February is generally another quiet month with only a total of 158 species recorded. Gales in this month have produced Storm and Leach’s Petrel, Pomarine Skua and all records of Puffin. Other rarities seen include Spoonbill (2004), Bittern (2011&2012), Avocets, Ring-billed Gull (1987), Green-winged Teal (2015), Great Grey Shrike (1999,2000,2004), Shorelark (2004) and Cirl Bunting (1943).
February 2020
29th February
Yet another dismal day with gales, rain and sleet courtesy of the arrival of Storm Jorge. At least 8 Kittiwakes and 2 Common Scoters were seen off Severn Beach this morning. Two Stonechats, single Raven and Peregrine were seen at Aust Warth.
28th February
A very wet day. No reports were received.
27th February
The sunniest day of the year so far with an eye watering cold North wind. A brief visit to New Passage produced 10 Knot, 40 Redshank, 200+ Curlew, 120 Wigeon and 40 Shelduck.
26th February
A male Merlin and a Peregrine were seen at Aust Warth.
25th February
A day of sunshine and showers. Two Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Oystercatchers, 200+ Curlew, 60 Redshank, 20 Turnstones, 150 Dunlin, a Little Egret,70 Shelduck, 240 Wigeon, 110 Teal, 16 Tufted Duck, 4 Shoveler and 16 Gadwall were seen in the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area. At least one Short-eared Owl was present at Aust Warth.
24th February
No reports were received today.
23rd February
Four adult Kittiwakes were seen this morning off Severn Beach.
22nd February
Another breezy and increasingly wet day. At least 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Turnstones and a Peregrine were reported from New Passage.
21st February
Two adult Kittiwakes were seen off Severn Beach.
20th February
A visit to New Passage produced 140 Redshank, 30 Dunlin, 60 Shelduck, 200+ Wigeon, 250 Curlew and 3 Ravens.
19th February
Another wet and breezy day. Two Common Cranes were seen in flight early morning (07.35) from the A403 coast road and over Severn Beach. A brief visit to New Passage/Pilning Wetland produced 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 100 Dunlin, 200+ Curlew, 90 Lapwing, 60 Shelduck, 230 Wigeon, 60 Teal, a Grey Wagtail and a Kestrel. Another 50 Wigeon and 4 Teal were seen off Severn Beach.
18th February
At least 5 adult Kittiwakes were seen on the afternoon high tide from Severn Beach.
17th February
A less windy and mainly sunny day. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 110 Lapwing, 200 Curlew, 70 Redshank, 80 Oystercatchers, 30 Canada Geese, 90+ Shelduck, 8 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 300 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck and a flock of at least 100 Fieldfares. At least 20 Kittiwakes, 146 Turnstones, 40 Dunlin, single Peregrine and Rock Pipit were seen at Severn Beach.
Kittiwake, Severn Beach 17.2.20
16th February
Storm Dennis continued to produce strong wind and heavy rain. The only seabirds seen from Severn Beach were Kittiwakes with the biggest flock containing 50 adults.
15th February
With the arrival of yet more gales and torrential rain in the form of Storm Dennis nothing was reported today despite a few hours seawatching from Severn Beach.
14th February
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 140 Knot, 6 Grey Plover, 200 Curlew, 140 Lapwing, 80 Turnstones, 400 Dunlin, 90 Redshank, 100 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 94 Shelduck, 20 Canada Geese, 240 Wigeon, 8 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 50 Teal, 12 Tufted Duck, a Sparrowhawk and a Short-eared Owl. Another 15 Turnstones, 30 Wigeon and a Rock Pipit were seen at Severn Beach.
13th February
Another sunny day with a Spring tide. A Short-eared Owl was washed out of the salt marsh on Northwck Warth where other sightings remained much the same with 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Redshank, 50 Turnstones, 150 Lapwing, 500 Dunlin, 100 Oystercatchers, 240 Curlew, 17 Snipe, a Little Egret, 45 Canada Geese, 90+ Shelduck and 320+ Wigeon. Another 15 Shelduck, 30 Wigeon and 2 Stonechats were seen at Severn Beach.
12th February
A sunny and settled day with a very high tide flooding all of the salt marsh. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 25 Knot, 70 Turnstones, 140+ Lapwing, 276 Curlew, 120 Redshank, 400 Dunlin, 100 Oystercatchers, 5 Snipe, 4 Grey Herons, single Little Egret and Water Rail, 21 Canada Geese, 100 Shelduck, 300+ Wigeon, 80 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 18 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Ravens and a Peregrine.
11th February
Still breezy. At least 35 Kittiwakes were seen of Severn Beach mid morning.
10th February
Another windy day with heavy rain showers. Two Kittiwakes and a Peregrine were seen off Severn Beach. At least 450 Wigeon, 50 Shelduck, 70 Redshank, 40 Dunlin and 120 Oystercatchers were seen from New Passage.
9th February
Storm Ciara crossed the country today producing gales and torrential rain. At least 50 Kittiwakes were seen off Severn Beach late afternoon.
8th February
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area included 85 Redshank,40 Dunlin, 35 Curlew, 75 Lapwing, 350 Wigeon, 40+ Shelduck, 40 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck and 20 Canada Geese. Another 27 Shelduck, 25 Wigeon, 10 Curlew and a Stonechat were seen at Severn Beach. A Merlin was reported at Aust Warth.
7th February
No reports were received today. Meanwhile, I was away for a couple of days in Southern Scotland, East to West Coast and also visiting the beautiful windswept Northumberland coast. It was great to see White-winged Scoter, Velvet Scoters, Black Scoter, Common Scoters, Surf Scoter, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders, Red-breasted Mergansers, Slavonian Grebes, Red-throated Divers, Waxwings etc as most of these are rarities here on Severnside.
Waxwing, Dumfries 7.2.20
6th February
At least 140 Redshank, 220 Lapwing, 48 Curlew, single Snipe and Little Egret, 200 Wigeon and 74 Shelduck were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
5th February
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 2 Little Egrets, 45+ Shelduck, 200+ Wigeon, 50 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 35+ Turnstones, 70 Dunlin, 70 Curlew, 80 Lapwing, 15 Redshank, a Kestrel, 12 Stock Doves, 60+ Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff. Another 40 Wigeon, 40 Redshank, 50 Oystercatchers and 30 Dunlin were seen off Severn Beach on the afternoon high tide.
4th February
Reports from a breezy New Passage included 40+ Shelduck, 50 Curlew, 120 Oystercatchers and a Water Rail.
3rd February
No reports were received today.
2nd February
Reports from the Northwick Warth area included a Little Egret, 80 Lapwing, 25 Curlew, 22 Dunlin, 80+ Redshank, 220 Wigeon, 40+ Shelduck, 10 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 14 Shoveler and 7 Canada Geese. A Jack Snipe was flushed on Aust Warth. A Stonechat was present at Severn Beach.
1st February
A windy day. A Mediterranean Gull, 3 Knot, 140 Oystercatchers, 90 Redshank, 30 Dunlin, 60 Curlew, 35 Turnstones, 60 Canada Geese, 60+ Shelduck and 350+ Wigeon were reported from the New Passage area today.
