Sightings 20/8/11

Our first Curlew Sandpipers of the autumn today.

Out of area, an Alpine Swift reported at Bruton in Somerset.

CHIPPING SODBURY: D Pearce
The Woodchat Shrike still in residence but not outstaying its welcome.

Rich haul on the common: 2 Buzzard, singles of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Raven, a female Whinchat, 6 Redstart, 10 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Bullfinch.


LITTLETON WARTH: V Savery
The Brent Goose still present, 5 Stock Dove, 3 Wheatear and 6 Yellow Wagtail of note.

ALVESTON: V Savery
A single Swift over the village this evening, unfortunately an ordinary one.

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds
A quieter day for migrants.

New Passage: a juvenile Knot and a summer plumage Bar-tailed Godwit were pick of the waders and just 2 Yellow Wagtail.

Severn Beach: 2 Wheatear.


BRISTOL DOCKS: M Gorely
A Mediterranean Gull in the city docks around Hotwells today. 23rd species for the balcony.


PORTBURY DOCK: S Hale, CJ Stone

20.8.11 Mediterranean Gull © sightings page team, many thanks

the usual bird, sometimes seen also at Portishead marina

20.8.11 juv Curlew Sandpiper © sightings page team, many thanks
awful, even by our own dismal standards

Shoreline at high tide, 100 Ringed Plover, 1 Knot, 1 Sanderling, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper (our first of the autumn), c.150 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 80 Curlew, 80 Redshank and 2 Wheatear.

CLEVEDON COAST: S Sanins
Wain's Hill-Yeo Est 9am-1pm: highlights were 400 Ringed Plover and a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at Channel View farm seawall, 2 Ruff at Yeo Est, 2 Spotted Redshank at Dowlais and 18 Wheatear along the stretch.

Others: 10 Shelduck, 90 Mallard, 6 Cormorant, 10 Little Egret, the Great-crested Grebe, single Peregrine, 18 Oystercatcher, 5 Knot, 175 Dunlin, 4 Whimbrel, 225 Curlew, 82 Redshank, 500 BH Gull, 1 GBB Gull, a Raven, 7 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Pied Wagtail and 225 Linnet.

BARROW TANKS: S Davies

20.8.11 the Black-necked Grebe © Sean Davies, many thanks
No.3 tank this morning

3 Shoveler, the Black-necked Grebe still, 2 Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher.

For some marginally better photos of the BN Grebe and also the Tufted brood than those pics taken by the Sightings Page team recently, check out Gareth's site at: http://www.pixelbirds.co.uk/August2011.html.

The difference in picture quality is borderline but noticeable to the discerning eye.

BLAGDON LAKE: per BL birds
The eclipse male Ring-necked Duck still present, off the Burmah Rd area today.

Sightings 19/8/11

KINGSWOOD: M Hayes
2 Raven and 30 Goldfinch over the house today.

OLDBURY POWER STATION: W King
A Tree Pipit and 2 Wheatear of note here this evening.


THORNBURY: M Plenty
A Hobby chasing House Martins over the town 6pm.

SEVERNSIDE: per severnside birds
Migrants (and warblers in particular), starting to pick up on the patch.

New Passage: 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Tree Pipit, 6+ Yellow Wagtail (cattle) and several warbler species around the bushes. Not much in the waders but 9 Teal appeared today.

Severn Beach: 3 Sparrowhawk, a Redstart, a Lesser Whitethroat and 5 Common Whitethroat along the seawall/railway line bushes.

PILL: R Hawley
Foreshore highlights: single Kestrel and Buzzard, 7 Oystercatcher, 5 Curlew, 124 Redshank, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Jay and 2 Reed Bunting.

CLEVEDON COAST: HE Rose
Slightly lower waders numbers today and few small bird migrants (cf severnside).

1 Canada Goose, 3 Teal, 80 Mallard, the juvenile Great-crested Grebe still, 3 Grey Heron, 10 Little Egret, 12 Oystercatcher, 180 Ringed Plover, just 2 Knot, only 80 Dunlin, single Whimbrel, 100 Curlew, 70 Redshank, single Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, 800 BH Gull, 10 LBB Gull, 10 Wheatear, 3+ Chiffchaff and a single flock of 70 Linnet.

ASHTON COURT: MJ Pocock
5 Wheatear together on the golf course this morning.


BARROW TANKS: S Hale, L Ingram

19.8.11 Black-necked Grebe © sightings page team, many thanks
present since 14 August, top end of No.3 tank

19.8.11 Black-necked Grebe © Len Ingram, many thanks
at last a decent photo!

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: S Hale, S Loaring

Heron's Green: 1 Water Rail, 1 Ringed Plover, single Snipe, a Spotted Redshank, at least 6 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and an overhead Raven calling..

Moreton: a Great Spotted Woodpecker in trees near the hide.

Stratford: 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper.

Out on the lake from Stratford, an immature Little Gull and the Black Tern again.

Herriott's: a female Sparrowhawk (tried to catch a Grey Wagtail), the Ruff still, 2 Black-tailed Godwit (on the pool), 1 Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and a Yellow Wagtail.
(2 Black-tailed Godwit and a Wood Sandpiper also seen on the shore from here but these believed to be the mobile birds from Stratford).

Elsewhere, just 6 Little Egret and 40 Lapwing noted around the lake and no sign of yesterday's summer plumage BN Grebe.

Henbury 18/8/11: B Lancastle

2 Marsh Tit near the Kingsweston riding stables in the evening.

Chew Valley Lake 18/8/11: P Baber, P Buckle

18.8.11 Marsh Harrier © Pam Buckle, many thanks 

Another couple of pics of yesterday's immature Marsh Harrier over the lake, many thanks Pam and Phil.

Sightings 18/8/11

PORTBURY WHARF: S Hale

18.8.11 Woodpigeon, photographed from the middle hide

Along wharf lane, 4 Chiffchaff and 3 Blackcap, grounded by the rain. Nothing new seen on the pools.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: S Davies, R Mielcarek per BWG
The summer plumage Black-necked Grebe still present early am off Nunnery, close in near the hide, but later seen at Stratford bay.

© Bristol Water, many thanks

permits from Woodford Lodge if you wish to use the hides
click on map for larger view

Stratford: a Little Stint and 8 Common Tern, no doubt rain-grounded birds.

BLAGDON LAKE: R Mielcarek per BWG
Top End: an eclipse male Ring-necked Duck, a Ferruginous Duck pair and 14 Ringed Plover.

ULLAPOOL: S Judd

18.8.11 Twite © Stephen Judd, many thanks

Photographed this evening in Scotland by Steve who follows our website and thought that this would make a good posting!

Sightings 17/8/11

 Things hotting up, even Portbury logged a wader.


PORTBURY WHARF: S Hale
A Snipe new in to the main pool this afternoon, the first here since the last winter period.

CLEVEDON COAST: S Sanins
Wain's-Yeo Est 8am-12pm: good numbers and variety.

Highlights: 15 Common Sandpiper, a Wood Sandpiper and 18 Wheatear (11 at Kenn Est).

Others: 24 Canada Goose, 3 Shelduck, 110 Mallard, 5 Cormorant, 12 Little Egret, single Great-crested Grebe, 22 Oystercatcher, 280 Ringed Plover, 10 Knot, 175 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, 255 Curlew, 1 Green Sandpiper, 85 Redshank, 25 Turnstone, 600 BH Gull, single Green Woodpecker, single Raven, 350 Swallow, 25 House Martin, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail,  100 Goldfinch and 400 Linnet (inc a single flock of 200 at Dowlais).

SAND PT-BAY: P Bowyer

26 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, single Turnstone and 5 Yellow Wagtail.

BARROW TANKS: S Hale

17.8.11 Black-necked Grebe © sightings page team, many thanks
photographic masterpieces

Also present on No.3 tank this morning, 2 Little Grebe, the growing Tufted brood, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Grey Wagtail and a Yellow Wagtail.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: combined reports, P Baber, S Davies, S Hale, R Mielcarek per BWG

Heron's Green: 2 Water Rail, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank and 2 Whinchat.

HG-Nunnery Pt: a summer plumage Black-necked Grebe and a Black Tern.

Moreton: a fly-past female Sparrowhawk.

Stratford: a juvenile Marsh Harrier 5pm, an Osprey 6-6.30pm (caught and ate a fish) and a Greenshank.

Herriott's: 6 juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, and 3 Common Sandpiper.

Elsewhere around the lake, a drake Wigeon, an Aythya Ferruginous x Pochard type hybrid, 8 Little Egret, 15 Grey Heron, 58 Lapwing, a Redshank, 15 Green Sandpiper, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull and 2 adult Yellow-legged Gull.

17.8.11 juv Marsh Harrier © Phil Baber, many thanks

Photographed at long range from the Straford hide after it landed on the beach off the main reed-bed. It was giving good views in flight before then.

NEW PASSAGE 16/8/11: per severnsidebirds
A Spotted Redshank, 1st of the autumn here.

Sightings 16/8/11

OLDBURY POWER STATION: A Middleton, M Plenty
the Brent Goose still (from 8th), 33 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin, 13 Curlew, 22 Redshank, 10 Turnstone, a Yellow Wagtail, single Tree Pipit and 25 House Sparrow (local rarity here).

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds
Not much new in the way of waders and main interest as usual was around the New Passage area.

NP-NW: the juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 2 adult Arctic Tern (flew towards Severn Beach) and a juvenile Common Tern in with the BH Gulls.

No seabirds off Severn Beach this morning despite a lovely south-westerly breeze into the faces of 2 observers.

BRISTOL: A Middleton
Horfield: 4 Swifts here this afternoon.


AVONMOUTH DOCK: S Hale

16.8.11 Black-headed Gull © sightings page team, many thanks
a Black-tailed Godwit nearby too.

Photographed this morning at the Holesmouth section of the docks, close to Severnside's Chittening Warth.

BLAGDON LAKE: per BL birds
3 Garganey found near the Lodge mid-day.

BARROW TANKS: S Davies
No.3 tank: at least 1 Black-necked Grebe still present this evening.

MARSHFIELD 15/8/11: M Jackson
Another Quail heard calling from a wheatfield ST 779745.

Bird Photos by Pete Blanchard

Some photos sent in by Pete Blanchard from Cotswold Water Park and Slimbridge last week:

Common Tern at CWP © Pete Blanchard

Kingfisher at CWP © Pete Blanchard

Black-tailed Godwit at Slimbridge © Pete Blanchard

Green Sandpiper at Slimbridge © Pete Blanchard

Redshank at Slimbridge © Pete Blanchard

Very many thanks Pete.

If anyone else has photos they'd like to share and have posted, please let us know.

Sightings 15/8/11

CHIPPING SODBURY: A Chard, D Smith
The Woodchat Shrike continues to attract visitors, birders from Birmingham were present today.

15.8.11 the Woodchat Shrike am © Allan Chard, many thanks
plus a few Lesser Whitethroat and Redstarts

15.8.11 Lesser Whitethroat © Don Smith, many thanks

15.8.11 Redstart © Don Smith, many thanks

LITTLETON: V Savery
Whale Warth: 1 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, a Stock Dove and a Yellow Wagtail this evening.


SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds
Aust Warth: a Teal, 12 Redshank and 3 Common Sandpiper at Cake Pill.

NP-NW: 3 Kestrel, 20 Oystercatcher, 40 Dunlin, 80 Curlew, 50 Redshank, 40 Turnstone, single Kingfisher, single Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Wheatear, a Redstart and 4 Yellow Wagtail.

Severn Beach: seems abandoned recently, just 6 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin.


PORTBURY DOCK: S Hale

15.8.11 Wheatear © sightings page team, many thanks
shoreline rocks early this morning

Of note early am, the Mediterranean Gull still, a Wheatear and 28 'alba' Wagtail. Last night's small waders seem to have moved on.

PORTBURY WHARF: S Hale
20 Canada Goose, 5 Little Grebe, 3 Tufted Duck broods and a Common Sandpiper at the pools of note and 4 Chiffchaff along the seawall bushes.

BRISTOL:  L Maber

Blaise Castle:

15.8.11 (dead) Tawny Owl © Les Maber, many thanks

Found by Les 7.10am this morning. Cause of death not known at present but we'll post any details we get.

Sea Mills: AD Scott

Shore highlights this morning were: 19 Mallard, the resident Greenshank, 55 Redshank, 5 Common Sandpiper and 180 BH Gull.


BARROW TANKS: C Porter
 The juvenile Black-necked Grebe still present on No.3 tank this morning but the adult bird not seen.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: C Craig per BWG
Herriott's: 2 Ringed Plover, a Ruff and 5 Black-tailed Godwit.

Stratford: a Little Stint (1st of the autumn locally) and a Dunlin.

Moreton: 5 Oystercatcher.

Elsewhere, a Black-necked Grebe and a YL Gull out on the lake.


UPHILL: A Middleton
Saltings this morning:: a Little Egret, 2 Greenshank, 27 Redshank, 2 Raven and a Swift.

CLEVEDON 12/8/11: H Taffs
Continuing our theme of record Wood Sandpiper shots, here's the recent Clevedon bird too.

12.8.11 Wood Sandpiper © Howard Taffs, many thanks