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November 30th
A wet and misty end to the month. Sightings from New Passage included an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Little Egret, 4 dark-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 1500 Dunlin, 40 Oystercatchers, 20 Redshank and 5 Common Gulls. There were 12 Gadwall on the Orchard Pools, Severn Beach. The drake Ring-necked Duck reappeared on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

November 29th
Birds seen from New Passage today included 10 Black-tailed Godwits, 1500 Dunlin, 40 Oystercatchers, 20 Redshank, a Knot, 4 dark-bellied Brent Geese and 2 Merlins. A party of 5 Lesser Redpolls and a Chiffchaff were seen at the Sea Bank Pools, Chittening Warth.

November 28th
A quiet day despite a thorough search. Sightings from New Passage included the usual 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 1000 Dunlin, at least 400 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 28 Shelduck and a Kingfisher. A Stonechat and 7 Gadwall were seen at Chittening Warth.

November 27th
Birds seen from New Passage today included a Little Egret, 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 1000 Dunlin, 20 Redshank, 20 Curlew, a Snipe, 150 Teal, 400 Wigeon, 8 Common Gulls, a Merlin, 2 Rock Pipits, a male Blackcap, a Grey Wagtail, at least 30 flyover Fieldfares and 2 Siskins. A visit to the foreshore at Severn Beach produced another 400 Dunlin, 60 Oystercatchers, 110 Redshank, a Knot and 2 Pintail. A Water Rail was heard nearby at the Orchard Pools. At least 9 Lesser Redpolls were seen feeding on Alders at the Sea Bank Pools, Chittening Warth. A Peregrine and a female Tufted Duck were seen at Aust Warth.

November 26th
The 2 Little Egrets remained on Northwick Warth. The weed covered landfill site here produced at least 150 Chaffinches, 100 Linnets, 30 Skylarks, 5 Reed Buntings and 2 Redpolls. Birds seen from New Passage included 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 1000 Dunlin, 45 Oystercatchers and 9 Common Gulls. A Stonechat was seen in a garden at Severn Beach.

November 25th
Another cold morning with a North West wind and some early winter snow. An escaped Bar-headed Goose was an attractive find on Northwick Warth, where 2 Little Egrets and 5 Common Snipe were also seen. Birds seen from New Passage included at least 500 Wigeon, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 500 Dunlin, 200 Lapwing, 20 Redshank and 15 Turnstone. A Stonechat, 4 Rock Pipits and another 200 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach.

November 24th
Sightings from New Passage included 320 Lapwing, 200 Dunlin, 30 Redshank and 6 Black-tailed Godwits. There were 13 Ringed Plover, 150 Dunlin, 70 Oystercatchers and 50 Turnstones at Severn Beach. Another 100 Dunlin were seen from Chittening Warth.

November 23rd
Another cold and foggy day. A Jack Snipe, 200 Dunlin, 120 Turnstone, 40 Redshank, 5 Ringed Plover, 2 Rock Pipits, 18 Fieldfare and a Lesser Redpoll were all seen at Severn Beach. At least 700 Wigeon, 250 Dunlin, 6 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Ravens were seen from New Passage.

November 22nd
The temperature at dawn today was slightly warmer at +3°C. Sightings at Severn Beach included 2 Ravens, 7 Ringed Plover, 300 Dunlin, 120 Turnstone, 40 Redshank, 80 Oystercatchers and a Knot. The usual Wigeon and Teal flocks were seen from New Passage along with 100 Dunlin, 20 Redshank and 4 Common Gulls.

November 21st
Another freezing morning (-3°C) at Severn Beach produced 800 Dunlin, 100 Turnstone, 50 Redshank, 7 Ringed Plover, 2 Rock Pipits and the unusual sight of a Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding on driftwood on the foreshore. There were 9 Gadwall on a small patch of unfrozen water at the Orchard Pools where a Water Rail was also found. Another 300 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, 2 Pintail, at least 400 Wigeon, 100 Teal and 2 Common Gulls were seen from New Passage before the fog rolled back in the afternoon.

November 20th
Another morning of freezing fog with the surprise find of a Waxwing at Severn Beach. It was seen mid morning in the Hawthorn hedge next to the railway track, South of Severn Beach. Unfortunately it flew off in a South West direction and could not be relocated. Despite hundreds of Waxwings being seen in the Bristol area earlier this year, this is only the second Severnside record, the last individual was seen in January 1958! Other birds seen at Severn Beach this morning included a male Merlin, 2 Ravens, 5 Rock Pipits, single Stonechat, Grey Wagtail and Blackcap. A search of Northwick Warth in dense fog produced at least 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 1200 Dunlin, 20 Oystercatchers, 30 Curlew, 150 Wigeon and a Snipe. At least 12 Fieldfares were seen at New Passage. A female type Merlin, 3 Water Rails and 2 Little Egrets were found at Chittening Warth.

November 19th
Another cold night followed by a day with persistent thick fog. Attempts to find anything of interest failed with just 3 Stonechats, 2 Rock Pipits and a Blackcap being seen at Severn Beach. Another 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.

November 18th
A cold and frosty day following an overnight temperature of -3°C. A high tide visit to the Severn Beach shore produced a dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1200 Dunlin, 3 Stonechats and 3 Rock Pipits. A drake Goldeneye was seen briefly on the Orchard Pools where a Peregrine and 3 Snipe were also seen. A male Blackcap was found feeding in a Severn Beach garden. Another 2500 Dunlin were seen from New Passage along with 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Grey Plover, at least 500 Wigeon, 40 Shelduck, 6 Gadwall, 5 Common Gulls and a Stonechat. A Merlin and 5 Snipe were seen on Northwick Warth. Another Stonechat was seen on Aust Warth. A small but steady passage of Fieldfares heading South was seen in the morning. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

November 17th
An adult Mediterranean Gull, a Little Egret, 700 Dunlin, 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Redshank, 120 Lapwing and 40 Shelduck were seen from New Passage. There were still 4 Stonechats at Chittening Warth and another 2 at Aust Warth.

November 16th
Birds seen from New Passage in an eye-watering North-westerly wind included a Little Egret, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, a Knot, 250 Dunlin, 80 Redshank, 120 Lapwing, 48 Oystercatchers and 28 Shelduck. A male Blackcap was seen at the Orchard Pools, Severn Beach. A visit to the Seabank Pools at Chittening Warth produced 2 Lesser Redpolls. A Peregrine and 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth.

November 15th
The cold weather continues. Birds seen from New Passage today included a Little Egret, 14 Black-tailed Godwits, 500 Dunlin, 120 Lapwing, 80 Redshank, 400 Wigeon, 28 Shelduck, 6 Common Gulls, a Raven and a Kingfisher. A Chiffchaff and 4 Stonechats were seen at Chittening Warth, another 2 Stonechats were found on Aust Warth. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

November 14th
A cold frosty morning with a North wind. Birds seen from New Passage included 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Knot, 500 Dunlin, 80 Redshank, 100 Lapwing and 28 Shelduck. A visit to Chittening Warth produced 4 Stonechats.

November 13th
Another quiet day with 2 Black-tailed Godwits, a Knot, 100 Dunlin, 100 Lapwing, 50 Redshank, 50 Teal, a Merlin and 10 Siskins reported from New Passage. Even less was seen at Severn Beach with just 150 Curlew, 60 Oystercatchers and a Stonechat reported. A Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were found at the Sea Bank pools, Chittening Warth. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

November 12th
A quiet day on Severnside with little to report. Birds seen from New Passage included a Black-tailed Godwit, 100 Lapwing, 40 Oystercatchers, 50 Redshank, just 40 Dunlin, a Kingfisher and 2 Common Gulls. There were 10 Grey Plover, a Golden Plover, 3 Stonechats and a Rock Pipit at Severn Beach. Another 2 Stonechats were seen at Aust Warth. There was some excitement a few miles South of the area, when an Upland Sandpiper was found on the “Greater Clevedon patch” at Kingston Seymour. The first for the Avon recording area and the first in ”old Somerset“ for more than 150 years! A Grey Phalarope was also showing to a distance of a metre on a very small pool at the Ashton Court Estate.

November 11th
An afternoon visit to Severn Beach produced the first Purple Sandpiper for 3 years, feeding with 120 Turnstones by “the pipes”. Other birds seen here in windy conditions included a Leach’s Petrel, 27 Kittiwakes, at least 4 Rock Pipits, 3 Stonechats, single Common Gull, Raven and Merlin. A second winter Mediterranean Gull was seen from New Passage along with 7 Pintail, 24 Shelduck, 110 Lapwing, 42 Oystercatchers, 48 Redshank, a Kingfisher and 3 Common Gulls.

November 10th
A wet and windy day. Birds seen from New Passage included 2 female type Common Scoters, a male Merlin, a Peregrine, 38 Shelduck, 30 Lapwing and 2 Common Gulls. The only birds reported from Severn Beach were 14 Turnstones.

November 9th
A dry and sunny day with more to report. Birds seen from New Passage included a Black-tailed Godwit, 45 Redshank, 98 Lapwing, at least 200 Dunlin, 3 Knot, 2 Peregrine, a male Merlin and a Redpoll. A visit to Severn Beach produced a flock of 150 Knot, a Grey Plover, 13 Common Gulls, 2 Ravens, 3 Stonechats, 6 Rock Pipits, flyover migrants including 2 Brambling, 4 Siskins and many Redwings.

November 8th
The quiet spell continued today. A Peregrine, 48 Redshank, 52 Lapwing, 30 Dunlin, 20 Shelduck and 5 Common Gulls were seen from New Passage. There were just 70 Turnstone and 20 Dunlin at Severn Beach. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

November 7th
A quiet day with little to report. Birds seen from New Passage included 250 Dunlin, 80 Lapwing, 35 Redshank, 2 Common Gulls and a Peregrine, that flushed everything. There were 2 Ravens and 80 Turnstones at Severn Beach. A flock of 300 Dunlin and 40 Redshank were seen at Chittening Warth.

November 6th
A dark-bellied Brent Goose, 80 Turnstones and 4 Kittiwakes were seen from Severn Beach in heavy rain this morning. There were 90 Lapwing, 200 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, single Knot and Common Gull at New Passage. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

November 5th
A Little Egret, 200 Dunlin, a Knot, 70 Teal and a Shoveler were seen from New Passage. A visit to Severn Beach produced 50 Turnstones, 12 Oystercatchers, 25 Redshank, 42 Lapwing, 8 Mute Swans, at least 4 Rock Pipits, 35 Fieldfares, 2 Stonechats and 4 fly over Redpolls. Another 2 Stonechats were present at Aust Warth. An adult Yellow-legged Gull and 5 Kittiwakes were seen from Chittening Warth.

November 4th
Following a windy night, a sea watch from Severn Beach produced at least 2 Leach’s Petrels lingering off the beach and a juvenile Pomarine Skua. The Skua continued North East, underneath the Second Severn Crossing and was last seen heading towards Gloucestershire. Other birds at Severn Beach included a dark-bellied Brent Goose, 50 Turnstones, 2 Common Gulls, a Peregrine and 2 Stonechats. Birds seen from New Passage included a male Merlin, a Peregrine, 250 Dunlin, 142 Lapwing, 35 Redshank, a Knot, 16 Shelduck and 4 Gadwall. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained on the square roadside pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

November 3rd
A sea watch from Severn Beach in windy conditions this morning produced just 2 Kittiwakes. A dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Black-tailed Godwit, 90 Turnstones and 2 Stonechats were also seen here. At least 130 Redshank, 200 Dunlin, just 4 Knot, 2 Common Gulls and a Peregrine were seen from New Passage. A flock of 80 Greenfinch were seen at the Severn Bridges visitor centre. The wind strengthened to a gale force South Westerly by late afternoon producing another 16 Kittiwakes off Severn Beach.

November 2nd
A visit to Severn Beach produced 12 Ringed Plover, 45 Turnstone, 5 Common Gulls, a Peregrine and 2 Stonechats. A male Merlin was seen again from New Passage along with 50 Knot, 91 Lapwing, 70 Redshank and 180 Dunlin. Another 2 Stonechats were still present at Aust Warth.