2022 Sightings

23rd May
A mainly overcast day with occasional sunny spells. A brief visit to Pilning Wetland produced the drake Garganey, 8 adult Lapwing, a Little Egret, 3 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Tufted Duck and 20+ Gadwall. At least 100 Shelduck and 20 Canada Geese were seen on Northwick Warth. Reports from Severn Beach involved 39 Ringed Plover and 21 Dunlin on the shore at high tide, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Mute Swans, 13 Canada Geese, a Shelduck, a Lapwing and 3+ Reed Warblers at the Orchard Pools and a Garden Warbler was singing from scrub near the railway station.

22nd May
A sunny and dry day. Reports from Pilning Wetland included the drake Garganey, 8 adult Lapwing and 2 half grown chicks, 13 Oystercatchers, a Grey Heron, 6 Shelduck, 22 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Ravens and a Grey Wagtail. At least 100 Shelduck and 16 Canada Geese were seen from New Passage. A mixed flock of 40 Dunlin/Ringed Plover and 2 Sanderling were reported from Severn Beach.

21st May
A cloudy start turning warm and sunny. A morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced a drake Garganey, 25 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 8 Shelduck, 6 Canada Geese, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 adult Lapwing, 2 half grown chicks, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, a Grey Wagtail and at least 20 Swifts. Another Little Egret, a Turnstone, 110 Shelduck and 8 Canada Geese were seen from New Passage. The 2 Eider remained at Severn Beach mid morning where a Sanderling, 25 Ringed Plover and 14 Dunlin were also seen.

Garganey, Pilning Wetland 21.5.22

20th May
A cool ad breezy day with early morning rain. The pair of Eider were still present on he morning high tide at Severn Beach and a 1st summer Kittiwake on the evening tide. A morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced 8 Lapwing, single Little Egret and Grey Heron, 24 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Black-headed Gulls and a Swift. Click HERE for a short Youtube video of the Eider.

Eider, Severn Beach 20.5.22

Eider, Severn Beach 20.5.22

19th May
A mainly sunny and dry day with a few new arrivals. Reports from Pilning Wetland included 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 adult Lapwing, 28 Gadwall, a drake Teal and 6 Tufted Duck. A pair of Eider, 23 Dunlin and 36 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach on the morning high tide. An evening visit to New Passage produced 7 Sanderling, 9 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 8 Whimbrel, 40 Oystercatchers, 90+ Shelduck and 4 Canada Geese.

18th May
A day with sunny intervals and a light breeze. Combined visits to Pilning Wetland produced a Black-tailed Godwit, 8 adult Lapwing, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 36 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, drake Teal and Wigeon. It was quiet at New Passage with 42 Oystercatchers, 9 Black-headed Gulls, 20 Shelduck, 5+ Wheatears, a close to shore Common Seal and 2 Painted Lady butterflies.

17th May
A warm and humid day with rain showers late afternoon. A morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 adult Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 24 Gadwall, drake Teal and Wigeon, 8 Shelduck, 6 Tufted Duck, a singing Cetti’s Warbler and 2 Swifts.

Black-tailed Godwits, Pilning Wetland 17.5.22

16th May
A wet start to the day then warm with the occasional shower. Combined reports from Pilning Wetland included 5 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, a Little Egret, 8 Shelduck, 28 Gadwall, 9 Tufted Duck, single drake Teal and Wigeon, a Hobby and a Cetti’s Warbler. Another 30 Shelduck, 10 Canada Geese, 11 Dunlin and a Turnstone were seen from New Passage. At least one Spotted Flycatcher and a Tree Pipit were seen at Aust Cliff and nearby another Spotted Flycatcher was seen at Aust Wetland.

Turnstone & Dunlin, New Passage 16.5.22

Tree Pipit, Aust Cliff 16.5.22 © Matt Hall

Spotted Flycatcher, Aust Cliff 16.5.22 © Matt Hall

15th May
A grey and wet day. Combined reports from Severn Beach on the morning and evening high tides included the 12th and the first May Severnside record of Cattle Egret (flying North East this evening), 2 Ruff heading North East, 2 Greenshank, 5 Whimbrel, 5 Grey Plover, 3 Sanderling, 2 Lapwing, 2 Turnstone, 21 Ringed Plover, 350 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, an Arctic Tern, 30 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 40 Swifts, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Tree Pipits, 5 Wheatears, single Spotted Flycatcher, Cetti’s Warbler and Kestrel. Sightings from Pilning Wetland involved the 2 Ruff that flew past Severn Beach, a flyover Greenshank, 7 adult Lapwing plus 2 chicks, 7 Dunlin, a late Snipe, 29 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck, single drake Teal and Wigeon, 4 Shelduck and a Grey Wagtail. Nearby the first Great Crested Grebe of the year, 35 Shelduck, 15 Canada Geese, 2 Little Egrets and 5 Wheatears were seen from New Passage. Another Spotted Flycatcher and a Lesser Whitethroat were present at Aust Cliff/sewage works.

Ruff, Pilning Wetland 15.5.22

Lapwing, Pilning Wetland 15.5.22

14th May
A warm and sunniest day of the year so far. At least 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Dunlin, 6 adult Lapwing with one chick, a drake Teal, 6 Tufted Duck, 20+ Gadwall and the first Spotted Flycatcher of the year. Two Avocets, 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 45 Shelduck and 7 Canada Geese were seen from the New Passage shore. At least 50 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstones, a Whimbrel and 25 Shelduck were seen at Severn Beach.

13th May
It remained quiet with just 12 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, single drake Wigeon and Teal, 6 Tufted Duck, 20+ Gadwall and 10 Swifts reported from Pilning Wetland. A Whimbrel was seen at Severn Beach.

12th May
Another breezy day. Reports from Pilning Wetland included 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 43 Dunlin, 6 adult Lapwing, 3 Little Egrets, single drake Wigeon and Teal, 12 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 5 Swift, a singing Cetti’s Warbler and 2 Yellow Wagtails. Nearby 20 Turnstones, 2 Ringed Plover, 35 Shelduck, 12 Canada Geese and 2 Wheatears were reported from New Passage. The evening tide at Severn Beach produced 18 Whimbrel and a flighty flock of 20+ Ringed Plover/Dunlin.

11th May
A very wet morning with the first decent rainfall for weeks. A visit to Pilning Wetland produced 8 adult Lapwing and at least one chick, single Ringed Plover, Grey Heron, drake Teal and Wigeon, 25 Gadwall, 11 Tufted Duck and 3 Swifts. A breezy afternoon sea watch from Severn Beach was disappointing with just a Little Egret, 8 Oystercatchers, single Black-headed Gull and Kestrel being seen.

10th May
The sunniest day of the year so far and a South West wind. Combined reports from Severn Beach on the afternoon tide included a dark morph Arctic Skua, 32 Kittiwakes and 8 Dunlin. A late morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced at least 7 adult Lapwing and a second brood of 1+ chicks, a Little Egret, a Grey Heron, single drake Teal and Wigeon, 8 Tufted Ducks, 16+ Gadwall and 10 Swifts. Two Whimbrel, a Curlew, 3 Little Egrets, 20 Shelduck and 2 Gadwall were reported off New Passage.

Kittiwakes, Severn Beach 10.5.22

9th May
A breezy day with a South Westerly. A brief visit to Pilning Wetland produced a hunting female Marsh Harrier, at least 7 Lapwing, 2 Grey Herons, 20 Gadwall and 9 Tufted Duck. An hour and a half river watch from Severn Beach produced nothing other than a Sanderling, 3 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover and 30 Shelduck.

8th May
Yet another dry and warm day. A total of 6 Red Kites were seen heading North East past Severn Beach where other reports included single Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel, 4 Ringed Plover, 5 Turnstones, 6 Dunlin, 10 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 20 Shelduck, 6 Gadwall, 2 Kestrel, single Sparrowhawk and Raven, 10 Swift, 4 Tree Pipits, a Yellow Wagtail, 4 Jays, a singing Cetti’s Warbler, a Wheatear and 4 Siskins. It remained quiet at Pilning Wetland with just a Greenshank, 7 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 16 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, a drake Wigeon and a singing Cetti’s Warbler reported. Just 2 Whimbrel and 5 Turnstones were seen from New Passage.

7th May
A warm and sunny day. Reports from Severn Beach included 3 Eider (male, immature male & female), 15 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, single Sanderling and Whimbrel, 10 Turnstones, 10 Oystercatchers, 16 Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin, 3 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, a Sandwich Tern, 10 Arctic Terns, 2 Common Terns, single Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Swift, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Cetti’s Warbler and Wheatear. It remained much the same on Pilning Wetland with a Greenshank, 7 Lapwing, 7 Dunlin, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, 9 Canada Geese, 12 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, a Cetti’s Warbler, 4 Sedge Warblers and a Grey Wagtail being reported. Two of the Eider (male & female) were seen later close to the shore at Aust Warth

6th May
Another quiet day. Highlights from Pilning Wetland were a Greenshank, 12 Tufted Duck, 8 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall and a Wigeon. Just 3 Whimbrel were seen at Severn Beach and a Common Sandpiper was present at Aust Wetland.

Greenshank, Pilning Wetland 5.5.22

5th May
Less of the same today with the Pectoral Sandpiper, Spoonbill, 2 Greenshank, 13 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, a Little Egret and a singing Cetti’s Warbler reported from Pilning Wetland this morning. Just 4 Whimbrel, 5 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover were seen from Severn Beach and 2 Whimbrel and a Wheatear from New Passage.

Spoonbill, Pilning Wetland 4.5.22

4th May
The Pectoral Sandpiper, Spoonbill and Great White Egret remained on Pilning Wetland where a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 20 Dunlin, 8 adult Lapwing and 4 chicks, 3 Ringed Plover, single Snipe and Little Egret, 18 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, 12 Tufted Duck and a singing Cetti’s Warbler were also reported. At least 39 Shelduck, 10 Canada Geese, 42 Oystercatchers, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Whimbrel, 4 Turnstones and a Grey Plover were seen from New Passage. Just single Whimbrel, singing Cetti’s Warbler and Yellow Wagtail were reported from Severn Beach.

Pectoral Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 3.5.22

Spotted Redshank, Pilning Wetland 3.5.22

3rd May
Another day with some interest sightings. Combined reports from Severn Beach included 52 Black Terns, 75 Arctic Terns, 3 Arctic Skuas, 11 Kittiwakes, a Little Gull, single flyby Avocet and Little Ringed Plover, 16 Bar-tailed Godwits, 40 Whimbrel, 58 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstones, a Curlew, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Gadwall, 15 Shelduck, single Hobby and Swift, 25 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails, 8 Tree Pipits, 9 Wheatears and well over 2000 Swallows/House Martins/ Sand Martins heading up river. The first Spotted Redshank of the year, the Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Wood Sandpipers, 4 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 34 Dunlin, 9 Ringed Plover, 7 adult Lapwing plus 4 chicks, single Spoonbill and Great White Egret, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 10 Shoveler, 11 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, a Teal, many Sand Martins and Swallows, 2 Swifts, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 singing Cetti’s Warblers, a Grey Wagtail and a female Marsh Harrier were all reported from Pilning Wetland. Another Dark-bellied Brent Goose was seen at New Passage. Click HERE for a short Youtube video of the summer plumaged Spotted Redshank.

Whinchat, Pilning Wetland 2.5.22

Wood Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 2.5.22

2nd May
Another short period of overnight rain produced a few more birds today. The first Little Tern of the year flew inland and North East over the Shaft beach at Severn Beach where other sightings included 80+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 10 Whimbrel, 6 Common Sandpipers, 4 Ringed Plover, 45+ Black-headed Gulls and many Swallows and House Martins heading North East. The Pectoral Sandpiper reappeared on Pilning Wetland where 2 Wood Sandpipers, 4 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 12 Ringed Plover, 29 Dunlin, a Redshank, 8 adult Lapwing plus chicks from one pair, single Spoonbill, Little Egret and Grey Heron, 10 Shoveler, 11 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Swifts, single Cetti’s Warbler and Whinchat with a mixed flock of 250 feeding Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins were also present. Another Wood Sandpiper, single Avocet and Little Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, 2 Wheatears, single Yellow Wagtail, Peregrine and Raven were seen on the new Aust Wetland. Click HERE for a short Youtube video of the Pectoral Sandpiper.

Greenshanks, Pilning Wetland 1.5.22

Spoonbill, Pilning Wetland 1.5.22

1st May
The first decent amount of rain for several weeks arrived today with a change to a South West breeze. Combined reports from Pilning Wetland involved a Wood Sandpiper, the Spoonbill, 5 Greenshank, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 19 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, 6 Lapwing, single Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Snipe and Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 13 Gadwall, 9 Shoveler, 3 Teal, 10 Tufted Duck, a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, 20 Sand Martins, 100 House Martins, 150 Swallows, single Grey Wagtail, Cetti’s Warbler and Kestrel. At least 30 Shelduck and 10 Canada Geese were seen from New Passage. An evening tide visit to Severn Beach produced 35 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Whimbrel, 10 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover.