February is generally another quiet month with only a total of 160 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 2021
28th February
Another cold start with a light North East breeze and sunshine. A high tide stroll to New Passage/Pilning Wetland produced a Golden Plover, 200 Dunlin, a Black-tailed Godwit, 70 Curlew, 110 Oystercatchers, 90 Redshank, 18 Canada Geese, 65 Shelduck, 150 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 13 Tufted Duck, 10+ Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 2 singing Cetti’s Warblers, a Kingfisher and a female Merlin.
27th February
Another sunny day after a frosty and foggy start. The only reports from New Passage/Pilning Wetland involved a Little Egret, 20 Canada Geese, 60+ Shelduck, 5 Tufted Duck, 50 Redshank, single Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.
26th February
Another mild and sunny day. The Little Ringed Plover remained on the salt marsh at New Passage where other sightings included 2 Little Egrets, 120 Oystercatchers, 30 Curlew, 200 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, 70 Shelduck and 180 Wigeon.
Little Ringed Plover, New Passage 26.2.21
25th February
A fine sunny day. The earliest ever Little Ringed Plover was reported today at New Passage, the first February record and beats the previous arrival date by 15 days. Other sightings from New Passage included a Little Egret, 60+ Shelduck, 10 Canada Geese, 20 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 50 Teal, 200+ Wigeon, 5 Tufted Duck, 50 Curlew, 120 Oystercatchers and 200 Dunlin.
24th February
No reports were received today.
23rd February
A day with a strong Southerly wind. A brief look off Severn Beach at high tide produced 4+ adult Kittiwakes, 50 Wigeon, 70 Shelduck, 250 Dunlin, 20 Curlew, 50 Turnstones, 20 Redshank and an adult Peregrine. There were another 55 Shelduck, 250 Wigeon, 80 Redshank and 100 Dunlin at New Passage/Northwick Warth. A Little Gull was reported off Chittening Warth.
22nd February
The only report was of 9 Stonechats at Severn Beach.
21st February
A Merlin and a Chiffchaff were reported from New Passage.
20th February
No reports were received today.
19th February
Another windy day produced single Fulmar and Kittiwake, 80 Turnstones and 350 Dunlin at Severn Beach. A Brent Goose, 18 Shelduck, 28 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, 200 Wigeon, 75 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Water Rails, 100+ Curlew, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 60+ Redshank, 70 Dunlin, 6 Snipe, a Little Egret, 4 Grey Herons, single Cetti’s Warbler and Stonechat were reported from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
18th February
Following heavy ran and a windy night, 9 Kittiwakes were seen off Severn Beach where other sightings included 80 Redshank, 400 Dunlin and 2 Stonechats. The usual 40 Canada Geese, 30 Shelduck, 300 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 15+ Shoveler, 7 Tufted Duck, a Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, 150 Oystercatchers, 130 Curlew, 500 Dunlin, 190 Redshank, 41 Snipe, 2 Stonechats, single Peregrine and Sparrowhawk were reported from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetlland. Another 50 Wigeon,15 Curlew and 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.
17th February
Reports from Pilning Wetland included Shelduck, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Curlew, Dunlin, 3 Snipe, Redshank, Grey Herons, single Little Egret and Cetti's Warbler.
16th February
A Bar-tailed Godwit, 650 Dunlin, 120 Oystercatchers, 160 Curlew, 80 Redshank, 15 Turnstones, 60 Lapwing, 30 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 300 Wigeon, 110 Teal, a Little Egret, 2 singing Cetti’s Warblers, 2 Ravens, single Stonechat, Kestrel, Stock Dove and Grey Wagtail were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetaland area. Another 2 Stonechat were seen at Severn Beach.
15th February
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included a Golden Plover, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Curlew, 200+ Lapwings, 90 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 30 Shelduck, 350 Wigeon, 120 Teal, 12 Shoveler, single Stonechat and Kestrel. At least 26 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 2 Curlew, 2 Turnstones, 25 Dunlin, 10 Redshank and a Cetti’s Warbler were reported from Chittening Warth. Four Ravens flew South over Severn Beach.
14th February
No reports were received today.
13th February
A visit to the frozen Pilning Wetland produced just 10 Lapwing and 2 Snipe trying to find somewhere to feed and almost all the ducks had moved onto the estuary. A brief scan from New Passage produced 500 Dunlin, 130 Oystercatchers, a small number of Redshank, Curlew and Turnstones, 350+ Wigeon and 30+ Shelduck. A flock of at least 150 Lapwing flew high South over Severn Beach and a female Blackcap remained in a garden feeding on Crab apples.
12th February
Another day of bitterly cold wind chill. The only reports were from Severn Beach involving a garden female Blackcap and a flyover Peregrine.
11th February
A very cold day, with only one small area of the Grebe pond being the only unfrozen area of the wetland. Reports from Northwick Warth/New Passage/Pilning Wetland included a Bar-tailed Godwit, 200 Lapwing, 300 Dunlin, 90+ Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew, 60 Redshank, 7 Snipe, a female Pintail, 12 Tufted Duck, 200 Teal, 4 Grey Herons, 2 Water Rails, single female Merlin, Grey Wagtail and Blackcap.
Merlin, Northwick Warth 11.2.21
10th February
A Bar-tailed Godwit, 500 Dunlin, 120 Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew, 80 Redshank, 150 Lapwing, 20 Canada Geese, 30 Shelduck, 200 Teal, 300 Wigeon and 6 Tufted Ducks were seen in the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area.
Bar-tailed Godwit, New Passage 10.2.21
9th February
Another very cold day with a biting North East wind. A Bar-tailed Godwit, 300 Dunlin, 70 Oystercatchers, 20 Turnstones, 150+ Lapwing, 80 Redshank, 300 Wigeon, 10 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall and a Water Rail were reported from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area. At least 300 Dunlin, 10 Curlew, 20 Redshank, 9 Shelduck and 30 Wigeon were seen from the shore at Severn Beach.
8th February
A bitterly cold wind chill day with a stiff breeze from the North East along with the occasional snow flake. A brief visit to New Passage/Pilning Wetland produced a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 70 Curlew, 10 Lapwing, 300+ Wigeon, 60 Canada Geese, 30 Shelduck, 12 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 50 Teal and a Raven. At least 500 Dunlin, 40 Turnstones, 40 Redshank, 3 Ringed Plover, 20 Shelduck, single Sparrowhawk and Stonechat were seen from the shore at Severn Beach.
7th February
The only report was of the first Long-eared Owl for 5 years. No point in rushing down here as it was found dead!
6th February
A cold and sunny day. Much of the same, perhaps the cold snap and strong North East winds predicted over the next few days might bring some new arrivals. At least 70 Redshank, 70 Curlew, 80 Oystercatchers, just 7 Lapwing, 30 Shelduck, 400+ Wigeon, 90 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Ducks, a Little Egret and 2 Stonechats were reported in the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area.
5th February
Another quiet day with just a Little Egret, 4 Grey Herons, 90 Redshank, 70 Curlew, 5 Tufted Duck, 14 Shoveler, 90 Teal, 50 Wigeon, 12 Gadwall and 3 Stonechats reported from Pilning Wetland. At least 300 Dunlin and a Stonechat were seen at Severn Beach.
4th February
A wet, unpleasant and quiet day. The only reports from Pilning Wetland involved 12 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 90 Teal, 40 Wigeon, 3 Grey Herons and 2 Stonechats.
3rd February
Reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included 150 Curlew, 250 Lapwing, 300 Dunlin, 90 Redshank, 80 Oystercatchers, 10 Snipe, 370 Wigeon, 70 Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, 5 Canada Geese, a Stonechat and the first Kingfisher of the year.
2nd February
A warmer day with some sunshine. A cycle ride this morning produced 15 Turnstones, 130 Dunlin, 50 Wigeon, 10 Shelduck and 2 Stonechats at Severn Beach and 70 Turnstones, 650 Dunlin, 200 Curlew, 600 Lapwing, 120 Redshank, 120 Oystercatchers, 40 Canada Geese, 450 Wigeon, 16 Shelduck, 90 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 3 Tufted Duck and 10 Gadwall at New Passage/Pilning Wetland.
Goldeneye, New Passage 1.2.21
1st February
A grey and cold start to the month. The first Goldeneye for two years was found at Severn Beach this morning where other sightings included 50 Wigeon, 3 Shelduck, 100 Dunlin, 30 Turnstones, 2 Snipe and a Stonechat. The presumed same drake Goldeneye was relocated at New Passage this afternoon where additional sightings from here and Pilning Wetland involved 350+ Lapwing, 70 Redshank, 50 Curlew, a Little Egret, 10 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 90 Teal, 30 Shelduck and 400+ Wigeon.
