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

Menorca Sept 2011 - Martyn Hayes

A few pics sent in by club member Martyn Hayes following his recent trip to Menorca.

We're posting them now as a pre-emptive strike in case they are any dodgy claims coming out of Marshfield in the next few weeks.......

Mediterranean Shag

Booted Eagle

Blue Rock Thrush

Tawny Pipit
all photos © Martyn Hayes, many thanks

Check out http://www.thebirdsofsouthgloucestershire.co.uk/ for further details, including Martyn's account of his Mediterranean Shag which appears to have been taken in the hotel swimming pool.

Many thanks Martyn.

Sightings 11/9/11

A local birder has copies of the Avon Bird Reports 1983-1987 and 1989/1991 if anyone wants them, all in mint condition and free. Contact us if you are interested and we'll put you in touch.


SLIMBRIDGE WWT:

11.9.11 Buff-breasted Sandpiper © James Lees, many thanks
22 Curlew Sandpiper & 111 Knot also noteworthy this morning
check out: http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/slimbridge/wildlife-sightings

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper we had on our home page last week has disappeared and we're wondering whether it might have relocated to Slimbridge....

LITTLETON WARTH: J Martin
A Canada Goose and 2 Wheatear of note.

NEW PASSAGE:

11.9.11 'Spot the Tern' competition © Vic Savery, many thanks
send your entries to 'bocbirdsightings@hotmail.co.uk'.

11.9.11 Little Gull © Vic Savery, many thanks

11.9.11 the Little Gull in context © Vic Savery, many thanks

SEVERN BEACH: J Martin

This evening 5pm-6.50pm, 12 Knot, 1 Sanderling, a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, an adult Sandwich Tern and 2 Arctic Tern (adult+1st winter).

PORTBURY DOCK: CJ Stone
Late afternoon/evening: 54 Ringed Plover, 8 Knot, 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 52 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone, an adult Mediterranean Gull, a juvenile Arctic Tern and a Guillemot*.

185th species here for Chris.

BRISTOL: R Scantlebury, S Davies, S Hale, Christine Jones
Eastville Park: 1 Buzzard, the resident Dipper, 12 House Martin, 2 Grey Wagtail plus Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Coal Tit also heard.

Frenchay-Snuff Mills: highlights were 2 Stock Dove, 2 Dipper together, single Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher, 5 House Martin, 2 Nuthatch, a Goldcrest and 3 Grey Wagtail.

Tidal Avon: 1 Greenshank (Sea Mills) and 12 Common Sandpiper (4 at New Cut and 8 at Sea Mills)

Avonmouth docks:

11.9.11 Wheatear © Steve Hale, many thanks
at least 5 birds along the shore scrub this morning

11.9.11 Peregrine © Steve Hale, many thanks

11.9.11 Peregrine © Dave Howell, many thanks 

Others: singles of Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, 3 Oystercatcher, 8 Ringed Plover, a Knot (unusual here), 11 Dunlin and 440 BH Gull.

PORTBURY DOCK:

11.9.11 Mallard © Dave Howell, many thanks
...and not a MP in sight.....

CLEVEDON COAST: HE Rose

Shore highlights were: 70 Shelduck, single Teal 110 Mallard, 12 Little Egret, a Peregrine, 39 Oystercatcher, 190 Ringed Plover, 180 Knot, single Sanderling, at least 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 320 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel, 280 Curlew, 70 Redshank, 10 Common Sandpiper, 14 Turnstone, 550 BH Gull, 60+ Swallow, 6+ House Martin, 3 White Wagtail, 12 Wheatear, 2 singing Chiffchaff and 60+ Linnet.

BARROW TANKS: S Davies
2 Common Sandpiper, single Whinchat and 6 Wheatear seen early am.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: R&J Staples
Nunnery: single Dunlin and Common Sandpiper.

Heron's Green: 1 Greenshank.

Moreton: 36 Ringed Plover, a Little Stint, the Pectoral Sandpiper and 14 Dunlin.

Stratford: 4 Black-tailed Godwit and a Black Tern.

Severn Beach 10/9/11:

10.9.11 Curlew Sandpiper © John Martin, many thanks

It has been a reasonable autumn for Curlew Sandpipers in Avon so far, especially along the Clevedon coast where there were at least 11 birds on 3 Sept.

Sightings 10/9/11

TIDAL AVON: E Drewitt
20 Lapwing, a Ruff (unusual along this stretch), 100+ Redshank and 3+ Common Sandpiper. Birds recorded by Ed on one of his cruises through the gorge.


SAND BAY: per westonbirds

10.9.11 Sabine's Gull © Paul Bowyer, many thanks
first turned up here on 8 September

BARROW TANKS: S Davies
This site appears to have missed out on the recent inland seabird fest, today just 3 Common Sandpiper, 11 Common Tern and 2 Wheatear (but 17 birds here last Sunday 4 Sept when there were also 21+ Wheatear at Oldbury Power Station and 55 Wheatear on Severnside).



Deep joy!........we're back from our birding trip to Norfolk.....and a Little Bittern has just turned up at RSPB Titchwell where we were yesterday. Grrhh....

We hope to start posting stuff later today, in the meantime, some pics sent in whilst we were away enjoying the prolonged spell of south-westerly winds in Norfolk....

Great Black-backed Gull, Severn Beach © Vic Savery, many thanks

Redshank, Slimbridge © Stephen Emery, many thanks

Curlew Sandpiper, Severn Beach © Allan Chard, many thanks
(we're not sure which one)

Sightings 3/9/11

We are away birding in Norfolk 4-10 September so no updates during this period. Please continue to send stuff in for Wendy, we'll catch up on our return.

CHIPPING SODBURY D Pearce
A bit quiet here by recent standards, on the Common 3-5pm: 3 Whinchat, 1 Stonechat (only 1 report last month) and a male Redstart.

A bit quiet here by recent standards

AUST WARTH: AD Scott

3.9.11 Whimbrel © Tony Scott, many thanks

Other sightings here: the Brent Goose again, 1 Kestrel, a Green Woodpecker, single Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff and a Wheatear.

WESTON MOOR: H Taffs
2 Mandarin Duck and 4 Tufted Duck on the pool late afternoon.

WRAXALL: per H Taffs
A Red Kite circling over the Battleaxes pub 4.30pm.

CLEVEDON COAST: S Sanins
Wain's Hill - Yeo Est 9-1pm:

Highlights: a Marsh Harrier over Yeo Bank Farm, then heading to Wick St Lawrence, 500 Ringed Plover (continuing excellent numbers here), 11 Curlew Sandpiper, single Spotted Redshank at Kenn Est, 100 Sand Martin and 35 Wheatear.

Cast extras: 17 Canada Goose, 59 Shelduck, single Wigeon, 2 Teal, 150 Mallard, 11 Cormorant, 11 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 37 Oystercatcher, 40 Knot, 225 Dunlin, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel, 300 Curlew, 4 Common Sandpiper, 85 Redshank, 32 Turnstone, 550 BH Gull, 2 Green Woodpecker, 500 Swallow, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Pied Wagtail, 175 Goldfinch and 175 Linnet.

Sightings 2/9/11

MARSHFIELD: G Hughes
An early Merlin seen at the Rushmead lane locality this morning.

SEVERNSIDE:
Aust Warth:

2.9.11 Whinchat © Vic Savery, many thanks
2 birds here today

Northwick Warth:

2.9.11 Wheatear, near the 'flash' this morning
© Tony Scott, many thanks

Severn Beach: 

No eye-poppers in the waders, 21 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderling, 26 Dunlin, 2 Curlew and 2 Turnstone. Migrants around the pipes were, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, a Willow Warbler and 4 Chiffchaff.

Chittening Warth: 

2.9.11 Whitethroat this morning, bramble near the sluice
© sightings page team

c.90 Curlew off New Pill, 4 Whitethroat, 8+ Chiffchaff and a Whinchat at the Stup Pill section.

PORTISHEAD: S Hale

2.9.11 Turnstones at Battery Pt this morning © sightings page team
too early for any Purple Sandpipers yet.

GORDANO VALLEY: per LF Roberts

2.9.11 Grasshopper Warbler © Dave Nevitt, many thanks

2.9.11 Cetti's Warbler © Dave Nevitt, many thanks

Over 100 birds ringed at the station this morning.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: S Davies, per C J Stone

Spring bay: the Osprey still present 7.45am this morning.

Moreton Pt: A Pectoral Sandpiper here this evening, no other details as yet.

BREAN DOWN: per westonbirds
1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Wheatear, 3 Tree Pipit, 15 Meadow Pipit, a Yellow Wagtail and a Crossbill (heard) at the fort area

Sightings 1/9/11

BRISTOL:  R Scantlebury
Eastville park: 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 House Martin and a Grey Wagtail today.


AUST STW: S Emery

1.9.11 Spotted Flycatcher © Steve Emery, many thanks

Also here, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Garden Warbler. 

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds
Aust Warth: a Brent Goose (possibly the OPS bird), 3 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Raven, 3 Whinchat and 4 Yellow Wagtail.

1.9.11 Whinchat © Len Ingram, many thanks
1 of 3 birds here today

NP-NW: 4 Wigeon, 6 Teal, 44 Oystercatcher, 6 Knot, 62 Curlew, 60 Redshank, 20 Turnstone, 2 Blackcap, 1 Wheatear, 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Yellow Wagtail and 18+ alba Wagtail.

1.9.11 Dunlin © Allan Chard, many thanks

1.9.11 Sanderling © Allan Chard, many thanks
3 birds at the shaft rocks this morning

Severn Beach: 65 Ringed Plover, 3 Sanderling, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 80 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel, 11 Turnstone, 2 Wheatear, 7 Whitethroat (bushes at the pipes) and 40+ alba Wagtail.

Chittening Warth: c.100 Curlew at the New Pill section.


PILL: R Hawley:
At the foreshore this morning: 3 Grey Heron, 3 Lapwing and the resident Greenshank.



Portland Bird Obs: A Rhodes
Alex is just back from a spell birding at the observatory and is using the technology, highlights were 10,000 Manx Shearwater, 2 Sooty Shearwater, 7 Balearic Shearwater, a Wryneck and a Melodious Warbler.

It took Alex a while for him to explain to us what 'YouTube' is......and it took us even longer to explain to him what a BOC reporting slip is......and we're not sure he's got his head around it even now.

Anyway, check out:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6D6Lr0Zi00&feature=feedu