Sightings 3/3/15

New Passage-Northwick:
Shore & wetland: 5 Canada Goose, 160 Shelduck, 200 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 80 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Merlin, 1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Plover, 40 Dunlin, 50 Redshank, 1 Chiffchaff.

Severn Beach:
Orchard Pools: 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Snipe, 2 Green Woodpecker (no stoats attached), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler.

3/3/15 Fox (Mrs Trellis)

Portishead:

Boating Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Greylag Goose, 5 Canada Goose, 1 Pintail.

Walton Common:
2 Green Woodpecker (no stoats attached), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Marsh Tit, 1 Treecreeper, 10 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush.

Tickenham:
Church: 1 Kestrel.

Yatton:
Strawberry Line: 1 Water Rail, 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Congresbury Moor:
4 Buzzard, 500 Starling, 25 Fieldfare, 15 Redwing, 5 Stonechat (single group), 5 Meadow Pipit, 35 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting.

Radstock:
Writhington: c.400+ Pied Wagtail to roost.

Backwell Lake:
13 Little Egret in the overnight roost, all had left by 7am.
Other stuff, 2 Bar-headed Goose, 5 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 10 Tufted Duck, 1 drake Goosander, 1 Reed Bunting.

Blagdon Lake:
1 Brent Goose new (8th lake record), 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Little Egret, 1 Black-necked Grebe.
Nice pics on Nigel's site: http://www.blagdonlakebirds.com/.....'Daily News'.

Planet Chew:
1 Scaup, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Great White Egret (Villice), 1 Dunlin new.

3/3/15 Red-breasted Merganser at Woodford (Lee Gardiner)
still hanging on, he normally leaves in February

3/3/15 Dunlin at Heron's Green (David Hughes)
Dave's attempt at bird photography today...

Reports: John Hansford, Dave Horlick, David Hughes, John Rickard, Steve Sanins, Mike Thomas, Mrs Trellis, BL birds, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 2/3/15

2/3/15 Black Redstart (Simon Mackie)
This delightful little gem dropped in behind the London Camera Exchange shop in Broadmead this morning
call in the shop and ask for Simon for the latest....

BirdgirlUK: Mya's blog updated today: http://birdgirluk.blogspot.co.uk/.

Wheatear: 1 seen at Portland yesterday....J

New Passage-Northwick:
123 Shelduck, 100+ Teal, 1 Merlin, 70 Oystercatcher, 60 Dunlin, 40 Curlew.

Severn Beach:
18 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, 100 Turnstone, 50 Kittiwake.

Abbots Pool:
2 Tawny Owl calling, evening.

Abbots Leigh:
Sandy Lane end: 3 Jay, 1 Coal Tit.

Portbury Dock:
1 Water Pipit.

Portbury Wharf:
Pools: 2 Mute Swan, 3 Shelduck, 100+ Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 20+ Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe, 10 Lapwing,

Portishead:
Marina: the Greylag Goose, briefly.
Boating Lake: 2 Mute Swan, the Greylag Goose, 5 Canada Goose, 1 Pochard, 8 Tufted Duck.
Springfield Rd: 1 Jay, 1 Blackcap.
Foreshore: 8 Ringed Plover.

Bath:
Lyncombe Vale: 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 3 Goldcrest, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blackcap.

Blagdon Lake:
37 Canada Goose, 2 Egyptian Goose, 1 Goosander, 1 Black-necked Grebe (Wood Bay).

2/3/15 Egyptian Goose (Melvin Hedges)

Planet Chew:

Great White Egret: still present in Villice Bay.
Siberian Chiffchaff: 1 along the East Shore boardwalk.

Other stuff, 10 Barnacle Goose, 17 Shelduck, 220 Shoveler, 1 Scaup (Moreton), 32 Goosander, 1 Little Egret, 7 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 3 Water Rail, 1 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 8 Stock Dove, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 11 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Tawny Owl, 1 Jay, 2 Stonechat, 2 Grey Wagtail, 30+ Chaffinch.

2/3/15 Barnacle Goose (Mrs Trellis)
Nunnery

No sign of the Great Northern Diver today despite 2 very experienced birders and 1 numpty birder looking for it.

Reports: John Clark, Melvin Hedges, Simon Mackie. Jonathan Margetts, John Rickard, Ian Stapp, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, Keith Vinicombe, BL birds, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 1/3/15

Clifton (Bristol):
Percival Rd: 1 Blackcap, 1 Song Thrush.

Dodington:
4 Mandarin Duck (2 pairs) at the lake this morning. Please keep to the public rights of way, thanks.

Marshfield:
Down Rd: 1 Barn Owl, evening.

Wick:
Golden Valley: 2 Canada Goose, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Buzzard, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Raven, 2 Dipper, 1 Nuthatch, 4 Treecreeper, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Bullfinch.

Yate:
Kingsgate Park: 9 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck.

Winterbourne:

1/3/15 Wood Duck (Gill Sapsed)
it first turned up here on 24 January

Aust Warth:

1/3/15 Barn Owl (Alastair Hood)
10pm

Alastair went to take some night shots of the bridge and captured this very atmospheric photo as well.
Another (or same) Barn Owl has been seen around the Western Approaches Business Park (Severn Beach A403) in recent weeks.

Severn Beach:
13 Kittiwake, late afternoon.

Pill:

1/3/15 Chaffinch (Paul Milsom)
Crockerne Drive garden

Portishead:

Sea-front: the Pintail (lake), 2 flyover Peregrine of note.

Felton:
Common: 10+ Skylark, 1 Yellowhammer.

Blagdon Lake:

1/3/15 the long-staying Black-necked Grebe (Mrs Trellis)
in Holt Bay this afternoon

Planet Chew:
The Great Northern Diver still, 1 Little Egret, 1 Common Sandpiper.

Reports: Mark Coller, David Esam, Alastair Hood, Katie Horrocks, Steve Judd, Paul Milsom, Darren Pearce, Chris Perry, Gill Sapsed Mrs Trellis, Neil Woodman, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 28/2/15

BirdgirlUK: Good luck with your Avalon Marshes talk tomorrow. http://birdgirluk.blogspot.co.uk/.

Whitchurch (Bristol):
ASDA: 1 stooping Peregrine over the store this morning.
It's thought to be a genuinely wild bird rather than an advertising ploy to attract customers.

Warmley (Bristol):
Bickford Close: 1 Blackcap.

Bishopston (Bristol):
Elton Rd: 1 Grey Wagtail.

Shirehampton Bristol):
Station Rd: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Goldcrest.

Fishponds (Bristol):

28/2/15 Blackcap (Allan Chard)

Marshfield:

28/2/15 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Mrs Trellis)
3+ birds in the Shire Valley today

28/2/15 Stonechat (Mrs Trellis)
2 birds at Down Rd, 5 birds at Rushmead Lane

Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting numbers seemed a little low today, perhaps the large wintering flocks are dispersing as the breeding season arrives.

Oldbury Power Station:

2 Gadwall, 1 Peregrine, 40 Stock Dove, 1 Tawny Owl, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Stonechat, 6 Bullfinch.

New Passage-Northwick:

6 Canada Goose, 120 Shelduck, 80 Wigeon, 10 Gadwall, 30 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 little Egret, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 30 Lapwing, 150 Dunlin, 110 Curlew, 8 Stock Dove, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Mistle Thrush.

Severn Beach 27/2/15:
Western Approaches: 1 Barn owl 4.30pm.

Abbots Leigh:
Pool: 1 Tawny Owl calling.

Toad Patrol: The AL residents are now on Toad patrol for the impending mating season.
This means checking the lanes for amphibians and helping them across the lanes and into safety.
Tonight, 2 frogs and 3 toads rescued and relocated. There was 1 newt and 1 frog road casualty.

More amphibian information at: http://www.froglife.org/.

Portishead:

28/2/15 Pintail (Lee Gardiner)
boating lake, present since 14 Feb

Clevedon coast:

Blake's Pool: 1 Merlin, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Yellowhammer.

Nailsea:
Friendship Rd: Blackcap summary, very regular in the garden all month with a max.5 birds visiting at various times.

Banwell:
6 Chiffchaff new, near the Bristol Water gateway entrance.
It's tempting to think of them as new migrants.

Bath:
Audley Park: a flock of 11 birds plus some more heard close by. It's not been a Siskin winter so any records of this species are very welcome.
Alexandra Park: 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Coal Tit, 1 Blackcap, 4 Nuthatch, 9 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 80 Redwing, 40 Chaffinch, 10 Goldfinch.

Backwell Lake:
16 Mute Swan, 9 Canada Goose, 3 Shoveler, 7 Tufted Duck, 1 Goosander.

28/2/15 Bar-headed Goose types (Mike Thomas)
also seen at Portbury Wharf today

Our Clapton Moor special agent informs us that these birds probably originate from an exotic wildfowl collection at Cadbury Camp on the Tickenham ridge.

Barrow Tanks:
1 Wigeon, 18 Teal, 35 Shoveler, 2 Goldeneye, 12 Cormorant, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 GBB Gull.
Start of the fly-fishing season here today (Blagdon and Chew later in coming weeks).

Blagdon Lake:
Little change, 2 Egyptian Goose, 4 Goosander, 1 Black-necked Grebe (Wood Bay), 1 Common Sandpiper.

Planet Chew:

28/2/15 the Great Northern Diver (Brian Thompson)
rubbish pic actually, we only posted it after Brian made a small cash adjustment in our favour

Reports: Allan Chard, Pete Coslett, Lee Gardiner, John Griffiths, Steve Judd, Kevin Lawlor, Jonathan Margetts, John Martin, Chris Perry, Graham Sims, Jean Smyth, Roger Staples, Chris Stone, Howard Taffs, Brian Thompson, Dan White, BL birds, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 27/2/15

BirdgirlUK:
Mya-Rose's  next 'BORN to BIRD' talk is on 1 March at 2pm at the Avalon Marshes Centre, Westhay, Glastonbury BA6 9TT.
Check out: http://www.avalonmarshes.org/Events?slug=mya-rose-craig---born-to-bird-talk.

The most refreshing bird talk you will hear this year.


Yate:
Kingsgate Park: 8 Gadwall (4 pairs).

Oldbury Power Station:
2 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Ringed Plover, 13 Redshank.

New Passage-Northwick:
Shore & wetland: 136 Shelduck, 8 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail, 40 Oystercatcher, 22 Lapwing, 200 Dunlin, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 80 Curlew, 70 Redshank, 3 Stock Dove, 1 Chiffchaff, 19 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 1 Grey Wagtail, 60 Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Bullfinch.

Portbury Wharf:

27/2/15 Kestrel (Chris M Jones)
at the barns (now deserted by the Little Owl)

Kenn Moor:
60 Mute Swan, 10 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 2 Goldcrest, 2 singing Skylark, 20 Fieldfare.

Bath:

Beecham Cliff Woods: 6 Long-tailed Tit,2 Blackcap, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Song Thrush, 6 Goldfinch.

Blagdon Lake:
2 Egyptian Goose, Top End.

Planet Chew:
Ruddy Duck: 3 males 'managed' during the recent cull.
Great Northern Diver: still off Woodford, distant towards Denny Island today.
Great White Egret: still sheltering in Villice Bay.
Siberian Chiffchaff: 2 birds today. 1 at the BK hide, 1 at Herriott's which was trapped and ringed.

Great Crested Grebe in display off Moreton mid-day: HERE.

27/2/15 Scaup (Mrs Trellis)
the long-stayer off Moreton again

27/2/15 Common Sandpiper (Mrs Trellis)
entrance to the Moreton track, 1 Green Sandpiper here also

27/2/15 Tawny Owl (Mrs Trellis)

Reports: Chris M Jones, Jonathan Margetts, John Martin, Andy Middleton, Lisa Presland, Dick Reader, Trevor Riddle, Chris Teague, Mrs Trellis, BL birds.

Sightings 26/2/15

BirdgirlUK:
Mya-Rose's  next 'BORN to BIRD' talk is on 1 March at 2pm at the Avalon Marshes Centre, Westhay, Glastonbury BA6 9TT.
Check out: http://www.avalonmarshes.org/Events?slug=mya-rose-craig---born-to-bird-talk.

The most refreshing bird talk you will hear this year.

New Passage:
160 Shelduck, 70 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret.

Abbots Leigh:
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Jay, 1 Coal Tit.

Portbury Wharf:
Pools: 2 Bar-headed Goose types, 2 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron of note.

26/2/15 Bar-headed Goose type (Mrs Trellis)
new in to North Pool this afternoon

A small party of Bar-headed Goose types has been on tour in the Gordano Valley in recent years but their origin is unknown.

One of them is a dead-ringer for a blue-phase type Snow Goose, complete with grinning patch.

Portishead:
Boating Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 5 Canada Goose, 1 Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck.
Marina: 15 Mute Swan, 5 Canada Goose.

Backwell Lake:
15 Mute Swan, 10 Canada Goose, 5 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 15 Redwing.

Blagdon Lake:
2 Egyptian Goose, 4 Goosander of note.

Paulton:
Sewage Works: 4 Grey Wagtail, 60 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit.
Village environs: 1 Kestrel, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 9 Chaffinch, 50 Goldfinch, 40 Greenfinch, 2 Yellowhammer.

Reports: Patrick Hancock, John Rickard, Mrs Trellis, BL birds, severnsidebirds.

some Gambian birds - Adrian Adams

We don't know how it happened but Adrian's e-mail managed to evade our spam filters.
He's just back from a birding trip + winter sun in Gambia and sent in these photos:-

Bruce's Green Pigeon

Blue-breasted Kingfisher

Cardinal Woodpecker

Paradise Flycatcher

Beautiful Sunbird

Senegal Parrot

Gambia is a very popular birding destination for British birders. It's only about 6+ hrs flying time from the UK and not much jet lag.

Adrian didn't actually say who took the pictures but we'd like to thank the photographer whoever he or she is.

Many thanks.

Sightings 25/2/15

Oldbury Power Station:
1 Pintail, 1 Shoveler, 1 Little Egret, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 290 Curlew, 4 Stonechat.

New Passage-Northwick:
Shore & wetland: 9 Canada Goose, 123 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 16 Oystercatcher, 90 Dunlin, 29 Black-tailed Godwit, 65 Curlew, 40 Redshank, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail.

25/2/15 Blackbird (Mrs Trellis)
oh for some silvery wings and a white gorget in a few weeks time....

Severn Beach:

Orchard Pools: 2 Mute Swan, 4 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 21 flyover Curlew, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

25/2/15 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Mrs Trellis)

Leigh Woods:
1 Jay, 1 Raven, 1 Nuthatch, suspension bridge end.

Ham Green:

Chapel Hill Farm: 1 Firecrest, 150m north along the river Avon cycle track at mid-day.
Other stuff, 15 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank, 50 Redshank, 2 Buzzard, 2 Jay, 1 Raven, 1 Goldcrest, 5 Bullfinch.

Portbury Dock:
80 Shelduck, 350 mixed Wigeon/Teal, 10 Mallard, 8 Oystercatcher, 15 Ringed Plover, 700 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Curlew, 6 GBB Gull, 4 Rock Pipit, 1 Water Pipit.

Clevedon coast:

25/2/15 Stonechat (David Gale)
Channel View Farm section

Bath:

Linear Way: 10 Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap, 1 Treecreeper.

Chaucer Rd: 2 Blackcap

Devonshire Buildings: 1 Blackcap.

Alexandra Park: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Goldcrest, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 30 Redwing.

Blagdon Lake:
2 Egyptian Goose, 1 Little Egret, 1 Black-necked Grebe (Wood Bay).

Planet Chew:
The Great Northern Diver and Great White Egret still present.
Other stuff, 1 Black Swan, 1 Todd's type Canada Goose, 20 Shelduck, 215 Shoveler (195 on Herriott's Pool), 77 Goldeneye, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 33 Goosander, 3 Little Egret, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 8 Mediterranean Gull, 4 GBB Gull, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 70 Fieldfare, 35 Redwing, 1 Stonechat.

Reports: David Gale, Giles Morris, Jonathan Margetts, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, Keith Vinicombe, BL birds, opsbirding.