30th April '17 Sunday - Hen Harrier

Some sun in the morning, some rain in the afternoon, windy at times

Red Kite up the coast
Hen Harrier, Common/Arctic Tern on Severnside
Bar-tailed Godwit at Portbury Wharf and Clevedon
Whinchat, Tree Pipit at Sand Bay
Great White Egret, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Black Tern, Cuckoo at Chew Valley Lake

30-4-17 Peregrine in Avon Gorge (Rich Andrews)

BRISTOL
Avon Gorge:
1 Red Kite 11:55, Peregrine

Fishponds:
1 Garden Warbler singing

Southville:
1 Red Kite before 11:55

Warmley Forest Park:
2 Moorhen, 20+ Wood Pigeon, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 Magpie, 1 Jay, 1 Swallow, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 8 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 8 Wren, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 6 Robin, 2 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch, 10 Goldfinch, 6 Bullfinch

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station, 29th:
1 Peregrine, 14 Whimbrel, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, c.20 Dunlin, 3 Curlew, 5 Oystercatcher, 1 (1W) Mediterranean Gull, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Tree Pipit. 1 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat

30-4-17 Hen Harrier at Northwick Warth (Paul Bowerman)
Only 7th seen here in 30 years by PB
Video https://youtu.be/8dG2gTZY_uc 

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
8 Mallard ducklings, 1 m Hen Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 m Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylarks, Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Mistle Thrush family, Linnets

Severn Beach:
20 Common/Arctic Tern inc 1 definite Arctic Tern

NORTH SOMERSET

30-4-17 Reed Warbler at Portbury Wharf (Jason Williams)

Portbury Wharf:

5 Mute Swan, 15 Shelduck, 2 m/f Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Ruff, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 40 Whimbrel, 2 Redshank, 1 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Cetti's Warbler, loads common Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Water Voles

30-4-17 2cy Yellow-legged Gull at Portbury (Chris Stone)

Kingston-Seymour M5:
1 Red Kite

Clevedon, Cannons Gate, 07.45:
1 Red Kite

30-4-17 Red Kite in Avon Gorge (Rich Andrews)
Probably seen in four places today

Clevedon-Yeo:
6 Mute Swan, 40 Shelduck, 1 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egret, 1 Buzzard, 32 Oystercatcher, 4 Lapwing + chick, 7 Ringed Plover, 35 Dunlin, 65 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Redshank, 75 LBB Gull, 30 Herring Gull, 3 Raven, 20 Sand Martin, 45 Swallow, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warbler, 3 Wheatear

Sand Point/Middle Hope:
2 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 15 Sand Martin, 50 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 0 Willow Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 30 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Whinchat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Tree Pipit

30-4-17 Peregrine at Weston Super Mare (Terri Borash)

Weston Super Mare:
1 Peregrine

30-4-17 Short-eared Owl at Uphill (Bill Hewitt)

BELOW M4 & BANES

Bath, Larkhall, 29th:
2 Swifts

Paulton:
1 Grey Heron, 3 Buzzard, 20 LBB Gull, 20 Herring Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Raven, 2 Skylark, 1 House Martin, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Dipper, 3 Grey Wagtail, 1 Linnet, 1 Yellowhammer

30-4-17 Peregrine in Bath (BUPP)
Full house as the fourth chick emerges

RESERVOIRS

Barrow Tank No.2:
2 Grey Plover one in summer plumage with a single Dunlin

Blagdon Lake, 29th:

3 Greylag Geese, 1 Egyptian Goose, 3 Common Sandpiper

Chew Valley Lake:
1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hobby, 2 Common Sandpiper, Cuckoo calling

Moreton:
1 Black Tern, 2 Garden Warbler,

Herriotts Pool:

1 Hobby

30-4-17 Whitethroat escaping today's rain (Rod Holbrook)

Reports: Rich Andrews, Peter Basterfield, Terri Borash, Paul Bowerman, Stephen Curtis, Sean Davies, Martin Dewhirst, Paul Gregory, Patrick Hancock, David Hanks, Rod Holbrook, Simon Isagar, Brian Lancastle, Lisegirl, Duncan McLaughlin, Paul Nash, Chris Perry, Harvey Rose, Carol Rushton, Chris Stone, Larry Sweetland, Gary Thorburn, Jason Williams, blagdonlakebirds, BUPP,  CVRS, nslbirding, opsbirding, severnsidebirds, TBOSG

29th April '17 Saturday - Cuckoos

Overcast with a chilly wind and brighter spells.

Late post tonight - your blogger just back from dipping on the Two-barred Crossbill.

Note: the lanes around Compton Dando will be closed on Sunday for the 10 km Fun Run.

Cuckoos arriving
Some new wader species moving through
A somewhat unseasonal Mediterranean Gull

First-ever Stock Dove in John Thorogood's garden

BRISTOL
Leigh Woods:
1 Cuckoo singing.

Dundry Hill:
1 Cuckoo singing.


SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:
1 Peregrine, 14 Whimbrel, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit (in summer plumage), c.20 Dunlin, 3 Curlew, 5 Oystercatcher, 1 (1W) Mediterranean Gull (the only small gull on the whole estuary), 1 fly-through Cuckoo, 1 Tree Pipit. 1 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 8 Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat.

Littleton Wharf:
18 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 1 (1W) Mediterranean Gull (presumably the same as above), 2 Sand Martin, 2 Wheatear, 2 Raven.

Littleton:
6 Swallow, 7 Reed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler singing, 5 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff.

Aust Warth:
1 Whinchat, 1 Whitethroat.


NORTH SOMERSET:

Portbury Wharf:
1 Peregrine, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 9 Whimbrel (another observer noted 23!), 1 Whinchat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler.

Clevedon-Yeo: (water levels dropping fast)
50+ Shelduck, 2 Teal, 3 Little Egret, 34 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Plover, 7 Lapwing (and 5 early juvs at Dowlais), 5 Ringed Plover, 60 Whimbrel, 2+ Curlew, 10  Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Knot (non-breeding plumage seen with Redshank), 70 Dunlin, 1 Little Stint, 2 Common Sandpiper  9 Redhank, 4 Black-headed Gull, 25 LBB Gull, 80 Herring Gull, 1 Raven, 6+ Swallow, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 3+ Reed Warbler, 2 Wheatear, 1 White Wagtail, 2 Rock Pipit.


BELOW M4 & BANES

Yellowhammer in lanes near Compton Dando (Ian Stapp)

Compton Dando (village and lanes):
1 Grey Heron, 3 Buzzard, 20+ Wood Pigeon, 2 Stock Dove, 6 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 16 Rook, 4 Raven,  90+ House Sparrow, 12 + Chaffinch, 40+ Goldfinch, 6 Linnet, 6 Yellowhammer.

Paulton:
4 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 3 Grey Wagtail, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 Song Thrush. 6 Blackcap. 3 Chiffchaff, 7 Rook.


RESERVOIRS:

Barrow Tanks:
3 Wheatear, 1 Yellowhammer.

Blagdon Lake:
1 Egyptian Goose, 3 Greylag Goose, 3 Common Sandpiper, lots of anglers.

Chew Valley Lake:
2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Common or Arctic Tern, 10+ Swift, 1 Cuckoo (heard), 1 Raven (with 5 big chicks nearly ready to fledge).

CVRS: 5 Sedge Warbler trapped and ringed.  Garden Warbler re-trapped.

Reports: Rich Andrews, Patrick Hancock, 'Lisegirl', Duncan McLaughlin, Alex Rhodes, Harvey Rose, Ian Stapp, Larry Sweetland, Mrs Trellis, blagdonlakebirds,  CVRS, nslbirding,  opsbirding,  severnsidebirds,  TBOSG

28th April '17 Friday - Raptors

Updated edition

Cold start but warmed up for a pleasant day.

Marsh Harrier, Short-eared Owl and a pair of Kestrel at Aust


BRISTOL

Eastville Park:
1 fretting Grey Heron, 1 Grey Wagtail

28/4/17 Still bad news at Eastville Park for this Grey Heron (Martin Tayler)
Working hard to remove netting but no success yet

St. George:
Grey Wagtail on River Avon

28/4/17 Grey Wagtail on River Avon at St George (Lee Gardiner)

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Aust Warth:
1 Marsh Harrier, Short-eared Owl, 2 Kestrel, 1Reed Bunting

28/4/17 Pair of Kestrel at Aust (Martin Tayler)

28/4/17 Short-eared Owl at Aust this morning

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
1 Linnet, 1 Reed Warbler

28/4/17 Linnet at New Passage (Lisa Presland)

28/4/17 Reed Warbler at New Passage sluice gate (Lisa Presland)

Pilning wetland:
4 Lapwing, 2 Little Egret, Mallards and Coots with healthy size broods

28/4/17 2 Little Egret and 2 Lapwing at Pilning Wetland (Martin Tayler)

Chipping Sodbury Common:
Kestrel, Whinchat, Reed Bunting, Lesser Whitethroat. Swallows.
3 Lesser Whitehroat, 2 Linnet.

Hanham: (26th April) Mandarin Duck

26/4/17 Mandarin Duck on the River Avon (Steven Selwood)

NORTH SOMERSET:

Portbury Wharf:
1 Whinchat, 10+ House Martins & lots of common warblers at PortburyWharf this am. 1 Reed Warbler.

28/4/17 Reed Warbler at Portbury Wharf (Steve Poulsom)

Portishead:

Battery Point:
1 Grasshopper Warbler.

Clevedon-Yeo:
Walton Bay:
6 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 4 Whimbrel (perched on the rocks), 2 Common Sandpiper, 8 Herring Gull, with some passerines including Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Pair of Wheatear, Collared Dove.

28/4/17 Wheatear at Clevedon (Steve Poulsom)

BELOW M4 & BANES

Marshfield:
Pied Wagtail at Spring Farm Marshfield also another 5 Northern Wheatear, 3 on Rushmead Lane and 2 near Castle Farm.

28/4/17 Pied Wagtail at Marshfield (Peter Coslett)

Keynsham:
Waitrose car park 9.15
1 Garden Warbler singing
Bath:

BUPP today: First feed by the falcon of all three chicks hatched to date.
KP followed the falcon back after AA's food pass

28/4/17 BUPP today: Third chick at Bath in the process of coming out of its egg earlier today.

RESERVOIRS:

Chew Valley Lake:

Dam:
8 Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 4 Shelduck, 1 Cettis, 1 Reed Warbler

Bittern Trail:
Many small birds singing such as Reed Warblers, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat. The Nuthatches are busy at their nest also it seems that the Reed Buntings are feeding young. I hope this is a female Reed Bunting?(George Stacey)

28/4/17 Female Reed Bunting at Chew? (George Stacey)

Woodford:
1 Black Tern (sat on the same buoy as yesterday), 2 Ravens (from Denny)

Heron's Green:
2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat (all pond side reeds), 4 House Sparrows, 2 Buzzard, 1 Raven

Moreton:
2 Raven, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 G S Woodpecker, 2 Bullfinch,  2 Cetti's, 1 Whinchat (reeds cattle trough field), 1 Marsh Harrier (1.45 along Moreton bank towards Stratford Yellow head bird)
Not as many Martins & Swallows today 40+ 40+ Swifts (over the lake on & off), , 3 Buzzard (hills around lake), 3 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff singing, 2 Garden Warbler (singing lane)

28/4/17 Whinchat at Chew (Ian Stapp)

Herriotts End:

A male cuckoo.
6 Barnacle Goose, 4 Greylag Goose, 10 Shelduck, 7 Gadwall, 2 G BB Gull,  2 Cetti's, 

2 Reed Bunting, 4 Reed Warbler, 6 House Martin, 20+ Starling, 1 Grey Wagtail, 

5 Common Sandpiper (wall & spillway pond)

Other:
2 Bar-headed Goose

A television company is after some info:
"We are just on the lookout for a sign that says ‘Do not feed the ducks’ at a park or place somewhere in the central Bristol area, and I wondered if you might be able to point me in the right direction?
We are doing an item about not feeding ducks bread (as has been in the news a lot recently) and just need a few shots to illustrate this point."
Can anyone help please?

Reports: Peter Coslett, Mark Dadds, Paul Francis, Lee Gardiner, Wilfred King,  Steve Poulsom,
David Poulton, Lisa Presland, Stephen Selwood, George Stacey, Ian Stapp, Martin Tayler,
Nigel Tucker, Dan White.
  blagdonlakebirds,  CVRS, nslbirding,  opsbirding,  severnsidebirds,  TBOSG

27th April '17 Thursday - Black Tern

A bright and clear early morning for those of us out surveying, but freezing cold.  Clouding over later with some showers - generally a bit grim by sunset.

Black Tern still at Chew
Osprey over a garden in Keynsham this evening
Hobby, Whimbrels

Just to prove you can get some great photos in your own garden
(Wren by Rod Holbrook)

BRISTOL
Eastville Park:
1 m. Sparrowhawk.

Confiding male Sparrowhawk in Eastville Park
(Steve Poulsom)

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:
2 Canada Goose, 3 Mute Swan (over), 17 Shelduck, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin., 4+ Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 1 f. Redstart, 1 Wheatear.

Whitethroat at Aust (Brian Thompson)

Kestrel at Aust (Brian Thompson)

Aust Warth:
1 Kestrel, 1 Whitethroat.

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
4 Little Ringed Plover, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, small parties of hirundines, 1 Lesser Whitethroat in song.


NORTH SOMERSET:

Clevedon-Yeo:
2 Mute Swan, 9 Canada Goose, 30+ Shelduck, 15 Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 32 Oystercatcher, 7 Grey Plover, 4 Lapwing, 5 Ringed Plover, 55 Whimbrel, 5 Curlew, 24 Bar-tailed Godwit, 140 Dunlin (all schnizii), 7 Common Sandpiper, 7 Redshank, 35 LBB Gull, 45 Herring Gull, 1 Peregrine, 2 Raven, c. 20 Swallow, 1 Cetti'e Warbler, 2+ Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3+ Reed Warbler, 1 Wheatear.

Backwell Lake:
1 Hobby.

Felton Common:
1 Kestrel, 2 Skylark, 1 Swallow, 1 Stonechat, 5 Song Thrush, 2 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest,  5 Willow Warbler, 12 Linnet, 3 Goldfinch, 5 Yellowhammer.

BELOW M4 & BANES

Wheatear at Marshfield (Pete Coslett)

Marshfield:
4 Wheatear.

Newton St Loe:
1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Skylark, 15 Swallow, 8 House Martin, 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Bullfinch, 2 Yellowhammer.

Keynsham:
"At 6:40 pm tonight an Osprey passed (not very high) over our garden in Keynsham, heading roughly NW, not in any great hurry." (Alan Hewett)


RESERVOIRS:

Chew Valley Lake:

Dam:
5 Common Sandpiper, 50+ hirundines, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Heron's Green:
2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 7 House Sparrow.

Moreton:
4 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 1 Black Tern (sitting on buoy way out or flying around, never close), 1 Common Tern, 2 Swift, 100+ hirundines, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Redstart, 1 Whinchat,  2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Raven, 2 Reed Bunting.

Herriotts End:
14 Shelduck, 7 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 G BB Gull, 3 Swift, 200+ hirundines, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4+ Reed Warbler.

Reports: Phil Baber,  'Melanie', Harvey Rose, Brian Lancastle, Ian Stapp, Brian Thompson, Mrs Trellis,  blagdonlakebirds,  CVRS, nslbirding,  opsbirding,  severnsidebirds,  TBOSG

26 April '17 Wednesday - Whinchat

Frost and snow on cars in morning, warm in the sun later, raw in the wind

Wood Warbler in Eastville Park
Whinchat in Stoke Park, Portbury Wharf, Weston Airfield, Moreton CVL
Red Kite at Felton Common, Sand Bay
Cuckoo, Short-eared Owl at Uphill
Black Tern, Swift at Chew Valley Lake
Purple Heron on 25th

26-4-17 Whinchat at Stoke Park (Richard Scantlebury)

BRISTOL
Eastville Park:
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 singing Wood Warbler

26-4-17 Sparrowhawk in Eastville Park (Steve Poulsom)

Stoke Park:

1 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 1 m Whinchat (Duchess pond)

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:
No reports

26-4-17 Whitethroat at Aust (Lisegirl)
The elusive lesser whitethroats while the whitethroats got jealous

Aust:
2 Kestrel, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3-5 Whitethroat

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
No reports

26-4-17 Bullfinch in Almondsbury (Vera Carpenter)

Almondsbury garden:
2 Bullfinches

Chipping Sodbury Common:
1 Kestrel, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whinchat, Linnet, Reed Bunting

NORTH SOMERSET

Portbury Wharf:

1 Purple Heron reported in flight on 25th, 1 Dabchick family, 4 Common Sandpiper, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 m Whinchat

Felton Common, ploughed field:
 7 Buzzard, 1 Red Kite

26-4-17 Red Kite at Middle hope (Paul Bowyer)

Sand Point/Middle Hope:
1 Red Kite (11:30), 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 10 Wheatear (Sand Bay)

Weston Airfield:

2 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Skylarks, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 m Whinchat, 4 Stonechat

26-4-17 Short-eared Owl at Uphill (Bill Hewitt)

Uphill:
1 Little Egret, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Short-eared Owl

Ubley Warren:
1 m Redstart, Whitethroat

BELOW M4 & BANES

26-4-17 Peregrines in Bath (BUPP)KP gets a shock as the falcon dishes out some of his own treatment

RESERVOIRS

Barrow Tanks:
12 Common Sandpipers, Lots Hirundines, 2 Wheatear, 4 Grey Wagtail

Blagdon Lake:

2 Greylag Geese, 1 Egyptian Goose, 4 Teal, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 2nd year Common Gull, 5 Swift, 500 Hirundine, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat

Chew Valley Lake:
1 Hobby, 13 Common Sandpipers,

Dam:
9 Common Sandpipers, 1 'Hooligans' Gull, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail

26-4-17 2 Egyptian Goose + one Gosling  & Nanny Duck (Ian Stapp)

Grebe Trail:
2 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler

Woodford:
2 +1 Egyptian Geese, 1 Black Tern

Herons Green:
1 Little-Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Swift, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warblers

Moreton:
1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Buzzard, 2 Stock Dove,  100 Swifts, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Jay, 200 Swallow/Martins, 1 Cetti's Warbler,  3 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warblers, 1 Whinchat (Moreton Bank), 2 Bullfinch

Stratford:
3 Scaup (1m), 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Bullfinch

Herriotts Pool:

2 Barnacle Geese, 8 Shelduck, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail

Reports: Rich Andrews, Robert Beale, Terri Borash, Paul Bowyer, Vera Carpenter, Chris Craig, Sean Davies, Bill Hewitt, Rob Laughton, Lisegirl, John Martin, Nigel Milbourne, Lionel Patch, Steve Poulsom, David Poulton, Vic Savery, Ian Stapp, Chris Stone, Larry Sweetland, Brian Thompson, Mrs Trellis, blagdonlakebirds, CVRS, nslbirding, opsbirding, severnsidebirds, TBOSG

25th April '17 Tuesday - Purple Heron

Bright and sunny but much colder with a chilly north wind.  Rain/hail showers in the afternoon.

Turtle Dove  (R Yeo), also Whimbrel, Grasshopper Warbler, Yellow Wagtail.
Black Tern still at Chew, also Hobby, Whinchat, Garden Warbler.
And more Whimbrels and Whinchats.
Late report of a Purple Heron in flight over Portbury Wharf.

Linnet at Aust (Rod Holbrook)

Starling - it doesn't have to be rare to be beautiful!
(Steve Poulsom)

BRISTOL
no reports


SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:
1 Tree Pipit (over), 2 Grasshopper Warbler (lagoon 3), 3 Sedge Warbler, 14 Whitethroat, 6 Lesser Whitethroat.

Shepperdine:
3 Whimbrel.

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
1 f. Wigeon, 4 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 1 Whimbrel, 15 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, 13 Turnstone, 6 Redshank, 55 Sand Martin.

Chipping Sodbury Common:
2 Wheatear, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat.


NORTH SOMERSET:

Portbury Wharf:
1 Purple Heron reported in flight.
1 Whinchat (on fence post near south pool).

Gordano (Walton Common):
1 Buzzard, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 2 Blackcap, 2 Mistle Thrush.

Grey Wagtail at Clevedon-Yeo today (Steve Poulsom)

Clevedon-Yeo:
(Wain's Hill to Yeo Estuary at high tide, 0600-1000)
115 Shelduck, 10 Teal, 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Peregrine, 39 Oystercatcher, 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 14 Lapwing, 175 Dunlin, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 63 Whimbrel, 10 Curlew, 5 Common Sandpiper, 4 Redshank, 1 Turnstone, 1 Turtle Dove (at Blake’s Pools, then flew over River Yeo towards Wick St Lawrence), 5 Raven, 24 Skylark, 50 Swallow, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 14 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 10 Blackcap, 10 Whitethroat, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 10 Reed Warbler, 24 Wheatear, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 35 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 15 Linnet.

Weston Airfield:
2 Little Egret, (no waders), 2 Wheatear, a few small groups of Swallow & House Martin.


BELOW M4 & BANES

Newton St Loe:
3 Kestrel, 3 Stock Dove, 25 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler.


RESERVOIRS:

Blagdon Lake:
2 Greylag Goose, 2 Egyptian Goose,  4 Common Sandpiper, 200+ mixed hirundine flock, 1 Sedge Warbler.
News from Sunday 23rd: Osprey catching a trout.

Common Sandpiper at Chew today (Ian Stapp)

Chew Valley Lake:
30 Dunlin, 250+ House and Sand Martin, 100+ Swallow.

Dam:

3 Common Sandpiper, "Hooligans Gull", 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Woodford:
2 G BB Gull, 1 Black Tern (off the Sailing Club), 200+ Swift.

Heron's Green:
2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff.

Moreton:
1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Whinchat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Raven.

Stratford:
pr Scaup, 1 Hobby pursuing a House Martin, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3+ Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff.

Herriotts End:
10 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 1 f. Goldeneye, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 G BB Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Reports: Chris Craig, Adrian Hockey, John Martin, Vic Polley, Steve Sanins, Ian Stapp, Mrs Trellis, blagdonlakebirds,  CVRS, nslbirding,  opsbirding,  severnsidebirds,  TBOSG

24th April '17 - Monday - first Black Tern

Rather overcast and murky, wind getting stronger and colder as the day progressed, but still mild.

Black Tern had to be the best bird today.
Hobby at Blagdon. Yellow-legged Gull at Chew.
More Cuckoos and Swifts.
The first fledgling Robin of the spring in my Portishead garden.

Kestrel at Chew (Ian Stapp)

BRISTOL
Stockwood Open Spaces:
4 Song Thrush, 7 Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff


SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Emerson's Green:
1 Coot, 1 Swallow, pair Song Thrush with 2+ chicks, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Reed Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Bunting.

Whitethroat at Aust
'Lisegirl'

Aust Warth:
plenty of Skylark, 1 Whitethroat, 2+ Linnet.

Little Ringed Plover at Aust (Martin Tayler)

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
Little Ringed Plover.


NORTH SOMERSET:

Easter Compton:
1 Buzzard, 15 Rook, 7 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler.

Nailsea:
2 Bar-headed Goose on the Nailsea School playing field (they're all feral).

Sandford - Yatton road:
Tawny Owl, deceased.

Uphill:
1 Short-eared Owl.

BELOW M4 & BANES
no reports


RESERVOIRS:

Blagdon Lake:
2 Egyptian Goose, 2 Greylag Goose, 5 Gadwall, 1 Teal, 1 Hobby, 1 Swift, 1 Kingfisher, lots House Martin.

Chew Valley Lake:

The "Hooligan Gull" at Chew (Ian Stapp)

Dam:

4 Common Sandpiper, 3 Swift, 50+ Swallow, 50+ House Martin, 20+ Sand Martin, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Cetti's Warbler.  Odd gull, the one known as "Hooligans"....

Woodford:
2 Egyptian Goose (still with 2 goslings), 1 Black Tern, 2 Chiffchaff , 1 Song Thrush.

Heron's Green:
1 Dunlin (wall), 4 Common Sandpiper (wall),  1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 10+ Goldfinch, 4 House Sparrow.

Moreton:
3 Shelduck (field drinking trough), 1 Marsh Harrier (11.20 aprox), 4 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk,  1 G BB Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler (holly tree in lane), 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Jay.

Stratford:
3 Scaup (2f., 1 m.), 1 m. Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 2 Swift, 250+ flock of hirundines, mostly Sand Martins. 2 Raven, 1 Jay, 1 Blackcap, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2+ Reed Warbler.

Herriotts End:
10 Shelduck (pond), 2 Common Sandpiper (wall), 4 G BB Gull, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2+ Reed Warbler, 100+ hirundines.

LAST CHANCE
Avon Wildlife Trust: Are running a series of Field Ecology Courses in 2017, aimed at students, practising ecologists, conservation volunteers and anyone who wishes to further their knowledge in natural history and biological recording.
On the 29th & 30th of April we will be running an Introduction to British Birds Course, taught by Ed Drewitt - bird expert and conservationist.
See http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2017/04/29/introduction-british-birds-2-day-course for details.

Reports: Sean Davies, Tim Ford, Trevor Ford, Paul Francis, Bill Hewitt, 'Lisegirl', Lois Pryce, George Rabin, Ian Stapp, Martin Tayler, blagdonlakebirds, CVRS, nslbirding, opsbirding, severnsidebirds, TBOSG

23rd April '17 Sunday - Firecrest

Grey start again but now brilliant sun, clearing blue skies and blue waters at CVL, Cuckoo calling

Firecrest in Leigh Woods
Bar-tailed Godwit on Severnside, Uphill
Red Kite at Thornbury
Smew on Chipping Sodbury Common
Redstart at Clevedon
Hobby, Whinchat, Tree Pipit at Sand Point
Great White Egret at Weston Airfield and Bleadon Levels
Cuckoo at Bleadon Levels, Chew Valley Lake
Great White Egret, Swift at Chew Valley Lake

BRISTOL
no reports

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station & environs:
1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 8 Reed Warbler

Leigh Woods:

1 Firecrest singing

Tockington, Moor Lane:
1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler

23-4-17 Wheatear at Northwick Warth (John Martin)

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
1 m  Wigeon, 1 Grey Plover, 13 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Bar-tailed Godwit, 19 Whimbrel, 6 BH Gull, 6 Sedge Warbler, 3 Wheatear

23-4-17 Whimbrel at Northwick Warth (Paul Bowerman)

Thornbury:
1 Red Kite over at 12 :20

23-4-17 Red-headed Smew at Sodbury Common (Paul Woolams)

Chipping Sodbury Common, fishing lake:
1 Redhead Smew 


NORTH SOMERSET

Clevedon, Wains Hill:

2 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 f Redstart, 1 Yellow Wagtail,  2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Siskin, 1 Redpoll

Clevedon-Dowlais, 1600-1730:
24 Dunlin, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit, 18 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1-2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Wheatear

Clevedon-Yeo:
24 Mute Swan, 9 Canada Geese, 30 Shelduck, 3 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 8 Oystercatcher, 4 Grey Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 8 Lapwing, 44 Whimbrel, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 6 Redshank, 35 LBB Gull, 15 Herring Gull, 2 Raven, 2 Sand Martin, 15 Swallow 5 Skylark, 2 Cetti's Warbler, few Chiffchaff, 2+ Reed Warbler, 5 (4m) Wheatear

23-4-17 Whinchat at Sand Point pm (Paul Bowyer)

Sand Point/Middle Hope:
1 Hobby, 3 Grey Plover, 25 small waders, 18 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 1 Tree Pipit

Weston Airfield:

3 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler

23-4-17 Short-eared Owl at Uphill (Bill Hewitt)

Uphill:
4 Little Egret, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Short-eared Owl

Bleadon Levels reserve and Brean Cross Sluice:
9 Shelduck, 1 Great White Egret,  1 Buzzard, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Cuckoo, many Skylark, Sand Martins, Swallows, 2 Cetti's Warbler,  5 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, many Reed Warbler, 3 Reed Bunting

BELOW M4 & BANES

Marshfield:
1 Buzzard, 1 Raven, 2 Northern Wheatear (All in Down Road)

23-4-17 First Whitethroat of the year at Newton St Loe ( Lauren Tucker)

Newton St Loe, short walk:
3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Barn Owl, 3 Goldcrest, 6 Skylark, 10 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat (First of year), 3 Starling, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellowhammer

23-4-17 Peregrines in Bath (BUPP)
Teenagers don’t always get their own way. The falcon (aka KP's 'mum') puts her foot down

Bishop Sutton:
1 Swift, 4 Swallow and 2 House Martin; back under the eaves to breed.

RESERVOIRS

Barrow Tanks:

1 Long-tailed Duck, 13 Common Sandpiper, 3cy Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Wheatear

23-4-17 Mallard family at Blagdon Lake (Mrs Trellis)

Blagdon Lake:

2 Greylag Goose, 3 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 GBB Gull

23-4-17 Marsh Harrier at Stratford, CVL (Brian Thompson)

Chew Valley Lake:
2 Egyptian Geese still with two young, 4 Scaup (1 m), 1 Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpipers, the 'Hooligan Gull' still present at the Picnic Site, 1 m Cuckoo, 2 Swifts, 2 Garden Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

23-4-17 Hooligans Gull at Picnic Site, CVL (Keith Vinicombe)
Now in 2nd-summer plumage. Note how short those legs are!

Bittern Trail:
3 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 m Reed Bunting

23-4-17 Reed Warbler at Bittern Trail (Robert Hargreaves)

Denny:
1 Great White Egret 09.00

23-4-17 Cuckoo along Moreton track, CVL (Brian Thompson)

Stratford:
3 Pochard (2m), 3 Scaup (1m), 1 Marsh Harrier 07.05,  2 Cuckoo, 1 Tawny Owl, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Reed Warblers singing

23-4-17 Common Sandpiper at Herriotts (Robert Hargreaves)

Herriotts Pool:

11 Shelduck, 9 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 6 Teal, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Common Sandpiper, 50 flock Swallow, 50 Pied Wagtail to roost

Another Stilt at Slimbridge on Out of Avon in sidebar

Reports: Paul Bowerman, Paul Bowyer, Peter Coslett, Chris Craig, Stephen Curtis, Sean Davies, Ian Foster, Robert Hargreaves, Bill Hewitt, Adrian Hockey, Rich Keel, John Martin, Matt Plenty, Matt Scott, Tony Scott, Larry Sweetland, Howard Taffs, Brian Thompson, Mrs Trellis, Lauren Tucker, Wayne Tucker, Keith Vinicombe, Paul Woolams, blagdonlakebirds, BUPP, CVRS, nslbirding, opsbirding, severnsidebirds, TBOSG