Sightings 12/9/11

Some really good birds are flooding into Avon at the moment, even Portbury Wharf recorded a pulse today.


SEVERN BEACH: B Lancastle, J Martin, per severnsidebirds
Seabird sightings during the day, mostly early am and evening; 7 Fulmar, 1 Manx Shearwater, a juvenile Gannet, a Guillemot, 5 Arctic Tern, 2 Leach's Petrel (1st of the autumn), a juvenile Sabine's Gull, 1 juvenile Sandwich Tern and an adult Kittiwake.

PORTBURY DOCK: CJ Stone
4 Curlew Sandpipers seen over this morning's high tide.

AVONMOUTH: S Hale
2 Wheatear at the shore scrub early this morning but no seabirds on the watch to 9.45am.

PORTBURY WHARF: S Hale, A Rhodes, V Savery, CJ Stone

12.9.11 Grey Phalarope

12.9.11 Grey Phalarope © Steve Hale, many thanks
first spotted by Chris Stone

A Grey Phalarope was present on the main pool this morning and present until 5.30pm at least when it was thought to have flown away from the pool (it could come back!). Best seen from the middle hide but it did disappear from view from time to time as it sought shelter from the wind. Close views down to 150m which is point blank range for Portbury.

12.9.11 Arctic Tern © Steve Hale, many thanks
another 'point-blanker', this time only 100m away.....

12.9.11 Arctic Tern © Alex Rhodes, many thanks
at least 2 birds present

Also on the pools for the record, 24 Mute Swan, 8 Little Grebe, 14 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck and a Little Gull of particular note.

SAND PT: per westonbirds

1 Manx Shearwater, 1 Fulmar, 2 Gannet, a Grey Phalarope and an Arctic Skua.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: J Martin, per BWG
A Semi-palmated Sandpiper (subject to BBRC) at Stratford late afternoon. Only 2 previous Avon records, 1990 (OPS) and New Passage (2009).

Also, a 2nd Pectoral Sandpiper has turned up (Moreton and Stratford), Chew is cooking on gas this autumn and it must be getting rather crowded over there for waders.

Other sightings, at Moreton, 54 Ringed Plover, 2 juvenile Little Stint, 3 juvenile Sanderling and 20+ Dunlin. Out on the lake, 4 Black Tern and 2 1st winter Arctic Tern.

A couple of photos of 2 recent good birds:

7.9.11 the Grey Phalarope at Blagdon lake
© Don Smith, many thanks

7.9.11 the Pectoral Sandpiper at CVL Moreton
© Don Smith, many thanks