September is one of the most exciting months to visit Severnside. The total of 176 species seen at least once in this month, is the third highest in the year. It is the time when most of the summer visitors will depart and a good selection of early winter visitors will arrive towards the end of the month. The weather can be very changeable, rain and gale force winds are to be expected, but calm warm days will also occur. Any West or South West gales will produce the usual seabirds but the more exotic have occurred; Sooty Shearwater (1974), Balearic Shearwater (1988), Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull. Other rarities that have appeared in September include; Red-crested Pochard (2 in 1996), Honey Buzzard (1996), Dotterel (1974), White-rumped Sandpiper (1985), Pectoral Sandpiper (1998), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (1989, 2003), Terek Sandpiper (1986), Red-rumped Swallow (1977), Wryneck (2003) and Rose-coloured Starling (2004). Local rarities have included Osprey, Hawfinch (1998), Willow Tit (1992), Nightingale (1999) and Ring Ouzel (2001).
September 30th
A damp and windy day to end the month with little change in the variety of birds. The adult Mediterranean Gull, a Little Egret, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Golden Plover, 100 Turnstone, 40 Redshank, 300 Knot, 300 Dunlin, just 6 Ringed Plovers, 140 Teal, a Common Gull, a Peregrine and 2 Wheatears were seen from New Passage. There were 150 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover and another 2 Wheatears at Severn Beach.
September 29th
Another quiet day with little to report. There were 2 Curlew Sandpipers at New Passage with 300 Knot, 200 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 70 Turnstone, 140 Teal, 35 Wigeon, 6 Pintail and 2 Wheatears. Another 2 Wheatears and 2 Ravens were seen on Northwick Warth. A Jay and a Little Egret were seen flying North over Severn Beach this morning.
September 28th
A dry morning, but heavy rain and and a moderate West wind by late afternoon. Only a few birds were reported from New Passage today; a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, at least 400 Knot, 70 Turnstone, 31 Redshank, 12 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, 60 Wigeon, 180 Teal, 6 Pintail, 2 Wheatears, a Peregrine and a flyover Redpoll.
September 27th
Another day with a strong West wind but no seabirds were reported. The adult Mediterranean Gull remained settled at New Passage with just 53 Knot, 100 Dunlin, 80 Turnstone, 30 Redshank, 15 Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 200 Teal, 70 Wigeon and 6 Pintail. There were 5 Wheatears and 2 Common Snipe on Northwick Warth. The only birds reported from Severn Beach were 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Grey Plover and another Wheatear. A Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen in Severn Beach.
September 26th
Much of the same was reported today in blustery weather. “Micky”, the resident adult Mediterranean Gull remained at New Passage with 500 Knot, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 250 Dunlin, 100 Turnstone, 16 Ringed Plover, single Bar-tailed Godwit and Golden Plover, 160 Teal, 4 Pintail, 45 Wigeon, 3 Wheatears and hundreds of Swallows were seen heading East this morning. Severn Beach remained quiet with just 6 Sanderling, 60 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover and a Wheatear. A Grey Seal was seen from New Passage this morning.
September 25th
A good variety of birds were reported on a day with a moderate West wind and heavy showers. Birds seen from New Passage and Northwick Warth area included an adult Mediterranean Gull, 180 Teal, 60 Wigeon, 6 Pintail, 500 Knot, 300 Dunlin, 18 Ringed Plover, 20 Common Snipe, 2 Golden Plover, single Curlew Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Ruff and Green Sandpiper, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Kingfishers, 3 Wheatears and a Peregrine. A visit to Severn Beach produced 5 Sanderling, 25 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin and another Golden Plover. There were 4 Stonechats and 4 Buzzards at Old Passage.
September 24th
A dry and settled day with a light North East wind. A Little Egret, 6 Pintail, 400 Knot, 2 Golden Plover, 40 Redshank, 150 Turnstone, 350 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, a Common Snipe, a Peregrine, 2 Redpolls, 2 Wheatear, 8 Blackcaps and a Lesser Whitethroat present at Northwick Warth. A Jay and a Kingfisher were seen at New Passage where 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers flew over high North East. There were 24 Dunlin, 5 Sanderling, 12 Ringed Plover and another 2 Wheatears at Severn Beach. A group of 5 Bar-tailed Godwits were seen off Chittening Warth.
September 23rd
Very little was reported today following a wet and windy morning. Birds seen at Northwick Warth included 400 Knot, 350 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover, just 4 Redshank, 150 Teal, 35 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, single Peregrine and Wheatear.
September 22nd
A fine warm day with some visible migration reported. A Little Stint was seen on Northwick Warth along with 500 Knot, 350 Dunlin, 80 Curlew, 16 Ringed Plover, single Bar-tailed Godwit and Common Snipe, 4 Wheatears, 3 Yellow Wagtails, many Meadow Pipits. Flyover migrants here included Siskins and Skylarks. Birds seen from New Passage included 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Redshank, 200 Turnstone, 45 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 6 Pintail, another 4 Wheatears, 2 Kingfishers, single Peregrine, Common Gull, Redpoll and Coal Tit. The first Stonechat of the autumn was found at Severn Beach where 14 Ringed Plover, 35 Dunlin, single Common Whitethroat and Blackcap were also seen.
Little Stint, Northwick Warth 22.9.5
Black-tailed Godwit, New Passage 22.9.5
September 21st
A good selection of species were reported today. A juvenile Little Stint, 3 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, a Little Egret, an adult Mediterranean Gull, an exceptional flock of 500 Knot, 350 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover, 35 Redshank, 20 Oystercatchers, 150 Turnstone, 2 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails, 3 Pintail, 20 Wigeon, 90 Teal, single Peregrine, Common Gull and Kingfisher were all seen from New Passage. There were 6 Common Snipe, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 100 Curlew, 3 Wheatears, hundreds of Meadow Pipits, 200 Linnets and 15 Pied Wagtails present on Northwick Warth. Severn Beach remained quiet with just a Wheatear and the first Coal Tit of the year to report.
juvenile Ringed Plover, New Passage 21.9.5
September 20th
A repeat of the weather, tides and birds today. The large flock of 370 Knot remained on Northwick Warth this morning with 280 Dunlin, 35 Redshank, 30 Oystercatchers, 140 Curlew, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 15 Ringed Plover, a Lapwing, a Common Gull, 110 Teal, 65 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 2 Wheatears, the flock of 200 Linnets and single flyover Siskin and Redpoll. A flock of 160 Turnstones, single Curlew Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Peregrine and Lesser Whitethroat were seen at New Passage. Very little was reported from Severn Beach with just 6 Blackcaps seen in the railway scrub.
September 19th
A good selection of waders were reported today because of the very high tide (13.99m). A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was found at Northwick Warth along with an impressive flock of at least 370 Knot, 200 Dunlin, 200 Turnstones, 150 Curlew, 40 Redshank, 30 Oystercatchers, 15 Ringed Plover, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Snipe, single Lapwing and Common Sandpiper. Other birds reported here included 200 Linnet, 60 Meadow Pipits and 2 Wheatear. A Little Stint, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Wheatear were seen at Severn Beach.
September 18th
Waders at Severn Beach today included 2 Little Stints, a Knot, a Sanderling, 140 Dunlin and 40 Ringed Plover. A Little Egret flew down river here this morning. Birds seen from New Passage included a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, at least 280 Knot, 180 Dunlin, 200 Turnstone, 30 Redshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpipers, 20 Wigeon, a Peregrine, 6 Siskin, a Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtails and 200 Linnets.
September 17th
A fine sunny day. Waders at Severn Beach today included 3 Little Stints, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 150 Dunlin, 120 Curlew and 45 Ringed Plover. Other migrants here included 2 Wheatears, a Tree Pipit, at least 3 Siskin and 10 Blackcaps. There were 5 Wheatears, 15 Dunlin, 38 Redshank, 43 Oystercatchers, single Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Common Snipe and Pintail at Northwick Warth.
Little Stint, Severn Beach 17.9.5
September 16th
A dry and bright day and despite the strong North wind a good variety of birds were reported. Sightings at Severn Beach included a Golden Plover, 35 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, 25 Oystercatcher, 110 Curlew, 30 Knot, 80 Goldfinches feeding on the sea wall, 5 Wheatears and a Siskin. Northwick Warth produced another 10 Wheatears, a Whinchat, a flock of 200 Linnet, 2 Raven and a Whimbrel. A Common Sandpiper, 80 Turnstone, 35 Redshank, a Knot, just 9 Dunlin and another Siskin were seen at New Passage. A steady passage of Swallows flying North into the wind was observed all day.
September 15th
A wet and windy morning made finding birds difficult. Birds reported from New Passage included 120 Teal, 25 Wigeon, 5 Knot, 5 Ringed Plover, 45 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, 100 Turnstone, 12 Oystercatcher, single Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Common Gull and Shoveler. A Wheatear, 100 Linnets and 2 Common Snipe were seen on Northwick Warth.
September 14th
A quiet day with “little” to report. A Little Egret was seen at New Passage along with 170 Teal, 15 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 21 Knot, 100 Turnstone, 35 Redshank, 50 Dunlin, single Sanderling, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Kingfisher and 2 Whinchat. A Little Crake was a welcome distraction at Slimbridge WWT this afternoon. It showed briefly and distantly and I was able to take the record shot below.
Little Egret, New Passage 14.9.5
Little Crake, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire 14.9.5
September 13th
The weather and the birds remained almost the same today. Birds reported from New Passage included a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 50 Knot, 35 Redshank, 100 Turnstone, 25 Dunlin and a Lapwing. There were 3 Whinchat, 4 Wheatear, 2 Common Whitethroats on Northwick Warth and several parties of Siskin, totalling 18 birds, flew over here. A flock of 210 Curlew were seen at Chittening Warth.
September 12th
A warm sunny day with a few migrants reported. A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 86 Knot, 51 Redshank, 100 Turnstone, 30 Dunlin, 135 Teal, 30 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, a Tree Pipit, 7 Siskin and 130 Linnet were seen at New Passage. Another 4 Siskin, 50 Knot, 2 Whinchat, 2 Wheatears and a Grey Wagtail were seen at Severn Beach. A steady stream of Swallows, House Martins and a few Sand Martins was observed in the morning.
Wheatear, Severn Beach 12.9.5
September 11th
A cloudy day with a strong North wind made finding birds difficult. Birds reported from Severn Beach this morning included 29 Knot, 50 Dunlin, 18 Ringed Plover, single Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Wheatears, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Whinchat. The Ruff was seen again in the afternoon at New Passage with 60 Knot, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, at least 80 Turnstone, 35 Redshank, 35 Dunlin and 15 Ringed Plover. The drake Ring-necked Duck was still on the Avonmouth Sewage Works square pool.
September 10th
A foggy start to a warm day with an East wind. A moulting adult Curlew Sandpiper was seen at New Passage with 150 Knot, 100 Turnstone, 50 Redshank, 50 Dunlin and 40 Ringed Plover. Migrants here included 2 Tree Pipits, 3 Grey Wagtails, single Wheatear and Siskin. A Yellow Wagtail and Green Sandpiper were seen at Northwick Warth. Severn Beach remained quiet with just 40 Dunlin, 7 Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, single Wheatear and Lesser Whitethroat. There were 8 Knot with 180 Curlew off Chittening Warth and migrants found in the scrub here included Blackcaps, Common Whitethroats and at least 3 Lesser Whitethroats. The drake Ring-necked Duck was still on the Avonmouth Sewage Works square pool.
September 9th
The adult Mediterranean Gull was present again this morning at New Passage along with 170 Knot, 200 Turnstone, 50 Redshank, 20 Dunlin, 20 Wigeon, 60 Teal, a Shoveler, 10 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Grey Wagtails. A first winter Yellow-legged Gull was seen here this evening. A Whinchat, 2 Wheatears, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 4 Blackcaps were seen on Northwick Warth. Birds seen at Severn Beach included another flock of 50 Knot, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 25 Dunlin, 7 Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper and a Gadwall.
September 8th
The wader roost at Severn Beach was even smaller today with just 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a Sanderling, 55 Dunlin and 10 Ringed Plover. The only other birds of note here were 2 Wheatears. The adult Mediterranean Gull reappeared at New Passage where other birds seen included 150 Knot, 30 Redshank, 80 Turnstone, 30 Dunlin, 70 Teal, 20 Wigeon, single Shoveler and Common Gull.
Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 8.9.5
September 7th
A quiet day with little to report. The Severn Beach wader roost produced 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 110 Dunlin and 30 Ringed Plover. Another Curlew Sandpiper, a Sanderling, 160 Knot, 35 Redshank and a Hobby were seen from New Passage.
September 6th
Birds reported at Severn Beach included 4 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Sanderling, 175 Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plover, 4 Wheatears, single Pintail, Little Egret and Siskin. A “fall” of warblers was seen in coastal scrub near the railway including at least 30 Blackcaps, 4 Common Whitethroats and 6 Chiffchaffs. The flock of 160 Knot remained at Northwick Warth with 35 Redshank, 70 Turnstone, another Little Egret, a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Pintail, 15 Wigeon, 70 Teal and a Whinchat. A Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher were seen in the Pill at New Passage.
September 5th
Much of the same was reported today. There were 8 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers with 180 Dunlin, 60 Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Whinchat at Severn Beach. A flock of 190 Knot remained at New Passage where at least 30 Redshank, 70 Turnstone, a Whimbrel, 70 Teal, 21 Wigeon, 3 Wheatears and 2 Lesser Whitethroats were also seen.
Sanderling, Severn Beach 4.9.5
September 4th
A hot and humid day. There were 6 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers at Severn Beach this evening. A mixed flock of 300 Dunlin and Ringed Plover, a Sanderling, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Common Gull, 3 Wheatears, 20 Blackcaps, 2 Garden Warblers, 5 Common Whitethroats, single Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail and Spotted Flycatcher were also seen here during the day. There were at least 150 Knot, 33 Redshank, a Peregrine, a female Pintail, 2 Shoveler, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Wheatears and a Lesser Whitethroat at Northwick Warth. Another 2 Yellow Wagtails, 60 Teal, 9 Wigeon and 50 Turnstone were seen at New Passage.
Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 3.9.5
September 3rd
Another warm sunny day with a South East wind. The Severn Beach wader roost contained 4 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, a Sanderling, at least 350 Dunlin and 150 Ringed Plovers. Other migrants here included a Whinchat, 6 Wheatears and 2 Yellow Wagtails. A Little Egret, 210 Knot, 41 Redshank, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Hobby, another 3 Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail were seen from New Passage. A flock of 11 Pintail flew South over Northwick Warth this evening. The drake Ring-necked Duck was still on the Avonmouth Sewage Works square pool.
moulting adult Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach 2.9.5
September 2nd
A warm sunny day. Waders seen at Severn Beach today included at least 7 Curlew Sandpipers (2 adults and 5 juveniles), 3 Sanderling, 350 Dunlin and 160 Ringed Plover. Other migrants reported here included a Tree Pipit, 6 Common Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and a Garden Warbler. There were at least 230 Knot at New Passage with 38 Redshank, 60 Teal, 5 Wigeon, single Common Sandpiper and Kingfisher. Migrants on Northwick Warth included 2 Whimbrel, 2 Wheatears and a Spotted Flycatcher. The drake Ring-necked Duck was still on the Avonmouth Sewage Works square pool.
Peregrine, New Passage 1.9.5
September 1st
Birds reported from Severn Beach today included 3 Curlew Sandpipers (2 juveniles and a moulting adult), 2 Sanderling, 6 Knot, 330 Dunlin, 180 Ringed Plover, 2 Wheatears, single Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper. There were at least 220 Knot, 60 Turnstone, 30 Redshank, 5 Wigeon, single Peregrine and Kingfisher at New Passage. Another Wheatear and 2 Whimbrel were seen on Northwick Warth and the Little Egret remained in Cake Pill at Aust Warth.
