2025 Sightings

2025 SIGHTINGS

January is a slightly better month than December, the daylight hours slowly lengthen resulting in a monthly total of 175 species. Like any of the mid winter months it can be good for wildfowl sightings if inland waters freeze, with the chance of Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander or some fly by Bewick’s Swans. Seabirds seen in gales have included Cory’s Shearwater (2004), Sabine’s Gull (2023), Storm Petrel, Leach’s Petrel, Little Auk, Red-throated Diver and Grey Phalarope. Other January birds include; Spoonbill (2023), Cattle Egrets (2025), Pink-footed Goose (2021), Slavonian Grebe (2010,2016,2024), Green-winged Teal (2015), American Golden Plover (2002), Great Grey Shrike (2004), Eastern Yellow Wagtail (1994), Shorelark (2004), Waxwing (1958,2011,2024), Common Cranes (2000), Whooper Swans (2005, 2018, 2023), Bittern (2011,2017), Glaucous Gull and a few rare sightings of Hen Harrier.

Combined Species Total so far in 2024 = 80

my total so far = 76

10th January
A -3°C dawn, gloomy grey, with a cold North East breeze. Sightings from Severn Beach included just 20 Dunlin, 2 Shelduck, 8 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 30 Wigeon, 5 Teal, 2 Ravens, 2 Stonechats and 4 Blackcaps feeding together on apples in my garden (2 males, 2 females). Reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area where the pools were frozen involved 17 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Dunlin, 70+ Curlew, 200+ Lapwings, 40+ Redshank, 26 Snipe, 2 Grey Herons, single Canada Goose and adult Mute Swan, 12 Shelduck, 230+ Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 35 Shoveler, 23 Gadwall, single Kestrel and Stonechat.

9th January
Another bitterly cold day with most freshwater pools frozen. An afternoon high tide visit to Pilning Wetland/New Passage produced a Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Snipe, just 10 Dunlin 122 Curlew, 45 Redshank, 300+ Lapwings, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 21 Canada Geese, 18 Shelduck, 270+ Wigeon, 240+ Teal, a drake Pochard, 6+ Tufted Duck, 50+ Shoveler, 35+ Gadwall, single Stonechat and Kestrel. Reports from Severn Beach included just 40 Dunlin, a few Curlew and Oystercatchers, 3 Shelduck, 12 Wigeon, 2 Stonechats, single Water Rail and female Blackcap.

Pochard and Tufted Ducks, Pilning Wetland 9.1.25

Snipe, Pilning Wetland 9.1.25

8th January
An icy dawn and remaining cold all day in a North East breeze. A high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 80 Oystercatchers, 12 Curlew, 3 Redshank, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Shelduck, 30 Wigeon, 10 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 2 Stonechats and a female Blackcap. Reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area involved just 60+ Dunlin, 65 Turnstones, 60 Redshank, 70 Curlew, 250+ Lapwings, single Snipe and Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, an adult Mute Swan, 54 Canada Geese, 23 Shelduck, 240+ Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 30+ Gadwall, 30+ Shoveler, single Great Black-backed Gull and fly over Redpoll.

7th January
A cold and sunny day. Just 300 Dunlin, 90 Redshank, 60 Curlew, 200+ Lapwings, single Little Egret and Grey Heron, 15 Canada Geese, an immature Mute Swan, 26 Shelduck, 250+ Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 30 Shoveler, 32 Gadwall, 2 Ravens and a Kestrel were reported from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area.

6th January
A frost free but cool day following torrential overnight rain. An impressive 300 Turnstones, 8 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 7 Oystercatchers, a few Curlew, 30+ Wigeon and 2 Stonechat were seen at Severn Beach over the morning high tide. Reports from the Pilning Wetland /New Passage area included a flock of at least 4500 Dunlin, 150 Oystercatchers, 300 Lapwings, 110 Curlew, 80 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 2 Grey Herons, 36 Canada Geese, 24 Shelduck, 30+ Shoveler, 30+ Gadwall, 400 Wigeon, 80+ Teal, 2 Ravens, single Kestrel, hunting Peregrine and a Stonechat.

Dunlin, New Passage 6.1.25

5th January
Some morning rain falling on some lying snow from overnight snowfall. Sightings from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included a Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Knot, 2200 Dunlin, 30 Redshank, 150 Lapwings, 120 Curlew, 140 Oystercatchers, 5 Snipe, single Little Egret and Grey Heron, 20 Canada Geese, a Mute Swan, 19 Shelduck, 30+ Shoveler, 32 Gadwall, 600+ Wigeon, 90+ Teal, 3 Tufted Duck, single Kestrel, Stonechat and Grey Wagtail. Morning reports from Severn Beach involved 5 Turnstones, 8 Redshank, 50 Dunlin, a few Curlew and Oystercatchers, 6 Shelduck, 30+ Wigeon, 70+ Teal, 2 Stonechats and a male Blackcap.

Wigeon, New Passage 5.1.25

4th January
Another -1°C dawn, cloudy all day with a North East breeze. At least 35 Redshank, a few Oystercatchers and Curlew, a Grey Heron, 5 Shelduck, 40+ Wigeon, 40+ Teal, a Water Rail, 2 Blackcaps (male and female) and a Stonechat were reported from Severn Beach this morning. A Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, at least 600 Dunlin, an impressive 330 Lapwings, 30 Turnstones, 20 Redshank, 150 Oystercatchers, 80 Curlew, 7 Snipe, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 160 Canada Geese, an adult Mute Swan, 19 Shelduck, 220 Wigeon, 130 Teal, the usual Gadwall and Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, single Chiffchaff and Rock Pipit were present in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Three Jack Snipe, 12 Snipe, 8000 Dunlin, 2 Water Rails, 3 Stonechats, 3 Rock Pipits and a Water Pipit were reported from Chittening Warth.

Black-tailed Godwits, Pilning Wetland 4.1.25

3rd January
Another icy morning with the wetland pools mostly frozen. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 16 Turnstones, 80 Redshank, 120 Curlew, 90 Oystercatchers, 450 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, single adult Mute Swan and Barnacle Goose, 22 Canada Geese, 74 Shelduck, 300+ Wigeon, 110 Teal, 30 Gadwall, 24 Shoveler, 4 Tufted Duck, single Short-eared Owl, Stonechat, Chiffchaff and Cetti’s Warbler. Reports from Severn Beach involved a Ringed Plover, 12 Redshank, 6 Shelduck, 30+ Wigeon, single Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Pipit and female Blackcap. At least 30 Snipe, 2 Water Pipits and a Stonechat were seen on Aust Warth.

Rock Pipit, Severn Beach 3.1.25

Ringed Plover Severn Beach 3.1.25

2nd January
An icy -1°C dawn and then sunny and cool all day. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 100+ Redshank, 800 Dunlin, 280 Lapwings, 40 Curlew, 80 Oystercatchers, 7+ Snipe, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, a Barnacle Goose, 56 Greylag Geese, 40 Canada Geese, 70 Shelduck, 280 Wigeon, 180 Teal, 40+ Shoveler, 34 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Ravens, 2 Stonechats, single Water Rail, Kestrel, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Cetti’s Warbler. A Snipe, 14 Redshank, 18 Curlew, a Little Egret, 5 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 40+ Wigeon, 10 Teal, 2 Water Rails and 2 Stonechats were reported on the morning high tide at Severn Beach where a male Blackcap was feeding in a garden. Four Cattle Egrets flew over Northwick Village (1st January record). At least 10 Chiffchaffs were seen at at the sewage works near Aust services.

1st January
A very windy start to the year following an overnight gale with rain for most of the day. An afternoon visit to Pilning Wetland/New Passage produced 12 Turnstones, 200+ Dunlin, 80 Redshank, 60 Curlew, 210 Lapwings, 95 Oystercatchers, single Little Egret and Barnacle Goose, 80+ Greylag Geese, 230 Canada Geese, 14 Shelduck, 40+ Shoveler, 42 Gadwall, 320 Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 2 Tufted Duck and 2 Ravens. At least 20 Dunlin and 20 Wigeon were seen in stormy weather at Severn Beach this morning.