June is usually one of the quietest months on Severnside with a total of only 162 species seen. It is the month to do those jobs at home unless any strong West or South West winds occur. This weather can produce a good selection of seabirds including Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Fulmar and Storm Petrel. June has had some rarities including Great White Egret (2015, 2020), Spoonbill (2017), 2 Black-winged Stilts (2021), Rose-coloured Starling (2012), Woodlark (2018), Franklin’s Gull (1988) and Alpine Swift (1999).
June 2022
30th June
A day of sunny spells and the threat of rain. An early morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced 12 Little Ringed Plovers (6 adults, 4 full sized juveniles at least 2 half grown chicks and an occupied nest still), single Green Sandpiper and Ringed Plover, 21 Lapwing, 32 Redshank, a Great White Egret, 2 Grey Herons, a Little Egret, 2 second calendar year Mediterranean Gulls, 120 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Shelduck, 3 Teal, a Grey Wagtail and 30 Swifts. A Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk unsuccessfully chasing a Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen over Severn Beach allotments. A 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull, another Little Egret, Grey Heron, 20 Oystercatchers, 15 Curlew and 40 Shelduck including broods of 16 and 5 were seen off Northwick Warth.
Mediterranean Gull, Pilning Wetland 30.6.22
Great White Egret and Little Egret, Pilning Wetland 30.6.22
29th June
An overcast and cooler day following overnight heavy rain. Reports from Pilning Wetland included 7 Little Ringed Plovers (5 adults and 2 full sized juveniles), a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Green Sandpipers, 37 Redshank, 12 Lapwing, a Grey Heron, 80 Black-headed Gulls and a female Teal. At least 3 Little Egrets were roosting at high tide at Severn Beach.
28th June
A cloudy and breezy day. At least 7 Avocets, 7 adult Little Ringed Plovers plus a full sized juvenile, at least 2 chicks and an occupied nest still, 30 Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, 14 Lapwing, a Grey Heron, 90 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Tufted Duck and a Grey Wagtail were seen on Pilning Wetland. A low tide scan at Northwick Warth produced at least 200 Black headed Gulls and 2 pairs of Shelduck with broods of 14+ and 5 ducklings.
27th June
Sightings from Pilning Wetland included 14 Avocets, 11 Little Ringed Plovers (7 adults, 2 full sized juveniles and and at least 2 ten day old chicks), 6 Black-tailed Godwits (breeding plumage adults), a Green Sandpiper, 30 Redshank, 14 Lapwing, 2 Ringed Plovers, an Oystercatcher, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 30+ Black-headed Gulls, single Shelduck and drake Shoveler, 8 Teal and 40 feeding Swifts.
26th June
Another breezy and sunny day. A morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced 3 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults & a 2nd calendar year bird), 12 Avocets, 3 adult Little Ringed Plovers, 17 Redshank, 12 Lapwing and a Dunlin, 25+ Black-headed Gulls, 2 Grey Herons, a Shoveler, 7 Teal and 70 Swifts. At least 35 Shelduck, 20 Oystercatchers and 7 Curlew were seen on Northwick Warth this evening.
Avocets, Pilning Wetland 26.6.22
Mediterranean Gulls with Black-headed Gulls, Pilning Wetland 26.6.22
Mediterranean Gull, Pilning Wetland 26.6.22
25th June
A breezy and sunny day. A morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced the usual 13 Avocets, 4 adult Little Ringed Plovers plus a full sized juvenile and at least one small chick, 5 Redshank, 10 Lapwing, a Grey Heron, 9 Canada Geese, 2 Teal, 2 Gadwall, a Shoveler, 6 Black-headed Gulls and at least 20 Swifts.
24th June
Combined reports from Pilning Wetland involved 13 Avocets, 3 adult Little Ringed Plovers, a full grown juvenile and 3 small chicks still, a Wood Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpipers, a Dunlin, 19 Redshank, 12 Lapwing, single Little Egret and Grey Heron, 100 Black-headed Gulls, 7 Teal, 2 Shoveler, single Gadwall and Tufted Duck. A Great White Egret has been dropping onto the wetland most evenings for the last week, At least 40 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Shelduck, 2 Curlew and 4 Little Egrets were seen on the shoreline at Severn Beach on the afternoon high tide and nearby a Hummingbird hawk-moth was feeding in my garden. Sightings from Northwick Warth included 25 Shelduck, 15 Oystercatchers and a flock of 250 Starlings.
23rd June
Much of the same today on Pilning Wetland including 13 Avocets, 6 adult Little Ringed Plovers with 3 chicks still and one nest, a Green Sandpiper, 11 Redshank, 10 Lapwing, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Mute Swans with a cygnet, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 4 Stock Doves and an out of season Coal Tit. At least 6 Little Egrets were seen at Severn Beach.
Little Ringed Plover and 5 day old chick, Pilning Wetland 23.6.22
22nd June
It remained hot (25°C), dry and sunny. A quiet day with just 7 Avocets, 6 adult Little Ringed Plovers plus 2+ chicks, 9 Redshank, 10 Lapwings, a Black-headed Gull and a Grey Heron were seen.
21st June
Another warm and sunny day. Reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area involved 4 Avocets, 6+ Little Ringed Plovers plus 3 small chicks and one nest, 9 Redshank, 10 Lapwing, a Curlew, a Great White Egret, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 30+ Black-headed Gulls, 2 Mute Swans and a cygnet, 26 Shelduck, 3 Teal (one drake), 5 Tufted Duck, single Grey Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat and Siskin.
20th June
The sunniest day of the year so far and warm. Combined reports from Pilning Wetland included 10 Avocets, 4 adult Little Ringed Plovers plus 3 chicks still, a Green Sandpiper, 6 Redshank, 22 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 35 Black-headed Gulls, a male and female Teal and another Red Kite. At least 25 Oystercatchers and 25 Shelduck were seen from New Passage.
19th June
A cloudy day with a few sunny periods. Sightings from Pilning Wetland included at least 6 adult Little Ringed Plovers plus a full grown juvenile and 3+ small chick, single Green Sandpiper and Snipe, 8 Redshank, 8 adult Lapwing, 3 Grey Herons, 70+ Black-headed Gulls, 2 Mute Swans plus one cygnet, 2 drake Teal, 6 Gadwall, 65+ Mallard plus 3 broods of 6, 6 and 10 ducklings.
Green Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 19.6.22
Little Ringed Plover concealing 3 chicks from marauding Gulls, Pilning Wetland 19.6.22
18th June
A much cooler day with a North breeze and rain by late afternoon. Combined reports from Pilning Wetland included 9 Avocets, 4 Little Ringed Plovers plus at least one freshly hatched chick, 6 Redshank, 16 Lapwing, single Oystercatcher and Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 52 Black-headed Gulls, 2 drake Teal, 6 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck and a Tufted Duck. An additional 2 Little Egrets and were seen at New Passage and another at Severn Beach.
17th June
A hot (29°C) and sunny day. Another early morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced 9 Avocets, 6+ Little Ringed Plovers, 6 Redshank, 14 Lapwing, 4 Grey Herons, 15 Black-headed Gulls, a drake Teal, 6 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck and a singing Cetti’s Warbler.
16th June
Reports from Pilning Wetland included an adult Greenshank, 7 Avocets (one mating pair), 7 Little Ringed Plovers (2 occupied nests), 2 Redshank, 22 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 35 Black-headed Gulls including a juvenile, a drake Teal, 25 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Shelduck and a pair of Mute Swans with one cygnet.
Greenshank, Pilning Wetland 16.6.22
15th June
An early morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced 9 Avocets, 4+ Little Ringed Plovers (one nest), 2 Redshank, 15 adult Lapwing with at least one small chick hiding in vegetation, 4 Grey Herons, 30 Black-headed Gulls, 17 Gadwall, a drake Teal, 12 Shelduck and a singing Cetti’s Warbler.
14th June
Another warm and sunny day. Another early morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced 10 Avocets, 4+ Little Ringed Plovers (one nest still occupied), 7 adult Lapwing and 3 small chicks, 2 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 18 Gadwall, 11 Shelduck, a drake Teal, 7 Black-headed Gulls, a Hobby and a Yellow Wagtail. A flock of 8 Curlew flew North East past Severn Beach early morning.
Avocets, Pilning Wetland 14.6.22
13th June
A warm and sunny day. An early morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced a 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull, 7 Avocets, 6+ Little Ringed Plovers (at least one occupied nest), 8 Lapwing, 3 Redshank, an Oystercatcher, a Little Egret, 4 Grey Herons, 11 Black-headed Gulls, 21 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall and 3 Tufted Ducks. A Peregrine was seen over Severn Beach. At least 30 Oystercatchers, 8 Canada Geese and 7 Shelduck were seen from New Passage.
Mediterranean Gull, Pilning Wetland 13.6.22
12th June
The weather remained the same with little change in the sightings at Pilning Wetland with 2 Avocets, 6+ Little Ringed Plovers (2 occupied nests), 3 Redshank, a Dunlin, 10 Lapwing, 7 Black-headed Gulls, 7 Gadwall and a Sparrowhawk being seen.
11th June
Another sunny and breezy day. A quiet day with just 4 Avocets, 5+ Little Ringed Plovers (now 2 occupied nests), 18 adult Lapwings and at least one small chick, single Curlew and Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 18 Canada Goose, 2 Shelduck, 9 Gadwall, 53 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck and a Hobby.
10th June
A dry, sunny and breezy day. A morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced the immature Spoonbill, 2 Avocets, 5+ Little Ringed Plovers (nest still occupied), 16 Lapwing plus at least one new chick, 3 Redshank, a Dunlin, 4 Grey Herons, 8 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Duck and 4 Black-headed Gulls.
9th June
An overcast day with a South West breeze. The immature Spoonbill and Great White Egret remained on Pilning Wetland where 4 Avocets, 4 Little Ringed Plovers (one nest), a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Redshank, 8 Lapwing, 2 Grey Herons, 10 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Gadwall and a singing Cetti’s Warbler were also reported. Reports from the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach included 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 5 adult Coot and 2 chicks.
8th June
A sunny day with a moderate strength South West wind. The immature Spoonbill dropped onto Pilning Wetland late morning where other reports included 4 Avocets, 4 Little Ringed Plovers (one nest), 6 adult Lapwing (one nest), single Great White Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron and 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, 6 Black-headed Gulls and 12 Gadwall. A different 1st summer Mediterranean Gull flew South past Severn Beach early afternoon where 2 late Dunlin and a Fulmar (5 PM) were also seen.
immature Spoonbill, Pilning Wetland 8.6.22
7th June
Another mixture of sunshine and cloud with North East breeze in the morning veering to the South during the afternoon. The 4th Spoonbill of the year, an immature, was seen feeding on the shoreline at the North end of Northwick Warth from New Passage. Other sightings from New Passage included the 20th Red Kite of the year drifting East and over Pilning Wetland and another Great White Egret following the Kite and dropping onto the wetland (24th record this year representing almost half of the total Great White Egrets seen here since the first record in 2013), a lone Curlew and 15 Shelduck. Reports from Pilning Wetland involved 9 Avocets, 6 Little Ringed Plovers (one nest), 8 Lapwings including 2 full size chicks plus one active nest, single Redshank, Little Egret and Grey Heron, 14 Black-headed Gulls, 18 Gadwall, 6 Shelduck, 12 Tufted Duck, single hunting Hobby, Kestrel, singing Cetti’s Warbler and 3 Stock Doves. It was still quiet at Severn Beach with 4 Little Egrets and 5 Black-headed Gulls being seen.
6th June
A mainly cloudy day with some sunny spells. Reports from Pilning Wetland included 11 Avocets, 5 Little Ringed Plovers (one nest), 6 adult Lapwing (one nest), 2 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 16 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck and a Cetti’s Warbler. Another 3 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron were seen from Severn Beach.
5th June
An overnight lightning storm with torrential rain followed by cloudy day and rain resuming early evening. A visit to Pilning Wetland this morning produced 8 Avocets, 4+ Little Ringed Plovers (one nest still), 10 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 6 adult Lapwing (one nest), a Grey Heron, 24 Gadwall, 8 Shelduck and 7 Tufted Duck. Just 20 Canada Geese and 11 Shelduck were seen from New Passage on the morning high tide. Severn Beach remained quiet with the singing Cetti’s Warbler near the railway station and a Hummingbird hawk-moth in my garden.
4th June
A wet morning with moderate strength North East wind turning drier and sunny by mid afternoon. Once again Pilning Wetland produced a surprise bird when the 3rd Spoonbill of the year dropped out of the sky at 08.30, fed for 2 minutes before flying off eventually to the South. Other reports from Pilning Wetland included adult Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint, 11 Avocets, 4 Little Ringed Plovers (one nest), 6 adult Lapwing (one nest), 10 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 3 Black-headed Gulls, 22 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 11 Shelduck and a singing Cetti’s Warbler. Nearby there were 8 Gadwall, 2 Black-headed Gulls and a single flock of 35 low flying Swifts heading into the wind. At least 20 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Little Egrets, 11 Shelduck were seen from the Severn Beach shore and a singing Cetti’s Warbler remained near Severn Beach railway station.
Spoonbill, Pilning Wetland 4.6.22
Spoonbill, Pilning Wetland 4.6.22
3rd June
A mainly cloudy day, short sunny spells and rain by early evening. Another Great White Egret was found on Pilning Wetland this morning where the Little Stint, 20 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 6 adult Lapwing (one nest), 8 Avocets, 5+ Little Ringed Plovers (one nest), 3 Little Egrets, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 20+ Gadwall, 5 Tufted Duck and a singing Cetti’s Warbler were also present. A singing Cetti’s Warbler remained near Severn Beach railway station and an out of season Coal Tit was found at the Severn Beach allotments.
Great White Egret, Pilning Wetland 3.6.22
Great White Egret & Little Stint, Pilning Wetland 3.6.22
2nd June
An early morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced the first Little Stint of the year, 7 Avocets, 4+ Little Ringed Plovers (one occupied nest), 6 adult Lapwing plus one nest, 29 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 20 Canada Geese, 8 Tufted Duck, 33 Gadwall and a singing Cetti’s Warbler. At least 6 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover and 20 Swifts were seen this evening at New Passage. Another Cetti’s Warbler remained near Severn Beach railway station.
Little Stint, Pilning Wetland 2.6.22
1st June
A day of sunny intervals and a light breeze. A morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced 6 Avocets, 5+ Little Ringed Plovers and now 2 occupied nests, a Black-tailed Godwit, 37 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 6 adult Lapwing (still one occupied nest), 5 Black-headed Gulls, 18 Gadwall and 11 Tufted Duck. A Cetti’s Warbler remained near Severn Beach railway station.
