2024 Sightings

2024 SIGHTINGS

December is one of the quietest months with only 168 species recorded during the month. It can be a good month for wildfowl with the chance of Red-breasted Merganser and Goosander if inland waters freeze or some fly by Bewick’s Swans. A good selection of seabirds have occurred in December gales including Black-throated and Great Northern Divers, Leach’s Petrel, Little Auk, Grey Phalarope and Pomarine Skua. Other rarities have included a stunning male Desert Wheatear (2013), Eastern Yellow Wagtail (1993), Cattle Egret (2022), Green-winged Teal (2013), Egyptian Goose (2013, 2019), Glaucous Gull, Waxwing (2010) and Cirl Bunting in the winters of 1940 & 1941.

Combined Species Total so far in 2024 = 189

my total so far = 174

10th December
A cool cloudy day with a North East breeze. The first Woodcock of the year was seen at Sever Beach where other reports included 4 Curlew, 2 Oystercatchers, 10 Canada Geese, 4 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 6 Wigeon, a Water Rail and a Stonechat. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area involved an Avocet, a decent count of 300 Turnstones, 170+ Lapwings, 330 Dunlin, 55 Curlew, 30 Oystercatchers, 60 Redshank, single Little Egret and Barnacle Goose, 50 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 5 Shelduck, 20+ Shoveler, 20+ Gadwall, 150+ Wigeon and 120+ Teal.

Avocet, Pilning Wetland 10.12.24

9th December
Another cool day with moderate strength North East wind. Reports from Severn Beach included 14 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstones, 2 Oystercatchers, 8 Curlew, 7 Shelduck, 24 Wigeon, 3 Pintail (one drake), a Shoveler, 3 Teal and 2 Stonechats. The Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area produced 300 Dunlin, 230 Turnstones, 200 Lapwings, 70 Curlew, 70 Redshank, 7 Oystercatcher, 5 Snipe, single Little Egret, Grey Heron and Barnacle Goose, 2 Greylag Geese, 20 Shelduck, 19 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 150 Wigeon and 120 Teal.

Stonechat, Severn Beach 9.12.24

8th December
A cold day with strong Northerly wind. A late morning visit to the windswept Pilning Wetland/New Passage area produced just 100 Dunlin, 50 Redshank, 40 Curlew, 14 Lapwings, 30 Oystercatchers, single Little Egret, Grey Heron and Barnacle Goose, 200 Canada Geese, 22 Shelduck, 20 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 220 Wigeon and 200 Teal. Severn Beach was quiet with just 70 Turnstones, 4 Curlew, 3 Shelduck, 20 Wigeon, a Raven and a Stonechat worth a mention.

7th December
A stormy day with gale force gusts from the West veering North West by midday. Single 1st winter Mediterranean Gull and 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull, 11 Kittiwakes, 220 Turnstones, 250 Dunlin, 4 Curlew and 110+ Wigeon, 8 Shoveler, 6 Teal and a Water Pipit were reported from Severn Beach. Two Bar-tailed Godwits, 3000 Dunlin, 110 Curlew, 50 Oystercatcher, single Little Egret and Barnacle Goose, 170 Canada Geese, 34 Shelduck, 26 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 340 Wigeon and 200+ Teal were reported from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Two Kittiwakes and a 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull were seen at Chittening Warth.

6th December
A sunny start and wet by late afternoon. The wind started to increase at dusk ahead of the arrival of Storm Darragh. A brief low tide visit to Pilning Wetland/New Passage produced 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 70 Redshank, 96 Curlew, 130 Lapwings, 400 Dunlin, 6 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, a Barnacle Goose, 176 Canada Geese, 3 Mute Swans, 21 Shelduck, 35+ Shoveler, 28 Gadwall, 250+ Wigeon, 220+Teal, 3 Tufted Duck and a Chiffchaff. Another 170 Dunlin, 13 Curlew, 6 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 2 Shelduck, 24 Wigeon and 2 Stonechats were seen at Severn Beach.

5th December
A wet day with a moderate strength South West wind. A Leach’s Petrel was a nice find at Severn Beach early this morning.

4th December
A cloudy day with light East wind turning Southerly in the afternoon. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 500 Dunlin, 60 Redshank, 65 Curlew, 54 Lapwing, 8 Turnstones, 6 Oystercatchers, 5 Snipe, a Little Egret, 4 Grey Herons, A Barnacle Goose, 2 Shelduck, the usual Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler, 4 Tufted Duck, single Water Rail and male Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrine and 3 Ravens. At least 19 Shelduck, 17 Wigeon, a Water Rail, 2 Stonechats and 3 Blackcaps (2 males, 1 female) were reported from Severn Beach. Another 300 Dunlin, 22 Redshank, 15 Curlew, 86 Common Gulls, single Great Black-backed Gull, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, 2 Chiffchaff and 4 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.

female Blackcap, Severn Beach 4.12.24

3rd December
A cool day with light wind. Reports from Severn Beach involved 23 Curlew, 9 Shelduck, 17 Wigeon, 24 Teal, single Water Rail, Great Black-backed Gull and Cetti’s Warbler, 4 Stonechats, 2 male Blackcaps, 30 Greenfinches and a Redpoll. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 19 Turnstones, 800+ Dunlin, 67 Redshank, 230 Lapwings, 140 Oystercatchers, 100+ Curlew, a Great White Egret, 2 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons, a Barnacle Goose, 6 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 6 Shelduck, 45+ Shoveler, 30+ Gadwall, 270 Wigeon, 200 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck, a Water Rail, 12 Common Gulls, 2 Raven, 2 Stonechat, single Cetti’s Warbler and Chiffchaff. At least 50 Wigeon, 35 Shelduck, 3 Snipe, 30 Oystercatchers, 10 Curlew, 2 Short-eared Owls and a Kestrel were seen at Aust Warth.

Pintail, New Passage 1.12.24

2nd December
A colder and mainly cloudy day. Reports from Severn Beach included 6 Curlew, 3 Oystercatchers, a Grey Heron, 2 Shelduck, 42 Wigeon, at least one Water Rail, a Raven, 4 Stonechats, 2 Rock Pipits, a Cetti’s Warbler and a fly over Siskin. Combined sightings from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth involved a Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Black-tailed Godwits, a Golden Plover, 900 Dunlin, 11 Turnstones, 50 Lapwing, 120 Redshank, 90 Curlew, 140 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, a Barnacle Goose, 2 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 17 Shelduck, 45+ Shoveler, 35+ Gadwall, 300 Wigeon, 3 Pintail (2 drakes), 240 Teal, 2 Ravens, 2 Rock Pipits, 3 Redpoll, single Water Rail, Stonechat and Grey Wagtail. Two Short-eared Owls were seen from Aust Warth at dusk.

Lapwings, Pilning Wetland 1.12.24

1st December
A warm (15°C) and cloudy day with a South West wind. A low tide visit to the Severn Beach shore produced 8 Ringed Plover, 30+ Turnstones, 12 Oystercatchers, 20 Curlew, 11 Shelduck, 30+ Wigeon, a cock Pheasant and at least 5 squealing Water Rails. Sightings from a low tide visit to the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included a Black-tailed Godwit, 30+ Turnstones, 50 Dunlin, 120 Lapwings, 110 Oystercatcher, 110 Curlew, 30+ Redshank, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, a Barnacle Goose, 38 Canada Geese, 260 Wigeon, 230+ Teal, 50+ Shoveler and 20 Gadwall.