Following two of the quietest months of the year, August can be an interesting month with a total of 181 species having been recorded during this month. The numbers and variety of waders increase, as do the numbers of migrating warblers, Yellow Wagtails, Whinchat and Wheatears. Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls are expected. Rarities in August have included Slavonian Grebe (1996), Spoonbill (2019), Great White Egrets (2019,2020), Red Crested Pochard (1998), Goshawk, Osprey, Caspian Gull (2006), Sabine’s Gull, Roseate Terns (2016), Red-necked Phalarope (2014), Kentish Plover, White-rumped Sandpiper (1995, 2001), Grey Phalarope, Wryneck (1976,1984, 2003, 2010 and 2014), Rose-coloured Starling (2020), Marsh Warbler (2009) and Red-backed Shrike (2003).
August 2021
31st August
A grey day with a cool North East breeze. The only reports were of the first Little Stint of the year (a juvenile), a Ruff, 300 Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Redshank, 10 Lapwing, a Little Egret, a Greylag, 50 Gadwall, 45 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 4 Snipe, 6 Yellow Wagtails and a Wheatear on Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth. Just 30 Ringed Plover and 2 Wheatears were seen at Severn Beach.
Little Stint & Ruff, Pilning Wetland 31.8.21 © Michael Woodman-Smith
30th August
A quiet day with just one Ruff, 220 Black-tailed Godwits, 110 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 10 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 6 Shoveler, 10 Wigeon, 65 Teal, 40+ Gadwall being seen on Pilning Wetland. Just 15 Curlew and a mixed flock of 220 Dunlin/Ringed Plover were seen distantly from Severn Beach on the falling tide.
29th August
An afternoon visit to Pilning Wetland produced much of the same with 2 Ruff, 2 Green Sandpipers, 240 Black-tailed Godwits, 100 Redshank, 7 Dunlin, a Snipe, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Pintail, 6 Shoveler, 4 Wigeon, 60 Gadwall, 65+ Teal, 2 Greylags and a Sparrowhawk. Just 25 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach on the falling tide.
28th August
A warm and sunny day with a North East breeze. Sightings from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included 2 Ruff, 2 Green Sandpipers, 200+ Black-tailed Godwits, 120+ Redshank, 5 Snipe, 35 Lapwings, 14 Turnstones, 4 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 6 Shoveler, 60+ Teal, 5 Wigeon, a Kestrel, a Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Whinchats. A mixed flock of 70 Dunlin/ Ringed Plover and a Knot were seen at the Severn Beach shore, a Spotted Flycatcher was found at the Orchard Pools and a Great White Egret was seen inland on the Tesco Pools at the Western Approach Distribution park.
Whinchat, Pilning Wetland 28.8.21
Great White Egret, Severn Beach 28.8.21 © Vic Savery
27th August
Reports from Pining Wetland/New Passage included 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Ruff, 220 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Curlew, 140 Redshank, 35 Lapwing, 5 Snipe, a Little Egret, 250+ Canada Geese, 3 Greylags, 5 Wigeon, 70 Teal, 6 Shoveler, a Sedge Warbler, at least 5 Yellow Wagtails and a Peregrine. A mixed flock off 100 Dunlin/100 Ringed Plover and a Whinchat were seen at Severn Beach. Single Lesser Whitethroat, Raven and Little Egret were seen at Aust Cliff/Services.
26th August
A high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 280 Ringed Plover, 320 Dunlin, a Peregrine and 3 Wheatears. A Ruff, 210+ Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Redshank, 30 Lapwings, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Snipe, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, 5 Wigeon, 6 Shoveler, 60 Gadwall, 65+ Teal, 3 Yellow Wagtails, a Sedge Warbler and a Hobby were seen on Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth.
Ruff, Pilning Wetland 26.8.21
Black-tailed Godwits, Pilning Wetland 26.8.21
25th August
Combined reports from New Passage/Pilning Wetland included single Ruff, Knot, Snipe and Green Sandpiper, 115 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Redshank, 20 Turnstones, 30 Lapwing, just one Dunlin and 3 Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, 350+ Canada Geese, 5 Greylags, 26 Shoveler, 60+ Teal, 4 Redstarts, 3 Yellow Wagtails, single Kingfisher, Wheatear and Kestrel. A mixed flock of 300+ Dunlin and Ringed Plover at Severn Beach contained 2 Knot.
Ruff, New Passage 25.8.21
24th August
Combined reports from New Passage included an adult Mediterranean Gull, 200 Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Redshank, a Wigeon, single Hobby and Peregrine, an influx of 23 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Whinchat. At least 280 Dunlin and 210 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
23rd August
A Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpipers and at least 100 Black-tailed Godwits were seen on Pilning Wetland in a very brief visit A mixed flock of 200+ Ringed Plover and 200+ Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach.
22nd August
A breezy and sunny day. A Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, 60 Redshank, 50 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Heron, 16 Canada Geese, 2 Greylags, 2 Shoveler, 35 Teal, an impressive 60 Gadwall, a juvenile Tufted Duck, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, single Redstart, Whinchat, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail and Whitethroat. Another juvenile Lesser Whitethroat was seen in a Severn Beach garden.
21st August
A very wet morning dropped a few new migrants. Combined reports from evening visits to Pilning Wetland/New Passage included 130 Black-tailed Godwits, 117 Curlew, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Green Sandpipers, 4 Snipe, 29 Ringed Plover, 33 Turnstones, 30 Dunlin, 50 Redshank, 60 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts, 3 Wheatears, 6 Yellow Wagtails, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Whitethroat.
20th August
Combined visits to Severn Beach on the morning and evening high tides produced 285 Ringed Plover, 120 Dunlin, 2 Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper, 120 Oystercatchers and 50 Curlew. A visit to Pilning Wetland produced just 2 Green Sandpipers, 40+ Gadwall, 20 Teal and a Yellow Wagtail. Sightings from the shore at New Passage included 180 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Redshank, 45 Turnstones, 320 Canada Geese, 2 Greylags and 3 Wheatears.
19th August
The usual 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Redshank, 2 Snipe, single Green Sandpiper, Little Egret and Raven were seen at Pilning Wetland.
18th August
Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included an adult Mediterranean Gull, 180 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Knot, 2 Green Sandpipers, 50 Dunlin, 60 Ringed Plover, 150 Redshank, 5 Snipe, 85 Turnstones, 8 Curlew, 40 Lapwing, 14 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 257 Canada Geese, 3 Greylags, 30 Teal, 3 Shelduck, 550 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 60 Goldfinches, single Hobby, Kestrel and Kingfisher.
Knot, New Passage 18.8.21
Snipe, Pilning Wetland 18.8.21
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 18.8.21
17th August
A brief visit to Pilning Wetland produced 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, 70 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Snipe, a Little Egret and 45 Gadwall.
16th August
The 3 Spotted Redshanks, 80+ Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Snipe, 90+ Redshank, 4 Curlew, a Little Egret and 3 Greylags were reported from Pilning Wetland/New Passage.
15th August
Sightings from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included an adult Mediterranean Gull, 3 juvenile Spotted Redshanks, 70+ Black-tailed Godwits, 140 Redshank, 40 Lapwing, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, a Little Egret, 260+ Canada Geese, a Greylag, 5 Yellow Wagtails and a flyover Tree Pipit.
14th August
Combined reports from Pining Wetland/New Passage included the 3 Spotted Redshanks, 120 Black-tailed Godwits, 160 Redshank, 10 Curlew, 160 Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plover, 9 Turnstones, 30 Lapwing, a Snipe, 4 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 280+ Canada Geese, 2 Greylags, 35 Teal, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Wheatears, a hunting Peregrine, single Yellow Wagtail and Rock Pipit.
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 14.8.21
13th August
The 3 juvenile Spotted Redshanks, 110 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 90 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plover, 4 Curlew, 70 Oystercatchers, single Turnstone and Snipe, 200+ Canada Geese, 3 Greylags, single Little Egret, Kingfisher and Yellow Wagtail were seen in the Pilning Wetland /New Passage area. Another 17 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover and a Turnstone were seen at Severn Beach.
Yellow Wagtail, Pilning Wetland 13.8.21
12th August
A late morning visit to Pilning Wetland/New Passage produced the 3 juvenile Spotted Redshanks, 160 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 4 Common Sandpipers, 120+ Redshank, 46 Lapwing, 70 Oystercatchers, 40 Curlew, 35 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, 20 Turnstones, a Snipe, 2 Grey Herons, a Little Egret, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 250 Black-headed Gulls, 120 Canada Geese, 2 Greylags, 24 Teal, 26 Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, a Tufted Duck, a Kestrel, a male Blue-headed Wagtail, a Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wheatears and a Swift.
11th August
An early afternoon visit to Pilning Wetland produced 3 juvenile Spotted Redshanks, 4 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Green Sandpipers, single Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit and Snipe, 28 Lapwing, 2 Grey Heron, a Little Egret, 20 Canada Geese, 25 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 15 Teal and a Yellow Wagtail. Sightings from the shore at New Passage included 94 Black-tailed Godwits, 45 Redshank, 5 Curlew, 13 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, a Turnstone, 33 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 237 Canada Geese, 3 Greylags and 9 Shelduck. Another 7 Little Egrets and 22 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach.
Juvenile Spotted Redshank, Pilning Wetland 11.8.21
Juvenile Spotted Redshanks, Pilning Wetland 11.8.21
Common Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 11.8.21
Juvenile Little Ringed Plover, Pilning Wetland 11.8.21
10th August
The only report was of a Little Egret roosting south of Severn Beach at at New Pill.
9th August
A breezy day. Two juvenile Spotted Redshanks were reported on Pilning Wetland.
8th August
Reports from Pilning Wetland included 15 Black-tailed Godwits, 38 Lapwing, single Green Sandpiper, juvenile Little Ringed Plover, Hobby and Yellow Wagtail. At least 268 Canada Geese and 3 Greylag Geese were seen from New passage.
7th August
The only report was from New Passsage where 14 Black-tailed Godwits, 25 Turnstones, 5 Redshank, 30 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 250+ Canada Geese and 3 Greylags were seen.
6th August
No reports were received today.
5th August
The only report received was of 2 fly over Whimbrel at Severn Beach on a breezy sea watch with no sea birds reported.
4th August
Once again, all reports were from Pilning Wetland/New Passage due to the restricted access to much of the Severnside patch. Three Wood Sandpipers, 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Avocets, 4 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, 22 Lapwing, 40 Turnstones, 2 Curlew, 90 Redshank, 3 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets, 300+ Canada Geese, the male Blue-headed Wagtail, 2 juvenile Whinchats and 2 Ravens were seen.
3rd August
Reports from Pilning Wetland included a Wood Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpipers, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Avocets, 21 Lapwing, 9 Redshank, 4 Dunlin, 30 Canada Geese, 2 Shoveler, 2 Grey Herons, a Little Egret, a Peregrine, a male Blue-headed Wagtail, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 juvenile Whinchat, a juvenile Whitethroat and 4 juvenile Reed Warblers.
2nd August
A lunchtime visit to Pilning Wetland/New Passage produced 2 Wood Sandpipers, 3 Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Avocets, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Snipe, 30 Lapwing, 7 Dunlin, 140 Redshank, 30 Turnstones, 30 Curlew, 10 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 4 Grey Herons, 400 Black-headed Gulls, 300+ Canada Geese, 3 Greylag Geese, 50 Goldfinches, a Blue Headed Wagtail and 2 Yellow Wagtails. Clck on the Wood Sandpiper image below for a short Youtube video.
Wood Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 2.8.21
Green Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 2.8.21
Blue-headed Wagtail, Pilning Wetland 2.8.21
1st August
Reports from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included single Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Knot, 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Avocets, 125 Redshank, a Mediterranean Gull, 250+ Canada Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail.
