2019 Sightings

November is still a month worth looking for birds. It has a respectable total of 184 species recorded during the month with a few surprise birds. Remarkable records include; Britain’s first Black-bellied Storm Petrel and Britain’s 5th Pacific Diver just 2 days apart in 2009. Other national and local rarities include American Golden Plover (2013), Great Northern Diver (1984,2015), Black Guillemot (2015), Ring-necked Duck (2000), Smew (2010), Green-winged Teal (2014), White-rumped Sandpiper (1998), Long-tailed Skua (1994), Glossy Ibis (2015), Woodlark, Shorelark, Snow Bunting, Lapland Bunting, Cory’s Shearwater (2000), Whooper Swan (1983) and Richard’s Pipit (1993, 2018), Dartford Warbler (2005,2015) and Waxwing (2005). A Merlin or two can usually be seen perched on posts anywhere between New Passage and Aust Warth. Short-eared Owls can often be seen hunting at dusk over the salt marsh at Aust Warth. Seabirds seen in South West gales include Leach’s Petrel, Pomarine Skua and Little Auk.

13th November
A visit to Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland produced 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 500 Dunlin, 120 Redshank, 130+ Lapwing, 95 Curlew, a Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, 43 Coot, 11 Mute Swans, 70+ Canada Geese, 140+ Teal, 250+ Wigeon, 60+ Gadwall, 40+ Shoveler, 2 Ravens, a Cetti’s Warbler and a Chiffchaff. Another 2 Little Egrets and at least 100 Turnstones were seen at Severn Beach.

12th November
The usual Wigeon, Teal and Redshank flocks were seen from New Passage.

11th November
No reports were received today.

10th November
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included a Little Stint, 110 Lapwing, 50+ Curlew, 80 Redshank, 6 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, single Woodcock, Water Rail and Little Egret, 2 Ravens, single Merlin, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail. A Kestrel and Stonechat were seen at Aust Warth.

9th November
An icy dawn followed by rain. The usual wildfowl and a Little Egret were seen at New Passage.

8th November
A Red Kite drifted over Severn Beach.
I had a trip to Cornwall today and managed to see a possible Paddyfield Pipit in a Maize stubble field at Sennen, a drake Lesser Scaup in Helston along with 25+ Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Yellow-Legged Gulls, 4 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Black Redstarts etc.

? Paddyfield Pipit, Sennen, Cornwall 8.11.19

Lesser Scaup, Helston, Cornwall 8.11.19

7th November
A female Merlin, 3 Pintail, single Greylag and Pochard were reported from Pilning Wetland.

6th November
At least 90 Wigeon, 28 Shelduck, a female Pintail, 5 Grey Herons, 120+ Turnstones, 32 Ringed Plover and 25 Oystercatchers were seen at Severn Beach.

5th November
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included a Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Snipe, 30 Redshank, 90 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 120 Canada Geese, 3 Tufted Duck, a Pochard and a female Pintail, 50+ Gadwall, 60 Shoveler, 8 feeding Fieldfares, 2 Stonechats, single Raven, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Kingfisher.

4th November
At least 33 Ringed Plover and 70 Turnstones were seen from Severn Beach. Highlights from Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included single female Goosander, female Pintail and female Merlin, 80+ Lapwings and a calling Water Rail.

3rd Novembere the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included single Whimbrel and Greenshank, 90 Canada Geese, a Greylag, 250+ Wigeon, 3 Tufted Duck, a Little Egret, 6 flyover Siskins and single juvenile Merlin and Kestrel. A Stint sp., 30 Ringed Plover, 60 Turnstones, 50 Curlew, 14 Wigeon and 3 Stonechats were seen at Severn Beach.

2nd November
A wet and increasingly windy day. Six adult Kittiwakes were seen at Severn Beach. Three Little Egrets, 60+ Redshank and a Kestrel were reported at Northwick Warth.

Merlin, Northwick Warth 1.11.19

1st November
Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included a male Merlin, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 400 Dunlin, 90 Redshank, 200+ Lapwing, 3 Little Egrets, 72 Canada Geese, 240 Wigeon, 200 Teal and 20 Shelduck. Another 23 Shelduck were seen from Severn Beach.