Sightings 29/7/14

July 2014 Pacific Golden Plover (Keith Vinicombe)
Drayton Bassett

Despite an increase in records in the UK over recent years, Pacific GP has yet to be recorded in Avon. There are currently 4 accepted Avon records of its cousin the American GP, 1994, 2002 and 2003 plus a pending record from Blagdon 2013.

reports so far...

New Passage-Northwick:

74 Canada Goose, 1 Hobby, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 25 Lapwing, 80 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 35 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Wood Sandpiper (since 24 July), 3 Wheatear.

29/7/14 Canada Goose (Simon Williams)
numbers up to 74 birds today

29/7/14 Hobby (Simon Williams)
rubbish pic....

29/7/14 Wheatear (Mrs Trellis)
3 showy birds by the 1st sentry box this morning

Blagdon Lake:
1 Black Swan, 2 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper.

Planet Chew:
2 Garganey at Stratford, 1 Garganey at Villice.

Sightings 28/7/14

Raptor sp (Lauren Tucker), any ideas Tribe?
taken at Portbury 27/7/14 afternoon
the prey item appears to be quite large, possibly a squirrel

We passed these pics to the Birds of Prey section of the Avonbirding office. Our raptor man thinks this bird is a male Goshawk so we're going with that. Any dissenters, please let us know.

Shirehampton (Bristol|):
Lamplighters: 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Bullfinch.

Hawkesbury Upton:

Upton Combe area: 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Redstart, 2 Bullfinch.

Aust Warth:
Cake Pill: 3 Common Sandpiper, 40 Linnet.

New Passage-Northwick:
Birders were flocking to the Pilning wetland today. Morning/evening counts: 65 Canada Goose, 2 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 25 Lapwing, 2 Knot, 90 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 8 Black-tailed Godwit (briefly), 1 Whimbrel, 100 Curlew, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 juv Wood Sandpiper, 22 Redshank, 200 BH Gull, 1 juv Yellow-legged Gull (unusual on Severnside), 1 Yellow Wagtail, 30+ Pied Wagtail.

28/7/14 Dunlin (Mrs Trellis)
the wetland is looking ab fab and it's only a matter of time before The Mega arrives. Check this place out.

Portbury Wharf NR:

Pools: 4 Dunlin this evening, amazing.
Ringing session this morning: 56 new birds ringed, 6 re-traps. Willow Warbler numbers increasing plus Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Reed Warbler.

28/7/14 Little Owl (Mrs Trellis)
barns along Sheepway Lane by the old railway bridge
it comes out at 9pm after Eastenders

28/7/14 Whitethroat (Mrs Trellis)
lots appearing around the bushes on the reserve now

28/7/14 Slow-Worm (Paul House)

south Clevedon coast:

Wain's Hill-Yeo Est: 18 Shelduck + 6 juvs, 22 Little Egret, 26 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Ringed Plover (Yeo end), 4 Lapwing, 20 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Whimbrel, 285 Curlew, 4 Common Sandpiper, 35 Redshank, 2 Raven, 150 Swallow, 25 House Martin, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Wheatear, 11 Pied Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 120 Linnet.

East Dundry:
1 Quail again. Cornfield on the lane just before the descent into Whitchurch.

Blagdon Lake:
1 Black Swan (escape from Planet Chew), 6 Common Sandpiper.

Planet Chew:

28/7/14 Wheatear (Mike Feetham)
Heron's Green this morning

Reports: Mike Feetham,  Paul House, Brian Lancastle, John Martin, Vic Polley, Lois Pryce, Steve Sanins, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, BL birds, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 27/7/14

Katie's new website:

http://katiehorrocksbirds.weebly.com/

Please check out her website and re-tweet any photos we tweet from Katie...she really does appreciate it and it inspires and motivates her. Thanks.


Tired out of seeing good birds? Then why not come to Portbury for complete R&R?.....Zen Buddha-like relaxation is guaranteed.

Aust Warth:
Cake Pill: 6 Common Sandpiper, 55 Redshank, 2 summer plumage Turnstone.

New Passage-Northwick:
49 Canada Goose, 12 Teal, 2 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Peregrine, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 35 Lapwing, 4 Knot (new, including a red one), 43 Dunlin (1 juv), 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Wood Sandpiper, 1 juv Mediterranean Gull, 200 BH Gull, 2 Stock Dove again, 1 Swift, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 40+ Starling, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 30+ Goldfinch, 130 Linnet (numbers building).

Many birds in the Linnet flock were juveniles, perhaps indicating a good breeding season for them.

Portbury Wharf NR:
2 Little Egret, 1 juv Mediterranean Gull, 1 GBB Gull, 1 Little Owl.
Best place to park and look for the Barn & Little Owls: HERE

south Clevedon coast:
Yeo Est end: 3 Little Egret, 2 Kestrel, 4 Oystercatcher, 5 Dunlin, 3 Whimbrel, 100 Curlew, 8 Turnstone, 1 Wheatear.

East Dundry:
1 Quail again, cornfield.

Goblin Combe:
1 Marsh Tit, 1 Nuthatch.

Bath:
Browns Folly Woods: Tawny Owl, Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch all recorded.
Bannerdown: 4 Spotted Flycatcher.

Blagdon Lake:
1 Garganey (Rugmoor again), 6 Common Sandpiper.

Planet Chew:
4 Little Egret, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Redshank (all Herriott's), 2 Common Sandpiper (dam).

Reports: Derek Angell, Mark Coller, Brian Edge, Rob Emery, Adrian Hockey, Brian Lancastle, John Martin, Karin Rhodes, Roger Staples, Tony Scott, Mrs Trellis, Chris Vines, BL birds.

Sightings 26/7/14

Katie's new website:

http://katiehorrocksbirds.weebly.com/

Please check out her website and re-tweet any photos we tweet from Katie...she really does appreciate it and it inspires and motivates her. Thanks.


Bedminster (Bristol):
Malago brook: 3 Kingfisher, pretty good for inland urban Bristol.

Marshfield:
Shire Valley: 1 male Redstart.

Aust Warth:
Cake Pill: 1 Whimbrel, 8 Common Sandpiper, 5 Redshank, 1 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat.

26/7/14 Stonechat (Mrs Trellis)
bushes by the sluice bridge

New Passage-Northwick:

The 2 Wood Sandpiper still at the wetland today, point blank range views at times.
Other stuff from the area: 36 Canada Goose, 5 Teal, 6 Tufted Duck ducklings + 3 adults, 5 Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Little Grebe broods, 1 Peregrine, 36 Lapwing, 20 Dunlin, 5 Snipe, 12 Black-tailed Godwit (1 bird colour-ringed), 60 Curlew, 4 Common Sandpiper, 52 Redshank, 1 Turnstone, 158 BH Gull, 2 Stock Doves, 6 Sand Martin, 32 Swallow, 1 Goldcrest, 20 Goldfinch.

26/7/14 Wood Sandpiper (Mrs Trellis)
Video: HERE

Portbury Dock:

2 Shelduck broods, 1 Peregrine, 7 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper, 6 Turnstone, 3 Rock Pipit.

Portbury Wharf:

26/7/14 Little Owl (Rod Holbrook)

The usual Little Owl pair has abandoned their traditional site at the barns along Wharf Lane (the roof collapsed!). Another pair is in residence in barns along the main Sheepway Lane.

Park at the small pull-in just before the old railway bridge and scan the nearby barn roof tops and bushes. This is the best place to park to see the Barn Owl too.

26/7/14 Ruddy Darter (Dave Horlick)
birding here slower than Planet Chew....by some way

Burrington:

A recently fledged female Nightjar ringed here last night.

26/7/14 Brown Long-eared Bat (Dave Nevitt)
not rare....but spectacular to look at in the hand

Backwell Lake:

6 Mistle Thrush together of note.

Blagdon Lake:
1 Garganey again (Rugmoor bank), 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull.

Planet Chew:
1 Garganey (Stratford hide), 1 Bittern again (Herriott's), 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 juv Mediterranean Gull (both Herriott's).

Reports: Pete Coslett, Nick Hawkridge, Rod Holbrook, Dave Horlick, Chris Johnson, Tom McLeung-Weston, Dave Nevitt, Gill Sapsed, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, BL birds, cvlbirding, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 25/7/14

Oldbury Power Station:
3 Little Egret, shore.

New Passage-Northwick:
The 2 Wood Sandpiper present all day at the wetland. Walk up the seawall to the 2nd sentry box and take the footpath down to the pools.

Other stuff in the area, 32 canada Goose, 5 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck + 6 ducklings, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Oystercatcher, 30+ Lapwing, 1 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel, 39 Curlew, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 200 BH Gull, 5 swift, 1 Kingfisher, 100 mixed Swallow/Sand Martin/House Martin, 1 Whinchat (new), 25 Goldfinch, 10 Pied Wagtail.

25/7/14 Black-tailed Godwit (Paul Bowerman)

Portbury Wharf:

North Pool: 1 Little Ringed Plover on the island.
Chapel Pill: 5 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 20 Redshank.

Bath:
Pipley Wood: 1 flyover Red Kite 12.30pm.

Litton Res:
1 Teal, 57 Mallard, 5 Cormorant, 9 Little Grebe (+ 6 young/3 broods), 1 pair Great Crested Grebe + 4 young, 16 Coot (8 broods/16 young), 9 Grey Wagtail.

Blagdon Lake:
4  juv Buzzard,  3 Common Sandpiper.

Planet Chew:
4 Egyptian Goose, 1 Bittern (Herriott's), 82 Teal, 21 Shoveler, 2 Little Egret, 34 Lapwing, 6 Common Sandpiper, 7 Green Sandpiper, 2 juv Mediterranean Gull (Herriott's), 6 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

The observer commented that the lake had a certain Middle Eastern ambience about it today, mostly shi'ite.

Reports: Derek Angell, Ian Dickie, Mike Jenkins, Mrs Trellis, Keith Vinicombe, BL birds, opsbirding, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 24/7/14

Katie, aged 14 at Portland
probably the most photographed Little Owl in the UK....

Aust Warth:
Cake Pill: 7 Common Sandpiper.

New Passage-Northwick:
2 Wood Sandpiper on the wetland, 2nd sentry box leg. Please stay on the footpath.
Other stuff, 1 Little Egret, 32 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 35 Curlew, 4 Common Sandpiper.

24/7/14 Wood Sandpiper (Paul Bowerman)
a scarce migrant wader through Avon, less than annual
Video clip by Paul:HERE

Portbury Dock:

5 Oystercatcher, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 20 Curlew, 90 BH Gull, 2 GBB Gull, 1 Wheatear (1st of the autumn).

Portbury Wharf NR:
16 Mute Swan, 41 Canada Goose, 3 Teal (new), 1 juv Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 juv Mediterranean Gull.

Blagdon Lake:
1 Greylag Goose, 12 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper.

Reports: Thomas McLeung-Weston, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, BL birds, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 23/7/14

Katie Horrocks, aged 14 at Portland
they're mostly Med Gulls....

Shepperdine shore:
1 Greenshank.

Tockington:
1 Peregrine.

New Passage-Northwick:
20 Lapwing, 2 Snipe (1st of the autumn), 3 Common Sandpiper, 42 Redshank.

Abbots Leigh:
Sandy Lane area: 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Blackcap, 1 Nuthatch of note.

23/7/14 Nuthatch (Karin Rhodes)

Barrow Tanks:

6 Common Sandpiper, 4 Raven, 10 Sand Martin (inc 2 nest holes still being used).

23/7/14 juv Yellow Wagtail (Chris Stone)
2 birds here today

Planet Chew:

5 Egyptian Goose, 70 Teal, 1 Garganey, 2 Little Egret, 20 Lapwing, 10 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 4 Yellow-legged Gull, 10 GBB Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Spotted Flycatcher.

23/7/14 Garganey (Keith Vinicombe)
juv male new in at Heron's Green today

23/7/14 juv Great Crested Grebe (Keith Vinicombe)
Stratford

Reports: Sean Davies, Ian Hayes, Karin Rhodes, Matt Scott, Chris Stone, Keith Vinicombe, opsbirding, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 22/7/14

Westbury-on-Trym (Bristol):
Stoke Lane: 1 flyover Sparrowhawk.

Oldbury Power Station:
2 adult Shelduck + 19 juvs, 2 adult Tufted Duck + 10 juvs, 1 Little Egret, 3 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Curlew.

New Passage-Northwick:
14 Canada Goose, 5 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Golden Plover, 30 Lapwing, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 200+ BH Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 20+ Pied Wagtail.

Portbury Wharf NR:
45 Canada Goose on the pools, the Barn Owl out 9pm.
Blackberries out here and birds already feeding on them.

22/7/14 Barn Owl (Jason Williams)
houses side of the reserve as usual

22/7/14 Whitethroat (Mrs Trellis)

22/7/14 Blackbird (Mrs Trellis)

Portishead:

22/7/14 juv Jay (Chris M Jones)
adult + 2 juv in Redcliff Bay garden this morning

W-s-M:

Charter Rd: a flyover Green Sandpiper 4am this morning, calling.

Dundry:
3 Quail this evening, ST 591664 area. Conditions must be just right for them here.

Blagdon Lake:
51 Mute Swan, 4 Teal, 1 Garganey (Rugmoor), 4 Common Sandpiper.

Planet Chew:

1 female Garganey, 2 Shoveler ducklings, 4 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Ringed Plover (dam), 3 flyover Golden Plover, 16 Lapwing, 4 Common Sandpiper, 5 Green Sandpiper, 4 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Kingfisher, 5 Raven, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Spotted Flycatcher (family party), 

Reports: Paul Bowyer, Mike Jenkins, Chris M Jones, Andy Middleton, Mike Newstead, Graham Sims, Mrs Trellis, Jason Williams, BL birds, severnsidebirds.