May is the 4th 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, 2020), Honey Buzzard (1991,2011), Montagu’s Harrier (2015), Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Collared Pratincole (2020), 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 2021
31st May
A morning visit to Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth produced 11 Avocets (3 nests), 4 adult Little Ringed Plovers, 5 adult Lapwing (3 well grown chicks on the wetland plus another pair defending young on the salt marsh), a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 25 Gadwall, 6+ Tufted Ducks, 110 Shelduck and 2 Black-headed Gulls.
30th May
Much of the same was reported from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth this morning including 11 Avocets (3 nests), 4 adult Lapwing, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 24+ Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, single drake Shoveler and Teal.
29th May
A Hobby, 7 Avocets (3 occupied nests) and a pair of Lapwing with one chick (on the salt marsh) were reported from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland.
28th May
Reports from New Passage/Pilning Wetland included 8 Avocets, 2+ Little Ringed Plovers, 4 adult Lapwing with 3 well grown chicks, a Little Egret, a drake Teal and a Wheatear.
27th May
A sunny and warm day at last with the temperature reaching 20°C at long last. A visit to New Passage/Pilning Wetland produced 9 Avocets (3 occupied nests), 8+ Little Ringed Plovers, a Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 6 Turnstones, 4 adult Lapwings with at least 2 chicks, 35 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 54 Canada Geese, 36 Shelduck, 26 Gadwall and a juvenile Grey Wagtail. A very late Merlin was seen at the Severn Beach shore.
Sanderling, Pilning Wetland 27.5.21
26th May
The usual Avocets, Little Ringed Plovers and Lapwings were reported from Pilning Wetland. A Cetti’s Warbler was singing near Severn Beach railway station.
25th May
Another day of rain showers with a cool North West breeze. A visit to Pilning Wetland/New Passage produced 8 Avocets (3 occupied nests, but water levels are very high), a Little Ringed Plover, 4 adult Lapwing with at least 2 chicks, single Dunlin and Ringed Plover, 52 Canada Geese, a drake Teal, a Cuckoo and 2 Wheatears.
24th May
A quiet day with just 8 Avocets, 2 Lapwing broods and a Wheatear being reported from Pilning Wetland where the water levels have risen with all the recent rain.
23rd May
A breezy, cool, wet day. Reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included 5+ Avocets (2 nests still), 5+ Little Ringed Plovers, 2 adult Lapwing with 3 half grown chicks, 32 Canada Geese, 25+ Gadwall, a Hobby, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a Wheatear.
Spotted Flycatcher, Pilning Wetland 23.5.21
22nd May
A less windy day with some sunshine. A brief visit to Pilning Wetland produced 8 Avocets, 7+ Little Ringed Plovers, 3 adult Lapwing and 25+ Gadwall. Two Gannets and 3 Auks, possibly Guillemots were reported off Severn Beach.
Avocet, Pilning Wetland 23.5.21
21st May
A day of gales and rain showers following a stormy night. A remarkable day of seawatching with combined reports of an adult summer plumaged Sabine’s Gull, 2 Storm Petrels, 7 Pomarine Skuas, 7+ Arctic Skuas, 10+ Fulmar, 10+ Gannets, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 2 1st summer Mediterranean Gulls, 40+ Kittiwakes, a Little Tern, 9 Arctic Terns, 14 “Commic” Terns, a Little Egret and 3 Ringed Plover. Reports from New Passage/ Pilning Wetland included 27 Ringed Plover, 19 Dunlin, 4 Lapwing, 30 Oystercatchers, 4 Turnstones, 41 Shelduck, 25 Canada Geese, 16 Gadwall and 6 Tufted Duck. All of today’s pictures were provided by Mark Coller....
Sabine’s Gull Severn Beach 21.5.21 © Mark Coller
Sabine’s Gull Severn Beach 21.5.21 © Mark Coller
Storm Petrel Severn Beach 21.5.21 © Mark Coller
Pomarine Skua, Severn Beach 21.5.21 © Mark Coller
Arctic Skua, Severn Beach 21.5.21 © Mark Coller
20th May
An increasingly windy and wet day. A visit to New Passage/Pilning Wetland produced 8 Avocets (2 nests), 3+ Little Ringed Plovers (one nest), 21 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin, 9 Turnstones, 27 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck and 40 Shelduck. A windy sea watch from Severn Beach produced single dark morph Pomarine Skua (South at 3.45pm), Arctic Skua (high South at 4.05pm), Fulmar and Little Egret.
19th May
The only reports were from New Passage/Pilning Wetland and involved 5 Avocets, 3 Little Ringed Plovers, a Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Ringed Plover, 7 Dunlin, 3 adult Lapwing and Meadow Pipits feeding young.
18th May
Reports from New Passage/Pilning Wetland included 7 Avocets (2 occupied nests still), 4+ Little Ringed Plover (at least one occupied nest), 2 Whimbrel, 6+ Lapwing, 20 Dunlin, 16 Ringed Plover, 50 Shelduck and a Wheatear.
17th May
A quiet day at New Passage/Pilning Wetland with just 4 Avocets, 4+ Little Ringed Plovers, 12 Turnstones, 3 pairs of Lapwing (with at least 2 chicks seen), 20 Dunlin, 17 Ringed Plover, 50+ Shelduck, 20 Gadwall and 7 Tufted Duck being seen. Another 22 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 2 Whimbrel, a Little Egret, 3 Cetti’s Warblers and 2 Pheasants were reported at Chittening Warth.
16th May
Another day of heavy showers. The only reports were from New Passage/Pilning Wetland and involved 6 Avocets, 2+ Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Whimbrel, 25 Dunlin, 14 Turnstones, 12 Lapwing (6 chicks), 40 Oystercatchers, single Curlew and Little Egret, 60+ Shelduck, 20+ Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 6 Wheatears, 2 Siskins and a Yellow Wagtail.
15th May
A cool day with heavy rain showers. Combined reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included
4 Avocets (2 nests), 4+ Little Ringed Plovers, single Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Sanderling, 30 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin, 6 adult Lapwing (plus chicks), a Little Egret a Hobby, a Red Kite (drifting North), a large brown Falcon thought to be an escaped Lanner, 3 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails, single Tree Pipit and Sedge Warbler.
Hobby, Northwick Warth 15.5.21
14th May
Combined reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included 5 Avocets (2 occupied nests, one with 3 eggs), 3+ Little Ringed Plovers, 4 adult Lapwing (with 3 and 3 chicks), 25 Ringed Plover, 25 Dunlin, 5 Curlew, a Whimbrel, 30+ Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, an Egyptian Goose (flying North East), 15 Canada Geese, 40+ Shelduck, 20 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Wheatears and 2 Sedge Warblers. A Red kite and a Peregrine were seen over Severn Beach and a flock of 150 Dunlin from the shore..
13th May
A very wet day. Sightings from New Passage/Pilning Wetland included 5+ Avocets, 6+ Little Ringed Plovers, 4 adult Lapwing and 4 chicks, 2 Ringed Plover, 65 Shelduck, 20 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 13 Canada Geese and 50+ Swifts.
Lapwing with chicks, Pilning Wetland 13.5.21
12th May
At least 6 Avocets, 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 90 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 3 adult Lapwing (plus at least one chick), 40 Oystercatchers, 55 Shelduck, 20 Gadwall, 9 Tufted Ducks, a Little Egret, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Yellow Wagtail, 50+Swifts and 2 Sedge Warblers were seen at New Passage/Pilning Wetland.
11th May
Another day of sunshine and heavy showers. Reports from New Passage/Pilning Wetland included 4 Avocets (one occupied nest), 8+ Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Whimbrel, single Sanderling and Common Sandpiper, 90 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, 10 Lapwing including 4 chicks, 2 Little Egrets, 40 Black-headed Gulls, a Raven, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Lesser Redpoll and 40 Swifts. Another 50 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover and 3 Whimbrel were seen at Severn Beach.
10th May
A breezy day with some heavy rain showers. Reports from New Passage/Pilning Wetland on the morning and evening high tides included a Wood Sandpiper, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 13 Whimbrel, 3 Lapwing, 40 Oystercatchers, single Greenshank, Sanderling, Common Sandpiper, Curlew and Turnstone, 4 Avocets, 6 Little Ringed Plover, 110 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 50+ Swifts, single Siskin, Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail. Another 40 Dunlin and 2 Black-headed Gulls were seen at Severn Beach.
9th May
Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included 4 Avocets, 8+ Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, single Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and Grey Plover, 5 Whimbrel, a Curlew, 160 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plover, 3 Lapwing plus 4 chicks, 2 Little Egrets, 8 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Garden Warbler. A Cuckoo was reported calling from the scrub area next to Severn Beach railway platform. A Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Wheatears, 2 Ravens, 2 Kestrels, single Peregrine, Tree Pipit and Lesser Whitethroat were reported from Aust Cliff/services.
8th May
A wet and breezy day. An afternoon visit to Pilning Wetland/New Passage produced 6 Avocets, 8+ Little Ringed Plovers, 150 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover, 12 Mute Swans, 12 Gadwall and 10 Tufted Duck.
Avocet, Pilning Wetland 8.5.21
Avocet, Pilning Wetland 8.5.21
7th May
Combined reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included 2 Avocets, 15 Whimbrel, 10 Ringed Plover, 8 Little Ringed Plover, 50 Dunlin, 2 Turnstones, 35 Oystercatchers, 4 Lapwing, single Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Little Egret, 45 Shelduck, 12 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, 11 Mute Swans, 2 Yellow Wagtails, Swifts, Lesser Whitethroats and Whitethroats. Another 2 Whimbrel, 50 Dunlin, a Little Egret and Lesser Whitethroat were reported at Severn Beach. A Lesser Whitethroat and 4 Roe Deer were seen at Aust Cliff.
6th May
No reports were received today.
5th May
A sunny day with a gusty breeze and occasional torrential hail showers. The only reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area were of the usual Little Ringed Plovers, Whimbrel, Lapwings, a Dunlin, a few Swifts and a Wheatear. Another Little Ringed Plover was seen at Severn Beach.
4th May
A less windy and mainly dry day. Combined reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included an Arctic Tern, 13 Whimbrel, 5+ Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Lapwing, 2 Curlew, 3 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, 45 Oystercatchers, 50+ Shelduck, a drake Wigeon, a Peregrine and a Swift. A much quieter day at Severn Beach with just 3 Arctic Skuas, 8 Whimbrel, 8 Dunlin, 2 Lapwing, 2 Peregrines, a Hobby and 4 Swifts being of note.
3rd May
An increasingly wet and windy day. A good selection of birds were seen from Severn Beach in the strong South West wind including 9 Arctic Skuas (7 dark morph, 2 pale morph), single Great Skua, Manx Shearwater, Fulmar, Little Gull and Mediterranean Gull, 4 Gannets, 4 Kittiwakes, 95 terns, most of which were Arctic Terns with a few Common Terns, 6 Whimbrel, single Little Egret and Peregrine. Just 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Lapwing, 10 Ringed Plover, 15 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel, single Turnstone and Snipe, 55 Shelduck, 10 Gadwall and 8 Tufted Duck were reported from New Passage/Pilning Wetland
Arctic Skuas, Severn Beach 3.5.21 © Mark Coller
Ringed Plover, New Passage 3.5.21
2nd May
Combined reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included a Sanderling, 14 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Greenshank, 10 Whimbrel, 6+ Little Ringed Plovers, 7 Ringed Plover, 15 Dunlin, 4 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Little Egret, a Greylag Goose, 4 Swifts, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, single Raven, Wheatear, Redpoll and Kestrel. Another 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers, 8 Wheatears, 3 Siskins, single Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail were reported from Aust Cliffs/Services. Six Whimbrel, a Little Ringed Plover and a singing Cetti’s Warbler were present at Severn Beach. Another 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 2 Cetti’s Warblers were heard at Chittening Warth.
Whimbrel, New Passage 2.5.21
1st May
A Cattle Egret flew North East over New Passage early morning. Other reports from the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area included a Greenshank, 7 Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Lapwing, 8 Whimbrel, 15 Dunlin, 8 Yellow Wagtails, a Tree Pipit, a Whinchat, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Swifts, a Kestrel and 5 Siskins.
