Sightings 25/7/14

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:
Underwhelming, 4 Egyptian Goose, 82 Teal, 21 Shoveler, 34 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper, 6 Green Sandpiper, 6 Yellow-legged Gull, 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, Mrs Trellis, Keith Vinicombe, BL birds, 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.

Sightings 21/7/14

Oldbury Power Station:
2 Grasshopper Warbler reeling this evening, lagoon 2.
Other stuff, 5 Dunlin, 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Aust Warth:
Cake Pill: 7 Common Sandpiper, 5 Redshank.

New Passage-Northwick:
6 Canada Goose, 7 Tufted Duck ducklings, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 30 Lapwing, 4 Common Sandpiper, 30 Redshank, 1 Kingfisher,
Pumping into the wetland continues, the 1st sentry box pool now re-flooded. Grass-cutting carried out too.....Russian steppe views!

21/7/14 Kestrel (Mrs Trellis)
1 adult + 2 juvs around the wetland area in recent days

21/7/14 Green Woodpecker (Mrs Trellis)
2nd sentry box area this morning

Portbury Wharf NR:

1 juv Little Ringed Plover, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, the Barn Owl out on show again 8.45pm.

Barrow Tanks:

4 Common Sandpiper of note.

21/7/14 Grey Wagtail (Mrs Trellis)
No.2 tank this evening

Reports: Dave Nicholson, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, opsbirding, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 20/7/14

I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue...Radio 4,  6.25pm Monday 21 July....we feel sure Mrs Trellis is going to get a mention....

Fishponds (Bristol):

20/7/14 Silver-washed Fritillary (John Brodie-Good)
along the river Frome

Marshfield:

Rushmead Lane: 1 flyover Red Kite, 12.20pm.

Hawkesbury:
Broad Hill: 1 fem type Redstart.

Oldbury Power Station:
2 Mute Swan + 3 cygnets, 14 Canada Goose (Tidal Res), 2 adult Tufted Duck + 9 ducklings, 1 Buzzard, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3+ Green Woodpecker, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (heard briefly).

20/7/14 Tufted Duck (Mrs Trellis)
2 broods 3 & 6

Three Brooks NR (Bradley Stoke):

20/7/13 adult Little Grebe (Gill Sapsed)
has bred here 

Thornbury:

1 Hobby, 3 Raven, garden flyovers.

Aust Warth:

Cake Pill: 2 Common Sandpiper.

New Passage-Northwick:
1 Little Egret, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 33 Lapwing, 3 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 40 Redshank, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Yellow Wagtail.

20/7/14 Golden Plover (David Hughes)
rubbish pic by Dave, we were in two minds whether to post it or not

20/7/14 Yellow Wagtail (David Hughes)

Portbury Wharf NR:

2 Little Ringed Plover (north pool island), 1 Barn Owl again, 2 Cetti's Warbler.

20/7/14 Barn Owl (Mrs Trellis)

Bird being seen fairly regularly now, evenings/mornings to 9am best. It likes the back of the reserve, closest to the houses as the 1st pic shows.

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

Sand Pt:
3 Whimbrel, 2 Turnstone, 8 Swift, 50 Swallow, 1 Tree Pipit.

Bath:
1 probable flyover Honey Buzzard 12.20pm, harried by the local gulls. Our 2nd HB record of the month!

East Dundry:
1 Quail this evening, near Maes Knoll. Any Quail away from Marshfield is rare in Avon.

Blagdon Lake:
3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Yellow-legged Gull.

Planet Chew:
Herriott's end: 2 Jack Snipe. Cracking record for July, not just for Avon....but the UK too!

Reports: Paul Bowyer, John Brodie-Good, Mark Coller, Mark Dadds, David Hughes, Rob Laughton, Thomas McLeung-Weston, Matt Plenty, Vic Polley, Karin Rhodes, Gill Sapsed, Mrs Trellis, Jason Williams, Bl birds, opsbirding, severnsidebirds, TBOSG.

Sightings 19/7/14

A really good selection of passage waders on show today, no doubt birds grounded by the heavy overnight rain.
Pride of place: an early Spotted Crake at Weston STW and a gorgeous summer plumage Spotted Redshank at the Pilning wetland.

Marshfield:
Shire Valley: 50 Swift, 1 male Redstart.

Westerleigh:
1 Peregrine, by the church.

Pucklechurch:
Westerleigh Rd: 10 Swift.

Oldbury Power Station:
1 Little Egret, 1 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 16 Redshank, 3 Turnstone.

New Passage-Northwick:
Shore & wetland: 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 15 Oystercatcher, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 20 Lapwing, 1 Dunlin, 25 Curlew, 5 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 summer plumage Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 60 Redshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 250+ BH Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Stonechat (Grebe pond, new).

19/7/14 Golden Plover (Mrs Trellis)

19/7/14 Greenshank (Mrs Trellis)

19/7/14 Spotted Redshank (Paul Bowerman)
on the wetland today, video clip: HERE

Spotted Redshank is a scarce autumn passage migrant through Avon. Most records refer to birds in non-breeding dress so to get a black one is a rare treat.

Portbury Wharf NR:
1 Barn Owl out again, evening.

Ringing 18/7/14: 10 Blackcap, 4 Lesser Whitethroat of note.

Weston STW:

19/7/14 Spotted Crake (Paul Bowyer)
present at the UV pools into the evening

Rather early, we normally see them in August/September.

Bath:
Odd Down: 3 Yellowhammer, Park & Ride centre. Present throughout the breeding season apparently.

Blagdon Lake:

1 Egyptian Goose (dam, unusual here), 1 Snipe, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank 1 flyover Crossbill (dam, very unusal here).

Planet Chew:
1 Garganey, 1 female Goldeneye, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 1 adult male Ruff, 9 Whimbrel, 20 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, at least 4 juv Mediterranean Gull (Herriott's).

Reports: Paul Bowyer, Pete Coslett, Sean Davies, John Hansford, Tony Scott, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, BL birds, opsbirding, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 18/7/14

Things picking up a bit today, especially at Severnside and Chew Valley Lake.

Avonmouth (Bristol):
Docks: 22 Cormorant.

Marshfield:
Shirehill Lane: 1 Little Owl.

Tockington:
1 Yellowhammer, first here for 2+ years.
Any Yellowhammer away from Marshfield is a bit unusual.

Aust Warth:
Cake Pill: nothing here except for 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Redshank.

New Passage-Northwick:
5 flyover Canada Goose, 2 Tufted Duck + 7 ducklings, 1 Little Egret, 2 Kestrel, 18 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 18 Lapwing, 20 Dunlin, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpiper, 34 Redshank, 300 BH Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 Yellow Wagtail.

18/7/14 Golden Plover (Mrs Trellis)

18/7/14 Black-tailed Godwit & Redshank (Mrs Trellis)
on the wetland, which is looking like a high octane wader magnet at the moment

Pill:
11 Swift.

Portbury Dock:
1 Little Egret, 9 Ringed Plover (+ 1 sitting bird), 35 Dunlin, 3 Whimbrel, 40 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Mediterranean Gull (ad + juv), 5 Common Gull.

18/7/14 juv Mediterranean Gull (Chris Stone)
it's the scallopy thing at the front....we think

Portbury Wharf NR:

1 adult Little Ringed Plover, 3 Barn Owl out hunting 8.45pm, fields closest to the houses.

Clevedon:
Marine Lake: 1 hunting Peregrine.

Backwell Lake:
1 Kingfisher, showing well here in recent days apparently.

Blagdon Lake:
1 Little Egret, 5 Common Sandpiper.

Planet Chew:
5 Egyptian Goose, 1 Garganey, 1 Bittern, 3 Little Egret, 16 Lapwing, 5 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Black Tern, 8 Common Tern, 3 Kingfisher, 14 Sand Martin.

Reports: Karle Burford, Roger Hawley, David Hughes, Andrew Langson, Matt Scott, Chris Stone, Gwen Thomas, Mrs Trellis, Keith Vinicombe, BL birds, severnsidebirds.