2021 Sightings

14th October
Combined reports from New Passage/Pilning Wetland included a record count of 742 Black-tailed Godwits (including a colour ringed individual), 6 Grey Plover, 64 Knot, 850 Dunlin, 100 Turnstones, 200 Redshank, 85 Lapwing, 19 Snipe, a Great Black-backed Gull, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, 120 Canada Geese, 120 Wigeon, 17 Shoveler and a Merlin. Another 50 Turnstones and 20 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach. Highlights of visible migration over Aust Services/Cliff this morning were a female Marsh Harrier, 3345 Redwings, 5 Siskins, a Brambling and a Yellowhammer.

Black-tailed Godwit, New Passage 14.10.21

Lapwings, Pilning Wetland 14.10.21

13th October
A visit to Pilning Wetland/ New Passage produced 420+ Black-tailed Godwits, 150 Redshank, 80 Lapwing, 500 Dunlin, 10 Knot, 4 Snipe, 30 Curlew, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 25 Gadwall, 15 Shoveler, 140 Teal, 120 Canada Geese and a hunting Sparrowhawk. At least 60 Turnstones were seen at Severn Beach. Click Here for a short Youtube Video of the roosting waders at Pilning Wetland.

Wader roost, Pilning Wetland 13.10.21

Black-tailed Godwits, Pilning Wetland 13.10.21

                                                         Wader flock during Sparrowhawk attack, Pilning Wetland 13.10.21

12th October
Another with a lot of waders. At least 450 Black-tailed Godwits, 32 Knot, 9+ Grey Plover, 550 Dunlin, 200 Redshank, 80 Lapwing, 60 Oystercatchers, 50 Curlew, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, 112 Canada Geese, 18 Shelduck, 120 Wigeon, 110 Teal and a Sparrowhawk were reported in the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area. Another 5 Little Egrets, 110 Turnstones, 16 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, 40 Oystercatchers, 75 Curlew, 12 Shelduck, 30 Wigeon, single Wheatear, Stonechat, Kestrel and Grey Wagtail were seen at Severn Beach. Meanwhile, I had a day away in Yorkshire to see what is only Britain’s 3rd record of Long-toed Stint, the last record being 39 years ago.

Long-toed Stint, Swillington, Yorkshire 12.10.21

11th October
A dry but cooler day. Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included a Great White Egret, 600 Black-tailed Godwits, 130+ Knot, 6 Grey Plover, 350+ Redshank, 700 Dunlin, 117 Snipe, 55 Turnstones, 80 Lapwing, 100+ Oystercatchers, 200+ Curlew, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 116 Canada Geese, 150 Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 20 Shelduck, 23 Gadwall, 9 Shoveler, 66 Mallard, 12 Tufted Duck, a Water Rail, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Cetti’s Warblers, 100+ Linnet and a Wheatear. Another 70 Turnstones, 10 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover and 6+ Little Egrets were seen at Severn Beach.

10th October
Another warm and sunny day. A brief visit to Pilning Wetland/New Passage produced a Little Stint, a Green Sandpiper, 300 Black-tailed Godwits, 70 Lapwing, 110 Redshank, 80 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, a Little Egret, 120 Teal and 100+ Wigeon. A Wheatear was seen at Severn Beach.

Little Stint, Pilning Wetland 10.10.21

9th October
A warm and sunny day. Sightings from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included a Merlin, 300 Black-tailed Godwits, 20+ Knot, 350 Dunlin, 120 Curlew, 120 Oystercatchers, 90 Redshank, 65 Lapwing, 10 Snipe, a Golden Plover, a Little Egret, 80 Canada Geese, 28 Shelduck, 100+ Wigeon, 190 Teal, 7 Pintail, 8 Shoveler and 4 Siskins. Another 400 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover and 20 Shelduck were seen at Severn Beach. Two singing Cetti’s Warblers, 2 Stonechats, single Kestrel and Peregrine were seen at Aust Warth. Two Harbour Porpoise were seen from New Passage at high tide this morning.

Merlin, Pilning Wetland 9.10.21

8th October
A brief visit to Pilning Wetland/New Passage produced 2 Grey Plover, 100 Dunlin, 52 Lapwing, 21 Snipe, 100+ Curlew, 2 Grey Herons, 120 Canada Geese, 100+ Wigeon, 300 Teal, 7 Shoveler and a Kestrel. The only reports from Severn Beach were of a late Whitethroat, single Wheatear, Stonechat and Rock Pipit, 6 Little Egrets and 3 Grey Herons.

7th October
A dark-bellied Brent Goose was seen from the sea wall at Severn Beach. Following a very high tide, at least 80 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Dunlin, 200 Curlew, 190 Oystercatchers, 90 Knot, 190 Redshank, 53 Lapwing, 20 Snipe, a Ringed Plover, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 120 Canada Geese, 150 Wigeon, 50 Shelduck, 200+ Teal, 51 Mallard, 7 Shoveler, 22 Gadwall, a Tufted Duck, 4 Wheatears, single singing Cetti’s Warbler, Kingfisher, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were reported in the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area.

Common Snipe, Pilning Wetland 7.10.21

6th October
A quiet day with just reports of 80+ Black-tailed Godwits, 100+ Redshank, 100+ Dunlin, 100 Canada Geese, 100+ Wigeon single Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Wheatear reported from New Passage.

5th October
A Little Stint and the mixed flock of 500+ Dunlin/Ringed Plover/Turnstones, 5 Curlew, 8 Shelduck and a Kingfisher were seen at Severn Beach. Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth included 80 Black-tailed Godwits, 40+ Knot, 80+ Redshank, 146 Curlew, 183 Oystercatchers, 45 Canada Geese, 100 Wigeon, 2 Grey Herons and 2 Wheatears.

4th October
A wet morning. The usual 300 Black-tailed Godwits, 40+ Knot, 140 Redshank, 40 Lapwing, 12 Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 100+ Canada Geese, 250 Teal, 120 Wigeon and 3 Wheatears were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area.

3rd October
Combined reports from Pilning Wtetland/New Passage included a Green Sandpiper, 43 Knot, 295 Black-tailed Godwits, 45 Lapwing, 130 Redshank, 15 Snipe, 63 Dunlin, 24 Oystercatchers, 45 Curlew, 3 Grey Heron, 91 Canada Geese, 13 Shoveler, 80 Wigeon, 280 Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, 14 Gadwall, 125 Mallard, 20 House Martins, 2 Swallows, a Sand Martin, a Yellow Wagtail and 5 Wheatears. A windy evening visit to the Seven Beach wader roost produced at least 600 Dunlin, 45 Ringed Plover and 40 Turnstones.

                                                                                    Green Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 3.10.21

2nd October
Another wet and dismal day. Combined reports from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included a Little Stint, 40 Knot, 2 Green Sandpipers, 300 Black-tailed Godwits, 130 Redshank 20+ Snipe, 50 Lapwing, 65 Curlew, 12 Ringed Plover, 17 Dunlin, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, a Greylag, 40 Canada Geese, 3 Shoveler, 24 Gadwall, 120 Wigeon, 360 Teal, 50 Mallard, 5 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebes, a Kingfisher, 2 Ravens, 350 House Martins, a Swallow, 8 Chiffchaffs, a Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Wheatears and 400 Linnets.

Little Stint, Pilning Wetland 2.10.21

1st October
A breezy and damp start to the month. A brief visit to Pilning Wetland/New Passage produced 300 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Knot, 190 Redshank, 50+ Lapwing, 20 Snipe, 200 Teal, 120 Wigeon and 60 Canada Geese. Just 30 Curlew, 10 Dunlin and a Pintail were reported from Severn Beach in an early afternoon visit.