2026 Sightings

2026 SIGHTINGS

March is a better month than February with a total of 189 species recorded during this month. As each day passes the expectation of an early spring migrant increases, Wheatears usually being seen by mid month along with Chiffchaffs, Sand Martins and Little Ringed Plovers. Rarities have included Booted Eagle (2025), White-tailed Eagle (2025), Black Kite (2010), Green-winged Teal (2014), Hooded Merganser (2026), Cattle Egret (2017,2024,2026), Great White Egrets, Spoonbill (2020,2023,2025), Glossy Ibis (2025), Crane (2015,2017,2020,2022,2023,2024,2025), Long-tailed Skua (2021), Iceland and Glaucous Gulls, Goshawk (2022), Hen Harrier and Bearded Tit (2004), Great Grey Shrike (2004), Mandarin (2006), Woodlark (2024) and Siberian Chiffchaff (2007,2023).

10th March
A sunnier day with a South West breeze. The female Hooded Merganser reappeared today on Pilning Wetland where other sightings from here and Northwick Warth included 5 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Ringed Plover, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 30+ Knot, 10 Turnstone, 21 Dunlin, 24 Snipe, 9 Lapwing, 23 Curlew, 30 Oystercatcher, a Grey Heron, 24 Canada Geese, a Mute Swan, 80 Shelduck, 110 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, a few Shoveler and Gadwall, 8 Raven, 15+ Chiffchaff, 6 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Stonechat, single Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. Another 47 Oystercatcher, 10 Curlew, 12 Canada Geese, 88 Shelduck, 20 Wigeon, 38 Teal, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Cetti’s Warbler and a Kestrel were reported from Severn Beach.

Hooded Merganser, Pilning Wetland 10.3.26

Tufted Duck and Hooded Merganser, Pilning Wetland 10.3.26

9th March
A mainly misty day with a South East breeze veering to the South West in the afternoon. Single Little Ringed Plover and Grey Plover, 2 Jack Snipe, 19 Snipe, 130 Turnstone, 200+ Knot, 800 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, 35 Curlew, 9 Lapwing, 30 Redshank, 40 Oystercatcher, 13 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swan, 32 Shelduck, 110 Wigeon, 160 Teal, 21 Shoveler, 16 Gadwall, 2 Pochard, 7 Tufted Duck, 4 Raven, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Cetti’s Warbler, 4 Stonechat, a Grey Wagtail and 2 hunting Peregrine (knocked a Knot out of the sky then eventually plucked it from the surface of the river) were reported from the Pilning Wetland area up to Cake Pill, Northwick Warth. At least 45 Redshank, 9 Curlew, 12 Oystercatcher, 2 Canada Geese, 74 Shelduck, 23 Wigeon, 14 Teal, 2 Little Grebe, 4+ Chiffchaff, 3+ Cetti’s Warbler, 10+ Redwing and a Stonechat were reported from the Severn Beach shore.

8th March
Another misty, grey day with a light East breeze. At least 5 Knot, a Black-tailed Godwit, 70 Redshank, 12 Curlew, 8 Oystercatcher, single Dunlin and Grey Heron, 6 Canada Geese, 64 Shelduck, 28 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 3 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, single Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe, 2 Coot, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Stonechat, 6+ Chiffchaff, 4+ Cetti’s Warbler, single Blackcap and Kestrel were reported from the Severn Beach shore. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth involved 2+ Little Ringed Plover, 200 Knot, 60 Turnstone, 40 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, 23 Lapwing, 20+ Curlew, 7 Redshank, 10+ Snipe, a Little Egret, Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Shelduck, Wigeon, 80 Teal, 30 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, single adult Mediterranean Gull and Water Rail, 2 Raven, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Grey Wagtail, 20+ Redwing, 10+ Fieldfare, 2 Siskin and a Kestrel. Reports from the Aust Cliff/services area included 2 Shelduck, 6 Curlew, 4 Little Egret, 2 Raven and 4 Stonechat.

Great Crested Grebe, Severn Beach 8.3.26

7th March
A dreary, misty day with a North East breeze. Early morning reports from Aust Cliff/services involved a Firecrest, 2 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 6 Siskin and a Redpoll. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included 2 Little Ringed Plover, single Avocet, Golden Plover and Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Ringed Plover, 40 Turnstone, 200 Knot, 31 Snipe, 16 Lapwing, 75 Redshank, 150 Dunlin, 60 Oystercatcher, 90 Curlew, a Grey Heron, 12 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swan, 45 Shelduck, 140 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 14 Shoveler, a Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 3+ Chiffchaff, single Peregrine, Kestrel, Kingfisher, White Wagtail, Redpoll and 3 Roe Deer. A misty morning high tide visit to the Severn Beach shore produced 5 Oystercatcher, 3 Curlew, 5 Canada Geese, 93 Shelduck, 26 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 32 Teal, a Water Rail, 3+ Chiffchaff and 2 Cetti’s Warbler.

Pintail, Severn Beach 7.3.26

6th March
A cloudy, much cooler day with a North Easterly breeze. Reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Jack Snipe, 7 Snipe, 19 Lapwing, 200+ Knot, 110 Redshank, 30 Curlew, 60+ Oystercatcher, 30 Dunlin, 30 Turnstone, a Little Egret, 22 Canada Geese, 86 Shelduck, 2 Mute Swan, 190 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 18 Shoveler, 19 Gadwall, a Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, single Great Crested Grebe and Water Rail, 2 Sand Martin, 4 Cetti’s Warbler, 4+ Chiffchaff and a Kestrel. At least 56 Shelduck, 14 Wigeon, 12 Teal and a male Sparrowhawk were seen at Severn Beach and a Tawny Owl was heard again in the evening.

5th March
Another sunny morning and warm (16°C) day with a South East breeze. Combined reports from the Aust Cliff/services area included a few Curlew and Oystercatcher, single Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 12 Shelduck, 60+ Common Gull, Sand Martin, Firecrest, Redpoll, Grey Wagtail, Blackcap, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine, 2 Raven, 5 Crossbill, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Chiffchaff and 43+ Siskin. An Avocet, 2 Little Ringed Plover, at least 250 Knot, 15 Dunlin, 33 Turnstone, 5 Redshank, 60 Oystercatcher, 40 Curlew, 5 Snipe, 12 Lapwing, 2 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 16 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swan, 90 Shelduck, 17 Shoveler, 16 Gadwall, 200 Wigeon, 140 Teal, a Pochard, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Kestrel, 5 Chiffchaff, 20 Redwing, single Pheasant, Grey Wagtail and Cetti’s Warbler were reported in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. At least 40 Redshank, 5 Snipe, 20 Canada Geese, 71 Shelduck, 23 Wigeon, a Kestrel, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Cetti’s Warbler, a Stonechat and 2 Siskins were reported from Severn Beach.

4th March
A mainly sunny and warm (13°C) day with a South East breeze. Once again some interesting birds were reported early morning from the Aust Cliff/services area including a singing Firecrest, a Crossbill, 15 Siskin, 3 Redpoll and a Red Kite. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Avocet, 226 Knot, 95 Oystercatcher, 35 Lapwing, 94 Curlew, 13 Snipe, 66 Redshank, 15 Turnstone, 25 Dunlin, 4 Little Egret, 12 Canada Geese, 35 Shelduck, 27 Shoveler, 19 Gadwall, 250 Wigeon, 110 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, single Pochard, Great Black-backed Gull and Marsh Harrier, 2 Kingfisher, a Kestrel, 2+ Chiffchaff, 3 Cetti’s Warbler, a Grey Wagtail and 3 Siskin. At least 22 Curlew, 4 Redshank, a Snipe, 11 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swan, 65 Shelduck, 24 Wigeon, 2 Teal, a Water Rail, 3+ singing Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2+ Cetti’s Warbler and 2 Siskin were reported from the Severn Beach shore.

Avocets, Pilning Wetland 4.3.26

3rd March
A mixture of sunshine and cloud in a North East breeze. Early morning reports and migrants from the Aust Cliff/services area included 10 Barnacle Geese (flying North East), 2 Canada Geese, a Pheasant, a Kestrel, 2 Peregrine, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, a singing Firecrest, 4 Grey Wagtail, a Redpoll, 3 Crossbill, 20 Siskin and a Yellowhammer. Single Little Ringed Plover, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Snipe, 80 Knot, 20 Lapwing, 2 Turnstone, 70 Redshank, 80 Oystercatcher, 35 Curlew, a Dunlin, 3 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 15 Canada Geese, 34 Shelduck, 190 Wigeon, 30 Shoveler, 26 Gadwall, 11 Tufted Duck, single Pochard, Water Rail, Great Black-backed Gull, Cetti’s Warbler, Kestrel and hunting Marsh Harrier were reported from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. At least 14 Canada Geese, 75 Shelduck, 18 Wigeon, 18 Teal, a Water Rail, 2 Chiffchaff and 3 singing Cetti’s Warbler were reported from the Severn Beach shore.

Little Ringed Plover, Pilning Wetland 3.3.26

Marsh Harrier, Pilning Wetland 3.3.26

2nd March
A cloudy start then turning into a fine Spring day with a Southerly breeze. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area involved an early Little Ringed Plover, 5 Knot, 3 Turnstone, 10 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, 80 Oystercatcher, 35 Curlew, 20 Lapwing, a Cattle Egret, 4 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 20 Canada Geese, 3 Mute Swan, 32 Shelduck, 190 Wigeon, 120 Teal, 30+ Shoveler, 30+ Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, a Pochard, 3 Wheatears (one male), 4 Raven, 2 Kestrel, single Grey Wagtail, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff and Peregrine. A mixed flock of 300 Dunlin, Knot and Turnstones flew down river at Severn Beach where other reports included 4 Curlew, 78 Shelduck, 24 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 2 Stonechat, 5 singing Cetti’s Warblers and at least one calling Tawny Owl (at 22.30).

Wheatear, Northwick Warth 2.3.26

Cattle Egret, Pilning Wetland 2.3.26

Little Ringed Plover, Pilning Wetland 2.3.26

Black-tailed Godwit, Pilning Wetland 1.3.26

1st March
A sunny morning, cloudy afternoon with a gusty South West wind. A visit to Pilning Wetland produced 2 Jack Snipe, 14 Snipe, a Black-tailed Godwit, 19 Lapwing, 20 Curlew, 3 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 7 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swan, 28 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 90 Wigeon, 160 Teal, a female Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck and a Cetti’s Warbler. Reports from Severn Beach included 2 Turnstone, 8 Curlew, 6 Oystercatcher, 38 Shelduck, 21 Wigeon, 11 Kittiwakes, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, single Water Rail and Kestrel.