2025 Sightings

2025 SIGHTINGS

March is a slightly better month than February with a total of 186 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 Black Kite (2010), Green-winged Teal (2014), Cattle Egret (2017,2024), Spoonbill (2020,2023), Great White Egret, Crane (2015,2017,2020,2022,2023,2024), Glossy Ibis (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).

Click on the calendar pictures below for previous month’s sightings..........

17th March
Yet another cool, grey day with a North East wind. Two Little Ringed Plovers, single Jack Snipe and Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Avocets, 17 Lapwing, 68 Oystercatchers, 44 Curlew, 234 Redshank, 9 Turnstones, 52 Dunlin, 4 Snipe, a Little Egret, 2 Canada Geese, a Mute Swan, 46 Shelduck, 39 Shoveler, 59 Gadwall, 81 Wigeon, a drake Pintail, 169 Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, single female Pochard, Water Rail and Pheasant, 3 Chiffchaffs, single Blackcap and Barn Owl were reported from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth. Reports from the Severn Beach shore included 5 Oystercatchers, 30 Curlew, 7 Canada Geese, 42 Shelduck, 12 Shoveler, 6 Wigeon, 6 Teal, 2 Redwings and 3 Chiffchaffs. Click on the Jack Snipe image below for a short Youtube video.

Jack Snipe, Pilning Wetland 17.3.25

16th March
A frosty dawn with a sunny morning, remaining cool in the North East breeze. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included 12 Avocets, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 13+ Snipe, 6 Lapwings, 35 Oystercatchers, 10 Curlew, 8 Turnstones, 3 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 3 Canada Geese, a Mute Swan, 12 Shelduck, 32 Shoveler, 48 Gadwall, 110 Wigeon, 60 Teal, single female Pochard, drake Tufted Duck, Raven and 2+ Chiffchaff. Reports from the Severn Beach area involved a Green Sandpiper (at the Western Approaches), 20+ Curlew, 5 Canada Geese, 41 Shelduck, 10 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Stonechats, single Cetti’s Warbler, Kestrel and Siskin. Another 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.

15th March
A cool and sunny day with a North East breeze. A male Wheatear, 3 Curlew, 46 Shelduck, 6 Wigeon, 2 Common Gulls, 17 Redwings, single Cetti’s Warbler and Chiffchaff were reported at Severn Beach. Reports from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included 16 Avocets, 126 Redshank, 23 Turnstones, 48 Oystercatchers, 39 Curlew, 3 Lapwing, 7 Snipe, single Dunlin, Little Egret, Greylag Goose, 3 Canada Geese, a Mute Swan, 30 Shelduck, 36 Shoveler, 25 Gadwall, 69 Wigeon, a drake Pintail, 78 Teal, single Raven and Chiffchaff. Meanwhile I enjoyed a day away from Severnside across the Severn in the Forest of Dean. At least 6 Hawfinches, a Goshawk, Mandarin Ducks, Crossbill, Marsh Tit, Treecreeper, Nuthatch were all found, any of which would have been rare here on the Severnside patch.

Hawfinch, Parkend, Forest of Dean 15.3.25

14th March
A cool day with some sunny spells. Single Jack Snipe, Snipe and Greylag Goose, 12+ Shelduck, 2 Pintail, single Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff and Kestrel were reported from Severn Beach. Reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included 23 Avocets, 70+ Oystercatchers, 35 Curlew, 4 Lapwings, 4 Turnstones, 2 Snipe, 3 Little Egret, 2 Canada Geese, a Mute Swan, 28 Shelduck, 130 Wigeon, 80 Teal, 18 Shoveler, 16 Gadwall, single female Pochard and Raven.

13th March
Another cold and mainly cloudy day with a North wind. At least 17 Avocets, a Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Lapwing, 34 Curlew, 90 Oystercatchers, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Canada Geese, 13 Shelduck, 135 Wigeon, 110 Teal, 22 Gadwall, 18 Shoveler and a drake Pintail were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Reports from Severn Beach included 12 Curlew, 2 Canada Geese, 41 Shelduck, 52 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 2 Chiffchaff, single Blackcap and Cetti’s Warbler.

Avocets, Pilning Wetland 13.3.25

Avocets, Pilning Wetland 13.3.25

12th March
A mixture of cloud and sunshine with a cold Northerly wind. A Black-tailed Godwit, at least 14 Avocets, 8 Lapwing, 14 Redshank, 33 Curlew, 12 Turnstones, 2 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 80 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 3 Canada Geese, 3 Mute Swans, 13 Shelduck, 120 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 35 Shoveler, 24 Gadwall, 9 Tufted Duck, single drake Pintail and female Pochard, 3 pairs of Little Grebes, a Raven, 2+ Chiffchaff were reported from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. At least 13 Curlew, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Ringed Plover, a few Turnstones, 31 Shelduck, 12 Wigeon, 350+ Black-headed Gulls, a pair of displaying Kestrels, 2 Peregrines, 3+ Chiffchaffs were present at Severn Beach. Reports from Aust Wetland included a Little Egret, 10 Teal, 3 Chiffchaffs, 30 Redwing, 2 Stonechats, single Pheasant and Kestrel.

11th March
A sunny start then turning cloudy in a Northerly breeze. Reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Lapwings, 100+ Oystercatchers, 80 Redshank, 45 Curlew, 4 Dunlin, single Snipe and Grey Heron, 2 Little Egrets, 21 Canada Geese, 3 adult Mute Swans, 52 Shelduck, 160 Wigeon, 90+ Teal, 45 Shoveler, 21 Gadwall, 13 Tufted Duck, single drake Pintail and female Pochard, 4 Ravens, 2 Chiffchaffs and a male Sparrowhawk. At least 40 Shelduck, 8 Wigeon, 2 Curlew, 4 Redshank, 2+ Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti’s Warblers and 2 garden feeding female Blackcaps were reported from Severn Beach.

10th March
A dismal grey and murky day with occasional light rain in a cold North East wind. Five Avocets, 12 Lapwing, 70 Redshank, 7 Snipe, 24 Curlew, 30+ Oystercatchers, single Little Egret and Grey Heron, 2 Canada Geese, a Mute Swan, 19 Shelduck, 150 Wigeon, 100 Teal, 37 Shoveler, 22 Gadwall, 15 Tufted Duck, a female Pochard and 4+ Chiffchaffs were reported from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Reports from Severn Beach included 5 Ringed Plover, 45 Dunlin, 22 Curlew, 4 Oystercatchers, 34 Shelduck, 12 Wigeon, 4 Tufted Duck (on the estuary), 6+ Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti’s Warblers, 200+ Meadow Pipits (flying North East) and a Rock Pipit.

9th March
A sunny day with a cool North East breeze. Reports from the Aust Cliff/services area included single Hawfinch, Oystercatcher, Little Egret and Greylag Goose, 7 Canada Geese, 12 Shelduck, 82 Wigeon, 31 Teal, single Shoveler and Pheasant, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 50 Common Gulls, single Kestrel, Fieldfare and Blackcap, 2 Ravens, 6 Redwings, 5 Grey Wagtails, 45 Pied Wagtails, a White Wagtail, 18 Siskins and 20+ Chiffchaffs. The first Little Ringed Plover of the year, 11 Avocets, a Black-tailed Godwit, 10+ Snipe, 7 Lapwing, 85 Redshank, 25 Curlew, 64 Oystercatchers, 3 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 10 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 47 Shelduck, 105 Wigeon, 70 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, 28 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, single drake Pintail, female Pochard, Great Black-backed Gull, Water Rail, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and 4+ Chiffchaffs were reported from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Reports from Severn Beach involved at least 7 Snipe, 20+ Turnstones, 20 Oystercatchers, 12 Curlew, 24+ Shelduck, 12 Wigeon, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 singing Cetti’s Warblers (one seen) and a singing Blackcap.

Little Ringed Plover, Pilning Wetland 9.3.25

Snipe, Pilning Wetland 9.3.25

Curlew, Pilning Wetland 9.3.25

8th March
A mild day with a mixture of sunshine and cloud with a South East wind. An adult Mediterranean Gull, a male Wheatear, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Curlew, 3 Greylag Geese, 10 Canada Geese, 6 Shelduck, 45 Wigeon, 28 Teal, 2 Pheasants, 54 Stock Doves, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, a Kestrel, 2 Ravens, 21 Chiffchaffs, single Blackcap, Redwing, Rock Pipit, and 6 Siskins were reported from the Aust Cliff/services area and nearby a Red Kite and 3 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included 8 Avocets, 110 Redshank, 6 Lapwing, 5 Snipe, 6 Dunlin, 40 Oystercatchers, 60 Curlew, 5 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 5 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 60 Shelduck, 30 Shoveler, 16 Gadwall, 120 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 10 Tufted Duck, single drake Pintail, female Pochard, Water Rail, Great Black-backed Gull, Kestrel, Raven, male Wheatear, Grey Wagtail and 6+ Chiffchaffs. At least 80 Turnstones, 20 Oystercatchers, 20 Curlew, 36 Shelduck, 8 Wigeon, 19 Teal, 3 singing Cetti’s Warbler and 3+ Chiffchaffs were reported from Severn Beach.

7th March
A grey and cloudy day with a South East breeze. Single Wheatear and Sand Martin, at least 6 Avocets, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Lapwings, 70 Redshank, 50 Dunlin, 65 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Canada Geese, 56 Shelduck, 38 Shoveler, 24 Gadwall, 180 Wigeon, 90+ Teal, single drake Pintail and female Pochard, 11+ Chiffchaffs, single Water Rail, Kingfisher, Siskin, Sparrowhawk and Raven were reported from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area. Reports from Severn Beach included 140 Turnstones, 42 Oystercatchers, 4 Curlew, 62 Shelduck, 8 Wigeon and several singing Chiffchaffs.

6th March
A warmer day with sunshine and blue sky followed by cloud. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area include 11 Avocets, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Snipe, 35 Turnstones, 120+ Redshank, 60+ Dunlin, 12 Lapwings, 74 Curlew, 35 Oystercatchers, 3 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 4 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 51 Shelduck, 220 Wigeon, 180 Teal, 40 Shoveler, 22 Gadwall, a female Pochard, 5 Tufted Duck, at least 2 Sand Martins, 2 Ravens, 3+ Chiffchaff, single Stonechat and Kestrel. At least 7 Curlew, Ringed Plovers, 2 Shelduck and a singing Chiffchaff were reported from Severn Beach.

5th March
A cold start followed by a bright spring day. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included single Avocet and Knot, 85 Turnstones, 150+ Dunlin, 70+ Redshank, 90 Oystercatchers, 50 Curlew, 2 Lapwings, 7 Snipe, 3 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 2 Great White Egrets (at dusk), 3 Canada Geese, 48 Shelduck, 34 Shoveler, 27 Gadwall, 160 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck, single Raven, Chiffchaff and Barn Owl (at dusk). At least 10 Turnstones, 13 Curlew, 55 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 17 Shelduck, 12 Wigeon, 35 Teal and a Cetti’s Warbler were reported from Severn Beach.

4th March
Another icy start with fog until late morning followed by sunshine. Reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included 3 Avocets, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Knot, 8 Lapwings, 85 Redshank, 40 Turnstones, 200 Dunlin, 13 Snipe, flocks of Curlew and Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Canada Geese, 37 Shelduck, 31 Shoveler, 24 Gadwall, 190 Wigeon, a drake Pintail, 140+ Teal, a female Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck, single Water Pipit and Chiffchaff. A foggy visit to Severn Beach produced Curlew, Oystercatchers, Ringed Plovers (heard in the fog), a Little Egret, 20+ Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 20+ Wigeon, single Water Rail and Stonechat. Two Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.

3rd March
A -3°C icy dawn followed by unbroken sunshine and blue sky. A Woodcock was flushed from an area of bramble scrub at Severn Beach where other reports included 30 Curlew, a Snipe, 71 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 30 Teal, 25+ Reed Buntings, 2 singing Cetti’s Warblers, single singing Chiffchaff, Rock Pipit and fly over Redpoll. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area involved 4 Avocets, a Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Lapwings, 120 Oystercatchers, 80 Redshank, 150 Curlew,150 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 5 Canada Geese, 24 Shelduck, 40 Shoveler, 29 Gadwall, 240+ Wigeon, 120+ Teal, 3 Pochard (one drake), single Grey Wagtail, female Merlin, male Peregrine, Kestrel and a Barn Owl at dusk. A late morning visit to Aust Cliff/services produced 24 Shelduck, 6 Wigeon, 5 Teal, 2 Ravens, a Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcaps.

Avocets, Pilning Wetland 3.3.25

2nd March
Another sunny day following overnight frost and a high Spring tide. A Glossy Ibis (only the 9th Severnside and the first March record) was found on Pilning Wetland late morning. Other reports from there and the Northwick Warth area included 300 Dunlin, 12 Lapwing, 33 Turnstones, 22 Snipe, flocks of Curlew, Redshank and Oystercatchers, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 48 Shelduck, 240+ Wigeon, 140 Teal, 26 Gadwall, 44 Shoveler, 3 Pintail, a Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck, a Water Rail, 2 Ravens, 2 Grey Wagtails, single Chiffchaff and Water Pipit. A morning high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 42 Shelduck, 30+ Wigeon and a Grey Heron. Two Water Pipits and 5 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth. Click on the image below for a short Youtube video of the Glossy Ibis.

Glossy Ibis, Pilning Wetland 2.3.25

1st March
An icy dawn, a high Spring tide, fog over the river clearing to a nice sunny day. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included an Avocet, 200 Dunlin, 15 Lapwings, 70+ Redshank, 19 Turnstones, 6 Snipe, 100 Oystercatchers, 95 Curlew, 5 Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, a Mute Swan, 5 Canada Geese, 60+ Shelduck, 270 Wigeon, 38 Shoveler, 40 Gadwall, 200+ Teal, 3 Pintail (2 drakes), 3 Pochard (one drake), 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Water Rails, 2 Ravens, 2 Chiffchaff, single Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, Rock Pipit and Kestrel. A Snipe, 14 Redshank, 2 Grey Herons, 22 Shelduck, 30+ Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, single Water Rail and Rock Pipit were reported from Severn Beach. Reports from Chittening Warth involved 5 Curlew, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Canada Geese, 25 Shelduck, 26 Wigeon, 2 Stonechats, single Cetti’s Warbler and Kestrel. A Grey Heron and a Raven were seen at Aust Cliff/services.