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2019 SIGHTINGS

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January is a slightly better month than December, the daylight hours slowly lengthen resulting in a monthly total of 167 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), Storm Petrel, Leach’s Petrel, Little Auk, Red-throated Diver and Grey Phalarope. Other January birds include; Slavonian Grebe (2010,2016), Green-winged Teal (2015), American Golden Plover (2002), Great Grey Shrike (2004), Shorelark (2004), Waxwing, two Common Cranes that flew over Severn Beach (2000), Whooper Swans (2005, 2018), Bittern (2011,2017), Glaucous Gull and a few rare sightings of Hen Harrier.

18th January
A cool, damp, grey day with an East wind. An adult Mediterranean Gull, 5 White-fronted Geese, 32 Canada Geese, 74 Shelduck, 400+ Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 10 Tufted Duck, a drake Pochard,23 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 45 Black-tailed Godwits, 600+ Lapwing, 70 Redshank, 110 Dunlin, 80 Oystercatchers,3 Snipe, a Grey Plover,single Peregrine, female Merlin and male Sparrowhawk were seen in the Northwick Warth/Pilming Wetland area. A female Blackcap was seen again in a Severn Beach garden.


                                                                                  Mediterranean Gull, Pilning Wetland 18.1.19

17th January
The sunniest day of the year so far. Reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland involved 5 White-fronted Geese, 50+ Shelduck, 300 Wigeon, 10 Tufted Duck, single Pochard and Pintail, 80 Black-tailed Godwits, 500+ Lapwing, 90 Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew, 50 Redshank, 40 Dunlin, 20 Turnstones, single Little Egret, Sparrowhawk and Short-eared Owl. Three Short-eared Owls were seen again at Aust Warth.

16th January
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area included the 5 White-fronted Geese, 45 Canada Geese, 250 Wigeon, 28 Shelduck, drake Pochard and Pintail, the Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwing flocks, 6 Snipe, a male Merlin and a Cetti’s Warbler. A female Merlin and a female Blackcap were seen at Severn Beach. Two Short-eared Owls showed at Aust Warth.

15th January
The 5 White-fronted Geese remained settled on Northwick Warth where other sightings included 49 Canada Geese, 39 Shelduck, 250 Wigeon, 170 Teal, 36 Shoveler, single drake Pochard and Pintail, 80+ Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Curlew, 140 Redshank, 60 Dunlin, 500+ Lapwing, a Water Pipit and a Sparrowhawk. Two female Blackcaps were seen in gardens at the opposite ends of Severn Beach village.

14th January
A late morning visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 5 White-fronted Geese, 35 Canada Geese, 28 Shelduck, 300 Wigeon, 24 Shoveler, 11 Tufted Duck, 12 Gadwall, a drake Pintail, 90 Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Redshank, 600 Lapwing, 85 Curlew, single Snipe and Little Egret. Three Short-eared Owls and 2 Stonechats were seen from Aust Warth. A high tide visit to the Severn Beach shore produced 4 Ringed Plover, 200 Dunlin, 60 Turnstones and 15 Shelduck. Nearby a pair of Blackcaps were seen in a garden.

  
                                                                                   Short-eared Owl, Aust Warth 14.1.19

13th January
A brief visit to New Passage early afternoon produced the 5 White-fronted Geese, 120+ Canada Geese, 30 Shelduck, 240+ Wigeon and a Kingfisher. At least 3 Short-eared Owls and 2 Jack Snipe were seen at Aust Warth. A male Blackcap was still present in a Severn Beach garden.

12th January
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area involved the 5 White-fronted Geese, 130+ Canada Geese, 300+ Wigeon, 40 Shelduck, 12 Tufted Duck, 400 Lapwing, 120 Dunlin, 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 55 Redshank and a Yellowhammer. A Merlin, 2 Peregrine and 2 Kestrel were seen at Aust Warth. A Stonechat was present at Severn Beach.

11th January
Much of the same was reported from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland including the 5 White-fronted Geese, 35 Canada Geese, 22 Shelduck, 250+ Wigeon, 120 Teal, 400+ Lapwing. 90 Black-tailed Godwits, 200+ Dunlin, single Little Egret, Short-eared Owl, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk. Another 21 Shelduck, a Peregrine and 2 Blackcaps were were seen at Severn Beach. At least 2 Short-eared Owls were seen from Aust Warth at dusk.

10th January
Combined reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 5 White-fronted Geese, 40 Canada Geese, 200+ Teal, 350+ Wigeon, a drake Pochard, 80+ Black-tailed Godwits, 70+ Dunlin, single Little Egret, Water Rail and Peregrine. Four Short-eared Owls were seen again at Aust Warth. Sightings from Severn Beach included 23 Ringed Plover, 80 Turnstones, 70 Dunlin, 11 Shelduck, 70 Wigeon and a male Blackcap.

9th January
Another sunny day. The 5 White-fronted Geese remained on Northwick Warth (click HERE for a short video) where other sightings involved 40 Canada Geese  51 Shelduck, 250 Wigeon, 102 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Redshank, 90 Curlew, 400 Lapwing, 220 Dunlin, single Snipe, Little Egret, Kingfisher, Raven and Peregrine. Four Short-eared Owls, a Kestrel and a Stonechat were seen at Aust Warth. At least 22 Ringed Plover, 56 Dunlin, 72 Turnstones, 2 Blackcaps and a Raven were seen at Severn Beach.

8th January
A sunny day with much of the same being seen including 5 White-fronted Geese on Northwick Warth and 4 Short-eared Owls at Aust Warth.

7th January
A cloudy, grey day. A morning visit to Northwick Warth produced 5 White-fronted Geese, 94 Canada Geese, 45 Shelduck, 300+ Wigeon, 32 Shoveler, 20+ Gadawall, 10 Tufted Duck, 90 Teal, a drake Pochard, a Little Egret, 40 Oystercatchers, 90 Dunlin., 40 Redshank, just 5 Black-tailed Godwits and 52 Pied Wagtails. At least one Short-eared  Owl was seen on Aust Warth at dusk.


                                                                              White-fronted Goose, Northwick Warth 7.1.19

6th January
The 5 White-fronted Geese remained on Northwick Warth. At least 3 Short-eared Owls and a Kestrel were seen at Aust Warth. A male Blackcap was present in a Severn Beach garden.

5th January
An icy morning. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning area included the 5 White-fronted Geese, 36 Canada Geese, 250+ Wigeon, 60 Shelduck, 24 Shoveler, 13 Tufted Duck, 18 Gadwall, a drake Pochard, 90+ Teal, 155 Black-tailed Godwits, 460 Lapwing, 400+ Dunlin, 30 Redshank, 2 Snipe, single Water Rail, Kingfisher, male Sparrowhawk and female Merlin. A Jack Snipe was seen early morning at Aust Warth and 3 Short-eared Owls and a Woodcock were seen there this afternoon.

4th January
Another frosty morning. Sightings from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 5 White-fronted Geese, 140 Teal, 120 Wigeon, 2 drake Pintail, a drake Pochard, 110+ Black-tailed Godwits, 400 Dunlin, 250+ Lapwing, 4 Ravens, single Peregrine and Merlin. A Jack Snipe and 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.


                                                                              White-fronted Geese, Northwick Warth 4.1.19

3rd January
A dull, grey day with an East breeze. Five White-fronted Geese were found again this morning on Northwick Warth where other sightings included 65 Shelduck, 60 Canada Geese, 110 Teal , 150 Wigeon, 26 Shoveler, 20+ Gadwall, 9 Tufted Duck, a drake Pochard, 2 drake Pintail,  450+ Lapwing, 130+ Black-tailed Godwits, 400 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, a Rock Pipit and a Peregrine. Two Blackcaps were seen at New Passage. Three Short-eared Owls and 3 Jack Snipe were reported early morning at Aust Warth. At least 70 Turnstones, 40 Redshank, 200 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, 60 Wigeon and a Stonechat were seen at Severn Beach.


                                                                                     Short-eared Owl, Aust Warth 2.1.19

2nd January
A cold and frosty -2°C start. Reports from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 49 Shelduck, 130 Teal, 58 Canada Geese, 90 Wigeon, 400+ Lapwing, 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Turnstones, 300+ Dunlin, a Little Egret and a Water Rail. A visit to the salt marsh at Severn Beach produced a flock of 20 Reed Buntings, 2 Snipe, 3 Grey Herons and at least 50 Wigeon. A Woodcock was seen at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach. Four Short-eared Owls, 2 Stonechats and a Kestrel were seen from Aust Warth late afternoon.

   
                                                                     White-fronted Geese, Northwick Warth 1.1.19 © John Martin

1st January
Sightings from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 5 White-fronted Geese, 40 Canada Geese, 2 drake Pintail, a drake Pochard, a Little Egret, 500 Lapwing, a Golden Plover, 115 Oystercatchers, 97 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Snipe, a female Merlin and a Raven. A Barn Owl was seen very early morning near Chittening Warth. An afternoon visit to the shore at Severn Beach produced 29 Shelduck, 70 Wigeon, 4 Grey Herons, 60 Turnstones and a Stonechat.