Sightings 31/8/11

SEVERNSIDE:

31.8.11 Curlew Sandpiper © Tony Scott, many thanks
continuing to pose well at Severn Beach for the photographers

CLEVEDON COAST: S Hale, S Sanins (mostly SS)

31.8.11 Avocet, Yeo Est © sightings page team
5 birds in all, many thanks to Steve Sanins for the tip-off

31.8.11 Wheatear © sightings page team
46 birds along the whole stretch

Wain's Hill-Yeo Est 6.30-10.30am, highlights:
5 Avocet, 675 Ringed Plover, 13 Curlew Sandpiper and 46 Wheatear.

Others: 24 Canada Goose, 52 Shelduck, 16 Teal, 200 Mallard, 3 Cormorant, 14 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 male Peregrine, 48 Oystercatcher, a Golden Plover, 31 Knot, a juvenile Little Stint, 300 Dunlin, single Snipe, singles of Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Whimbrel, 335 Curlew, 7 Common Sandpiper, 75 Redshank, 25 Turnstone, 600 BH Gull, 325 Swallow, 9 Yellow Wagtail, just 4 Pied Wagtail, 100 Goldfinch and 150 Linnet.


BARROW TANKS: S Davies
The Black-necked Grebe still in residence on No.3 tank.

BLAGDON LAKE: S Davies
The Black-necked Grebe again, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank and a Wheatear.


WAVERING DOWN: J Thorogood

3+ Green Woodpecker (perhaps 6), 3 Stonechat and a Wheatear but no sign of any Dartford Warblers.

Sightings 30/8/11

A (the) Honey Buzzard reported again at Stowell in Somerset.

We received a particularly fine shot of a Roe Deer today.


BRISTOL: A Chard
A Spotted Flycatcher in Eastville Park today.


SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds
Aust Warth:

30.8.11 Green Woodpecker © Rod Holbrook, many thanks

19 Wigeon, a Whimbrel, 9 Redshank and singles of Raven, Green Woodpecker and Wheatear at the Cake Pill section.

NP-NW: 3 Teal, 26 Oystercatcher, 62 Curlew, 17 Redshank, 22 Turnstone, a Sand Martin, 40+ Swallow, 2 Wheatear, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 27 alba type Wagtail amongst the cattle and 35+ Linnet.

Some pools starting to appear on the warth but the main flash is still dry. Tonight's 14+m tide may just do the trick.

Severn Beach: 

30.8.11 Curlew Sandpiper © Matt Plenty, many thanks

30.8.11 Ringed Plover © Vic Savery, many thanks

30.8.11 Wheatear © Vic Savery, many thanks

95 Ringed Plover, 3 Sanderling, 2 Curlew Sandpiper,64 Dunlin and 4 Turnstone on the morning high tide.

PORTBURY DOCK: S Hale

30.8.11 Roe Deer © sightings page team, many thanks

A mixed flock of c.300 Ringed Plover/Dunlin, 4 Knot, 62 Curlew, 2 Wheatear and c.30 alba Wagtail at the shore.

SAND BAY-PT: per westonbirds
Migrant highlights: 25 Blackcap, 20 Chiffchaff, 150 Hirundines, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroat, 4 Wheatear and a Tree Pipit.

Gordano Valley 28/8/11: LF Roberts

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Lesser Whitethroat

juvenile Siskin, all photos © Lyndon Roberts, many thanks

The Siskin is unusual for the site in August. This particular bird has not even begun its juvenile moult yet.

Bristol (Kingsdown) 26/8/11: R Leslie
A Firecrest present in a Somerset Street garden last Friday. Unfortunately the observer has provided a description so it looks as though we will have to accept the record. Damn.

Sightings 29/8/11

The big tide this morning brought a lot of waders into view allowing some good photo opportunities. Even our own BOC club Brownie 127 was able to manage something!

Portishead/Battery Pt: checked this morning, no Purple Sandpipers yet.

Neighbouring areas: a Wryneck at Sharpness and a Honey Buzzard at Bridgwater.


OLDBURY POWER STATION: A Middleton
1 Peregrine, 56 Ringed Plover, 17 Lapwing, 25 Dunlin, 15 Curlew, single Common Sandpiper, 38 Redshank, 12+ Turnstone, 208 BH Gull,  5+ House Sparrow, 2 Wheatear and 3 Yellow Wagtail,


SEVERNSIDE: B Lancastle
Severn Beach:

29.8.11 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper

29.8.11 Sanderling

29.8.11 Whimbrel
all photos © Brian Lancastle, many thanks

Others noted: 2 juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 120 Ringed Plover, 4 Sanderling, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 60 Dunlin and 2 Whimbrel.

Chittening Warth: a Little Egret and 110 Curlew.

AVM-PORTBURY DOCK: S Hale

29.8.11 roosting Dunlin

29.8.11 Ringed Plover

29.8.11 Common Sandpiper
all photos © sightings page team, many thanks

For the record, 240 Ringed Plover, 160 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank and 63 Turnstone.

The big tide forced most of these waders to roost at Avonmouth but then they dispersed across the river Avon to Portbury on the ebb tide.

KENN MOOR: J Croxton
4 Whinchat at the YACWAG reserve this morning and a Hobby a regular visitor over the village.

CLEVEDON COAST: per clevedonbirds

29.8.11 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper © Jason Williams, many thanks
at least 8 birds here this morning

15 Little Egret, single Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrine, 400 Ringed Plover, 7 Knot, 1 Sanderling, 8+ Curlew Sandpiper, 150 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 150 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpiper, the Wood Sandpiper again, 60 Redshank, 60 Turnstone,  3 Lesser Whitethroat, 20 Wheatear, 8 Yellow Wagtail and 4 Rock Pipit.

BLAGDON LAKE: S Davies
The Black-necked Grebe still at Top End today.

BARROW TANKS: S Davies
The Black-necked Grebe still, single Little Egret, a Hobby, a Wheatear and 2 Common Sandpiper.

SHAPWICK HEATH: W King
The Osprey reported again today at Noah's pool.

Portbury Dock 27/8/11: CJ Stone

27.8.11 juvenile Mediterranean Gull © Chris Stone, many thanks

27.8.11 adult Mediterranean Gull © Chris Stone, many thanks
dead centre, but click on photo if you're still struggling

These birds have been hanging around the dock for a few weeks now.

Sightings 28/8/11

LITTLETON WARTH: V Savery
A Brent Goose and a Kingfisher of note here this evening. The Brent has been present around this area since 8 August.

PILL FORESHORE: R Hawley

28.8.11 Stonechat © Roger Hawley, many thanks
our first Stonechat report of the month

Singles of Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Peregrine, 59 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin and single Black-tailed Godwit.

PORTBURY DOCK: S Hale, CJ Stone

28.8.11 Wheatear © sightings page team, many thanks

Morning: an adult Mediterranean Gull in with the BH Gull flock also but no sign of the recent wader flock.4 Wheatear along the shore scrub.

Evening: a Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Tern.

CLEVEDON COAST: S Sanins 6-10am Wain's - Yeo Est
A lovely rising autumn morning tide produced a shed-load of birds, especially at the Yeo Est leg. Pick of the crop were:

4 Common Scoter, a Little Ringed Plover, 400 Ringed Plover (Blackstone), 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, a Ruff, the Wood Sandpiper, 24 Yellow Wagtail and 43 Wheatear, including a single party of 22 birds.

Other members of the cast: 32 Shelduck, 22 Teal, 165 Mallard, 19 Little Egret, 39 Oystercatcher, 12 Knot, 275 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel, 300 Curlew, 11 Common Sandpiper, 65 Redshank, 35 Turnstone, 500 BH Gull, a Raven, 200 Swallow, 25 House Martin, 9 Pied Wagtail, 125 Goldfinch and 200 Linnet.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: S Davies
Stratford: 40 Ringed Plover, 2 Knot, 1 Little Stint, 4 Dunlin, 3 Ruff, 2 Greenshank and 1 Turnstone.

Heron's Green: a flyover party of 15 Common Tern to west.

No sign of the Temminck's Stint so far today.

BLAGDON LAKE: S Davies
1 Little Egret, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank and a Common Tern.

BARROW TANKS: S Davies
The Black-necked Grebe still on its perch, 3 Common Sandpiper and a Wheatear.

SHAPWICK HEATH:  E Shaw
The Osprey still present at Noah's Pool today.

Burnham-on-Sea 27/8/11: per SOS
A Sooty Shearwater off the sea-front yesterday afternoon, along with a few Manxies.

Sightings 27/8/11

SEVERNSIDE: B Lancastle, per severnsidebirds, highlights
NP-NW: 19 Teal, 1 Little Egret, a male Sparrowhawk, 6 Knot, 2 Common Sandpiper, 70 Redshank, 2 Raven, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 6 Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, 6 Wheatear, 4 Whinchat and 20 Yellow Wagtail.

Severn Beach: 2 Little Ringed Plover, 95 Ringed Plover, 2 Knot, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 70 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Turnstone, single Wheatear and a flyover Tree Pipit.

27.8.11 Curlew Sandpiper, early this morning at Severn Beach
© Paul Bowerman, many thanks

PORTBURY DOCK: CJ Stone
5 Sanderling, 181 Ringed Plover, 77 Dunlin, 17 Turnstone and 2 Mediterranean Gull.


CLEVEDON COAST: H Taffs
Highlights: 10 Knot, a Curlew Sandpiper (in with the Dunlin) and the Wood Sandpiper still, first reported here on the patch on 13 August.


CHEW VALLEY LAKE:

Herriott's: the Temminck's Stint still present, it first turned up yesterday apparently. Only about 20 previous Avon records, the last one at Sea Mills in 2009.

Heron's Green:

27.8.11 Spotted Redshank © Peter Mansfield, many thanks
1 bird present here since 19th

PERU: 

Harpy Eagle, photographed last week © Peter Mansfield, many thanks
Peru is at the extreme south-west corner of the BOC reporting area

Sightings 26/8/11

AVONMOUTH DOCKS: S Hale

26.8.11 Wheatear
at least 6 birds along the shoreline scrub today

Also seen, 7 Shelduck, 65 Mallard, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank, 37 Redshank, a Redstart and 3 Rock Pipit.

PORTBURY DOCK: S Hale

26.8.11 Wheatear
7 birds along the shoreline rocks this afternoon

26.8.11 Ringed Plover (about 70 shown here)
just a few of the 100's of birds present this afternoon,
click on photo for better impression

Wader count: 5 Oystercatcher, c. 540 Ringed Plover (mostly adults), 6 Knot, 1 Sanderling, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, c.150 Dunlin and 26 Curlew.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: S Davies, 8am
Herriott's-Stratford axis: 4 Little Ringed over, 10 Knot (good count for here), the juvenile Little Stint, 3 Ruff and a Wood Sandpiper.

Sightings 25/8/11

Has anyone seen a Stonechat locally this month?


CHIPPING SODBURY: W King
Common: single Buzzard and Kestrel, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Redstart and 16 Goldfinch. No reports of the Shrike since 21 August.


OLDBURY POWER STATION: M Plenty
2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Wheatear and 7 Yellow Wagtail this morning.


SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds
Aust Warth:

25.8.11 Sparrowhawk © Rod Holbrook, many thanks

25.8.11 Kestrel - Swallow © Rod Holbrook, many thanks

New Passage-Northwick: 4 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, a Redstart and 18 Yellow Wagtail.

Severn Beach: 4 Wheatear.


PORTBURY DOCK: S Hale

25.8.11 Wheatear, inexplicably in sort of focus
3 birds along the shoreline scrub this evening

 At the mouth of the Avon this evening: an adult female Peregrine chasing the waders, 470 Ringed Plover (high numbers for here), 2 Knot, a Sanderling, 160 Dunlin and a Greenshank (unusual here).

PORTBURY WHARF: S Hale

25.8.11 Chiffchaff along wharf lane this morning
2 Cetti's Warbler & 2 Whitethroat also here

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: S Davies

Early shift: a juvenile Little Stint (with Ringed Plovers at Stratford, 2 Ruff, 1 Spotted Redshank and 16 Green Sandpiper.

BARROW TANKS: S Davies
 The Black-necked Grebe still at home plus 3 late Swifts this evening.


BANWELL: J Thorogood
2 Hobby over the Winthill area this afternoon.

Portbury Wharf 21/8/11: JR Best
A large flock of 400 Goldfinch at the saltmarsh-seawall area.

Sightings 24/8/11

CHIPPING SODBURY:

24.8.11 Redstart © Len Ingram, many thanks
at least 4 males and several fems/juvs today

24.8.11 young Bullfinch © Len Ingram, many thanks

No sign of the Woodchat Shrike at its usual perches today.

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds
New Passage: 5 Wheatear and at least 15 Yellow Wagtail.

Not much on the wader front here so far this autumn. Ringed Plovers numbers have been particularly low, normally this is our best site for this species in the peak month of August. The traditional Severn Beach wader roost also seems to be all but non-existent, perhaps reflecting subtle changes to the foreshore.


BRISTOL: J Bimson, M Jackson

Horfield: a Blackcap pair in the garden today, unusual here for summer.

Purdown: a hunting Kestrel over the grassland down and a Reed Bunting at Duchess pond.

BARROW TANKS: S Hale

24.8.11 Black-necked Grebe, still at anchorage at No.3 tank
proper photos at: http://www.pixelbirds.co.uk/August2011.html

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: S Hale

24.8.11 Spotted Redshank, Heron's Green
2 around the lake today

24.8.11 Spotted Redshank (left) & Greenshank (right)

Also noteworthy around the pond this morning, 6 'commic' Tern and at least 13 Black Tern at Moreton and a Wheatear at Heron's Green.

Sightings 23/8/11

If anyone has any photos of Flamingos, please could you send them in to us, we sure could use them. It doesn't matter whether they are Lesser or Greater Flamingo or any other race, as long as they're pink and with legs like Sharapova.

They don't have to be taken locally either.....Many thanks.

Flamingo pics:
Our request for photos certainly captured the attention......we have been inundated with them and all pink with long legs as we asked for!
We received a request from someone who said that her daughter has to do a 'bird project' on return to school.....and the little girl chose Flamingos but she isn't quite sure what they look like, so could we help by posting a couple of pictures........

© Stephen Judd, many thanks

© Len Ingram, many thanks

Many thanks Steve and Len and everyone else who obliged. 

BRISTOL (Horfield): J Bimson
 An adult female Sparrowhawk seen again around the Common area (several sightings recently).

CRIBBS CAUSEWAY: B Ofield

23.8.11 Redstart © Ben Ofield, many thanks
showing well around the TileFlair store this morning

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds
New Passage:

23.8.11 Grey Wagtail © Vic Savery, many thanks
Chestle Pill today

18 Yellow Wagtail also on the warth around the cattle, possibly we may get a repeat of last year's influx when there was a max.37 birds here on 26 August.


Chittening Warth: A Water Rail in the pool by Stup Pill sluice and 18 Ringed Plover and 22 Dunlin on the estuary. Virtually no small migrant birds here this morning.

PORTBURY DOCK: S Hale

Mid-day, mouth of the Avon: 270 Ringed Plover, the juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 120 Dunlin and 28 Curlew.

PORTBURY WHARF: S Hale

23.8.11 Meercats © Alexandr Orlov, большое спасибо
photographed on the saltmarsh today.
Extreme left is great-uncle Vitaly, leader of the Meerkovo tribe,
looking very pungent indeed!

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: S Davies

A good selection of waders first thing this morning, albeit in small numbers: 9 Ringed Plover, 1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 1 Ruff still, a Snipe, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 9 Green Sandpiper and 1 Wood Sandpiper.

BARROW TANKS: S Davies
No.3 tank this evening: the Black-necked Grebe still at its mooring, 8 Common Sandpiper and 2 Wheatear.

Sightings 22/8/11

Low mid-day high tides so not a great deal to report at the shoreline, plenty of small birds at Severnside.


SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds
Small bird migration was very evident across the patch today.

22.8.11 Spotted Flycatcher © Rod Holbrook, many thanks
photographed at Aust Warth this morning

New Passage: 15 Blackcaps and 4 Whitethroat.

Severn Beach: a Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Whitethroat and a Yellow Wagtail.


Chittening Warth: 3 Blackcap, 12+ Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Reed Bunting at the Stup Pill leg.

PORTBURY WHARF: S Hale

This morning, a Barn Owl and a Cetti's Warbler heard (1st here for ages).

BLAGDON LAKE: per BL birds
A good selection of birds, 171 Canada Goose, 2 Barnacle Goose, the drake Ferruginous Duck, the drake Ring-necked  Duck, the adult Black-necked Grebe, 11 Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper and a fly-though flock of 28 Common Tern.

SOMERSET LEVELS:

22.8.11 the long-staying Great White Egret at Shapwick
© Don Smith, many thanks

22.8.11 the Osprey at Noah's pool, Shapwick
© Don Smith, many thanks

Sightings 21/8/11

CHIPPING SODBURY: D Pearce
The juggernaut rolls on, today on the common:

the Woodchat Shrike still, 2 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, a Raven, 30 Swallow around the farm buildings, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, single Spotted Flycatcher, a Meadow Pipit, 3 Whinchat and up to 10 Redstart and a single flock of 40 Goldfinch.

SNUFF MILLS (FRENCHAY):

21.8.11 Dipper © Nigel Stickland, many thanks

 21.8.11 Kingfisher © Nigel Stickland, many thanks

SEVERNSIDE:  per severnsidebirds

Mute Swan cygnets 27.5.11 at the Orchard pools

21.8.11

Shorebirds: 6 Teal, a juvenile Knot, 3 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 35 Curlew, 40 Redshank, 40 Turnstone, and the Mediterranean Gull.

Migrants: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Wheatear and 10 Yellow Wagtail.


PORTBURY DOCK: CJ Stone

250 Ringed Plover, a Knot, the juvenile Curlew Sandpiper again, 100 Dunlin and a Wheatear.

21.8.11 the juvenile Curlew Sandpiper © Chris Stone, many thanks
at the mouth of the Avon with the Dunlin & Ringed Plover

PORTBURY WHARF: S Hale, CJ Stone
2 Black-tailed Godwit on the estuary, 3 Green Woodpecker, 3 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap at the bushes.

GORDANO VALLEY:

21.8.11 Whinchat © Howard Taffs, many thanks
Weston Moor 5.15pm this afternoon

CLEVEDON COAST: H Taffs

21.8.11 Wood Sandpiper © Howard Taffs, many thanks
Yeo Est stretch, 3 Peregrine and a Greenshank also here

21.8.11 Waders at the Yeo Est © Howard Taffs, many thanks
3 species, any guesses anyone?

BARROW TANKS: S Davies

The Black-necked Grebe still at berth No.3 tank, east end.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: S Davies, V Savery
Heron's Green: the Spotted Redshank still.

Herriott's: the Wood Sandpiper again.,

Elsewhere around the lake, 1 Peregrine, 5 Ringed Plover, the Ruff, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Greenshank and 8 Green Sandpiper.

SOMERSET LEVELS:

21.8.11 Osprey, Noah's pool © Allan Chard, many thanks
Allan's idea of a 'very distant' shot.....

21.8.11 Wood Sandpiper © Allan Chard, many thanks

21.8.11 Guinea Fowl © Allan Chard, many thanks
found walking around the car park!