Storm Atiyah moved through overnight with heavy rain and gale force winds but by first light it had calmed down. A Black-tailed Godwit, 70 Dunlin, 150+ Oystercatchers, 250+ Lapwing, 130 Curlew, 40 Turnstones, 110 Redshank, 170 Canada Geese, 35 Shelduck and 400+ Wigeon were seen on Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland this afternoon.
8th December
An increasingly windy day with rain showers. An afternoon visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 2 Egyptian Geese, 137 Canada Geese, 20 Shelduck, 60 Teal, 40+ Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 200+ Lapwing, 130 Redshank, 160 Oystercatchers, 90 Curlew, 80 Dunlin, 2 Water Rails, single Sparrowhawk and adult female Peregrine.
Egyptian Geese, Pilning Wetland 8.12.19
7th December
Hunting male Merlin and Peregrine were seen from New Passage today.
6th December
No reports were received today.
5th December
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included a male Merlin, a Marsh Harrier, 30 Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Redshank, 150 Curlew, 25 Shelduck, 17 Canada Geese, 150 Wigeon, 110 Teal, 45 Gadwall, 20 Shoveler, 6 Tufted Duck and a Water Rail.
4th December
A morning visit to to New Passage/Pilning Wetland produced 19 Black-tailed Godwits, 200+ Redshank, 220 Lapwing, 110 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 40+ Gadwall, 100+ Teal, 140 Wigeon, 16 Shoveler and a Kingfisher. Another 30 Redshank, 19 Ringed Plover, 60 Turnstones, 40 Dunlin, 12 Shelduck and a Stonechat were seen at Severn Beach. Another Stonechat was seen this evening at Aust Warth.
3rd December
The usual Wigeon, Teal and Redshank flocks were seen from New Passage. A Stonechat was seen at Aust Warth.
2nd December
An icy dawn (-2°C) with several pools frozen over. A Little Egret, 90+ Canada Geese, 32 Shoveler, 30 Gadwall, 130 Teal, 220 Wigeon, 90 Redshank, 60 Dunlin, 8 Snipe, 2 Kestrels, a Sparrowhawk and a Coal Tit were reported from New Passage this morning. Four Stonechats, 12 Shelduck, 10 Wigeon and 10 Redshank were seen at Severn Beach.
1st December
Reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included 100 Canada Geese, 300 Wigeon, 40 Gadwall, 40 Shoveler, 130 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 240+ Lapwing, 35 Curlew, 3 Knot, 100+ Redshank, 200 Dunlin, single Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
