April is the second most productive month of the year in the number of species seen. At least one individual of 211 species have been recorded in April. A month when the last of the “winter” birds depart and most “summer” birds arrive. Birds to expect are at least three Tern species, Skuas, “ sylvia” Warblers, Common Redstarts, Whinchats, Yellow Wagtails with the chance of Pied Flycatcher, Grasshopper Warbler, Wood Warbler and Hobby. Rarer sightings include; Great White Egrets (2018), Stone Curlew (2006,2018), White Stork (2015, 2018), Spoonbill (2017, 2020), Slavonian Grebe (1989, 2000), Ring-necked Duck (1988), Green-winged Teal (2015), Sabine’s Gull (1990, 1992), Red-rumped Swallow (1988), Alpine Swift (1993), Red-throated Pipit (2012), Ashy-headed Wagtail (2018), Willow Tit (1988), Serin (2017), Mealy Redpoll (2004), Ospreys, Long-eared Owl (2006) and an incredible 2 Citrine Wagtails (2019).
April 2021
30th April
A sunny end to the month. Combined reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included a Greenshank, 2 Bar-tailed godwits, 14 Whimbrel, a Curlew, 6+ Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 4 Lapwing, 5 Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Egrets, 16 Gadwall, a drake Teal, 11 Tree Pipits, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears, 3 Swifts, single Cetti’s Warbler, Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat and Peregrine. A Ring-necked Parakeet, 25 Shelduck, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Yellow Wagtails, a Swift and a singing Cetti’s Warbler were reported from Severn Beach. A lunch time visit to Aust Cliff/services produced a dark morph Arctic Skua flying North East at 13.05, a Raven and 2 singing Lesser Whitethroats.
29th April
Reports from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included a Spoonbill (seen just before it flew off North West at 10.40), 5 Greenshank, 15 Whimbrel, one Bar Tailed Godwit, one Curlew, 6+ Little Ringed Plover, 3 Lapwing, 5 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, a Little Egret, 6 Black-headed Gulls, 55 Shelduck, a Kestrel, 4 Swifts, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, single Sedge Warbler, Wheatear and Raven. Just 9 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Sparrowhawks were seen in an hour river watching from the Severn Beach sea wall.
Spoonbill, Pilning Wetland 29.4.21
Spoonbill, Pilning Wetland 29.4.21
28th April
The first day with proper rain for several weeks. At least 300 Arctic Terns, 2 Arctic Skuas, 90 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Whimbrel,, a Little Egret, a Hobby, 2 Wheatears, 13 Yellow Wagtails, a Swift and 160 House Martins were seen from Severn Beach in the morning and at least 1000 “Commic” Terns, a Mediterranean Gull, another 2 Arctic Skuas and a Great Skua were seen on the evening tide. A good selection of birds were seen in the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area including an Arctic Tern, 6 Greenshank, 91 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Whimbrel, 6+ Little Ringed Plovers, 6 Common Sandpipers, a Snipe, 6 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstones, 25 Dunlin, 60 Shelduck, 7 Canada Geese, 9 Tufted Duck, a pair of Teal, an impressive 54 Tree Pipits, 2 Whinchats, 2 Wheatears, 11 Yellow Wagtails, a Hobby, 4 Swifts, 500+ House Martins, 5 Siskins, 2 Redpolls and a late Brambling. A brief visit to Aust Cliffs produced 2 Ravens, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Tree Pipit.
27th April
Reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included 2 Avocets, 20 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Whimbrel, 7 Greenshank, 20 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, 6+ Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Lapwing, a Common Sandpiper, 13 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons. 4 Yellow Wagtails, a Sedge Warbler, 4+ Reed Warblers and 4+ Whitethroats.
Avocet, Pilning Wetland 27.4.21
26th April
Combined reports from Severn Beach on the morning and evening tides were a Gannet and 3 Arctic Skuas, 990+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 55+ Whimbrel, 8 Grey Plover, 2 Turnstones, single Little Ringed Plover, Knot, Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper, 2 Peregrines and a Wheatear. Another 100+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 25 Whimbrel, 6 Greenshank, 4+ Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, single Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Redshank, 10 Black-headed Gulls, a pair of Teal, 5 Yellow Wagtails a Sedge Warbler, 3 Redpolls and a Siskin were seen in the NorthwickWarth/Pilning Wetland area. A flock of 450 Bar-tailed Godwits were seen off Chittening Warth this morning.
Yellow Wagtails, Pilning Wetland 26.4.21
25th April
A cold start followed by a warm sunny day with many waders moving up the estuary. Combined reports and totals from the morning and evening tides at Severn Beach included 2000+ Bar-tailed Godwits (about half landing at some stage), 16 Grey Plover, 30+ Whimbrel, another flock of 27 Greenshank, 15 Turnstones, 26 Dunlin, 2 Knot, 3 Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, 5 Gadwall, a pale morph Pomarine Skua, a dark morph Arctic Skua, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a singing Cettis’s Warbler. Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included the first April record of Cattle Egret (flew up river early morning), 5 Greenshank (on Northwick Flash, additional to the Severn Beach birds), 2 Avocets, 260+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Lapwing, 35 Dunlin, 9 Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpiper, 10 Grey Plover, 7+ Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Egrets, 35 Black-headed Gulls, 54 Shelduck, 5 Shoveler, a Merlin, 14 Swifts, single Sedge Warbler, Wheatear and Lesser Whitethroat.
Grey Plover, Northwick Warth 25.4.21
Greenshank, Northwick Warth 25.4.21
Yellow Wagtail, Severn Beach 25.4.21
Swift, New Passage 25.4.21 © Matt Hobbs
24th April
Another day with impressive numbers of waders and terns moving up the estuary against the North East wind. Reports from Severn Beach included at least 900 Bar-ailed Godwits (one flock of 600 flying by) with several hundred stopping on the shore, 115+ Whimbrel, 4 Grey Plover and 900 “Commic” Terns. A visit to New Passage/Northwick Warth produced 4 Avocets (on Northwick Flash), 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 35 grounded Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Whimbrel, 40 Oystercatchers, a Turnstone, 40 Shelduck, 9 Canada Geese, 2 Wheatears and 5 flyover Siskins. Nearby on the almost dry Pilning Wetland, 5 Redshank, 10 Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Lapwing, 6 Tufted Duck, a Sedge Warbler and a Peregrine eating a Bar-tailed Godwit.
23rd April
A busy day with the a Grasshopper Warbler in scrub next to my house in Severn Beach at 05.30. Other reports during the day and afternoon high tide here included a Red Kite, a flock of 140 Terns that gained great height and flew North East, thought to be Common Terns, an impressive flock of 25 Greenshank, 190+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Grey Plover, 25 Whimbrel, 2 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, a Little Egret, 35 Shelduck, a drake Wigeon, 3 Whitethroats, single Lesser Whitethroat, Wheatear and Redpoll. Combined reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included a Great White Egret (flew West), 47 Bar-tailed Godwits (7 on the shore plus another 40 than flew in from the East), 17 Whimbrel, 8 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, 25+ Black-tailed Godwits, a Snipe, an influx of Reed Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Yellow Wagtails, single Sedge Warbler, Whinchat, Tree Pipit, White Wagtail, Redpoll and Siskin.
Greenshank, Severn Beach 23.4.21
Greenshank, Severn Beach 23.4.21
Bar-tailed Godwits, Severn Beach 23.4.21
Bar-tailed Godwits, Severn Beach 23.4.21
silhouette Terns, Severn Beach 23.4.21
22nd April
A warm sunny day with North East breeze. A morning visit to New Passage/Pilning Wetland produced 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 45 Black-tailed Godwits, 8+ Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Lapwing, a Snipe, 10 Redshank, a Little Egret, 40 Shelduck, 11 Canada Geese, a drake Shoveler, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Sedge Warblers, single Whitethroat and Siskin. An hour and a half at Severn Beach over the high tide produced 270+ Bar-tailed Godwits in 3 flocks heading up river plus 8 on the shore, 7 Turnstones, a Dunlin, 2 Peregrines (captured a Godwit) and a Wheatear. A Garden Warbler was seen near Aust Services at Aust Cliff.
Bar-tailed Godwits, Severn Beach 22.4.21
21st April
Combined reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included a single Great White Egret and Marsh Harrier (both heading North East) , 8+ Little Ringed Plovers, 70+ Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Redshank, 3 Lapwing, 2 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, single Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel, 2 Little Egrets, 17 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, a Whinchat, 2 Wheatears, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Tree Pipits, 2+ Reed Warblers, a Willow Warbler, 3 House Martins, 30+ Swallows, 30+ Sand Martins, a Redpoll and 4 Siskins. An afternoon high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 40 Bar-tailed Godwits, 11 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, 35 Shelduck, a drake Wigeon and a Sparrowhawk.
Whinchat, New Passage 21.4.21
20th April
A brief scan of Pilning Wetland produced 6+ Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Lapwing, 80 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Redshank, a Snipe, 2 Dunlin and 3 Little Egrets. A Redpoll flew North over Aust Cliff and Whimbrel were heard flying over Severn Beach early evening.
19th April
A warm and sunny day. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 82 Black-tailed Godwits, 15 Whimbrel, 6+ Little Ringed Plovers, 30 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 4 Lapwing, single Common Sandpiper, Dunlin and Little Egret, 30 Sand Martins, 2 White Wagtails, single Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat. Reports from Severn Beach included a singing Cetti’s Warbler, flyover Redpoll and Tree Pipit.
18th April
A Grasshopper Warbler was heard in a large Bramble bush near the sea wall at New Passage this morning and early afternoon. Other reports from here and Pilning wetland included 20+ Black-tailed Godwits, 4+ Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Lapwing and 3 Little Egrets. Reports from Severn Beach included 7 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Grey Plover on the shore and at least 3 Whitethroats in the railway line scrub. Another Whitethroat and a Cetti’s Warbler were reported from Seabank Power Sation at Chittening Warth.
17th April
A White Stork was seen flying South from Aust Cliff at 10.00 where a Yellow Wagtail flew North. A high tide visit to the Severn Beach shore produced 6 Avocets, 60 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 20 Shelduck and a Black-headed Gull. Reports from Pilning Wetland included 12 Little Ringed Plovers, 70 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Redshank, 9 Snipe, single Little Egret and White Wagtail.
White Stork and Buzzard, Aust Cliff 17.4.21
White Stork, Aust Cliff 17.4.21
16th April
The male Marsh Harrier was seen again over the reed bed at Pilning Wetland this morning where other sightings included 2 Whitethroats, single Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtails, at least 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Lapwing, 25 Redshank, 2 Little Egrets and 5 Siskins. Three Little Ringed Plovers were a surprise find on the shore at Severn Beach and 5 Bar-tailed Godwits flew up river. A least 65 Bar-tailed Godwits were seen off Chittening Warth.
15th April
A sunny day with a cold North wind. Combined reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included a male Marsh Harrier (hunting over the reed bed, successfully, for at least an hour), 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Green Sandpipers, 65 Black-tailed Godwits, 50 Redshank, 4 Lapwing, a Knot, 25 Curlew, 40 Oystercatchers, 5 Snipe, a Little Egret, 40 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, a female Wigeon, 30 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Black-headed Gulls, single Redstart, House Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Raven, Peregrine and Kestrel. A Whimbrel and a singing Cetti’s Warbler were reported from Severn Beach.
Marsh Harrier, Pilning Wetland 15.4.21
Marsh Harrier, Pilning Wetland 15.4.21
14th April
A brief high tide scan of the shore at Severn Beach produced a drake Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 12 Shelduck and a male Wheatear. At least 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 59 Black-tailed Godwits, single Whimbrel and Snipe, 4 Lapwing, 41 Redshank, 25 Curlew, 40 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 4 adult Great Black-backed Gulls, 64 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 9 Gadwall, 15 Teal, a Kestrel, 2 Willow Warblers, 20 Sand Martins, 2 Swallows, 2 male Wheatears, single Sedge Warbler, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. Reports from Aust Services included another male Redstart, a fly over Yellow Wagtail, 3 Rooks (heading North East), a Raven, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Siskins, several Swallows and 2 Peregrines.
13th April
A frosty dawn followed by a sunny, cool day. Sightings from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area involved 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Avocets (on Northwick Flash), single Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit and Common Sandpiper, 30 Redshank, 20 Curlew, 4 Lapwing, 40 Oystercatchers, 10 Canada Geese, 4 Wigeon, 8 Shoveler, 4 Tufted Duck, 15 Teal, 8 Gadwall, 20+ Shelduck, 2 flyover Siskins, a White Wagtail and a Whitethroat. Two Ravens were seen over Severn Beach. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard at Sea Bank Power station, Chittening Warth.
12th April
Another cool day. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included at least 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Avocets, a Green Sandpiper, 65 Black-tailed Godwits, single Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper and Ringed Plover, 20 Redshank, 4 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 6 Canada Geese (one pair nesting), 15 Teal, 20 Shelduck, 5 Tufted Ducks, 4 Gadwall, 3 Redstarts (one female & 2 males), 2 White Wagtails, a singing Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Willow Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, 7 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins and a Kestrel.
female Redstart, Pilning Wetland 11.4.21
11th April
A cold day. A morning visit to the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area produced a Whimbrel, 54 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Lapwing, 10 Curlew, 25 Oystercatchers, 3 Redshank, a Little Egret, 5 Canada Geese, 22 Shelduck, 15 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 3 male Redstarts, 3 Wheatears, 9 Swallows, 8 Sand Martins, a House Martin, 2 Willow Warblers, single Kingfisher, Sedge Warbler, White Wagtail, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Two Ravens, 2 Willow Warblers and a Peregrine were reported from Aust Services. A brief scan of the Severn Beach shore produced 20 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 6 Mallard, a drake Wigeon and a Swallow.
male Redstart, Pilning Wetland 11.4.21
10th April
At least 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Redshank, 3 Lapwing, single Snipe and Common Sandpiper, 30 Teal, a Wigeon, 7 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 15 Mallard (plus a family party of 10 new ducklings), a Little Egret, 5+ White Wagtails, a Yellow Wagtail, 4 Wheatears, a male Redstart, a singing Cetti’s Warbler, many Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, 268 flyover Goldfinches, 9 Siskins and a Tree Pipit were reported in the New Passage/Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area. A singing Cetti’s Warbler remained near Severn Beach railway station. Another male Redstart, a late Brambling, 21 Willow Warblers, 18 Chiffchaff, 4 House Martins and 3 Siskins were reported from the Aust Service station area.
White Wagtail, Pilning Wetland 10.4.21
Common Snipe, Pilning Wetland 10.4.21
9th April
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area include the first Common Sandpiper for the year, 2 Avocets (on shoreline), 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 9 summer plumage Dunlin, 29 Black-tailed Godwits, 59 Redshank, 4 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, a Little Egret, 59 Shelduck, 13 Gadwall, 11 Shoveler, 16 Mallard, 22 Teal, a Wigeon, 8 Tufted Duck, Swallows, Sand Martins, a House Martin, 2 Wheatears, a Raven and a Yellow Wagtail. Five Wheatears were reported at Chittening Warth. A male Redstart and a Raven were seen at Aust Service station. Another 2 Common Sandpipers, single Little Ringed Plover, Greylag Goose and Wheatear were seen on the new Aust Wetland that is still being excavated.
Common Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 9.4.21
8th April
A quiet day with just one Little Ringed Plover, 100 Black-tailed Godwits, 45 Redshank, 70 Shelduck and 30+ Swallows being reported from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area.
7th April
Reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area with reduced access and much disturbance included another Osprey heading North, 70+ Shelduck, a Little Egret, 30 Redshank, 3 Lapwing and at least 12 Swallows.
6th April
An day with a wind out of the Arctic with the occasional snow flurry. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included at least 8 Little Ringed Plovers, 125 Black-tailed Godwits, 117 Redshank, 4 Lapwing, 65 Oystercatchers, a Greylag Goose, 72 Shelduck, 19 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 18 Teal, a Wigeon, 6 Sand Martins, 5 Swallows, single Kestrel, Cetti’s Warbler and Willow Warbler. A search of the Severn Beach shore that is still available to view produced just 2 Wigeon, 10 Shelduck and still no Wheatears.
5th April
A cool and sunny day. Reports from Pilning Wetland /Northwick Warth included 27 Black-tailed Godiwits, 5 Little Ringed Plovers (on the salt marsh), a Knot, 8 Snipe, 3 Lapwing, 100 Redshank, a Little Egret, 70 Shelduck, 5 Wigeon, 25 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 12 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, 2 White Wagtails, 20+ Swallows, 5 Sand Martins and a House Martin.
Knot bathing, Pilning Wetland 5.4.21
4th April
It remained sunny and cool. A brief visit to Pilning Wetland produced 46 Black-tailed Godwits, 5+ Little Ringed Plovers, 6 Snipe, 3 Lapwing and 100 Redshank,
3rd April
Another cool day with a North East breeze. Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/New Passage involved 4+ Little Ringed Plovers, 34 Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 3 Lapwing, a Little Egret, a drake Garganey, 80 Shelduck, 20 Shoveler, 4 Tufted Duck, 30 Teal, 10 Wigeon, an Osprey (flew North), 12 Swallows, single House Martin, Sand Martin, Raven, singing Sedge Warbler and Cetti’s Warbler.
Garganey, Pilning Wetland 3.4.21
2nd April
Another day of sunshine and a cool North East breeze. Reports from New Passage this morning in a visible migration watch included a Red Kite heading North East, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 61 Turnstones, a Green Sandpiper, 25 Black-headed Gulls, 45 Common Gulls, 2 Rooks (scarce here), 21 Swallows, 867 Meadow Pipits, 114 Linnets, 1217 Goldfinches and 11 Siskins. A Redstart, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Swallows and 2 Ravens were seen at Aust Service station. Five Siskins and 2 Ravens were seen at Aust Warth. A Cetti’s Warbler was singing near Severn Beach railway station and a Whitethroat was reported near the Orchard Pools.
The now closed access to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland 1.4.21
The hedgerow now removed and replaced by security fencing
1st April
A much cooler day with a strong North East breeze. There were some high numbers of migrants heading into the cold wind for most of the day but less than usual seen due to the closure of much of the sea wall North and South of Severn Beach and a lot of disturbance by people in hi viz clothing, with heavy machinery and 4x4s, ripping up the remaining hedge, erecting security fencing and generally messing around with edge of the wetland. It could be a disastrous spring for the wildlife. Combined sightings for the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area involved 4 flighty Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Lapwing, 10 Redshank, 40 Curlew, 70 Oystercatchers, 8 Turnstones, a Ringed Plover, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Greylag Geese, 10 Canada Geese, 75 Shelduck, 15 Wigeon, a Merlin, 37 Sand Martins, 32 Swallows, 8 House Martins, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2300+ Meadow Pipits, 270+ Linnets, 1300+ Goldfinches, 70+ Siskins. The visible migration was replicated at Severn Beach with many hundreds of Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits heading North East along with 10 Swallows and a Sand Martin. Two Great White Egrets flew North East past Aust Services at 08.20.
