May is the third most productive month of the year with at least one individual of 177 species being seen. The summer migrants continue to move through including Garganey, Hobby, Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher, more Terns and Skuas with the chance of Pomarine. “Small” wader numbers should rise during the month with Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and the chance of a Curlew Sandpiper or Little Stint. Rarer records include Subalpine Warbler (2004), Spoonbill (1998), Honey Buzzard (1991), Kentish Plover (2004), Broad-billed Sandpiper (1988), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (1990), Temminck’s Stint (2004), Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull, Franklin’s Gull (1984), Roseate Tern (1990) and White-winged Black Tern (1990).
May 31st
The only notable birds reported from Severn Beach today were 3 adult Great Black-backed Gulls and 3 Common Terns. No waders were seen at high tide. A second brood of Shelduck, 9 young, were seen at Aust Warth. There were 134 adult Shelduck and 20 Oystercatchers at Northwick Warth.
May 30th
The first brood of 6 young Shelduck for this year were seen at Northwick Warth along with 20 Oystercatchers. There were 9 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover at New Passage and just 5 more Dunlin and a Ringed Plover at Severn Beach.
May 29th
The summer doldrums have arrived early with just 4 Dunlin to report at Severn Beach. A female Common Scoter was seen at New Passage. Roll on autumn !!
May 28th
A sea watch in windy conditions produced a dark phase Arctic Skua, 2 Fulmars and 3 Kittiwakes off Severn Beach. There was just a single Ringed Plover here at high tide.
May 27th
A day when the temperature reached 26°C. The only reports today were of a Little Gull, 4 Common Terns, a Sedge Warbler, just 30 Dunlin and 14 Ringed Plover at Severn Beach.
May 26th
The only birds reported today were 130 Shelduck, 24 Oystercatchers and 4 Dunlin at Northwick Warth, just 40 Dunlin 20 Ringed Plover at Severn Beach.
May 25th
The wader roost at Severn Beach held just 40 Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plover and a Turnstone. A Wheatear and 3 Lesser Whitethroats were seen on Northwick Warth. A Spotted Flycatcher was present at the Sea Bank Pools, Chittening Warth. Another Wheatear and Lesser Whitethroat were found at Severn Beach. A Hummingbird Hawk-Moth was a surprise find at New Passage.
Lesser Whitethroat, Northwick Warth 25.5.5
May 24th
Another quiet morning with just 35 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling and 2 Tufted Ducks at Severn Beach. A Great Skua was seen here in breezy conditions just before the evening high tide. A Wheatear and a Lesser Whitethroat were seen on Northwick Warth. The drake Ring-necked Duck was reported to be on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works again today.
May 23rd
A quiet day with just 2 Whimbrel, 50 Dunlin and 20 Ringed Plover at Severn Beach. There were 102 Shelduck, 30 Oystercatchers and a Wheatear on Northwick Warth. A visit to Sea Bank pools, Chittening Warth produced Willow Warblers feeding young and a Garden Warbler.
Whimbrel, Severn Beach 23.5.5
May 22nd
A quiet start at Severn Beach with just 2 Little Egrets flying South, 65 Ringed Plover, 15 Dunlin, single Turnstone and Wheatear. A Spotted Flycatcher and a Wheatear were seen at New Passage. A Garden Warbler and another Spotted Flycatcher were present at Sea Bank Pools, Chittening Warth. Torrential rain occurred for several hours in the afternoon. When it stopped, 4 Whimbrel were found roosting at Severn Beach.
May 21st
A dawn high tide visit to Severn Beach produced 9 Sanderling, 75 Ringed Plover, 45 Dunlin, single Wheatear and a Lesser Whitethroat. The weather became very unsettled during the day with torrential rain, thunder and lighting, resulting in very little coverage with just single Hobby and Wheatear reported from Northwick Warth. The only addition on the Severn Beach evening high tide were 4 Turnstone.
Dunlin and Turnstone, Severn Beach 21.5.5
May 20th
Breezy conditions produced 3 Manx Shearwaters and 2 Pintail off Severn Beach late afternoon. The wader roost here contained just 75 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin and 6 Turnstone. The only birds of note at Northwick Warth were 38 Oystercatchers and 2 Wheatears.
May 19th
It still remains quiet but some wet and windy weather is forecast that might liven things up. There were 40 Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 5 Curlew and a Sedge Warbler at Severn Beach. Single Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat were found at Sea Bank Pools, Chittening Warth. Another 11 Dunlin and 2 Wheatears were seen at Northwick Warth.
May 18th
A visit to Northwick Warth produced 30 Oystercatchers and 96 Shelduck, a Peregrine eating a “kill”, single Yellow Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler. Seven Mute Swan cygnets hatched today on the Grebe Pond. There were 150 Dunlin, 80 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderling and 5 Curlew at Severn Beach. A singing Garden Warbler and 2 Spotted Flycatchers were seen at the Sea Bank pools, Chittening Warth.
May 17th
Another dry and settled day. A visit to Severn Beach produced 2 Little Egrets flying upriver, 150 Dunlin, 85 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, single Whimbrel, Lesser Whitethroat and Cuckoo. A Yellow Wagtail was seen on Northwick Warth, another Cuckoo and a Peregrine were present at the Sea Bank Pools, Chittening Warth. The drake Ring-necked Duck was relocated on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
May 16th
A few migrants continue to trickle through with a Wheatear and 2 Cuckoos at Northwick Warth. The Severn Beach wader roost contained 100 Ringed Plover, 150 Dunlin, 4 Sanderling, 4 Turnstone, 2 Curlew and a Whimbrel. Other notable birds here included a Lesser Whitethroat and 15 Kittiwakes.
May 15th
A warm sunny day. Notable migrants included 6 Spotted Flycatchers, a Cuckoo and a Garden Warbler
at the Sea Bank Pools, Chittening Warth. Waders at Severn Beach this morning included 5 Whimbrel, 3 Grey Plover, 2 Sanderling, 4 Turnstone, 100 Dunlin, 80 Ringed Plover and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Another 2 Spotted Flycatchers were found at New Passage.
Spotted Flycatcher, Sea Bank Pools 15.5.5
May 14th
Several hours sea watching this morning failed to produce any birds of interest. The wader roost at Severn Beach contained 110 Dunlin, 60 Ringed Plover, 10 Turnstone, 4 Sanderling and 2 Grey Plovers. A Peregrine was seen hunting here and many local House Martins were collecting nest building material below the sea defences. A brief visit to New Passage this evening produced 140 Shelduck and 20 Black-headed Gulls.
House Martin, Severn Beach 14.5.5
May 13th
The strong North East wind continued but no Terns were seen today. There were 50 Ringed Plovers and 30 Dunlin in the wader roost at Severn Beach. Two Hobbies were also seen here. The only birds of note on Northwick Warth were 80 Shelduck, a summer plumaged Grey Plover and a Curlew.
May 12th
An East wind in May usually produces some visible migration. This morning was no exception with 100 Common Terns, 4 Black Terns, single Little Tern and Sandwich Tern off Severn Beach. Other birds here this morning included at least 5 Sanderling, 3 Grey Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 2 Turnstone, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a mixed flock of just 40 Dunlin and Ringed Plover. By this evening, the Dunlin and Ringed Plovers had increased to 160 and a party of 26 Black-headed Gulls was the largest number for several weeks.
Sanderling, Severn Beach 12.5.5
May 11th
A quiet day with just 200 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plovers, 6 Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit at Severn Beach this morning. Another 6 Whimbrel and a Wheatear were present on Northwick Warth.
May 10th
The “small” wader numbers at Severn Beach increased this morning with 10 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 200 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plovers and 3 Sanderling present at high tide. There were also some newly arrived Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps, a Tree Pipit and 2 Wheatears here. Another 16 Whimbrel, 30 Oystercatchers, the large gathering of Shelduck, a Yellow Wagtail and another Wheatear were seen on Northwick Warth. A singing Corn Bunting was a rare find here this evening.
Corn Bunting, Northwick Warth 10.5.5
May 9th
A female Common Redstart, 134 Shelduck, 15 Whimbrel and a Little Egret were seen at Northwick Warth this morning. The Severn Beach wader flock had increased to 185 Dunlin and 30 Ringed Plover by the evening. A total of 17 Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Lesser Whitethroat were also seen here today. There was a noticeable movement of Swallows, House Martins and Swifts again this morning. An additional 50 Whimbrel flew North over New Passage this evening.
May 8th
Like most of the region, a quiet day with wind still from the North West. Severn Beach produced 14 Whimbrel, just 45 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plover, 11 Turnstones and a Sanderling on the shore. A Hobby caught one of the local House Martins and a Lesser Whitethroat was singing in scrub next to the railway platform. Northwick Warth was also quiet with 5 Whimbrel, 80 Shelduck, 2 Canada Geese, single Little Ringed Plover, Peregrine, Redshank and Great Crested Grebe being the highlights. A small but noticeable movement of Swifts was seen late afternoon, at least 30 were seen in half an hour, all heading North.
May 7th
A dry bright day with a cold North West wind. The morning wader roost at Severn Beach held a Sanderling, 160 Dunlin and 25 Ringed Plovers. Another Sanderling was found on Northwick Warth with 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 15 Dunlin, 6 Turnstones, 6 Curlew, 7 Whimbrel, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Oystercatchers and 118 Shelduck. A Lesser Whitethroat, Tree Pipit and a Wheatear were also seen here. Another 3 Lesser Whitethroats were present at Severn Beach and Chittening Warth. Hopefully a sign of things to come, a full “spooned” Pomarine Skua and an Arctic Skua were seen off Severn Beach on the evening tide.
May 6th
A dawn visit to Severn Beach produced 118 Dunlin, 18 Ringed Plover, 15 Turnstones, 4 Whimbrel, 2 singing Lesser Whitethroats and at least 6 Common Whitethroats. A Cuckoo was heard calling here late morning. Another 24 Whimbrel, 4 Curlew, single female Merlin, Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Canada Goose and 3 Wheatears were present on Northwick Warth. This evening, breezy conditions at Severn Beach produced 2 Arctic Skuas (pale and dark phase), 10 Kittiwakes, a Peregrine and the female Merlin.
Arctic Skua, Severn Beach 6.5.5
May 5th
A drake Garganey flew down river off Severn Beach early this morning. A single “Commic” Tern, a Little Egret, 92 Dunlin, 18 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderling, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Curlew and a Bar-tailed Godwit were also seen here today. By late afternoon the West wind became strong, producing a flock of 180 Kittiwakes, 2 dark phase Arctic Skuas and a first summer Mediterranean Gull off Severn Beach. There were 3 Little Ringed Plovers, a Little Egret, 2 Wheatears, a Sedge Warbler and just 5 Whimbrel on Northwick Warth. A Roe Deer was seen crossing the salt marsh at Northwick Warth and then attempt to swim the 2 miles across the estuary! Fortunately it made land fall at New Passage and back to safety.
Roe Deer, Northwick Warth 5.5.5
May 4th
A very quiet morning with just 15 Whimbrel, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and a Wheatear on Northwick Warth and another Wheatear at Aust Warth. There was a little more activity mid afternoon as the weather brightened. A noticeable movement of Swallows and Swifts heading North East into the wind was seen and then 2 Arctic Skuas (pale and dark morph) appeared, followed by over 1000 Arctic Terns, including a single flock of 700 birds. Most eventually towered to a great height and headed over the Second Severn Crossing. Other sightings here included 67 Kittiwakes, 100 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Curlew, single Turnstone and Sanderling.
Silhouetted Arctic Terns. Part of a huge flock seen flying upriver off Severn Beach 4.5.5
May 3rd
A day of heavy rain and short bright spells. There were still 40 Whimbrel with 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Wheatears on Northwick Warth. A Little Egret, 5 Ringed Plovers, 11 Dunlin, single Turnstone, Tree Pipit and Lesser Whitethroat were seen at New Passage. The same or another Little Egret was found at Severn Beach where a Cuckoo, 3 Wheatears, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 13 Dunlin and 12 Ringed Plover were also present. A Whinchat was seen at Aust Warth.
Wood Warbler, New Passage 2.5.5
May 2nd
A dry and bright start to the day producing a few interesting birds. A Wood Warbler was found singing in Pines at New Passage. Other birds here included 17 Dunlin, a Reed Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler and a Hobby. There were 47 Whimbrel, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 6 Wheatears, a Yellow Wagtail, single Shoveler and Tufted Duck on Northwick Warth. A Garden Warbler and another 3 Lesser Whitethroats were singing in the hedge here. A Wheatear, a Peregrine, another 2 Whimbrel and just 9 Ringed Plover with 4 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach. Another Garden Warbler was found at the Sea Bank Pools, Chittening Warth. There were 4 Reed Warblers below Aust Cliff.
Yellow Wagtail, Northwick Warth 1.5.5
May 1st
There were still 43 Whimbrel on Northwick Warth where other birds seen included 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Lapwing, 10 Wheatears, 2 Whinchat, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 3 Yellow Wagtails. A visit to Severn Beach produced 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Canada Geese, 10 Whimbrel, 30 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover and 2 Wheatears.
