Tuesday 31 July 2018

31-07-18 Tuesday - Common Tern

Temp 14 to 23℃. Lovely day, pleasant not too hot sunshine with a cool breeze, and lovely clouds

Great White Egret
Whimbrel, Knot
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Tern

31-7-18 Common Tern off Woodford Sailing Club (Ian Stapp)
BRISTOL

Redland:
4 Swift

Stockwood Open Space:
1 juv Sparrowhawk, 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Bullfinch, 5 Greenfinch

NORTH SOMERSET

Clevedon Yeo:
14 Shelduck (+ pair with 9 very small young),10 Little Egret, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 45 Curlew, 1 Turnstone (full sp.) 1 Knot (mostly sp.) 2 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 GBB Gull, 1 Kestrel, 2 Peregrine (both juvs), 5 Raven (together), 4 Skylark,  3 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 40 Linnet

BELOW M4 & BANES

Bath, Lansdown, BOC Walk:
1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Buzzard, 1 LBB Gull, 5 Woodpigeon, 2 Kestrel - juv and ad, 15 Carrion Crow, 7 Raven, 1 Coal Tit, 9 Blue Tit - in mixed flock, 10 Great Tit - in mixed flock, 2 Skylark 10 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 f Blackcap, 2 Wren, 2 Nuthatch, 27 Starling, 2 Bullfinch, 4 Linnet, 8 Goldfinch

Bath, Twerton:
3+ Swift

Chelwood to Marksbury:
6 Buzzard, 50 Crows

RESERVOIRS

Blagdon Lake, 30th:
1 m Mandarin Duck, 2 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, 5 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper

31-7-18 Oystercatcher, Herriott's pond (Ian Stapp)
Chew Valley Lake:
273 Canada Geese, 1 Black Swan, 3 Egyptian Geese, 20+ Shoveler, 100+ Gadwall, 100+ Teal, 4 Tufted Ducklings, 2 +4 Little Grebe, 80 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Great White Egret, 5 Little Egret, 3 Buzzard, 2 Oystercatcher, 25 Lapwing, 4 inc 1 juv Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, 5 Common Sandpiper, 7 Green Sandpiper, 23 j BH Gull, 1 Common Gull, 11 GBB Gull, 4 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Common Tern, 7 Swift, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Jay, 4 Raven, c.30 Hirundines in a few Sand Martin, 1 Cetti's Warbler

31-7-18 Reed Warbler at CVL (George Stacey)
2 Chiffchaff, 20+ Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Reed Bunting, Painted Lady
31-7-18 Reed Warbler, CVL (Bob Brewer)
BOC has been posting Avonbirds for two years today
During that time some 500 birders have sent in emails of sightings. Thank you all

Reports: Nancy Barrett, Paul Bowerman, Bob Brewer, Karle Burford, Paul Chapman, Peter Coslett, Mark Dadds, Paul Francis, Robert Hargreaves, Nick Hawkridge, Adrian Hockey, Rod Holbrook, Dave Nevitt, Trevor Riddle, George Stacey, Ian Stapp, CVRS, 

Monday 30 July 2018

30-07-18 Monday


Intermittent rain; mild with a good breeze.


Wigeon
Great White Egret
Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull
Little Owl
Whinchat, Redstart

30-07-18  (very) juvenile Robin, New Passage (Lisegirl)
30-07-18 Tufted Ducklings, Heron's Green Pond, CVL (Ian Stapp)
(only 4 left now)
BRISTOL

Finzels Reach:
2 Peregrine

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:
4 Common Sandpiper (2 at yacht club, 2 on seawall off No 1 lagoon), 10 Redshank, 4 Turnstone, 1 Curlew, 430 BH Gull

Littleton-on-Severn:
1 Hobby

Northwick Warth:
1 juv Mediterranean Gull  with the BHG, 86 Black-tailed Godwit, c150 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpiper in pill.

Pilning wetland:
1 Wigeon, 3 Little Egret, 6 Ringed Plover,  5 Swift, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Raven, 2 Goldcrest

30-07-18 fem/juv Redstart, Chipping Sodbury Common (Craig Lewis)
Chipping Sodbury Common:

2 Kestrel, 2  juv/female Redstart, 1 Whinchat



30-07-18 juv Little Owl, near Marshfield (Dean Reeves)
Marshfield:
West Littleton Lane - 1 juv Little Owl, 5 Skylark, Common Whitethroat, 46 Linnet, 8 Yellowhammer, 11 Corn Bunting

NORTH SOMERSET

Clevedon-Yeo:
6 Mute Swan, 1 Teal, 90 Mallard, 9 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 8 Oystercatcher, 30 Lapwing, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 120 Curlew, 13 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Turnstone, 120 Dunlin, 5 Common Sandpiper, 135 Redshank, 700 Black-headed Gull, 8 LBB Gull, 25 Herring Gull, 2 Raven,  20+ Swallow (most feeding on the tide line at HT), a few Linnet


BELOW M4 & BANES

No reports

RESERVOIRS
Dunlin 30-07-18, Dunlin , Heron's Green, CVL (Ian Stapp)(came in with the rain) 
Chew Valley Lake150+ Canada Goose, 60+ Mute Swan, 1 Black Swan (Herriotts), 150+ Teal ( Herriotts), Tufted Duck + (only 4 ducklings left Heron's Green pond), 2 Little Grebe + 4 (H G), 120 + Great crested Grebe,  1 Great White Egret, 2 Little Egret, 6 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Black-tailed Godwit (Herriotts), 1 Dunlin (Heron's Green wall - came in with a rain shower), 3 Common Sandpiper (1 Moreton, 2 Dam), 7 Green Sandpiper (Herriotts), 22 Lapwing, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 9 GBB Gull, 27 juv BH Gull, 1 Collared Dove, 22 Wood Pigeon,1 Stock Dove, 40+ Swift,1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 100+ Carrion  Crow + Jackdaw (cut Grass field Moreton with 58 Canada Goose + 11 Magpie), 50+ Swallow/ House Martin, 6 Sand Martin, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff , 5 Reed Warbler, 1 Song Thrush,1 Mistle Thrush,1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Goldfinch, 10+ Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting

30-07-18 Reed Warbler, Moreton (Bob Brewer)


30-07-18 Cormorants, Stratfiord Bay, CVL (Bob Brewer)

Requests for help from BOC Twitter feed:

1. 'Severn Estuary' Saturday [No precise location given]. Dunlin with red flag on right tibia, no rings or flags on left leg. Can't find this scheme on http://cr-birding.org  Can anybody help? [Andrew@AndrewBirds144]

2. Can you take on a tetrad to survey for Tawny Owls? If you think you can, there are tetrads available across the UK; check out the available squares and register on http://www.bto.org/project-owl !

We are still looking for volunteers to help with Priority Squares in ST66 ( Keynsham, Stockwood, Compton Dando, Stanton Drew) also ST36 ( Weston-super-Mare , Worle, Hewish areas).  Go to http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/project-owl … to help.
Reports: Andrew@AndrewBirds144, Bob Brewer, Craig Lewis, Andy Middleton, Aravind Ramesh, Dean Reeves, Harvey Rose, Tony Scott, Ian Stapp, Jason Williams

Sunday 29 July 2018

29-07-18 Sunday - no seabirds of note

A very wet and blustery morning, clearing a little by noon, then more heavy showers later.  Much cooler.

Nothing special today (or no birders out)

This is Bristol, we can always find a Peregrine to photograph.
Here's a particularly fine portrait of one of the Avon Gorge juveniles.
(Brian Thompson)

BRISTOL

Abbots Leigh:
Sparrowhawk hopefully hanging around a bird feeder.


Emerson's Green, Science park Lake:
2 Little Egret.


SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Adolescent Robin at New Passage (Rob Holbrook)
New Passage/Northwick:
A Grey Seal off the Pill.


Severn Beach:
17 Canada Goose, 3 Ringed Plover, a few Turnstone, 13 Black-headed Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 9 Swift.


Yate:
Mandarin still in Kingsgate Park.


Chipping Sodbury Common:
2 Redstart.



NORTH SOMERSET

Backwell Lake:
17 Canada Geese (at least 3 juvenile), Mute Cygnets broods of 4+ 2 with parents, 2 Grey Heron, 6 Swift, 1 Kingfisher, 300+ Jackdaw to roost. No Egrets seen.

Female Great Spotted Woodpecker (with BTO ring) in my Portishead garden,
and that's all the birding I did today.  (Jane Cumming)

Bristol Airport, Lulsgate:
1 Turnstone past the office window!


Sand Point/Bay:
Unproductive hour's sea-watch.  Just 2 (1W) Common Gulls up the river.


BELOW M4 & BANES

Newton St Loe:
3 ad. Mute Swan (with 6 cygnets), Mallard, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard, 3 ad. Moorhen (and 3 juvs.), 1 Coot, 4 BH Gull, 2 LBB Gull, 50 Woodpigeon, 200 Jackdaw, 50 Rook, 20 Carrion Crow, 4 Coal Tit, 6 Blue Tit, 30 Swallow, 15 House Martin, 3 Goldcrest, Wren, Blackbird, 2 ad.+ 1 juv. Spotted Flycatcher, Robin, 20 House Sparrow, 1 Grey Wagtail, Goldfinch.

And a Gold Star to Rob for going out birding in the rain!


RESERVOIRS

Blagdon Lake:
a few Lapwing, 1 Little Ringed Plover (juv), a Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, and a Yellow-legged Gull .


Reports: Anne Bowler, Paul Bowyer, Paul Chapman, Mark Coller, Adam Cross, Robert Hargreaves, Adrian Hockey, John Martin, Neil Smart, Tim Warren,  BUPP, blagdonlakebirdsCVRSnslbirdingopsbirdingsevernsidebirdsTBOSG

Saturday 28 July 2018

28-07-18 Saturday - Manx Shearwater

Temp 14 to 21℃. 1.6mm rain by 16.00. Cloudy, some sun and comfortable if not cold to be out today

Mandarin Duck
Common Scoter
Manx Shearwater
Great White Egret
Turnstone, Greenshank
Mediterranean Gull
Tree Pipit

28-7-18 Mediterranean Gull at Severn Beach (Paul Bowerman)
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

28-7-18 Dunlin on Severnside (Paul Bowerman)
New Passage/Northwick Warth:
Black-tailed Godwit, 100's Dunlin

28-7-18 Manx Shearwayer at Severn Beach (Paul Bowerman)
Severn Beach:
120 Manx Shearwater, 2 juv Mediterranean Gull, 1 juv Green Woodpecker, 1 Peregrine hunting Manxies

Yate, Kingsgate Park:
Mandarin Duck

NORTH SOMERSET

Portishead Marina:
2 Cormorant
The Red Moon in Avon (Howard Taffs)
Clevedon Yeo:
Manx Shearwater

Clevedon -Ladye Bay
30 Manx Shearwater.

Sand Point:
3 Common Scoter up, 19 Manx Shearwater down, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Tree Pipit

BELOW M4 & BANES

Grey Wagtails noted at Stanton Drew, Woollard, Publow and Pensford (also a Dipper at Pensford).


RESERVOIRS

Blagdon Lake:
2 juv Little Ringed Plovers, 1 adult Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank

28-7-18 Water Rail at Herriotts (Mark Dadds at CVRS ringing course)
Chew Valley Lake:
2 Great White Egret, 5 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail pullus ringed, 21 Lapwing, 5 ad Turnstone, 5 inc 1st juv Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Common Sandpiper, 8 Green Sandpiper, 2 ad Redshank, CVL regular BH Gull ring 24H2 is back, 5 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 ad Arctic Tern, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Peregrine, 2 Sand Martin

Out of Avon:
Knot, 4 sum plum Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank on River Brue
8 Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper and Greenshank at Slimbridge

Reports: Roger Bingham, Paul Bowerman, Karle Burford, Paul Chapman, John Clark, Mark Coller, Peter Coslett, Mark Dadds, Adrian Hockey, Rod Holbrook, Dave Nevitt, Andy Slade, CVRS, 

Friday 27 July 2018

27-08-18 Friday - Marsh Harrier

Wader Flock roost am, 27th July 2018 Pilning Wetlands (Paul Bowerman)
Sunny at 07:35 and then stronger breeze, but still very hot.
Marsh Harrier, Yellow-legged Gull, Great White Egret, Hobby.

BRISTOL

Bishopston: 

Egerton Rd: 
Still 5 Swifts around.

Elton Rd:
2 Jay, 1 Robin - 05:00 singing the autumn song - already!

Kings Drive:
1 or 2 Common Sandpiper - calling, heading South  - while ISS watching, just past midnight.

Henleaze:
Screaming Swifts still

St Phillips:
5 Sand Martin around nest site on the Feeder.

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Severnside:
Patch record for Little Egret now 18
Little Egret 27th July 2018 Pilning Wetlands (Paul Bowerman)
Yes it really is - hope the contaminants are non injurious!
Pilning wetland:
13 Little Egret, 60 Lapwing, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 60+ Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Turnstone, 400+ Dunlin,  2 Common Sand,  & 1st Green Sandpiper for the year, 140 Redshank.
pm report
24 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone, 24 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 60 Redshank.
Settled back on the scrape following its clearance, by a female Sparrowhawk, after catching and drowning a Redshank - stood on it, 'til it moved no more!
Severn Beach:
5 Little Egret - which makes it a record count for Ss this morning.


Mandarin 27th July 2018 Yate (Mark Coller)
Yate:

Kinsgate Park:
1 Mandarin, 2 Kingfisher.

Haresombe:
1 Jay - unusual in the gardens

Winterbourne - Bradley Brook LNR:
2 Buzzard, 1 Little Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 5 Jay, 1 Swallow, 1 singing Willow Warbler (hasn’t been present since April), 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap including 2 juvs, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Bullfinch including 2 juvs.
The barley was cut yesterday; today was the first time, this summer, that Skylark didn't sing from that field.

NORTH SOMERSET

no reports

BELOW M4 & BANES

no reports

RESERVOIRS
Raven 27th July 2018 Barrow Tanks (Lee Gardiner)
Barrow Gurney Reservoir:
1 Raven

Blagdon Lake:
1 Greenshank.

Kingfisher 27th July 2018 CVL area (Lee Gardiner)
Chew Valley Lake

180+ Canada Goose, 65 Mute Swans, 1 Black Swan, 2 Egyptian Goose, 150+ Great Crested Grebe 2 Little Grebe + 4 Juv, 2 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier (Moreton), 5 Buzzard, 17 Lapwing, 3 Common Sandpiper (2 Dam 1 HG), 8 Green Sandpiper (2 H G 6 Herriotts), 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 30+ Black-headed Gull Juv, 4 Stock Dove, 22 Swift (Dam), 2 Grear Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 30+ Carrion Crow, 22 Jackdaw, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Swallow, 7 House Martin, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Reed Warbler, 2 Song Thrush, 14 House Sparrow (H Green), 1 Grey Wagtail, (Woodford), 5 Goldfinch (Dam), 1 Reed Bunting.
Marsh Harrier 27th July 2018 CVL (Ian Stapp)
Moreton:
Kingfisher 27th July 2018 (CVRS ) 
Ringing Station:
1 juv Kingfisher - best from this mornings training group.

Herriott's Bridge:
1 Bittern - flew across the channel, flew around a bit then shot off down the main reed bed, going a long way down.
I Great White Egret, 6 Little Egret, 21 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper, 9 Green Sandpiper, 1 3rd cyr Commn Gull, 1 3rd cyr Yellow-legged Gull,  1 Common Tern,  1 Kingfisher, 1 Hobby, 1 juv Peregrine.

Reports: Mark Coller, Lee Gardiner, Julian Head, Nick Hawkridge, Mike Jackson, Tim Mcgrath, Jean Oliver, Frances Robertson, Ian Stapp, Chris Teague BUPP, blagdonlakebirds, bristol-wildlife, CVRSnslbirdingopsbirdingsevernsidebirdsTBOSG

Thursday 26 July 2018

26-07-18 Thursday - Turnstone

Temp 15 to 31.2 ℃. Very warm today, despite cloud and breeze, till the sun won the day

26-7-18 Common Tern at the Dam, CVL (Bob Brewer)
one of nine through today
Mandarin Duck
Goshawk
Purple Heron 24th and possibly today, Great White Egret
Whimbrel, Turnstone, Ruff
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Tern

BRISTOL


26-7-18 Peregrine, St Phillips Bridge (Rich Scantlebury) 
Finzel's reach:
1 Peregrine drops Pigeon on passers by.

Kingswood, Glanville Gdns:
14 Swift screeching over at midday

Bishopston:
11 Swifts - this morning

Redland:
10 Swifts at 21.05

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:
30 Canada Goose, 2 Teal, 5 Turnstone (first in here), 14 Shelduck, 12 Tufted Duck, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 3 Cormorant, 1 Curlew, 200 BH Gull, 1 Common Gull, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Peregrine, 1 Blackcap, 24 Pied Wagtail
26-7-18 Turnstone, New Passage (Rob Hargreaves)
New Passage/Northwick Warth:
30+ Canada Geese, 27 Shelduck, 3 Little Grebe, 4 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, 22 Oystercatcher, 60+ Lapwing, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew, 57 Black-tailed godwit, 3 Turnstone, 185 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 128 Redshank, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Raven, 60+ Swallow, 12 Pied Wagtail, 30 Linnet

26-7-18 Green Woodpecker in the Glen (Lisegirl)
NORTH SOMERSET

Portishead:
5 Swift over Kilkenny Place

Backwell:Has anyone seen how many Little Egrets are coming into roost yet?

Clevedon Yeo:
8 Mute swan, 4 Canada Geese, 30 Shelduck +new brood of 10, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, 8 Oystercatcher, 12 Lapwing, 9 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 140 Curlew, 5 Black-tailed godwit, 60 Dunlin, 1 Ruff (KP), 2 Common Sandpiper, 140 Redshank, 1 Snipe heard, 500+ BH Gull, 3 LBB Gull, 25 Herring Gull, 2 Raven, 6 Swallow

BELOW M4 & BANES

Bath, Lansdown Hill:
1 m Goshawk, 2 Buzzard, 1 pair Peregrine
Newton St Loe:
4 Grey Heron, 3 Buzzard, 3 Stock Dove, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Swift, 100 Jackdaw, 15 Swallow, 25 House Martin, 20+ Long-tailed Tit, 1 Whitethroat, 3 Nuthatch, 5 Mistle Thrush, 1 Bullfinch

RESERVOIRS

Blagdon Lake, 25th:
1♂ Mandarin Duck, c. 18 Lapwings, 4 Common Sandpipers, 1 juv Yellow-legged Gull

26-7-18 Buzzard, Moreton (Ian Stapp)
Chew Valley Lake:
123 Canada Geese, 69 Mute Swan, 1 Tufted Duck with 7 ducklings, 2 Little Grebe + 4 juvs, 168 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Purple Heron seen 24th from CVRS (MR), possible Purple Heron at HG today (RM), Great White Egret, 3 Little Egret, 7 Buzzard, 1 Oystercatcher, 21 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper at HG and Nun, 10 Green Sandpiper, 29 juv BH Gull, 1 ad Common Gull, 10 GBB Gull, a juv Herring Gull, 4 Yellow-legged Gull

26-7-18 Common Tern at the Dam, CVL (Bob Brewer)
9 Common Tern, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (M), 1 Kestrel, 2 Jay, 18 Jackdaw, 2 Raven, 5 Sand Martin, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Song Thrush, 4 Mistle Thrush (Nunnery), 13 Pied Wagtail, 2 Reed Bunting
26-7-18 Little Egret, Herriotts  (Ian Stapp)
Reports: Nancy Barrett, Pete Brain, Bob Brewer, Stuart Gray, Robert Hargreaves, Lisegirl, Robin Martin, Andrew Middleton, Nigel Milbourne, Jean Oliver, Dee Pope, Mike Rowan, Harvey Rose, Rich Scantlebury, Ian Stapp, Brian Thompson, CVRS, NSL-birding

Wednesday 25 July 2018

25-07-18 Wednesday - inland Whimbrel

Still hot

Great White Egret
Whimbrel at CVL
Yellow-legged Gull
Whinchat, Redstart
Yellow Wagtail 
Little Ringed Plover

25-07-18 nicely reflected couple of Common Sandpiper, Heron's Green, CVL (Ian Stapp)

BRISTOL

Bishopston:
At least 5 Swift still around this morning

Sneyd Park:
1 juv Hobby over the garden.

Henleaze:
24 Swift - gathering up high. Into the departure lounge?

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE


25-07-18 Redstart, Chipping Sodbury Common (Mark Coller)

Chipping Sodbury Common:
10 Greylag Goose, 1 Kingfisher, 40+ Swallow, 20+ Chiffchaff, 8 Whitethroat, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whinchat, 4 Redstart

Bradley Brook LNR, Winterbourne:
2 Buzzard, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 (2  juvs) Green Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 13 Jackdaw, 2 Raven, 1 singing Skylark, 3 Swallow, 2 Chiffchaff, ‘lots’ of Blackcap (including a family with 3 or 4 juvs), 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Robin juvs, 2 Bullfinch, 3 Goldfinch juvs with 2 adults.
Also - 2 Roe Deer, 2 Rabbit

Northwick Warth / Pilning Wetlands:
36 Canada Goose, 1 Little Egret, 80 Lapwing, 1 Little Ringed Plover - juv, 60 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff, 250 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpiper, 120+ Redshank, 3 Raven.

NORTH SOMERSET

Gordano:
24th July - M5 near Clapton-in-Gordano -  1 Hobby

Clevedon
Marine Lake - 3 juv Peregrine

Weston-Super-Mare:
LBB Gull ‘M+P’ (ringed Bristol 2013) has successfully fledged 1 chick.

BELOW M4 & BANES

Hanham:
20 Swift - up high and not screaming.

Pensford:
24th July - 1 Little Egret on the River Chew

RESERVOIRS
25-07-18 Reed Warblers, Hollowbrook, CVL (George Stacey)
Chew Valley Lake

256 Canada Goose (56 Dam 54 Woodford 88 H Green 58 Herriotts), 60+ Mute Swan, 1 Black Swan,  Tufted Duck +7 ducklings, T D + 3 Ducklings,   80+ Great Crested Grebe (lake),  18+Little Grebe (2 + 4 H Green + 12+ Little Grebe Villice), 2 Great White Egret, 4 Little Egret, 5 Buzzard, 1 Whimbrel, 8 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper (2 HG 2 Stratford 2 Dam), 21 Lapwing, 5 Redshank, 3 Yellow-legged Gull, 11 G BB Gull, 2 juv LBB Gull, 3 Collared Dove 1 Green Woodpecker (Woodford), 1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 50+ Carrion Crow, 2 Raven, 2 Jay, 4 Swallow, 13 House Martin, 5 Sand Martin, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Reed Warbler, 1 Yellow Wagtail (Moreton), 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting

Bittern Trail or Hollowbrook:
1 Treecreeper plus several Reed Warbler still feeding young.

25-07-18 Great White Egret, Herriotts Pool , CVL (Ian Stapp)

25-07-18 Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Villice Bay (Ian Stapp)
Small Red-eyed Damselfly - a first for Chew. Found 24th July at Villice Hide by Rupert Higgins. First reached UK in 1999.
Also at Puxton Moor (AWT Reserve)

Out of Avon:
Purple Heron still at Noah's Lake, Shapwick
The wandering Pied Crow has now turned up in Yorkshire at Flamborough Head. After leaving Clevedon on 1st July it was in Pembrokeshire from 4th - 8th July.

Reports: Phil Baber, Mark Coller, Mike Jackson, Rob Laughton, Hugh Maynard, Jean Oliver, Gareth Roberts, Frances Robertson, RobtheBirder, Ian Stapp, George Stacey, Geoff Suter, Birdguides

Tuesday 24 July 2018

24-07-18 Tuesday - summer doldrums

Hot, fine and sunny with plenty of high cloud and a fresh wind.  No sign of any rain.


Great White Egrets
Yellow-legged Gull
Purple Heron still on the Levels
Red Kite, Redstart



Common Gulls are starting to return from their breeding grounds (Ian Stapp)
BRISTOL

Redland:
6 Swift

Montpelier Station:
1 Wren  - 'Sunning'
Wren 'sunning' 24th July 2018 Montpelier Station (Des Bowring - wildmonty)

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE



Hawkesbury - Broad Hill:
1 Red Kite, Redstart.


New Passage/Northwick Warth:
(yesterday, 23rd)  1 Ruff, 45 Black-tailed Godwit, 120+ Redshank, 300+ Dunlin, 90+ Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Turnstone, 27 Shelduck, 31 Canada Geese.

Pilning Wetland:
4 Little Grebe, 1 Snipe, 1 Kestrel, 1 hunting Hobby.

NORTH SOMERSET

Portishead:
(Marina) 2 Cormorant.


Walton Common and North Clevedon coast (BOC walk):
1 Pheasant, 1 Buzzard, 6 Black-headed Gull (inc. 1 juv.), 8 Herring Gull, 3 LBB Gull, 10 Woodpigeon, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 6 Magpie, 7 Carrion Crow, 2 Raven, 1 Coal Tit, 7 Blue Tit (3 juv,), 2 Great Tit, 19 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, 1 Nuthatch, 4 Blackbird, 4 Robin, 4 House Sparrow, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Bullfinch, 3 Greenfinch, 6 Linnet (one flock), 17 Goldfinch (one group of 7).

Little Owl at Marshfield (Pete Coslett)
BELOW M4 & BANES

Marshfield:
(Northfield Lane only)
1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Pheasant, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Little Owl (West Littleton Road), 20 Skylark, 40 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 15 House Sparrow, 20 Corn Bunting, 10 Yellowhammer, 10 Linnet, 15 Starling, various corvids.


Twerton, Bath:
3 Tawny Owl calling overnight.


Hunstrete:
2 Buzzard, 2 Raven cronking, Green Woodpecker calling.


Reed Warbler at Moreton (Ian Stapp)
RESERVOIRS

Blagdon Lake:
(yesterday, 23rd)  1 Mandarin Duck, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 46 Lapwing.


Litton Reservoir:
Kingfisher.


Chew Valley Lake
223 Canada Goose, 1 Egyptian Goose, 54 + Mute Swan, 1 escaped Black Swan, 4 Shelduckling, 2 Shoveler, 20+ Gadwall, 67 Teal, 87 Great Crested Grebe, 69 Grey Heron, 2 Great White Egret, 3 Little Egret, 7 Buzzard, 6 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 18 Lapwing, 2 Common Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 37 juv. BH Gull, 8 GBB Gull, 7 Stock Dove, 14 Woodpigeon, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 23 Jackdaw, 1 Raven, 1 Jay, 9 LT Tit, 3 House Martin, 12 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 11 Reed Warbler (most chicks calling), 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Treecreeper, 1 Grey Wagtail, 17 Chaffinch, 6 Reed Bunting.

Dam:
1 Oystercatcher.

Heron's Green:
Tufted Duck + 7 ducklings, 2 Little Grebe (with 4 chicks), 1 Common Gull, 21 House Sparrow.

Moreton:
1 Kingfisher.

An albino Coot - I think not last year's bird?  (Ian Stapp)
Herriott's Bridge:
Tufted Duck + 3 ducklings, a "Pied Coot" aberrant,


Reports: Nancy Barrett, Des Bowring, Karle Burford, Judy Copeland, Peter Coslett, Anne Crowe, Robert Hargreaves, Vic Polley, Ian Stapp, BUPP, blagdonlakebirdsCVRSnslbirdingopsbirdingsevernsidebirdsTBOSG wildmonty

Monday 23 July 2018

23-07-18 Monday - Very quiet

Temp 19 to 26℃. Hot again today, hottest in UK this year even, warm breeze with a muggy feel to it

23-7-18 Reed Warblers at Hollowbrook, CVL (George Stacey)
A worthwhile day out for George
Great White Egret
Yellow-legged Gull
Hobby

23-7-18 Mute Swan at Lyde Green (Tim Ford)
BRISTOL

Lyde Green:
2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 4 Moorhen, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler

St George, Fir Tree Lane:
8-9 Swifts screaming for the last week.


SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
1 Ruff, 45 Black-tailed Godwit, 120+ Redshank, 300+ Dunlin, 90+ Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Turnstone, 27 Shelduck, 31 Canada Geese.

Pilning Wetland:
4 Little Grebe, 1 Snipe, 1 Kestrel, 1 hunting Hobby.


NORTH SOMERSET

Portishead, H&W Marina:
1 Cormorant

23-7-18 Jersey Tiger in Winthill, Banwell (John Thorogood)











BELOW M4 & BANES

Stantonbury Hill:
1 Sparrowhawk with 5 Buzzard thermaling

Bath, Twerton, St Michael's:
3+ Tawny Owl

RESERVOIRS

23-7-18 Oystercatcher,  Herons Green (Ian Stapp)
Chew Valley Lake:
280 Canada Geese, 1 Egyptian Goose, 65 Mute Swan, 1 Black Swan, 5 Shelduck as 4 ducklings are now full size, Tufted Duck + 7 Ducklings, 65+ Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 9 Grey Heron, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Little Egret, 5 Buzzard, 1 Water Rail screaming in Moreton, 1 Oystercatcher (HG), 15 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Green Sandpiper, 29 juv BH Gull, 1 Common Gull, 9 GBB Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 5 Stock Dove, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 2 Hobby, 13 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Reed Warbler, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Mistle Thrush, 14 House Sparrow, 1 Grey Wagtail, 22 Chaffinch, 4 Reed Bunting

23-7-18 Tufted Duck + 7 ducklings Herons Green Pond (Ian Stapp)
Out of Avon
Purple Heron was seen again today at Shapwick

NB: We have seen nothing on Twitter today about birds in Avon. A first for us

Tawny Owl Project
Following on from the very successful BTO Owl Appeal this year will be the start of our Project Owl research. With new surveys starting from autumn 2018, we need your help to learn more about our nation’s fascinating but often mysterious owl species. Check out bto.org/volunteer-surveys/project-owl/tawny-owl-point-survey

Log into the BTO, go to "my BTO" and log into the Owl project, then you can choose a square or two

Reports: John Clark, Tim Ford, Robert Hargreaves, Julian Head, Dean Reeves, George Stacey, Ian Stapp

Sunday 22 July 2018

22-07-18 Sunday - more Great White Egrets

A lot of high cloud with sunny spells and very hot despite the fresh wind.  Dry.

Great White Egrets
Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, Sanderling
Mediterranean Gulls, Yellow-legged Gulls
Purple Heron in Somerset


Peregrine juveniles - the Avon Gorge (David Hughes)
BRISTOL

Little Stoke:
14+ Swift - perhaps young now on the wing.

Withywood:
3 Swift

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

New Passage/Northwick:
3 Little Egret, juv. Little Ringed Plover, 140 Redshank, 315 Dunlin, 1 adult Sanderling, 63 Black-tailed Godwit, 106 Lapwing, 2 Turnstone, 4 Common Sandpiper, juv Green Woodpecker, Coal Tit.

Yate:
juv. Mediterranean Gull with 20+ BH Gull.

Horton:
1 Little Owl - first here for some years

NORTH SOMERSET
no reports.

BELOW M4 & BANES



Keynsham to Compton Dando:

Memorial Park: 15 Mallard, 1 Moorhen.

Dapps Hill: 1 Kingfisher, 6 Mallard with 3 ducklings.

Chewton Place: 1 Raven, 1 young moorhen, 1 Bullfinch.

Compton Dando: 13 Mallard, 1 Buzzard, 2 Green Woodpecker with 1 young, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Peregrine, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 32 Swallow on power lines in the village,  2 Raven, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Linnet, 10 Yellowhammer (incl. 4 singing males and 2 juvs.).
Barn Owl brood of 3 ringed this morning (photos from Ian Stapp).

RESERVOIRS
One of three Great White Egrets back at Chew (Rob  Hargreaves)

Chew Valley Lake
New brood of 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Great White Egret, 4 Little Egret (1 juv.), 1 juv. Little Ringed Plover, 19 Lapwing, 2 moulting adult Ruff, 2 adult Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper, 7 Green Sandpiper, 4 Mediterranean Gull (3 juv, 1 1st-summer), 3 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 m. Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Sand Martin.

Herriott's Bridge:
6 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 20 Teal, 4 Grey Heron, 20 Lapwing,  2 adult Black-tailed Godwit, 1 ad Common Gull

Out of Area:
adult Purple Heron at Noah's Lake, Ashcott, Somerset early this morning.

BTO - Project Owl

The BTO's Project Owl research starts this autumn.   We need your help to learn more about our nation’s fascinating but often mysterious owl species.

The Tawny Owl Point Survey

Running from mid-August to mid-October we'll be running a national structured survey on Tawny Owls. Following on from comparable national surveys carried in 1989 and 2005 we'll use this survey to examine long-term population and occupancy trends. Check out the Tawny Owl Point Survey information pages now at www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/project-owl and sign up

Tawny Owl Point Survey structure

This survey involves volunteers visiting random preselected tetrads (2x2km squares). In total there 225 tetrads in Avon available at the start of the survey, We want to survey as many of these as possible and depending on local interest expand this over the course of the survey. Check the tetrads available in your area and sign up to survey one.
The first survey period will run from August 15 until October 15 2018. During this time we'd ask you to make one to three (ideally at least two) short evening visits to your chosen tetrad within as short a period as possible. The whole process is planned to be repeated between mid-February and mid-March 2019, and (funding permitting) in autumn 2019/spring 2020.

Coming Soon

The Tawny Owl Calling Survey


Then starting at the end of September and running until the end of March we have the Tawny Owl Calling Survey. This is a weekly 20 minute survey that can be carried out from the comfort of your own home or pretty much anywhere else you can visit multiple times.
Reports: Adrian Adams, Pete Brain, Neil Delaney, Richard Giles, Robert Hargreaves, Bill Hewitt, Gary Hughes, Mike Jackson, John Martin, Fiona Neate, Tony Scott, Ian Stapp, BUPP, blagdonlakebirds, CVRS, nslbirding, opsbirding, severnsidebirds, TBOSG