04-01-26 Sunday - Red-breasted Merganser

Temp -3°C to 04°C -  A ground frost overnight but sunshine and then cloud later, a light breeze from the west gusting to 16 mph, but feeling very cold

Calling all photographers -- the 2025 Avon Bird Report

As we have now entered 2026 planning and preparation has already begun for the next Avon Bird Report to be published in the autumn.  We are now using a full colour printing system and we will need a good range of photographs, some of these could be quite small (say a quarter page) while others  might be full page.  They need to have been taken in Avon in 2025. So if you have anything that you think might be suitable could you please send them to me at blacktgodwit@gmail.com  the e-mail address I use for all matters relating to the Report. Most will be in 'landscape' style but a few in 'portrait' are also welcome, we will use one of the best shots for the cover. Any of the usual print formats are acceptable.  Although the Report will not appear until the autumn we need to get started and so the earlier we receive your photos the better..  Finally I would like to extend this invitation to include both drawings and paintings.

Penduline Tit

Avocet 

Red-breasted Merganser

Whooper Swan

Ring-necked Duck

Brambling

Red-crested Pochard

BRISTOL

04-01-26 Swan and friends EP (Rich Scantlebury)

Eastville Park:

Mute Swan, Mallard - - - - 

Kingsweston Chase:

1 Raven, 1 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest

04-01-26 Avocet Shirehampton R Avon (David Minshall)

Shirehampton - Lamplighter - Marsh River Avon 
44 Avocet - counted at low water

Sims Hill:

1 Kestrel, 2 Stonechat

Snuff Mills:

1 Mistle Thrush

Stoke Park inc Duchess Pond:

1 Little Grebe, 1 Red Kite

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Aust Services:

1 Brambling

Aust Wetland:
8 Snipe, 1 Great White Egret - over, 3 Penduline Tit, 6 Redwing, 15 Linnet

New Passage/Northwick:
16 White-fronted Goose, c65 Greylag Goose, 1 Pintail (m), c170 Oystercatcher, 4 Golden Plover, 12 Ringed Plover, c150 Curlew, c400 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Knot, 4000 Dunlin, 1 Marsh Harrier (m), 1 Redpoll

Thornbury:

2 Ring-necked Parakeet

NORTH SOMERSET

Portishead:
1 Firecrest - dockside pines, 1 Goldcrest - Lido

04-01-26 Water Rail Clevedon (Howard Taffs)

Clevedon 

- Blind Yeo: Mallard, 6 Goosander, 1 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Cettie's Warbler

- Wain's Hill: 9 Goosander, 2 Peregrine

Axe Estuary:

30+ Ringed Plover, 1 Sanderling

Uphill:
1 Red-breasted Merganser, Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kingfisher

Banwell:
8 Mallard - over, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, 8 Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 1 Buzzard, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (f&m), 1 Green Woodpecker (m), 30 Jackdaw, 1 Raven - calling, 2 Coal Tit, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Blackcap (f), Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Startling - group, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Blackbird, 2 Dunnock, 9 Pied Wagtail, 2 Chaffinch, Goldfinch

BELOW M4 & BANES

Marshfield:

48 Lapwing, 1 Red Kite, Skylark, 7 Stonechat, 30 Meadow Pipit. 70 Linnet

Willsbridge - garden:

2 Pied Wagtail (f&m), 1 Chaffinch (m), 14 Goldfinch

Hanham:

1 Red Kite - west

Oldland Common - Jarrett's 

4 Red Kite

Keynsham, Manor Road Community Woodlands:
c 400 Jackdaw - plus some Carrion Crow and Rook - - -  in pre roost

Stanton Prior:
1 Red Kite

Norton Hawkfield:

14 Lapwing, 200 Starling

04-01-26 Common Gull Paulton (Patrick Hancock)

Paulton:
11 Lapwing, 85 Common Gull, 1 Red Kite, 2 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 20 Starling, 3 Meadow Pipit, 14 Yellowhammer

RESERVOIRS

Chew Valley Lake

Bernard King Hide:
3 Chiffchaff

Denny Lane:

c70 Lapwing

Herons Green:
1 Ring-necked Duck

Moreton:
2 Whooper Swan, 3 Cattle Egret - over

04-01-26 Snipe CVL (Lucy Masters)

Stratford:
1 Water Rail, 10 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kingfisher

Herriotts inc Pool:
1 Red-crested Pochard (f), 1 Water Rail - calling, 1 Jack Snipe - brief flight,  2 Bearded Tit - calling

Reported by: John Barnett, Sam Caswell, Mark Coller, Peter Coslett, Ben Crabb, Chris Craig, Jamie Dunning, Alastair Fraser, Chris Hall, Matt Hall, Patrick Hancock, Gill & Geoff Hardman, Rupert Higgins, Brian Lancastle, Lucy Masters, David Minshall, Nick Page, Darren Pearce, Matt Plenty, Lois Pryce, Howard Taffs, Rich Scantlebury, Simon Stuart, Larry Sweetland, Chris Teague, Bri Thompson, John Thorogood, Martin Wightman, Penny Wills

blagdonlakebirds, CVRS, opsbirding, severnsidebirds

03-01-26 Saturday - Red-breasted Merganser

Temp 01°C to 04°C - Overnight frost and felt cold all day.  Clear day with a slight breeze from the NNW of 6-13mph gusting to 20mph.

Calling all photographers -- the 2025 Avon Bird Report

As we have now entered 2026 planning and preparation has already begun for the next Avon Bird Report to be published in the autumn.  We are now using a full colour printing system and we will need a good range of photographs, some of these could be quite small (say a quarter page) while others  might be full page.  They need to have been taken in Avon in 2025. So if you have anything that you think might be suitable could you please send them to me at blacktgodwit@gmail.com  the e-mail address I use for all matters relating to the Report. Most will be in 'landscape' style but a few in 'portrait' are also welcome, we will use one of the best shots for the cover. Any of the usual print formats are acceptable.  Although the Report will not appear until the autumn we need to get started and so the earlier we receive your photos the better..  Finally I would like to extend this invitation to include both drawings and paintings.

White-fronted Goose

Ring-necked Duck

Red-breasted Merganser

Jack Snipe

Penduline Tit

Firecrest

BRISTOL

Blaise Estate - Kings Weston Drive:

2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Coal Tit, 9 Blue Tit. 8 Great Tit, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Firecrest, 4 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper, 3 Blackbird, 7 Robin

Bristol Cathedral Churchyard:

1 Raven, 1 Chiffchaff

Avocet, Lamplighters Marsh (David Minshall)

Lamplighters Marsh:

1 Oystercatcher, 50+ Avocet, 3 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, c10 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 Song Thrush,  6+ Redwing, 8+ Linnet

Leigh Woods:

1 Firecrest

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Penduline Tit and Reed Bunting, Aust Warth ( Caron Thornton-Trippit and Vera Carpenter)

Aust Warth:
1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Jack Snipe, 1 Kestrel, 3 Penduline Tit, 1 Stonechat, 2 Reed Bunting

Easter Compton:

1 Kestrel, c40 Rook, 5 Blackcap(1f, 4m), c50 Starling, 1 Song Thrush, 12 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare, 1 Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch.

Iron Acton:

1 Shelduck (unusual inland flyover)

Yate - Coopers/Stanshaws Lake:

2 Gadwall, 9 Tufted Duck, 7 Goosander (3f,4m), 1 Kingfisher

Chipping Sodbury Common:
1 Teal (f), 7 Snipe, 4 Stock Dove, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Red Kite, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine

NORTH SOMERSET

Avon Bridge:

54 Avocet (N Somerset side)

Clevedon - Dowlais:
Scrape:

2 Teal, 1 Snipe

Estuary:

1 Grey Plover, 5 Curlew, 12 Turnstone, 500 Dunlin, 15 Redshank

Track:

6 Redwing

Nailsea - Towerhouse Wood:

1 Firecrest

Nailsea Moor:

2  Mallard, 1 Common Gull, 6 Cormorant,1 Little Egret, 3 Great White Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Song Thrush, 4 Stonechat, 2 Pied Wagtail, 5 Greenfinch, 1 Reed Bunting

Little Egret, Yatton - Little River (Emily Lomas)

Yatton - Little River:

34 Mute Swan, 1 Stock Dove, 8 Woodpigeon, 4 Moorhen, 2 Cormorant, 9 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Magpie, 3 Jackdaw, 5 Rook, 9 Carrion Crow, 4 Wren, 15 Starling, 7 Redwing, 5 Blackbird, 12 Fieldfare, 5 Robin, 2 Stonechat, 1 Dunnock, 1 Pied Wagtail

Yatton - Wemberham:
38 Mute Swan, 3 Moorhen, 1 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker,  1 Skylark, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Redwing, 4 Blackbird, 3 Robin, 2  Dunnock, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting

Red-breasted Merganser, Uphill (Merv Carylon)

Uphill - boating lake:

1 Red-breasted Merganser

BELOW M4 & BANES

Holm Meads - River Avon:

2 Canada x Greylag Goose (hybrid), 5 White-fronted Goose, 

Newton St Loe:
3 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Red Kite, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Raven, 1 Firecrest (1st since 2019), 1 Treecreeper, 3 Mistle Thrush, 40+ Redwing, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Stonechat

RESERVOIRS

Chew Valley Lake

Nunnery:
1 Ring-necked Duck

Marsh Harrier, Stratford (Lucy Masters)

Stratford:

6 Lapwing, 9 Cattle Egret (fly past), 1 Marsh Harrier (m), 1 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Chiffchaff 

Reported by: Ruth, Dru Brooke-Taylor, Peter Bryant, Diana Bunniss, Merv Carlyon, Vera Carpenter, Mark Coller, Ben Crabb, Chris Craig, Emily Lomas, Lucy Masters, David Minshall, Lois Pryce, Trevor Riddle, Tony Scott, Howard Taffs, Caron Thornton-Trippit, Wayne Tucker, Penny Wills,

blagdonlakebirds, CVRS, opsbirding, severnsidebirds

02-01-26 Friday - White-fronted Geese

Temp 01°C to 07°C -  Wet overnight clearing to a cold, sunny day with some 20% cumulus cloud.  Light but chilly northerly breeze.

White-fronted Geese

Whooper and Bewick's Swans

Ring-necked Duck

Avocets

Woodcocks, Jack Snipe

Cattle Egrets

Penduline Tits

Shorebirds - mostly Avocets - at Lamplighters (Alex Venner)

BRISTOL

Clifton Park gardens:

16 Greenfinch

Oldbury Court:

1 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Firecrest.

Shirehampton - Lamplighters/Portway Park & Ride:

2 Shelduck, 6 Mallard, 53 Avocet, 1 Curlew, 4 Redshank, 20+ Black-headed Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 10+ Herring Gull, 4 Cormorant (appeared to be a family), 1 Grey Heron.

Flock of Avocets at Lamplighters (Alex Venner)

Sims Hill:

2 Woodcock

Stoke Park inc Duchess Pond:

2 Little Grebe

UWE east entrance:

20 Siskin

Penduline Tit at Aust Wetland (Mark Smith)

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:

pr Gadwall, pr Tufted Duck (last here in June), 4 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 3 Mistle Thrush, pr Stonechat, female-type Black Redstart, pr Nuthatch, 7 Bullfinch. 

Aust STW:

Firecrest

Aust Wetland:
1 m. sawbill, probably Goosander (over), Barn Owl, 3 Penduline Tit.

Northwick Warth (north end):
1 Common Sandpiper, 9 Jack Snipe, Whinchat, 8 Rock Pipit 

Pilning Wetlands:
73 Canada Goose, 48 Greylag Goose, 16 White-fronted Goose, 2 Bewick's Swan (briefly, on flash, then flew NE), 10 Shueldck, flocks Wigeon, 4 Pochard, 75 Oystercatcher, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, Cattle Egret, .

Chipping Sodbury Common:
100+ Lapwing, 2 Jack Snipe, 2 Snipe, 7 Red Kite, 1 f. Merlin, 2 Raven, 1 Chiffchaff, 2+ Redpoll.

NORTH SOMERSET

Portishead Marina:

Common Sandpiper, Black Redstart.

Clevedon - Yeo:

Strode Road Bridge: 2 Little Egret, Grey Wagtail.

St Andrews Church: m. Peregrine, 10 Linnet.

Sea front to Dowlais: 7 Goosander (mouth of Land Yeo - 4 m., 3 f,), 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 12 Curlew, 20 Dunlin, Redshank, 20 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush (Brown Hare).

Long Ashton - Yanley Patch:

1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 5 Blue Tit, 5 Great Tit, Wren, 25 Redwing, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Bullfinch.

Worle:
2 Peregrine

Kestrel in suburban Keynsham (Ian Stapp)

BELOW M4 & BANES

Holm Mead - inc R Avon:
5 White-fronted Goose,

RESERVOIRS

Blagdon Lake:

9 Egyptian Goose, Barnacle Goose with Canada Geese. 15+ Goldeneye, 3 Goosander, pr Stonechat, 2 Blackcap.

Dam: Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper.

Chew Magna Reservoir:

2 Great White Egret, 2 Little Egret, one Grey Heron, 1 ad. GBB Gull.

Chew Valley Lake

Villice:

3 Goldeneye (2 f, 1 m), 1 Water Rail calling, 1 Cetti’s Warbler calling.

Nunnery:

Ring-necked Duck

Herons Green:

7 Goldeneye (4 f.,3 m.), 1 Lapwing, 1 LBB Gull, 9 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cattle Egret, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 50 Redwing, 1 Chaffinch.

Moreton:
2 Whooper Swan, 11 Cattle Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk (in field behind the hide) , c.500 Starling.

Herriotts Bridge Pool:
2 Egyptian Goose, 1 m. Mandarin, 4 Pintail, 1 Water Rail, 2 Cetti's Warbler (calling).

Reported by:  Jon Angell, Jane Cumming, Stephen Curtis & Carol Rushton. Andy Davis, Stephen Le Flohic  Larry Sweetland, Alex Venner, all contrinbutors to local WhatsApp groups, blagdonlakebirds, opsbirding, severnsidebirds

01-01-26 Thursday - Penduline Tits

Temp 01°C to 07°C -  Sunshine with cloud encroaching later, a gentle breeze stayed from the west north west for the majority of the day, gusting around lunchtime to 25 mph.

Avocet

Penduline Tit

Whinchat

Firecrest

White-fronted Goose

Cattle Egret

Ring-necked Duck

BRISTOL

Filton - garden:

video of Jackdaw - pre roost

Bishopston - garden:

8 Feral Pigeon, 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Blackcap (m), 2 Robin, 3 Blackbird (f&2m),
3 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit

Bishop Road to Horfield Common:

19 Feral Pigeon, 18 Woodpigeon, 4 Collared Dove, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Magpie, 4 Jackdaw, 9 Crow, 8 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Blackcap, 3 Starling, 5 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 9 Robin, 16 House Sparrow, 1 Dunnock, 3 Chaffinch, 4 Goldfinch

Eastville - Greenbank View:

1 Sparrowhawk (m)

Eastville Park:

10 Mute Swan, c200 Feral Pigeon, c130 BH Gull, 1 Cormorant, 1 Kingfisher (m), 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 1 Firecrest, 1 Grey Wagtail

Henbury:

4 Stock Dove, 1 Jay, 1 Raven, 1 Nuthatch

01-01-26 Avocet R Avon (David Minshall)

Shirehampton - Lamplighter Marsh and R Avon:

3 Teal, 2 Oystercatcher, 56 Avocet, 1 Curlew, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 1 Grey Heron, c20 Linnet

01-01-26 Ring-necked Parakeet Snuff Mills (Anna Wawer)

Snuff Mills:

1 Grey Heron, 1 Kingfisher (f), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Grey Wagtail

01-01-26 White-fronted Goose Severnside (Brian Lancastle)

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:
100 Lapwing, 80 Curlew, 100 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 30 Redshank, 1 Little Egret in Oldbury Pill

Aust Services/STW:

3 Buzzard, 2 Raven, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Grey Wagtail, 20+ Chaffinch, c300 Linnet

01-01-26 Penduline Tit Aust Wetlands (Steve Richardson)

Aust Wetland - and path:
12 Stock Dove, 1 Snipe, 1 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker - calling, 3 Penduline Tit - 1st wint, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, c50 Redwing, 100 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting

01-01-26 Kestrel NP-NW (Craig Lewis)

New Passage/Northwick:
60 Canada Goose, c65 Greylag Goose, 16 White-fronted Goose - inc 1 juv, 40 Shelduck, Wigeon, 30 Teal, 2 Collared Dove, 400/500 Lapwing, Oystercatcher, 50 Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Turnstone, 13 Snipe, 60 Redshank, 1 Kestrel, 2 Raven, 15 Skylark, 1 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, 2 Pied Wagtail, 4 Meadow Pipit

01-01-26 White-fronted Goose Severnside (Keith Williams)

Pilning Wetlands:
2 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Cattle Egret, 1 Little Egret,  377 Lapwing - spooked into flight, 1 Dunlin, 2 Chiffchaff

01-001-26 Snipe NP (Vĕra Carpenter)

NORTH SOMERSET

Pill - Markham Fields:
2 Buzzard, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 12 Skylark, 150 Linnet, 6 Reed Bunting

Portbury Wharf:
2 Water Rail, 1 Marsh Harrier (m)

Watercress Farm:

1 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Jay, 15 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 3 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, 5 Siskin

Nailsea Moor:
1 Mute Swan, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Water Rail, 5 Common Gull, 5 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 1 Song Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, 6 Stonechat, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 4 Greenfinch, 100 Linnet

Gordano - Weston Big Wood :
120+ Raven - new record

01-01-25 Siskin Cl-Y (Jason Williams)

Clevedon - Yeo:
2 Goosander, 2000 Lapwing, Golden Plover, 3000 Dunlin, 1 Cattle Egret, 1 Great White Egret

Backwell Lake:
6 Canada Goose, 8 Mute Swan, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, 1 Water Rail, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Snipe, 4 Common Gull, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 2 Raven, 1 Blackcap, 1 Mistle Thrush

Wrington Warren:

1 Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, 2 Nuthatch. 3 Treecreeper, 25 Redwing, 10 Chaffinch, 1 Bullfinch

Banwell - a day from our window:
Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit,
Marsh Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Nuthatch, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Goldfinch

BELOW M4 & BANES

Downend - garden:

1 Blackcap (m)

Burnett:

1 Barn Owl - fence post top, an hour after dawn

Hunstrete - around the lanes:
4 Pheasant. 30+ Woodpigeon, 1 G S Woodpecker, 3 Magpie, 50+ Rook, 2 Raven, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Mistle Thrush, 20+ Redwing, 3 Fieldfare

Bishop Sutton:
2 Collared Dove, 10+ Jackdaw

Dunkerton:
inc - 15 Red-legged Partridge, 100 Black-headed Gull, 20 Common Gull, 2 Red Kite, 2 Tawny Owl, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 20 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Song Thrush, 30 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, 1 Bullfinch, 3 Greenfinch, 

RESERVOIRS

Barrow Tanks:
1 Common Sandpiper - at first light

Chew Valley Lake

Dam:
2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Goldeneye, 2 G BB Gull, 2 Grey Heron, 2 G W Egret,  8 Chiffchaff, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit

Nunnery:
1 Ring-necked Duck, 2 Goldeneye (m), 1 G W Egret, 1 Buzzard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechat

Herons Green:
4 Pochard, 6 Goldeneye, 3 Little Grebe, 3 Snipe (pool), 2 Grey Heron, 2 G W Egret, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 3 Pied Wagtail

Moreton:

2 Whooper Swan

Stratford:
4 Wigeon, 1 Goldeneye, 4 Stock Dove, 9 Lapwing, 2 Grey Heron, 1 G W Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 15+ Fieldfare & Redwing, 2 Pied Wagtail, 8+ Siskin

01-01-26 Mandarin CVL (Ian Stapp)

Herriotts inc Pool:
7 Shelduck, 1 Mandarin Duck (m), 10+ Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 3 Pintail, 100+ Teal, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Water Rail, 2 G BB Gull, 4 Grey Heron, 4 G W Egret, 1 Little Egret, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Red Kite, 2 Buzzard, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Reed Bunting.

Reported by: Jon Angell, John Budd, Beth & Darren Burton, Mark Coller, Ben Crab, Chris Craig, Stephen Curtis, Geoff Dring, Heather England, Lee Gardiner, Eleanor Harris, Craig Lewis, Mike Meechem, David Minshall, Nick Page, Andy Pym, Steve Richardson, Carol Rushton, Gill Sapsed, Ian Stapp, Andy Stockhausen, Howard Taffs, Chris Teague, John Thorogood, Anna Wawer, & Alex Venner, Thomas Weston, Jason Williams, Keith Williams

blagdonlakebirds, CVRS, opsbirding, severnsidebirds

31-12-25 Wednesday

Temp -3.5°C to 04°C -  The sun broke through the freezing fog late morning making for a fine but cold afternoon with light winds from the west.

Red-breasted Meganser

Penduline Tit

Brambling

53 Avocet inside Bristol city limits...

BRISTOL

Blaise Estate:

1 Little  Egret , 8 Redwing.  1 Grey Wagtail

Avocet, Lamplighters Marsh (David Minshall)

Lamplighters Marsh:

53 Avocet, 2 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, 10+ Redshank, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Song Thrush, 10+ Redwing, 1 Stonechat, c10 Linnet

Stoke Park inc Duchess Pond:

3 Little Grebe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Common Snipe, 12 Fieldfare, 50 Redwing

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Yacht Club, fields and foreshore:
c100 Lapwing, c80 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, c30 Redshank, 1 Little Egret

Aust Warth & cliffs:

5 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting

Penduline Tit, Aust (Lee Gardiner)

Aust Wetlands:
3 Penduline Tit

New Passage/Northwick:
8 White-fronted Goose

Wickwar:

c150 Lapwing, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet (flying N. towards Tortworth)

Chipping Sodbury Common:
2 Stock Dove, 1 Jack Snipe, 5 Snipe, 3 Red Kite, 1 Raven, 60+ Redwing, 30+ Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat, 5 Redpoll, 1 Reed Bunting

NORTH SOMERSET

Redwing / Blackbird, Portbury (Daz B)

Portbury Wharf:
2 Redwing, Blackbird (several)

Purple Sandpiper, Portishead (Daz B)

Portishead:
5+ Purple Sandpiper

Weston-Super-Mare (airfield):
1 Marsh Harrier (Fem/imm), 13 Cetti's Warbler, 34 Reed Bunting

Red-breasted Merganser, Uphill (Matt Hull)

Uphill:
1 Red-breasted Merganser (m), 1 Little Grebe, 15 Sanderling, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Marsh Harrier (S. of STW)

BELOW M4 & BANES

Oldland:
7 Red Kite

Keynsham (Broadmead Lane):
2 Egyptian Goose

Bath (garden in Weston):
20 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling

Cattle Egret, Stanton Drew (Raoul Chandrasakera)

Stanton Drew:
18 Cattle Egret (flying SW. over Sandy Lane)

RESERVOIRS

Chew Valley Lake

Bittern Trail:
2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Robin

Tufted Duck (fem), BK Hide (George Stacey)

Bernard King Hide:
2 Tufted Duck, 5 Goosander (m)

Villice:
Teal, 1 Goldeneye, Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing

Wren, Nunnery (Keith Williams)

Nunnery:
1 Ring-necked Duck (also reported at Herons Green), + Tufted Duck, 3 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Wren

Goldeneye, Herons Green (George Stacey)

Herons Green:
2 Egyptian Goose, 1 Goldeneye, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Red Kite, 1 Buzzard

Moreton:
6 Cattle Egret (field behind)

Teal, Stratford (Keith Williams)

Stratford:
Teal, Tufted Duck, 3 Goldeneye (2m+1f), 5 Snipe, 1 Cattle Egret

Mandarin, Herriotts (Karen Wilkinson)

Herriotts inc Pool:
1 Mandarin (m), 3 Shoveller, 40+ Teal, 5 Goldeneye, 1 Marsh Harrier

Reported by: Derek John Angell, Jonathan Angell, Daz  B, Diana Bunnis, Raoul Chandrasakera, Mark Coller, Chris Craig, Lee Gardiner, Matt Hull, Nigel Jones, David Minshall, Mike Moxon, Ross Nairn, Nick Page, Paul Sadley, George Stacey, Larry Sweetland, Ben Sykes, Karen Wilkinson, Keith Williams

blagdonlakebirds, CVRS, opsbirding, severnsidebirds

30-12-25 Tuesday

Temp -2°C to 06°C - Sunny intervals with a gentle breeze from the East

As we near the end of the year the Avon Ornithological Group start their preparations for producing the 2025 Avon Bird report. The first step is collecting all the records and verifying any that are unusual. To date we have assessed most reports up to the end of November but all of the following records are missing any sort of identification notes or photos. If you saw any of the following can you please supply a description of what you saw to avonbirds@hotmail.co.uk see table at the bottom of the page.

Ring-necked Duck
Firecrest
White-fronted Goose
Penduline Tit

BRISTOL

Shirehampton (garden):

3 Blackcap (2m+1f)

Eastville Park:

1 Red Kite

Stoke Park inc Duchess Pond:

1 Water Rail, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Firecrest, 20 Fieldfare, 50 Redwing

Fishponds (Ridgeway Rd playing fields):

1 Common Gull

Speedwell (Coombe Brook NR):

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Coal Tit, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 10 Redwing, 1 Chaffinch

Redfield (garden):

3 Feral Pigeon, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Wren, 1 Robin,

10 House Sparrow

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Penduline Tit, Aust (Heather England)

Aust (wetlands):

3 Penduline Tit

White-fronted Goose, Northwick Warth (Matt Hall)

New Passage/Northwick:
8 White-fronted Goose

Wickwar:

1 Ban Owl (hunting at dusk)

Coalpit Heath East:
7 Cormorant (flying N.), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Magpie, c30 Redwing, 5 Fieldfare, c100 Linnet, 2 Yellowhammer

NORTH SOMERSET

Ashton Court:
3 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 2 Jay, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Blackbird, 3 Robin, + Goldfinch

Species as labelled, Pill (Kieron Argo)

Pill (Markham Farm Fields):

1 Red Kite, 1 Kestrel, 6 Meadow Pipit, 100 Linnet, 4 Yellowhammer, 8 Reed Bunting

Portbury Wharf (BOC walk):
27 Canada Goose, 5 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 30 Wigeon, 2 Mallard, 4 Teal, 1 Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 6 Moorhen, 2 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Lapwing, 1 Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, 1 Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 2 Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, 50 Rook, Carrion Crow, 1 Coal Tit, 7 Blue Tit, 7 Great Tit, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Firecrest, 4 Wren, 2 Starling, 5 Redwing, 8 Blackbird, 16 Fieldfare, Robin, House Sparrow, 4 Dunnock, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, 28 Goldfinch

Portishead (WBS - Lakegrounds):
74 Canada Goose, 17 Mute Swan, 128 Mallard, 29 Tufted Duck, 1 Stock Dove, 16 Woodpigeon, 4 Moorhen, 2 Curlew, 100 Black-headed Gull, 76 Herring Gull, 1 Jay, 6 Magpie, 4 Jackdaw, 23 Carrion Crow, 1 Raven, 1 Coal Tit, 12 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Starling, 2 Blackbird, 3 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Pied Wagtail, 6 Greenfinch

Clevedon (off Wain's Hill):
14 Goosander

Dunlin, Dowlais (Howard Taffs)

Clevedon (Dowlais):

3 Teal, c4000 Dunlin

BELOW M4 & BANES

Marshfield (Rushmead Farm WBS):

6 Red-legged Partridge, 350 Common Gull, 4 Red Kite, 10 Buzzard, 43 Skylark, 20 Starling, 1 Stonechat, 6 Pied Wagtail, 1 Chaffinch, 41 Linnet, 17 Corn Bunting, 1 Yellowhammer

South Siston (WBS - ST6874):

1 Great White Egret ( flew over), 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 9 Mistle Thrush, 5 Siskin

Cow Horn Hill:
1 Red Kite

White-fronted Goose, Holm Mead (Les Williams)

Holm Mead - inc R Avon:
80 Canada Goose, 1 Greylag Goose, 4 White-fronted Goose, 1 Black-tailed Godwit

Kingfisher / Water Rail, Keynsham Mem. Park (Paul Tompkins)

Keynsham, Memorial Park:
1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail

Saltford:
2 Red Kite (golf course)

Bath (Twerton garden):
1 Blackcap (m)

RESERVOIRS

Chew Valley Lake

Black-tailed Godwit / Goosander, Dam (George Stacey)

Dam:
1 Goldeneye, 1 Goosander, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Great White Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Pied Wagtail, 10+ Chaffinch

Bittern Trail:
1 Goldeneye, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 1 Redpoll

Redwing, Hollowbrook (George Stacey)

Hollowbrook:
10+Redwing

Ring-necked Duck, Nunnery (Bri Thompson)

Nunnery:
1 Ring-necked Duck (also reported at Herons Green)

Whooper Swan, Herons Green (Bri Thompson)

Snipe, Herons Green (Ian Stapp)

Herons Green:
4 Whooper Swan, 10 Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Snipe, 2 Little Egret, 3 Great White Egret, 3 Cattle Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Pied Wagtail, 5 Chaffinch

Stratford:
10 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Redwing, 1 Bullfinch

Herriotts inc Pool:
7 Shelduck, 1 Mandarin Duck (m), 12 Shoveler, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail

Reported by: Jon Angell, Kieran Argo, Paul Chapman, Jane Cummings, Alan Daniels, Andy Davis, Heather England, Will Feay, Paul Francis, Matt Hall, Rob Hargreaves, Mike Jackson, Brian Martin, Lee Patch, Katie Robson, Paul Sadley, George Stacey, Ian Stapp, Larry Sweetland, Martin Seagrave, Ben Sykes, Howard Taffs, Bri Thompson, Gary Thorburn, Jean Tye, Les Williams

blagdonlakebirds, CVRS, opsbirding, severnsidebirds

Rarites requiring a description 

Species		Date	Site
Tree Sparrow	7	01/01/2025	Uphill, Bleadon Hill
Hen Harrier	1	08/01/2025	Redhill, Under Lane
Whooper Swan	4	15/01/2025	M5, Clevedon
Mealy/Greenland Redpoll	1	01/02/2025	Bristol, Stoke Park
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker	1	01/02/2025	Manor Woods Valley LNR
Pale-bellied Brent Goose	c2	19/03/2025	Bristol, Cathedral
Goshawk	1	20/03/2025	Worle, Sedbury Close
Pale-bellied Brent Goose	c2	24/03/2025	Bristol, Cathedral
Red-breasted Merganser	2	26/03/2025	Severn Beach
Alpine Swift	1	05/04/2025	Severn Beach
Nuthatch ssp europaea	1	23/04/2025	Bath
Little Tern	6	25/05/2025	Severn Beach
Merlin		30/05/2025	Marshfield, Rushmead Lane
Wryneck	1	24/08/2025	Sand Point, St Thomas's Head
Tree Sparrow	4	04/09/2025	Bitton, Cullyhall Farm
Lesser Whitethroat	12	04/09/2025	Bitton, Cullyhall Farm
Pectoral Sandpiper	1	06/09/2025	Blagdon Lake
Glossy Ibis	15	13/09/2025	BG
Glossy Ibis	9	14/09/2025	Hanham
Razorbill	1	15/09/2025	Severn Beach
Leach's Petrel	4	15/09/2025	Severn Beach
Glossy Ibis	3	28/09/2025	Blaise Castle
Yellow-browed Warbler	1	28/09/2025	Sand Point - Middle Hope
Leach's Petrel	1	04/10/2025	CVL
Little Ringed Plover		05/10/2025	New Passage / Northwick Warth
Bar-tailed Godwit	2	05/10/2025	Chew Valley Lake
Hobby	2	14/10/2025	Chew Valley Lake
Pale-bellied Brent Goose	1	31/10/2025	Oldbury Power Station
Whimbrel	1	06/11/2025	New Passage
Caspian Gull	1	09/11/2025	CVL
Richard's Pipit	1	09/11/2025	Aust
Yellow-browed Warbler	1	15/11/2025	Wains Hill
Yellow-browed Warbler	1	15/11/2025	Lambridge
Reed Warbler	1	16/11/2025	Aust
Glossy Ibis	1	19/11/2025	Knowle
Hoopoe	1	20/11/2025	Rockhampton
Caspian Gull	1	23/11/2025	CVL