Wednesday 31 May 2017

31st May '17 Wednesday - Bullfinch

Mild, dry but overcast early on. Odd bit of misty drizzle. Cloudy with some sun in the afternoon. Much nicer in the evening.


BRISTOL

No reports


SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Pilning  - Rookery Farm BBS:
2 Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap,
3 Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Swallow, 9 Long-tailed Tit, 13 Wren, 2 Collared Dove

New Passage/Northwick Warth:

Pilning wetland:
6 Lapwing chicks, 2 Redshank, 1 Shoveler, 1 Black-tailed Godwit

Severn Beach:

Chittening Warth:
3 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 11 Whitethroat, many Goldfinch and Linnet

NORTH SOMERSET:

Portishead - marina:
1 Cormorant

Channel View Farm to Yeo estuary:
1 Teal (♂), c 30 Shelduck (+ at least 19 ducklings;15/16 in a creche and a family party with just 4)
6 Little Egret, 2 Grey Plover (not in summer plumage), 4 Oystercatcher, 6 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel
1 Cuckoo, Swift ( not many), Swallow ( not many), Skylark ( everywhere. 10+ every 60 yards or so)
Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, 1 Bullfinch (♀), 1 Bullfinch (Kingston Seymour), Goldfinch, Greenfinch
9 Linnet

Weston Airfield:
1 Grey Heron, 3 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Oystercatcher, 5 Sedge Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher


BELOW M4 & BANES

No reports

RESERVOIRS:

Chew Valley Lake:
Dam:
2 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

Woodford:
1 Raven, 5 Goldfinch, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 20 Swallow

Heron's Green:
30+ Swift, 50+ Swallows & Martins, 4 Goldfinch, 1 Whitethroat

Moreton:
1 Hobby (most of the time over the lake), 3 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Cuckoo
1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 2 Bullfinch
3 Buzzard


Herriotts:
14 Shelduck, 1 White-fronted Goose, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Buzzard Swallows Martins & a few Swifts
White-fronted Goose (Ian Stapp)
River Chew:
2 Dipper (with chicks), 4 Grey Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 10 Jackdaw, 9 House Sparrow
8 Swift (over Pensford)
Dipper and chick (Ian Stapp)
Other:
250+ Rook (field Stanton Wick)



Reports: Paul Bowerman, Alastair Fraser, Adrian Hockey, Ian Stapp, Mrs Trellis, Dru Brooke-Taylor, Janey Clark,  blagdonlakebirds,  CVRSnslbirding,  opsbirding,  severnsidebirds,  TBOSG

Tuesday 30 May 2017

30th May '17 Tuesday - Little Tern

Cold, with some rain in morning, improving as day went on

Red Kite, Hobby, Grey Plover, Sanderling, Little Tern


30-5-17 Swift at New Passage (John Martin)
Oddly brown Swift reminiscing a Pallid
BRISTOL

Coombe Dingle:
First Greenfinch since winter on garden feeder
Stockwood Open Space:
1 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Whitethroat, 6 Goldfinch

SOUTH GLOUCESTSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:
1 Arctic Skua (prob) upriver, 1 Little Tern

30-5-17 Shelduck & Young at New Passage (Phil Appleton)
New Passage/Northwick Warth:
Shelduck, 2 Little Egret, Collared Dove, Redshank, Swifts, Swallow, House Martin

Horton:
1 Red Kite

NORTH SOMERSET

30-5-17 Collared Doves in Portishead (Steve Poulsom)
Hiding behind a satellite dish
Wain's Hill to Yeo Estuary, High Tide visit between 0930-1300:
135 Shelduck (also 80 young, 7 broods), 2 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Egret, 1 Hobby.17 Oystercatcher, 3 Grey Plover, 6 Lapwing, 2 Sanderling, 25 Dunlin, 1 Bar Tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 15 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpiper (Yeo), 5 Black Headed Gull. 200 Carrion Crow, 2 Raven, 27 Skylark, 3 Cetti’s Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff (also 3 young at Blake’s Pools), 7 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler, 25 Linnet

30-5-17 Wren and Bullfinch in Langford (David Goodliffe)
RESERVOIRS

Chew Valley Lake:

Herriotts End
1 Barnacle Goose, 8 Shelduck, 20+ Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, plenty Swifts and House Martins
30-5-17 House Sparrow munching aphids in
Clevedon garden (Andrew Ford)
Gull-billed Tern at Steart
Reports: Phil Appleton, Teresa Chard, Chris Craig, Alastair Fraser, David Goodliffe, Robert Hargreaves, Peter Hazelwood, John Martin, Steve Poulsom, Steve Sanins, Dan White

Monday 29 May 2017

29th May '17 Monday - Red-backed Shrike

Steady drizzle all morning, damp afternoon, a bit less so by early evening. It must be a bank holiday.
Not many birders out in the rain today.

Springwatch from Sherborne Park, Gloucester starts tonight BBC2
Red Kite still popping up in the region.
Barnacle Goose at Chew, I don't recall reports of them recently
Red-backed Shrike

Updated 19:42

BRISTOL

Longwell Green:
Barn Owl seen to make off hunting in the fields behind 'Sally on the Barn'.

Sneyd Park: 
Sparrowhawk juv calling (begging for food probably) from the trees.


SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Horton:
Red-backed Shrike (m, Vinney Lane)

Red-backed Shrike (Dan@twit1144)

NORTH SOMERSET:

Walton Common:
Tawny Owl (calling 11am)

Sand Bay:
Grey Heron, Reed Warbler, 2 Skylark, 2 Whitethroat, 4 Swallow, House Sparrow (chicks)
Starling (chicks)

Weston-super-Mare:
Red Kite

Worlebury Hill Road:
3 Starling, 3 Swift, 12 Jackdaw, 3 House Sparrow, 7 Chaffinch, 4 Blackbird, 3 Pied Wagtail, 6 Robin, 4 Carrion Crow, 12 Woodpigeon, 4 Dunnock, 2 Herring Gull, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Song Thrush,
2 Great Tit, 7 Swallow, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Blue Tit, 8 Magpie, 1 seemingly resident Buzzard,
1 Wren, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Coal tit, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Kestrel, 3 Feral Pigeon

Weston Airfield:
7 Little Egret, 3 Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Warbler, 2 Pied Wagtail
Sedge and Reed Warblers (Paul Cousins)

Langford:
2 Bullfinch (on garden feeder) https://www.flickr.com/gp/124645386@N02/897VCz

Mendips:
2 Redstart
Redstart (George Stacey)


BELOW M4 & BANES

Paulton:
Barn Owl, Kestrel, Jay, and 3 Mistle Thrush.

RESERVOIRS:

Barrow Tanks:
4 Ringed Plover (No 3 Tank)

Chew Valley Lake:
Dam:
1 Hybrid Duck, 1 Cettis, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

Heron's Green:
1 Cetti's, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Buzzard 100+ Swallows & Martins 30+ Swift

Moreton:
1 Marsh Harrier (11.05am), 2 Bullfinch, 4 Blackcap, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Chiffchaff
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Buzzard, 1 Jay
1 Black Swan (out on the lake with Mute Swans), 4 Goldfinch, 4 Great Black-backed Gull
2 Mistle Thrush, 50+ Swallows & Martins

Cuckoo (Ian Stapp)
Herriotts:
12 Shelduck, 2 Buzzard, 1 Cetti's, 2 Barnacle Goose, 3 Little Egret (on the pond, not seen that many Egret for some time)

Little Egret (Ian Stapp)
Bittern Trail:
4 Reed Warbler, 1 Cetti's, 2 Reed Bunting (feeding young), 1 Chiffchaff

SOMERSET LEVELS:
Red-fooded Falcon still.



Reports: Paul Milsom, Rob Purveur, David Goodliffe, Ian Stapp, Paul Cousins, Sean Davies, George Rabin, George Stacey, Patrick Hancock, Julia Roberts, Hugh Maynard, blagdonlakebirds,  CVRSnslbirding,  opsbirding,  severnsidebirds,  TBOSG

Sunday 28 May 2017

28th May '17 Sunday - Redstart

Surprisingly good in the morning but heavy rain late afternoon

Quail, Spoonbill, Red Kite, Redstart

SOUTH GLOUCESTSHIRE

Warmley Forest Park:
1 Peregrine, 2 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk,  2 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Jays, 6 Magpies, 1 Swift, 6 Swallows, 7 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroat, 12 Starlings, 12 Blackbirds, 6 Song Thrushes, 4 Mistle Thrushes, 6 Bullfinch, 7 Greenfinch, 10 Goldfinch

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
6 Mute Swan, 11 Canada Goose, c. 30 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Spoonbill, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Buzzard, 2 Moorhen, 9 Coot + young, 6 Oystercatcher, 14 Lapwing + 2 sets of young, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 1 BH Gull, 2 Skylark, 15 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 4 Pied Wagtail, 2 Reed Bunting.

Severn Beach high street:
7 Swift.14 House Martin

28-5-17 Kestrel in Lower Woods Nature Reserve (Martin Tayler)
Olveston:
4 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine

Yate:
2 Raven over

NORTH SOMERSET

Sand Point, Middle Hope, a.m:
LBB Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Magpie, Skylark singing, Swallow, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat (lots), Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, and a melanistic rabbit.

Worlebury Hill Road/Worlebury Golf Course:
1 Buzzard, 2 Herring Gull, 1 LBB Gull, 5 Woodpigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Magpie, 1 Rook, 4 Carrion Crow, 6 Jackdaw, 2 Swallow, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Starling, 2 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush,  5 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 6 House sparrow, 5 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch

Yatton, :
Cetti's Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, 1 Redstart (on Strawberry Line)

BELOW M4 & BANES

Marshfield, Down Road:
Quail (heard 08.30), 9 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Red Kite, 2 Buzzard, 55 Stock Dove, 6 Yellowhammer, 12 Corn Bunting, Brown Hare too

Paulton:
40 Woodpigeon, 40 Rook, 4 Skylark, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 5 Yellowhammer

RESERVOIRS

Litton Res saftie:
13 Tufted Duck, 1 juv Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe chicks, 15 House Martin, 4 Grey Wagtail

28-5-17 Great Crested Grebe at Litton Res (Mrs Trellis)
Little Bittern and Red-footed Falcon at Ham Wall
Reports: Paul Bowerman, Patrick Hancock, Robert Hargreaves, Chris Perry, Lois Pryce, George Rabin, Adam Rawson, Mike Salter, Martin Tayler, Brian Thompson, Mrs Trellis, Gordon Youdale

Saturday 27 May 2017

27th May '17 Saturday - Quail

Rain in morning, then cloud, bit of sun in afternoon. Windy but mild

White-fronted Goose, Quail , Spoonbill, Red Kite, Hobby, Water Pipit, Yellow Wagtail

BRISTOL

Aztec West:
1 Egyptian Goose

City Centre, Fintzel:
Peregrines rearing two young

27-5-17 Birds at Netham Weir (Gill Sapsed)
Netham Weir:
2 Mallard broods. 1 Cormorant surfing. 6 House Martin.

SOUTH GLOUCESTSHIRE

Shepperdine:
8 Sanderling, 1 Water Pipit

Littleton Brick Pits:
1 Yellow Wagtail flyover
27-5-17 Spoonbill at Pilning (Steve Poulsom)
New Passage/Northwick Warth:
1 Spoonbill, 5+ Black-tailed Godwit

NORTH SOMERSET

Clevedon, Colehouse Lane:
1 m. Peregrine on the radio mast. 2 Swift, 1 Swallow, 4 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat all singing, 60 adult Starling plus a few of the first juveniles

Clevedon-Yeo:
30 Shelduck ( + 4 juv ), 1 Buzzard, ,1 Peregrine 'type', 1 Kestrel, 1 Heron, 7 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail, 14 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Plover, 4 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 5 Whimbrel, 1 BH Gull, 4 Stock Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Bullfinch, 6 Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting

Worlebury Hill Road/Worlebury Golf Course:
2 Herring \Gull, 1 LBB Gull, 6 Woodpigeon, 2 Feral pigeon, 1 Collared dove, 1 Tawny Owl feather! 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Magpie, 1 Rook, 2 Carrion crow, 6 Jackdaw, 2 Swift (screaming), 3 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 1 Coal Tit adult+1 fledgling, 2 Blue tit, 1 Great tit, 5 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush,  6 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 5 House sparrow, 6 Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch

Kingston Seymour:
Red Kite

BELOW M4 & BANES

Marshfield:
1 Quail (PC) heard (Down Road, at 16.15 and 18.15), Brown Hare too

Bath:
Red Kite
26-5-17 Tawny Owl before the storm at Timsbury (Alex Carlisle)
Timsbury:
1 Tawny Owl ,1 Cuckoo heard from bedroom

Paulton:
3 Goldcrest, 5 Coal Tit (3 juvs), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Treecreeper
STW:
3 Swallow, 50 House Martin, 1 Grey Wagtail (juv)

RESERVOIRS

Blagdon:
118 Canada Geese, 1 Egyptian Goose, 100+ Swift

27-5-17 White-fronted Goose at Herriotts (Keith Vinicombe)
Chew Valley Lake:
1 Black Swan, 1 ad White-fronted Goose on Herriott's Pool (un-ringed), 6 Shelduck, 36 Gadwall in pre-moult gathering on Herriott's Pool, 3 Teal (probably returning birds), 7 m Pochard, 1 Little Egret, 1 1st-sum Hobby, 1 Cuckoo singing (note that this bird moves all around the lake), c.900 Swifts, 3 Sand Martins, c.350 House Martins, Reed Warblers showing well at Stratford Hide

27-5-17 Shelduck on the Severn (Lisegirl)
Every nite 8 Shelduck babies go right out to middle of estuary!
Reports: Alex Carlisle, Mark Coller, Peter Coslett, Jane Cumming, Mark Dadds,  Rob Emery, Patrick Hancock, Robert Hargreaves, Peter Hazelwood, Darren Pearce, Pete Perreott, Steve Poulsom, George Rabin, Trevor Riddle, Gill Sapsed, Maggie Smith, Howard Taffs, Keith Vinicombe

Friday 26 May 2017

26th May '17 Friday - White-fronted Goose and passage of Red Kites

Very hot and sunny with not enough wind.  The ground is drying out again.

Spoonbill still at Pilning Wetlands 
White-fronted Goose at Chew (provenance unknown so guess away!)


BRISTOL
Sea Mills:
1 Shelduck, 6 Swift, c. 16 House Martin, 1 Chiffchaff.

Whitchurch:
Red Kite over at 17:40, also Raven.


SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

New Passage/Northwick Warth:

A summer Sanderling at New Passage (Brian Lancastle)
Pilning wetland:
adult or near-adult Spoonbill again.  3 Black-tailed Godwit.

Severn Beach:
19 Oystercatcher, 3 Ringed Plover, 11 Sanderling.


NORTH SOMERSET:

Portbury Wharf:
1 Cuckoo flying over.
Yesterday evening, 25 May: Barn Owl, Little Owl and Nightingale (heard but not seen) (Iain Macfarlane). 

Congresbury:
1 Shelduck and 1 Moorhen overflying the A370 - unusual location.  Commuting between nest and feeding area, perhaps?

Goblin Combe:
1 Red Kite.


BELOW M4 & BANES

Bath:
A Red Kite over Combe down at 11:00 and another (or the same) over Oldfield Park at 19:50 hrs.


RESERVOIRS:

Wren on the Bittern Trail today (Lee @ Wildwood)
Chew Valley Lake:

Dam:
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Woodford:
2 Buzzard, 2 Blackcap, 5 Raven (over Villice Bay).

Heron's Green:
3 Buzzard,  20+ Swallow & House Martin, 1 Whitethroat, 5 Goldfinch.

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Moreton today (Ian Stapp)
Moreton:
2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier (12:25), 1 Cuckoo (calling), 1 Tawny Owl (calling), 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Jay.

Herriotts End:
1 White-fronted Goose (back pond), 16 Shelduck, 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Reports: Anthony Cook, Des Bowring, Jeff Hazell, Adrian Hockey, Brian Lancastle, Iain Macfarlane,  Timothy Marks, Lois Pryce, Kevin Smith, Ian Stapp, blagdonlakebirds,  CVRSnslbirding,  opsbirding,  severnsidebirds,  TBOSG

Thursday 25 May 2017

25th May '17 Thursday

Warm and sunny day, a touch humid. Hottest day of the year so far.
Photographers out in force today, hence the many fine pics.

Spoonbill
Large numbers of Red Kite reported in Cornwall, South Devon and Somerset coast. Some could drift our way.
Late post: Red Kite Portishead


BRISTOL

Sea Mills Station:
Nesting House Martin

House Martin collecting mud (Rod Holbrook)
 Bristol Docks:
4 Mute Swan in the floating harbour,
1 Moorhen near SS Great Britain, another at Finzell's Reach and a pair on the feeder.
1 Grey Wagtail at Finzell's Reach and the Peregrine on station there too.
Another Grey Wagtail near Temple Meads bridge and a Raven overhead there.
A cormorant by Temple Meads bridge.
About a dozen Mallard throughout and two or three gatherings of mixed Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls, totalling about 60

Eastville Park:
Kingfisher
Kingfisher on the Frome (David Hanks)


SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Bradley Stoke:
Little Grebe (Three Brooks)

Little Grebe (Vic Savery)

Aztec West:
Egyptian Goose
Egyptian Goose (Duncan McLaughlin)

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
12 Shelduck (+ 9 Chicks), 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Spoonbill, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Dunlin, 8 Shelduck
4 large + 2 small Lapwing chicks

Spoonbill at New Passage (John Martin)

Severn Beach:
8 Sanderling, 2 Ringed Plover
Sanderling in several colour phases (Vic Savery)
This one with more summer plumage


NORTH SOMERSET:

Portishead:
Red Kite (Down Road heading to Portbury)

BELOW M4 & BANES

Bath:
Peregrine and chicks
Peregrine family in Bath (Bath Peregrines)

RESERVOIRS:

Chew Valley Lake:

Dam:
1 Hooligan Gull, 2 Canada Goose (with 1 Gosling), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (fly over)

Woodford:
2 Swallow, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Buzzard, 1 Mistle Thrush

Heron's Green:
4 Goldfinch, 7 House Sparrow, 10 Swallow (pond), 4 House Martin, 1 Whitethroat (calling)
2 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Great Black-backed Gull

Moreton:
2 Jay, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret (fly past hide), 1 Raven, 3 Buzzard, 3 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Stock Dove, 1 Hobby, 2 Cetti's Warbler
2 Cuckoo (lots of calling fly past from Stratford to Moreton then to H Green chasing each other & calling)
A group of Large Gulls eating a dead Pike seen from Hide
Female woodpecker with leg ring (Ian Stapp)
Herriotts:
10 Shelduck, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Buzzard, 1 Grey Wagtail  

Other:
The Female G S Woodpecker has a ring on Left leg see pic, Both M & F seem to be finding loads of food for the chicks looks like Caddis flies.
Cuckoo a lot of flying around & calling chasing one after the other for about 30 min at 11.30 today.
On way home at Chelwood Village 12.45pm 1 Red Kite circling over a field being cut for Silage with gulls.
 
 
Somewhere in the Region:
Not sure where this was taken but it's such a good image
 
Blue Tit (Paul Milo)
Struggling with what appears to be a spider's egg sac

 
Beach Clean at Sand Point
Apparently us oldsters are not volunteering as much as we once did, hence the focus on the 'mature and experienced'. You must wear gloves and take food, drink, sun tan lotion, waterproofs (well it is Britain) and suitable footwear.




Reports: Vic Savery,  Lisegirl, Duncan McLaughlin, Rod Holbrook, John Martin, Paul Bowerman, Ian Stapp, Tony Scott, David Hanks, Duncan McLaughlin, Paul Milo, Peter Evans  blagdonlakebirds,  CVRSnslbirding,  opsbirding,  severnsidebirds,  TBOSG

Wednesday 24 May 2017

24th May Wednesday - Red Kite


Warm. Sunny in many places but misty by the coast.

Red Kites at Clevedon and Wick, Spoonbill and Little Stint on Pilning Wetlands


BRISTOL
Hotwells to Pill along the River Avon:3 Shelduck, including a possible breeding pair. Sea Mills. 1 Buzzard, 7+ Swift, at Pill village, and some shrieking. None anywhere else. 3 Jay. Jackdaw, occupied nest at Hotwells with chicks calling. 61 Rook, (in field near Chapel Pill + another 3 nearby. Some appeared to be this year’s birds and making odd noises. Raven, flown from nest in cedar tree in garden near Penny Brohn Centre, but at least 2 still in the tree, noisy, and moving around in branches and at least one other calling somewhere near by. 1 also in Avon Gorge. 1 Blue Tit, visiting nest box at Watchtower Hill, Pill. 1 Great Tit, visiting nest in wall in railway embankment in Leigh Woods. Swallow, only ones seen were some viewed from bus on the way back at Abbots Leigh. House Martins, at least 10 appear to be breeding (as they normally do) at Sea Mills Station, but could not check nests as I was on the other side of the river. 6+ Long Tailed Tit, family party in Leigh Woods. Willow Warbler, 1 singing at Chapel Pill fishing lake. 1 Grey Wagtail, Leigh Woods, slightly unusually on the Leigh Woods side of the path near the railway line.


SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
2 Swallows and Mute Swan
25/5/17 Swallows at New Passage (Patrick Hardyman Richards)
Pilning wetland:
Spoonbill still on Pilning Wetland at 3pm. It is awake at long last on the rest wader pool. Two more freshly hatched Lapwing chicks today. Little Stint, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Pochard

24/5/17 Spoonbill on Pilning Wetlands (John Martin)


Hawkesbury:
Broad Hill. A Garden Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat today.

Wick:
2 Red Kites low over garden today at 15:45. They were flying from North to South, eventually picking up a thermal and becoming lost to view.

NORTH SOMERSET:

Clevedon-Yeo:
Red Kite over Clevedon Craft Centre today. 2.30 pm.

Wain's Hill to Yeo Estuary
High Tide visit between 0530-0930.
Golden P,lover: full summer plumage at Yeo Estuary. 2 Whinchat at Dowlais. 95 Shelduck, 
6 Tufted Duck, 7 Little Egret, 2 Little Grebe (includes 1 juvenile) at Blake’s Pools, 1 Sparrowhawk. 
6 Oystercatcher, 100 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover (Yeo), 5 Lapwing, 15 Dunlin, 5 Whimbrel, 
16 Curlew, 3 Redshank. 2 Cuckoo (pair at Blake’s Pools), 2 Raven, 31 Skylark, 4 Cetti’s Warbler, 
12 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 14 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 9 Reed Warbler, 2 Whinchat (Dowlais),
5 Greenfinch (family party), 4 Bullfinch, 5 Reed Bunting.


Sand Bay:
1 Grey Heron, 1 Reed Warbler in song, at least 2 Skylark in song (somewhere!), 2 Whitethroat,
4 Swallow and family parties of recently fledged House Sparrow and Starling.

Uphill:
Red Kite heading north-west over Hutton Hill

Langford:
(Garden) Bullfinch, unusual billed Wood pigeon.
Lower Langford:
1 Cuckoo

24/5/17 Unusual billed Wood pigeon at Langford (David Goodliffe)

24/5//17 Bullfinch in garden at Langford (David Goodliffe)
BELOW M4 & BANES

Bath:
No bird reports from Bath today but 3 hummers reported around Bath

24/5/17 3 hummers reported around Bath (Alex Carlisle)


RESERVOIRS:

Chew Valley Lake:

Dam:
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (flyover), 2 Buzzard

Bittern Trail:
Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Bunting (1 m,1f), 3 Reed Warbler, 4 Cetti's,
2 Spotted Flycatcher mating.
23/5/17 Bittern Trail at Chew(George Stacey)
Heron's Green:
4 Goldfinch, 5 House Sparrows, 1 Hobby (pond side), 1 Whitethroat, 4 Buzzard (hills pond side)

Moreton:
3 Jay, 2 Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Buzzard, 1 Raven,
1 Common Tern (a bit of a rarity at the lake so far this Spring)

Herriotts End:
8 Shelduck, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 House Sparrows

24/5/17 Common Tern Ian Stapp)
A bit of a rarity at Chew this spring



Reports: Dru Brooke-Taylor, Alex Carlisle, Steve Evans, David Goodliffe, Patrick Hardyman Richards, Pete Harris, Brian Lancastle, 
John Martin, Vic Polley, Lisa Presland, Rob Purveur, Steven Sanins, George Stacey, Ian Stapp  
blagdonlakebirds,  CVRSnslbirding,  opsbirding,  severnsidebirds,  TBOSG

Tuesday 23 May 2017

23rd May '17 Tuesday - Spoonbill

Cold and cloudy, even misty morning, very warm in afternoon

Spoonbill, Hobby, Little Stint

BRISTOL

Stockwood Open Space:
Lesser Whitethroat and numerous Whitethroat,.Hind and two very young fawns.
Late report: 2 Jay, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Bullfinch, 6 Goldfinch.
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Frenchay:
3 Greenfinch fledglings

Oldbury Power Station:
5 Tufted Duck, 1 Spoonbill (PH), 1 Cetti's Warbler by the lake, 1 Peregrine at usual spot
and in the village - 30 House Martin.

23-5-17 Spoonbill at New Passage (Paul Bowerman)
Not the same as the one 13th/14th May
New Passage/Northwick Warth:
9 Shelducklings on the beach, Pochard pair still, a dozen Gadwall and Tuftied Duck, 1 Little Egret, 1 Spoonbill (PB), 2 Little Ringed Plover, 7 ad Lapwing and 4 chicks, 1 Little Stint, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Stock Dove - oh yes, the hybrid Ring-neck/Tufted Duck still present.

RESERVOIRS
Dam:
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler

Woodford:
2 Buzzard, 2 Ravens (Nunnery), 1 Raven (Denny), 40+ Swift, 1 Blackcap (car park), 1 Song Thrush (drive)

Herons Green:

1 Buzzard, 1 GBB Gull, 1 Whitethroat, 10+ House Sparrows, 4 Goldfinch

23-5-17 Great Spotted Woodpecker at CVL (Ian Stapp)
What's the food offering on the pecker's head for
Moreton:
2 Jay 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Blackcap 2 Chiffchaff 1 Garden Warbler 1 Buzzard 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker,

Herriotts End:
10 Shelduck 14 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 1 Hobby, 40+ Swift, 100+ Swallows & House Martins

Reports, Paul Bowerman, Margaret Bulmer, Teresa Chard, Paul Francis, Robert Hargreaves, Peter Hazelwood, Nigel Sluman, Ian Stapp, Mrs Trellis, severnsidebirds,

Monday 22 May 2017

22nd May '17 Monday

Cool start followed by warm, sunny day with a bit of breeze. Positively scorchio at times.

Little Owl, Red Kite, Black-tailed Godwit (possible Limosa), Avocet, Little Stint


BRISTOL

Eastville Park:
Dipper

Dipper in Eastville Park (Allan Chard)

Coombe Dingle Garden
Bullfinch (m), 2 Collared Dove, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Robin, Dunnock

Stoke Park, Duchess Pond:
Buzzard
Buzzard (Allan Chard)
Penpole-Kingsweston Woods:
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaff and 7 Song Thrush.

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
2 Pochard, 8 Shelducklings, Black-tailed Godwit (possible Limosa), 2 Avocet

Pilning wetland:
Little Stint, 4 Lapwing chicks survive
Little Stint (Lisegirl)
Late report -
7 Mute Swan, 7 Canada Goose, 7 Tufted Duck, Little Egret, 16 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, Meadow Pipit, some Goldfinch, and 2 Reed Bunting.


Pilning, Rookery Farm:
Little Owl, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap

NORTH SOMERSET:

Clevedon-Yeo:
7 Mute Swan, 4 Canada Goose, 48 Shelduck 48 plus 8 juvs still being "mothered" by 7 adults
30 Mallard, 9 Tufted Duck 9 (All at KP), 3 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Oystercatcher 6 (3 'Pairs')
1 Grey Plover, 3 Lapwing, 5 Ringed Plover, 6 Whimbrel, 3 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 2 Redshank
110 Lesser Black Backed Gull (All KP), 65 Herring Gull
6 Swallow, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff , 1+ Whitethroat, several Reed Warbler 
Uphill:
Cuckoo, Little Egret, Kingfisher, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, Little Grebe (+ young)


BELOW M4 & BANES

Markesbury/Farmborough
Red Kite


RESERVOIRS:

Chew Valley Lake:
11 Shelduck, 7 Shoveler, 1 Hobby, 1 Cuckoo, 1 White-fronted Goose (adult), Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull (Keith Vinicombe)
In the field, this seagull appeared to be a perfectly normal second-summer Herring Gull, except that it had yellow legs. Looking at the photo, it looks more likely to be a Yellow-legged Gull but with the grey back and scapulars looking pale in the strong sunlight. (Keith Vinicombe)

Dam:
1 Common Sandpiper

Heron's Green:
Reed & Sedge Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat, Swans (with Cygnets)

Moreton:
1 Cuckoo, 2 Tawny Owl (calling by the hide), 2 Jay, 2 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler
1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Raven, 2 Buzzard, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler,
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (nest with chicks)

Nesting Great Spotted Woodpeckers (Ian Stapp)
Herriotts:
1 Hobby, 10 Shelduck, 1 Cetti's, 1 Pochard (M), 2 Barnacle Goose, Swans (with Cygnets)
Snipe




Reports: Alastair Fraser, Harvey Rose, Paul Bowerman, Dick Reader, Allan Chard, Adrian Hockey, John Martin, Lisegirl, Keith Vinicombe, Nick Page, Ian Stapp, Sean Davies, VÄ•ra Carpenter, Mrs Trellis, blagdonlakebirds,  CVRSnslbirding,  opsbirding,  severnsidebirds,  TBOSG

Sunday 21 May 2017

21st May '17 Sunday - Avocet

Sunny and calm all day, not too hot

Hobby, Avocet, Common Tern, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear

19-5-17 Spotted Flycatcher in Totterdown garden, Bristol (Bailey Frazer)
BRISTOL
Totterdown:
1 Spotted Flycatcher, unusual sighting in Bristol town

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

21-5-17 Chiffchaff at Oldbury Power Station (Lisegirl)
Oldbury Power Station:
Buzzard, Chiffchaffs. Whitethroats. Sedge and Reed Warbler, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed Buntings,

21-5-17 Hobby at Northwick Warth (Dan White)
New Passage/Northwick Warth:
8 Shelducklings, 2 (pair) Pochard, 1 Hobby hunting Swallows, 24 Ringed Plover, pos Limosa Black-tailed Godwit, Greenfinch + 3 fledged young

NORTH SOMERSET

Clevedon, Blackstone Rocks:
1 Wheatear

BELOW M4 & BANES


Marshfield, Shire Valley, Mill House Garden:
2 (pair) Spotted Flycatcher

21-5-17 Peregrines in Bath (BUPP)
Cupboard Love
Bath, Lidl's:
2 Swift, 12 House Martin

Bath, Twerton:
6 Swift, 2 Blue Tit, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Dunnock, 2 Greenfinch

RESERVOIRS
21-5-17 Avocet on CVL Dam (Sean Davies)
Chew Valley Lake:
Dam:
Avocet

Stratford Hide:
1 Common Tern
21-5-17 Ringed Plover at Severn Beach (Lisegirl)
Two updates to Out of UK, from Australia and Montenegro

Reports: John Barnett, Paul Bowerman, Chris Craig, Sean Davies, Bailey Frazer, Trevor Ford, Robert Hargreaves, Lisegirl, Mrs Trellis