2022 Sightings

17th August
A cloudy and cooler day with a North East breeze. A morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced the Wood Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, 18 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Redshank, 35 Lapwings, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 20 Canada Geese, 100 Mallard, 9 Gadwall, 14 Teal, a Kestrel and a Cetti’s Warbler.

Wood Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 17.8.22

16th August
A humid morning, rain by late afternoon and a North East breeze. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/ New Passage area included the Wood Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Snipe, 28 Black-tailed Godwits, 19 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 31 Turnstones, 180 Redshank, 150 Curlew, 55 Oystercatchers, 45 Lapwings, 6 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 70 Canada Geese, 6 Gadwall, 7 Shelduck, 24 Teal, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Grey Wagtails, 40 Pied Wagtails, 6 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Sand Martins, a late Swift, a singing Cetti’s Warbler, single Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.

Yellow Wagtail, Pilning Wetland 16.8.22

15th August
A cooler day with some brief rain showers. Combined reports from Pilning Wetland included a Wood Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, 27 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, 43 Lapwings, 230 Redshank, 2 Grey Herons, 28 Canada Geese, 25+ Teal, 3 Gadwall, a Shelduck, 3 Mute Swans, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, single Cetti’s Warbler and Kestrel. Reports from New Passage included a Golden Plover, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 13 Ringed Plover, 50 Dunlin, 40+ Turnstones, 50 Redshank, 230 Curlew, 85 Oystercatchers, a Grey Heron, 4 Little Egrets, 38 Canada Geese, 600 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears, 300 Starlings and a Coal Tit. A walk along the sea wall South of Severn Beach produced at least 10 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, a flock of 150 Goldfinches, 3 Whitethroats, Blackcaps, single Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.

Wood Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 15.8.22

Wood Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 15.8.22

14th August
Another 33°C day. Early morning reports from Aust Cliff/services included 19 Canada Geese, 4 Stock Doves, 4 Oystercatchers, 8 Curlew, single Little Egret, Grey Heron and Sparrowhawk, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Ravens, a Coal Tit, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Tree Pipit. Highlights from Severn Beach this morning included a Yellow-legged Gull, 10 Cormorants, just 3 Shelduck, single Ringed Plover and 8 Dunlin. A Mediterranean Gull, 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Oystercatchers, a Grey Plover, 20 Lapwing, 20 Ringed Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 130 Curlew, 40 Turnstones, 35 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 154 Redshank, single Little Egret, Grey Heron, Kestrel, Peregrine, Coal Tit, 3 Wheatears, 6 Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail and 5 Tree Pipits were seen at New Passage. A brief morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Green Sandpipers, 145 Redshank, 54 Lapwings, 3 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Herons, a Little Egret, 54 Canada Geese, 5+ Gadwall, 18 Teal, single Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail and Kestrel.

13th August
A very hot day, reaching 35°C. The first Pied Flycatcher of the year was found at Aust Cliff/sevices where other migrants included a Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Tree Pipits, 3 Willow Warblers, single Coal Tit, Whitethroat and Swift plus a Raven, Sparrowhawk and Grey Wagtail. Combined reports from Pilning Wetland included 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 137 Redshank, 5 Green Sandpipers, 19 Dunlin, 23 Lapwings, 3 Grey Herons, 18 Canada Geese, single Shelduck and Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 13 Teal, 3 Kestrels, single Redstart, Grey Wagtail and Cetti’s Warbler. Late afternoon reports from New Passage involved 29 Canada Geese, 5 Shelduck, 42 Oystercatchers, 9 Lapwings, 120 Curlew, 7 Turnstones, 3 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, 3 Little Egrets and 600 Black-headed Gulls. A morning high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 2 Whimbrel, 100 Ringed Plover, 97 Dunlin, 3 Turnstones, 76 Curlew, 57 Oystercatchers, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Canada Geese and 6 Shelduck.

12th August
An even hotter 34°C day. A brief afternoon visit to Pilning Wetland produced 17 Black-tailed Godwits, 3+ Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Snipe, 142 Redshank, 26 Lapwing, 2 Grey Herons, 40 Canada Geese, 10 Teal, 40 Mallard, 3 Gadwall, a Grey Wagtail and 2 Swifts, Combined reports from Severn Beach involved just 9 Ringed Plover, 12 Dunlin, 6 Curlew, 10 Shelduck from the shore and a Redstart in the railway scrub.

11th August
A very hot day with the afternoon temperature reaching at least 33°C. A brief evening visit to Pilning Wetland coinciding with the high tide produced at least 6 Green Sandpipers, 55 Redshank, 10 Dunlin, a Turnstone and a Snipe, 2 Grey Herons, a Little Egret, 16 Teal, 3 Gadwall, 4 Canada Geese and a Yellow Wagtail. A mixed flock of at least 150 Dunlin/Ringed Plover were seen on the evening high tide at Severn Beach.

Green Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 11.8.22

10th August
The temperature climbed to 31°C. A morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced 3 Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, 24 Lapwings, 9 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 13 Teal, 3 Gadwall and a Sparrowhawk. Reports from New Passage included 25 Turnstones, 35 Dunlin, 50 Redshank, 20 Curlew and 200 Black-headed Gulls. Sightings from Severn Beach involved 120 Ringed Plover, 110 Dunlin and 450 Black-headed Gulls.

9th August
It remained hot (29°C) and sunny. A brief morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced a Green Sandpiper, 31 Lapwings, 2 Grey Herons, 60 Canada Geese, 11 Teal, 5 Gadwall, single Cetti’s Warbler, Coal Tit, Spotted Flycatcher, Kestrel and Peregrine. Combined reports from New Passage involved a Knot, 40 Turnstones, 40 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 35 Redshank, 20 Curlew, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 20 Canada Geese, 10 Shelduck and 350 Black-headed Gulls. The late afternoon high tide at Severn Beach produced 85 Ringed Plover, 110 Dunlin, 4 Turnstones, a Redshank, 3 Grey Herons and 300+ Black-headed Gulls.

Knot, New Passage 9.8.22

8th August
A hot (27°C ) day and predicted to get even hotter. The adult Curlew Sandpiper, drake Common Scoter, 49 Turnstones, 45 Dunlin, 10 Curlew, 170 Redshank, 5 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron were seen from New Passage and nearby a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 160 Redshank, one Dunlin, 39 Lapwings, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 80 Canada Geese, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 2 Swifts and a Kingfisher were seen on Pilning Wetland. At least 90 Dunlin, 3 Whimbrel, 20 Ringed Plover and a Turnstone were seen this afternoon at Severn Beach.

Curlew Sandpiper, New Passage 8.8.22

7th August
Another hot and sunny day. Combined reports from New Passage included the Curlew Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 173 Redshank, 63 Turnstones, 40 Dunlin, 20 Oystercatchers, 20 Curlew, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 140 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 4 Common Scoters, 16 Shelduck, 60 Canada Geese, single Red Kite and Hobby. Sightings from the mostly dry Pilning Wetland included a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 4 Green Sandpipers, 28 Lapwings, 190 Redshank, just 2 Dunlin, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 38 Canada Geese, a Teal, 2 Gadwall, 3 Mute Swans, 4+ Little Grebes and a Kingfisher. A Great White Egret and a Spotted Flycatcher were seen at Severn Beach in the Orchard Pools area.

6th August
A warm and sunny day. The adult Curlew Sandpiper was reported again at New Passage where other sightings on a late morning visit included 4 Black-tailed Godwits, just 10 Dunlin, 30 Redshank, 25 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret and 120 Black-headed Gulls. Reports from Pilning Wetland involved 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, 15 Lapwings, a Little Egret, 100 Canada Geese, 4 Teal, 5 Gadwall, 5 Little Grebes, Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, a Whitethroat and a Swift. A scan of the shoreline at Severn Beach produced 18 Ringed Plover, 29 Dunlin, 10 Turnstones, 3 Redshank, 90 Curlew and 2 Little Egrets.

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover, Pilning Wetland 6.8.22

5th August
The Curlew Sandpiper, 40 Turnstones, 200 Redshank, 12 Lapwings, 140 Dunlin, 8 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, 150 Canada Geese, 40 Shelduck, 80 Mallard, a Gadwall, 350 Black-headed Gulls, single Peregrine and Kestrel were seen in the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area. A male Redstart, a Yellow Wagtail and a Raven were present at Aust Cliff/Services late morning.

Curlew Sandpiper, New Passage 5.8.22

Redstart, Aust Cliff/Services 358.22

4th August
A morning visit to New Passage produced the adult Curlew Sandpiper, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Turnstones, 200 Redshank, 130+ Dunlin, 15 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, single Little Egret and Grey Heron, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 130 Black-headed Gulls, 30 Canada Geese and 15 Shelduck. Pilning Wetland was quiet with just 3 Black-tailed Godwits of note. A Great White Egret and a Little Egret were seen at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach.

Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 3.8.22

Great White Egret, Orchard Pools, Severn Beach 4.8.22 © Vic Savery

3rd August
A wet start to the day turning warm and sunny in the afternoon. Combined visits to New Passage produced the adult Curlew Sandpiper, 180+ Dunlin, 70 Redshank, 35 Turnstones, 60 Curlew, 25 Oystercatchers, single Great White Egret (flew low down river) and Little Egret, 40 Canada Geese, 20 Shelduck, 450 Black-headed Gulls and a Kingfisher. Nearby a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, single Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper, 10 Redshank, 50 Dunlin, 21 Lapwings, an Oystercatcher, 3 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 140 Black-headed Gulls, 8 Canada Geese, 8 Gadwall, 2 Teal, a Whinchat and a Kestrel were seen on Pilning Wetland.

Great White Egret, New Passage 3.8.22

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull, Pilning Wetland 3.8.22

2nd August
A wet morning and breezy all day. A late morning visit to Pilning Wetland produced the first Curlew Sandpiper of the year, 10 Black-tailed Godwits, 36 Redshank, 34 Dunlin, 5 Lapwings, single Green Sandpiper, Little Egret and Grey Heron, 150 Black-headed Gulls, the usual Mallard with a Teal and a Gadwall. The Curlew Sandpiper was relocated nearby at New Passage with 130 Dunlin, 50 Redshank, 21 Turnstones, 35 Oystercatchers and 44 Curlew.

Curlew Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 2.8.22

1st August
A quiet start to the month with just a Green Sandpiper, 37 Lapwings, 2 Gadwall and a Whinchat worth a mention on a brief visit to Pilning Wetland.