May is the equal 3rd most productive month of the year with at least one individual of 195 species being seen. The summer migrants continue to move through including Garganey, Hobby, Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher, more Terns and Skuas with the chance of Pomarine. “Small” wader numbers should rise during the month with Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and the chance of a Curlew Sandpiper or Little Stint. Rarer records include Subalpine Warbler (2004), Golden Oriole (2016), Bee-eater (2007), Spoonbills (1998,2015,2017), Honey Buzzard (1991,2011), Montagu’s Harrier (2015), Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Kentish Plover (2004), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (1990), Temminck’s Stint (2004,2016, 2019), Broad-billed Sandpiper (1988), Dotterel (2011),Black-winged Stilt (2017), Franklin’s Gull (1984), Laughing Gull (2012), Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull, Roseate Tern (1990) and White-winged Black Tern (1990).
May 2020
31st May
Still hot and sunny. Reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included 5 adult and 2 Little Ringed Plover chicks, 9+ Avocets, a Redshank, 14 Lapwing, 30+ Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 14 Tufted Duck and 2 Red Kites.
30th May
Another hot and sunny day. Two Little Ringed Plover chicks, 11 adult Avocets, a Redshank and a Cuckoo were seen in the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area. At least one Cetti’s Warbler was singing at Severn Beach.
29th May
No reports were received today.
28th May
A brief afternoon visit to Pilning Wetland produced 6 Avocets, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a pair of Oystercatchers, 12+ Lapwings, 2 Grey Herons, a Black-headed Gull, 2 Teal, 2 drake Shoveler, a pair of Mute Swans with 6 cygnets, and 3 Canada Geese goslings, single Kestrel and Raven.
27th May
Still dry and hot. The usual Avocets and Little Ringed Plovers remained on Pilning Wetland.
26th May
Dry and sunny still. A morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced 6 Avocets. 3+ Little Ringed Plover, a Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 3 Curlew, a pair of Oystercatchers, 12+ Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Black-headed Gulls, 15 Canada Geese with 3 goslings, 2 Mute Swans plus 6 cygnets, 14 Tufted Duck, 16 Gadwall and 2 Shoveler. A singing Cetti’s Warbler and 2 fly over Siskins were reported from Severn Beach.
25th May
A fine sunny day. Combined sightings from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included an early morning only Spoonbill, the Collared Pratincole, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Avocets, 5+ Little Ringed Plovers, 12+ Lapwing, a dark-bellied Brent Goose, 25 Canada Geese and another Red Kite. A Cetti’s Warbler was singing near Severn Beach railway station.
Spoonbill, Pilning Wetland 25.5.20 © Rod Holbrook
Collared Pratincole, Pilning Wetland 25.5.20 © Allan Chard
Red Kite, New Passage 25.5.20 © Allan Chard
24th May
Another breezy and sunny day. At least one Razorbill, 2 Storm Petrels, an Arctic Skua, 6 Common Scoter and 10 Sanderling were reported from Severn Beach. Sightings from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included the Collared Pratincole, 4 Avocets, a Little Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, 3 Barnacle Geese and a Red Kite.
Storm Petrel, Severn Beach 24.5.20 © Aravind Ramesh
23rd May
The Collared Pratincole remained hunkered down out of the strong South West wind and squally showers at Pilning Wetland. Combined reports from numerous observers at Severn Beach included at least two Storm Petrels, 3+ Arctic Skuas, 4+ Fulmar, 50+ Manx Shearwaters, at least one Gannet, a Guillemot, 3+ “Auks”, single Kittiwake, Mediterranean Gull and Little Egret, 40 Sanderling, 50 Dunlin/Ringed Plover and 4 Whimbrel.
Fulmar, Severn Beach 23.5.20 © Mark Coller
Pale morph Arctic Skua, Severn Beach 23.5.20 © Mark Coller
Dark morph Arctic Skua, Severn Beach 23.5.20 © Matt Hobbs
22nd May
An increasingly breezy day with a South West wind. The only report from Pilning Wetland was of the Collared Pratincole but today it spent much of the time sheltering out of the wind. A good selection were seen off Severn Beach; 1+ pale morph Pomarine Skua (09.25 & 18.35), a pale morph 3 Arctic Skuas, 160+ Manx Shearwaters, 5 Kittiwakes, a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, 3 Sandwich Terns, a “Commic” Tern, a drake Common Scoter, 10 Sanderling, 85 Ringed Plover, 35 Dunlin and a Turnstone.
Manx Shearwaters, Severn Beach 22.5.20
21st May
A warm and sunny day produced the first Severnside record of Collared Pratincole, found hawking insects over the reed bed and Grebe pond on Pilning Wetland. Other sightings from here and Northwick Warth included 4 Avocets, 3+ Little Ringed Plover, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 10+ Lapwing, a pair of Oystercatchers, a Whimbrel, 10 Ringed Plover, single Dunlin, Little Egret and Red Kite.
Collared Pratincole, Pilning Wetland 21.5.20 © Mark Coller
Collared Pratincole, Pilning Wetland 21.5.20
20th May
Dense sea fog early morning turning sunny and warm later. Reports from an afternoon visit to Pilning Wetland included 8 Avocets (one bird still incubating), 2+ Little Ringed Plovers, 10+ Lapwings, a pair of nesting Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons and a pair of Canada Geese with 3 goslings. A Cetti’s Warbler and a Whimbrel were present at Severn Beach.
19th May
No reports were received today.
18th May
The 6 Avocets, usual Little Ringed Plovers, Lapwings, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, a Canada Goose brood (3 goslings; the 1st successful breeding here), single Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were reported from Pilning Wetland.
17th May
No reports were received.
16th May
The 6 Avocets and Little Ringed Plovers remained on Pilning Wetland.
15th May
Reports from Pilning Wetland included 6 Avocets, 2+ Little Ringed Plovers, a Redshank and a Yellow Wagtail.
14th May
Another fine sunny day. Sightings from Pilning Wetland included a Wood Sandpiper, a Little Stint, 6 Avocets, at least 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 10+ Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 2 pairs of Canada Geese, 10+ Tufted Duck, 3 Shoveler, 25+ Gadwall, single Black-headed Gull, Raven and Yellow Wagtail.
Little Ringed Plover, 14.5.20
13th May
A sunny day with a cool East breeze. Reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included a Little Stint, 6 Avocets, at least 5 Little Ringed Plovers, a Green Sandpiper, 10 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets and a Yellow Wagtail. A Peregrine and 2 Ravens were seen at Aust Cliff.
12th May
A Ruff, 6 Avocets, 3+ Little Ringed Plovers, 10 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 12 Black-headed Gulls, 70 Shelduck, 12+ Tufted Duck and 2 Shoveler were seen in the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area.
11th May
Reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included 6 Avocets, a Little Ringed Plover, a Little Stint, 10 Lapwings and a Yellow Wagtail.
10th May
A cooler day with a strong North East breeze. Lockdown birding from home in Severn Beach produced 2 adult Kittiwakes, 5 Whimbrel and 11 Black-headed Gulls all heading into the cold wind.
9th May
A brief visit to the shore and coastal scrub at Severn Beach produced a Whimbrel, 3 Lapwing, a mixed flock of 50 Dunlin/Ringed Plover and 2 singing Cetti’s Warblers.
8th May
An early morning bike ride to Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth produced 4 Avocets, at least one Little Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, a Whimbrel, 3 Curlew, a mixed flock of 60 Ringed Plover/Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons and a Wheatear. A Common Sandpiper, a singing Cetti’s Warbler and 2 singing Nightingales were reported at Severn Beach.
7th May
A Black Redstart was seen on the sea defences at New Passage this morning. Other reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 2 Avocets, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Ruff, a mixed flock of 40 Ringed Plover/Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets and a Kestrel. A Garden Warbler was heard and seen in Severn Beach.
6th May
Yet another sunny day with a cool East breeze. An early morning bike ride to Pilning Wetland produced a Ruff, a Greenshank, a pair of Avocets, at least 5 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 150 Dunlin, 70 Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 8+ Lapwing, a drake Pochard, 14 Tufted Duck, 4 Black-headed Gulls, 20+ Swift, single Wheatear and Tree Pipit. A Stonechat was reported at Aust Warth. Click on the Ruff below for a short Youtube video.
Ruff, Pilning Wetland 6.5.20
Avocet, Pilning Wetland 6.5.20
Black-tailed Godwit, Pilning Wetland 6.5.20
5th May
Another sunny day with an East breeze. Lockdown birding at Severn Beach produced a male Whinchat, 2 Whimbrel and a mixed flock of 40 small waders. The Cuckoo was reported as still present on Northwick Warth.
4th May
A sunny day with an East wind. A female Marsh Harrier flew North East over Severn Beach at 12.25 where other reports included a Cuckoo, 2 singing Cetti’s Warblers, a Sparrowhawk, 5 Swifts, 130 Dunlin and 20 Ringed Plover. A Greenshank, at least 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 7 Lapwing, 50+ Shelduck, Tufted Ducks, Gadwall, Shovelers, 2 nesting pairs of Canada Geese, 5 Mute Swans, 2 Yellow Wagtails, another Cuckoo, 10+ Swifts, a Kestrel and a steady passage of Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning wetland area.
Cuckoo, Northwick Warth 4.5.20
Greenshank, Pilning Wetland 4.5.20
3rd May
No reports were received today.
2nd May
The Greenshank, 2 Avocets and 2 Little Ringed Plover were reported from Pilning Wetland.
1st May
Another breezy day with a wet morning. Lockdown sightings from Severn Beach involved 2 adult Kittiwakes and a Raven. A Greenshank and 2 Avocets were reported from Pilning Wetland.
