Sightings 30/9/11

CLEVEDON COAST:

30.9.11 Skylark © Paul Green, many thanks

30.9.11 Redshank © Paul Green, many thanks

Taken at the Lower Strode Rd locality again. The big tides are still offering good photographic opportunities.

MENDIPS (Black Down):

30.9.11 Crossbill © Allan Chard, many thanks

A party of 22 Crossbill seen, plus Siskin and Redpoll. The Pallid Harrier still present but elusive at times.

Sightings 29/9/11

CHEW VALLEY LAKE:

29.9.11 Water Rail  © Allan Chard, many thanks
Herriott's in the evening

CLEVEDON COAST: H E Rose

29.9.11 Oystercatchers © Paul Green, many thanks
photographed at high tide this morning near Lower Strode Rd

A similar spread of birds to yesterday: 3 Mute Swan, 170 Shelduck, 1 (escaped) Rosybill, Yeo Est), 26 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 130 Mallard, 1 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 10 Little Egret, single Buzzard, 34 Oystercatcher, 10 Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, a Knot, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 65 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 170 Curlew, 75 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper,16 Turnstone, 450 BH Gull, single Rock Pipit, 4 Wheatear, a Stonechat, 1 Chiffchaff and 25 Goldfinch.

MENDIPS: V Savery
The Pallid Harrier still present on Black Down today, it went missing for a while but it was back on show from 4.30pm.

Sightings 28/9/11

Outside of Nirvana today:
A Pallid Harrier reported on Black Down
A Semi-palmated Sandpiper at the Axe Est


CHITTENING WARTH: M Dadds
A good showing of migrants and other birds at the Stup Pill leg: single Buzzard, a Lapwing, a Jack Snipe, 1 Swallow, 1 Whitethroat, 7 Blackcap, 18 Chiffchaff, 2 Skylark, 2 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 26 Pied Wagtail, 65 Meadow Pipit, 75 Goldfinch, a Redpoll and 2 Reed Bunting.

PILNING:

28.9.11 Little Owl © Rod Holbrook, many thanks
usual place

ABBOTS LEIGH:  A Rhodes
Overhead mig watch this afternoon gave: 4 Stock Dove,8 Swallow, 100 House Martin and 4 Thrush sp.

CLEVEDON COAST: S Sanins
Lots of birds here on the jumbo tide, 19 Mute Swan, 45 Canada Goose, 225 Shelduck, 7 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 200 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck (Yeo Est), 3 Cormorant, 14 Little Egret, 14 Grey Heron, a Marsh Harrier (Wick St Lawrence area), single Buzzard and Hobby, 48 Oystercatcher, just 7 Ringed Plover, 12 Knot, 8 Curlew Sandpiper (Kenn Est), 65 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 25 Black-tailed Godwit (Kenn Est), single Whimbrel, 240 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 140 Redshank, 22 Turnstone, 500 BH Gull, single Green Woodpecker, 14 Wheatear, 110 Meadow Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 12 Pied Wagtail, 4 White Wagtail, 15 Long-tailed Tit and a Chiffchaff. Phew!

SOMERSET LEVELS: R Belson
Meare Heath: 3 Bittern, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 84 Lapwing, 2 Knot, 4 Snipe and 83 Black-tailed Godwit,

Noah's Pool: 3 Little Egret, 3 female Marsh Harrier and 2 Cetti's Warbler.

Colour-ringed Curlews - Ed Drewitt

Calling all coastal watchers

A request from Ed for everyone, but coastal birders in particular to look out for colour-ringed Curlew and to report them. In our area, the estuary sites at Oldbury, Severnside and Clevedon are near certain candidates to have some of these birds, so please do take time out to check out those Curlew roosts.

30 birds were colour-ringed at Chepstow last night (Tuesday 27th) and numbers are starting to build up dramatically this month as returning birds pour into the area.

Recent ringing programmes on these birds have had unusually high recovery rates, yielding valuable information.

The rings are very visible, so if you think you can see a large wader going to a football match.......it's almost certainly one of Ed's boys.

You can report these birds to  www.ring.ac, all sightings are acknowledged with feedback.

Ed Drewitt was born in Outer Space, his dad is a Time Lord on the planet Gallifrey, which is how he manages to keep his boyish good looks.....

Sightings 27/9/11

Just outside Avon:
- a Snow Bunting at Wall Common near Steart
- an American Golden Plover at Newport Wetlands


NORTHWICK WARTH: AD Scott
6 Knot, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 250 Curlew and a Whinchat this evening.


BRISTOL:

27.9.11 Buzzard on Purdown today

© Allan Chard, many thanks

CHEW VALLEY LAKE:

27.9.11 Spotted Sandpiper © Len Ingram, many thanks

LYDNEY (Glos):

27.9.11 Wheatear © Allan Chard, many thanks
c.30 birds around the harbour today

Sightings 26/9/11

NORTHWICK WARTH: L Wheatland
5 Wheatear and a flyover Redpoll this afternoon.


NEW PASSAGE: RF Reader
13 Wigeon, 'shedloads' of Teal, 12 Oystercatcher, 12 Ringed Plover, 19 Knot, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 120 Dunlin, single Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 70 Redshank, 7 Turnstone, a GBB Gull and 2 Raven.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE:

26.9.11 Spotted Sandpiper © Gordon Youdale, may thanks
still showing well at Herriott's today

Sightings 25/9/11

 The Spotted Sandpiper was a popular bird at Chew today.


CLEVEDON COAST: HE Rose
Passage waders and Wheatear numbers tailing off here.

110 Shelduck, 6 Teal, 125 Mallard, 3 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Little Egret, 18 Oystercatcher, 8 Ringed |Plover, 12 Dunlin, single Whimbrel, 140 Curlew, 90 Redshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 15 Turnstone, 250 BH Gull, 3 LBB Gull, 1 GBB Gull, 6 Wheatear and a Chiffchaff.


CHEW VALLEY LAKE: A Rhodes, V Savery

24.9.11 Spotted Sandpiper © Rich Andrews, many thanks
more pics at http://www.cvlbirding.co.uk/logbook/2011september.html

25.9 .11 Spotted Sandpiper © Brian Lancastle, many thanks
Enjoy the spots while they last.........

25.9 .11 Spotted Sandpiper © Allan Chard, many thanks

Herriott's: the Spotted Sandpiper still present today, it first turned up yesterday. Conveniently, it was flirting with a Common a times so direct comparisons could be made.

Our 4th Avon record following others in 1982, 2003 and 2007.

25.9 .11 Pectoral Sandpiper © Allan Chard, many thanks

25.9 .11 1st w. Mediterranean Gull © Allan Chard, many thanks

BARROW TANKS: S Davies, CJ Stone

7 Gadwall, 1 Lapwing, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Wheatear.

Sightings 24/9/11

OLDBURY POWER STATION: A Middleton
6 Shelduck, 2 Wigeon, 157 Mallard, 2 Peregrine, 6 Ringed Plover, 7 Lapwing, 17 Dunlin, 35+ Redshank, 23 Turnstone, a Blackcap, 4 Wheatear and 1 Grey Wagtail.


NEW PASSAGE:

24.9.11 Ringed Plover © Brian Lancastle, many thanks
just 4 Ringed Plover and 65 Dunlin of note here

CHITTENING WARTH: M Dadds
Sea Bank: 2 Chiffchaff and a Grey Wagtail.

Stup Pill: at least a Snipe, 2 Swallow, 2 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Skylark, at least 14 Meadow Pipit, 3 Redpoll and 4 Reed Bunting.

PORTBURY DOCK: CJ Stone
40 Ringed Plover, 8 Knot, 30 Curlew and 2 adult Mediterranean Gull.

PORTBURY WHARF: CJ Stone
60 Ringed Plover, 22 Knot, 126 Dunlin and 40 Curlew.

GORDANO VALLEY:

24.9.11 Blackcap fault bars © Dave Nevitt, many thanks

24.9.11 Chiffchaff fault bars © Dave Nevitt, many thanks

A disturbance in the Farce caused those Dark Lords of the Sith at GVRS to send us some pics...

Darth Dave Nevitt writes:  They show good examples of fault-bars on the tail of Blackcap and Chiffchaff.

If a bird has a constant good food supply whilst it is growing new feathers, the resulting feathers are uniform and strong. Fault bars occur when there is a dip in the food supply to a bird that is growing new feathers (these two whilst growing in the nest) resulting in weak bands across the feathers. 

In extreme cases, the feathers can snap at these weak points, leaving the bird severly handicapped. It is usually associated with poor weather affecting the availability of food.

Interestingly, many of the blackcaps and chiffchaffs caught today at GVRS showed fault-bars, indicating that wherever they came from suffered poor weather at some point during the summer.

CLEVEDON COAST: H Taffs
Shore to Yeo Est: 6 Knot, 3 Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper of note.

Wain's Hill: a Mistle Thrush, 2 Redpoll, 6 Siskin and 2 Reed Bunting.

Sightings 23/9/11

AUST WARTH: B Lancastle, AD Scott
3 Buzzard, a Kingfisher (Cake Pill), 2 Wheatear and a Stonechat.

NORTHWICK WARTH: B Lancastle
A Buzzard, single Snipe, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and 1 Whimbrel.

NEW PASSAGE: RF Reader
1 Little Egret, 52 Oystercatcher, 3 Ringed Plover, at least 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 20 Dunlin, 2 Wheatear, 2 Raven and the usual groups of Wigeon, Teal and Redshank.

SEVERN BEACH:

23.9.11 Sparrowhawk © Rod Holbrook, many thanks
one of the worst raptor pics we've ever seen,
we really don't know why we're posting it....

This Sparrowhawk is a regular visitor into Rod's garden at the beach. This particular bird has its head on back to front......BWP doesn't have much to say about that, perhaps we're onto to something here....we can feel a 'paper' coming on.

SOMERSET LEVELS:

23.9.11 Osprey © Allan Chard, many thanks

23.9.11 Peregrine with chums © Allan Chard, many thanks

All the other suspects on show too, Bittern, Hobby, Marsh Harrier etc. Don't go to the Somerset sites if 'you want to get away from it all'..........!

EXMOUTH:
Taken at the seaside today:-

 Grey Phalarope © Gordon Youdale, many thanks

Sabine's Gull © Gordon Youdale, many thanks

Sightings 22/9/11

AUST WARTH: B Lancastle
This evening, a female and a Wheatear. At nearby Aust Cliff, 1 Buzzard, a female Merlin, a male Peregrine and 2 Raven.


NORTHWICK WARTH: B Lancastle, RF Reader
8 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 2 juvenile Knot, 3 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 30 Dunlin, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 18 Turnstone, 4 Wheatear and a Lesser Redpoll.

GORDANO VALLEY:

22.9.11 Treecreeper © Dave Nevitt, many thanks
2 ringed at the station this morning

22.9.11 Lesser Redpoll © Dave Nevitt, many thanks

Other ringing highlights: 39 Chiffchaff, 19 Blackcap, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, a flyover Tree Pipit and a Reed Bunting.

A lot of Siskins also appearing, we could be in for a Siskin autumn/winter.

Brandon Hill Birds

We thought members may be interested to take part in this project looking at 'over the city' bird migration.....and with our own customary coastal autumn migration watches already set in the diary, it would be useful to compare results....and there could be some surprises!

The project is being co-ordinated by Sam at Brandon Hill and he writes:-

Cabot Tower Bird Study Group and Migration Watch

I am planning on forming a visible migration watch and bird study group that will meet once weekly at the top of Cabot Tower in Brandon Hill Nature Park, Clifton for the remainder of the autumn migration period, and depending on success, reforming in the spring. I've got a concessionary key so we can access the Tower as early as we want.

We will be monitoring passage migrants and looking out for raptors over the city. 

Our results will be submitted to BirdTrack and we will also be comparing results with the Tower 42 Bird Study Group run by David Lindo in central London (http://t42bsg.blogspot.com/). 

I am currently talking with the parks to gain early access to Cabot Tower and am looking for birders of any experience to join me.

The sessions will most likely take place on Thursday or Friday mornings, depending on when David and the Tower 42 BSG are meeting. 

If you are interested (or know anyone who might be) in being put on a mailing list or finding out any more information, please contact me here: brandonhillnature@gmail.com. 

Sessions will be c. 4hrs, during which you would be free to attend and leave at any point depending on commitments and I will send out a group email 1 week in advance with exact times and dates.

http://brandonhillnature.wordpress.com/cabot-tower-bsg/

Sightings 20/9/11

PILL: V Savery
M5 bridge: singles Grey Heron and Cormorant, 3 Curlew, a Greenshank, 2 Redshank and 3 Common Sandpiper along the river Avon shore.

Vladivostok: J Sparks

12.9.11 Black-tailed Gull

14.9.11 Mongolian Plover

13.9.11 Red-rumped Swallow © all photos John Sparks, Большое спасибо

John just back from a trip to the far eastern reaches of Russia (beyond ST 78) and sent in these pics.

....и большое спасибо за Ваши добрые слова ... 

Sightings 19/9/11

SLIMBRIDGE WWT:

19.9.11 Ruff © Allan Chard, many thanks

19.9.11 Spotted Redshank © Allan Chard, many thanks

Don't go to Slimbridge if you don't like waders, there's loads of 'em there, all posing and strutting their stuff.

PORTBURY DOCK-PORTBURY WHARF: CJ Stone
54 Shelduck, 15 Wigeon, 14 Gadwall, 1 Manx Shearwater downriver, 13 Ringed Plover, 120 Dunlin, 16 Knot, single Bar-tailed Godwit,30 Curlew, a Mediterranean Gull and 10 Chiffchaff.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: J Martin
Stratford: the male Ferruginous Duck, 2 Black-necked Grebe, 55 Ringed Plover, a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 juvenile Ruff and 4 Redshank.

Sightings 18/9/11

LYDNEY:

18.9.11 Spotted Sandpiper © John Martin, many thanks
if you're wondering why it isn't an ordinary Common, please let us know..

SLIMBRIDGE WWT:

18.9.11 Buff-breasted Sandpiper © John Martin, many thanks

18.9.11 Dotterel © John Martin, many thanks

OLDBURY POWER STATION: A Middleton
A Gannet seen floating upstream this morning. Others, 7 Wigeon, 147 Mallard, 1 Peregrine, 3 Ringed Plover, 27 Lapwing, 24 Dunlin, 213 Curlew, 33 Redshank, 7 Turnstone, 2 Wheatear and a Raven.

NORTHWICK WARTH: B Lancastle

18.9.11 Gannet corpse © Brian Lancastle, many thanks

Other sightings here, singles of Little Egret, Snipe and Green Sandpiper.

SEVERN BEACH: B Lancastle

1 Wheatear and a Common Tern.

PORTBURY DOCK:

18.9.11 Redstart ©  Steve Hale, many thanks
flitting around on the shoreline rocks this morning

NORTH WESTON: per J Williams
A Hobby in the village 2.30pm this afternoon.


CLEVEDON COAST: HE Rose, J Williams

18.9.11 Curlew Sandpiper © Jason Williams, many thanks

85 Shelduck, 4 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 110 Mallard, singles of Cormorant and Grey Heron, 8 Little Egret, 2 Peregrine, 19 Oystercatcher, 10 Ringed Plover, 5 Knot, 2 Little Stint, 70 Dunlin, a bar-tailed Godwit, c.160 Curlew, 85 Redshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 16 Turnstone, 8+ Swallow, 5 Wheatear, 2 Stonechat and 90 Linnet.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: C Porter, A Rhodes
Moreton: 26 Little Grebe

Stratford: 2 Little Egret, the Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 3 Redshank, 2 Black Tern and a Wheatear.

LITTON RES: C Porter
WeBS highlights were 71 Mallard and 10 Little Grebe plus 6 Nuthatch and a Goldcrest nearby in the village.

Sightings 17/9/11

Our 'Spot the Phalarope' photograph certainly had many members rushing to their inkwells to scratch out replies. Most of you said that we had mis-identified the car and that it was a Toyota Verso and a few votes also went for a Datsun Note and a VW Touran.

However, the most intriguing and perceptive reply came from a Mrs Trellis of North Wales who simply said....'It's never a Willow.....'


SLIMBRIDGE WWT:

17.9.11 Buff-breasted Sandpiper & Dotterel ©  Alex Rhodes, many thanks
still present on site today

Alex has not been able to master the club paper reporting slips so is sticking with YouTube for the time being:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMgoNNLp8iM 


LITTLETON WARTH: J Martin
WeBS this morning: 62 Canada Goose, just 1 Shelduck, 4 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 58 Mallard, single Cormorant, 45 Ringed Plover, 65 Dunlin, 41 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 35 Turnstone, 90 BH Gull, a Herring Gull, 7 Wheatear and 90 Meadow Pipit.


NEW PASSAGE-NORTHWICK: W King, B Lancastle
70 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 15 Oystercatcher, 9 Ringed plover, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 87 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 67 Redshank and a Black Tern.

SEVERN BEACH: W King, B Lancastle

17.9.11 Shag this morning, off shaft rocks © Brian Lancastle, many thanks
an Avon 'description' species.....but it seems churlish to ask....

17.9.11 Shag © Sarah Loaring, many thanks
sometimes the Severnside seabirds come in quite close........

17.9.11 Renault Laguna © Paul Bowerman, many thanks
the white splodge on the concrete just before the car....
 ...is the Grey Phalarope....we think....

17.9.11 resting Gannet © Wilf King, many thanks

Others: singles of Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Sanderling and Grey Phalarope.

PORTBURY DOCK: CJ Stone
At least 1 Manx Shearwater, 35 Ringed Plover, 7 Knot, 85 Dunlin, 1 Curlew, 18 Turnstone and 2 adult Mediterranean Gull.


CLEVEDON COAST: P Chapman
3 Teal, 1 Avocet, 40+ Ringed Plover, 20+ Knot, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, single Bar-tailed Godwit and 10 Turnstone.

A Hobby seen at nearby Kingston Seymour.

BARROW TANKS: CJ Stone
8 Common Sandpiper, 7 GBB Gull and a Kingfisher

Barrow Tanks 16/9/11: CJ Stone
40 Cormorant and a Little Stint last night

Sightings 16/9/11

SLIMBRIDGE WWT:

16.9.11 Buff-breasted Sandpiper © Allan Chard, many thanks

16.9.11 Dotterel © Allan Chard, many thanks
turned up today

Not much reported at Slimbridge by Allan, just the 'Buffer' and a Dotterel....we're sorry they're 'distant' shots again!

16.9.11 Dotterel © Gordon Youdale, many thanks
on the Dumbles today

CHIPPING SODBURY: D Pearce
On the Common: 2 Canada Goose, a Green Woodpecker, single Raven, a male Redstart and a Yellow Wagtail. Also, 'shedloads' of Meadow pipits apparently.


SEVERNSIDE: J Martin, AD Scott
NP-NW: 7 Wigeon, 76 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 65 Oystercatcher, 5 Knot, 50 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 82 Redshank, 4 Raven, a Wheatear and a Siskin. The warth was walked as far as the 'flash', no goodies found.

CLEVEDON COAST: A Middleton

CV Farm leg to Yeo Est: singles of Sparrowhawk, Hobby and Peregrine, 8 Little Egret, 60 Ringed Plover, 320 Dunlin, 4 Ruff, 177 Curlew, 8 Redshank, 20 Turnstone, 6 Stock Dove and 6 Wheatear.

Wick Quarry (south Glos) 14/9/11:

14.9.11 ringtail Hen Harrier © Pete Blanchard, many thanks