Thursday 31 December 2020

31-12-20 Thursday - New Years Eve - Snow Bunting

A cold, frosty start to a fine day with a little high cloud and a cool light wind.  Dry, but lots of ice and mud underfoot.  Temp not much above freezing.

A Happy New Year to all our readers and contributors

One of the two Slavonian Grebes at Chew (Raoul Chandrasakera)

Slavonian Grebes, Bittern, Marsh Harriers, Bearded Tits
Golden Plover
Cattle Egrets, Great White Egrets
Firecrest
Snow Bunting

BRISTOL

Clifton Downs:
pr. Peregrine perched close together, 5 Blackbird, 8 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush (sunning), 4 Robin, 3 Bullfinch, 5 Goldfinch.

In a Bishopston garden:
1 Jay, 1 m. Blackcap, 10 Redwing, 20 Goldfinch

In a Redland garden:
2 Herring Gull, 2 Magpie, 3 Carrion Crow, 2 m. Blackcap (first of the winter), 10 Redwing, 1 Robin, 10+ House Sparrow.

In another Redland garden:
2 Jay, 1 Magpie, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Blackcap (m. and f.).

Sea Mills:
23 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper.

Clifton Down - Zoo Area:
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Blackcap, 1 Firecrest.

Eastville Park:
Kingfisher.

Warmley:
1 f. Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 2 Bullfinch.

Aztec West:
14 Canada Geese, 1 Cormorant, 6 Moorhen, 1 Kingfisher.

Buzzard at Almondsbury (Vera Carpenter)
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:
13 Shelduck, 180 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 5 Moorhen, 12 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Plover, 800 Dunlin, 200 Lapwing, 5 Snipe, 50 Curlew, 7 Stonechat (around Yacht Club), 200+ Redwing, 45 Fieldfare, 18 Blackbird (a lot more), 24 Robin (a lot more). 

6-mile walk from Oldbury to Littleton-on-Severn and back:
16 Canada Goose, 12 Shelduck, 20 Mallard, Teal Wigeon, Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Moorhen, 160+ BH Gull, Common Gulls, Herring Gulls, 2-3 LBB Gull,  24 Lapwing, 250+ Dunlin, few Curlew, c.10 Redshank, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Magpie, Jackdaws, Rooks, Carrion Crows, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 3 LT Tit, 1 m.Blackcap, 20+Starling, hundreds of Fieldfare, dozens Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, Blackbirds, Robins, 1 Stonechat, 4 Dunnock, House Sparrows, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Goldfinch.  

Aust Warth:
3 Jack Snipe, 4 Snipe, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Peregrine, 1 Raven, plenty of Redwing, 4 Stonechat, 6 Rock Pipit, 1 f Snow Bunting.

Coalpit Heath:
1 Little Owl, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Skylark, 5 Pied Wagtail, 1 Song Thrush, c. 100 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, 60 Linnet, 8 Yellowhammer, 3 Reed Bunting.


Chipping Sodbury (Common, golf course, the Ridings):
1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, 3 Blackbird, 4 Robin, 16 Meadow Pipit, 1 Bullfinch, 10 Linnet.


NORTH SOMERSET

Clevedon-Yeo:
30 Wigeon, 10 Teal, 9 Goosander, 6 Ringed Plover, 150 Dunlin, 7 Turnstone, 40 Redshank, 20 Skylark, 4 Rock Pipit, 6 Meadow Pipit, 7 Pied Wagtail.

Backwell Lake:
31 Little Egret came in to roost.

Redwing in Keynsham (Ian Stapp)
BELOW M4 & BANES

Marshfield:
50 Golden Plover with a few Lapwing, 6 Skylark, 40 Fieldfare, 30 Redwing, 1 Stonechat, 8 Linnet, Corn Bunting.

Keynsham:
7 Woodpigeon, 2 Rook, 2 Blackcap, 12 Redwing, 20+ Starling, 18 Goldfinch, 3 Chaffinch.

Cameley:
pr. Little Grebe, 400 corvids of six species including Jays and 6 Raven. 2 Redwing.

Folly Farm:
1 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 f. Kestrel, LT Tits, 1 Nuthatch calling, few Redwing, pr. Bullfinch.

Compton Martin:
Kingfisher on village pond.

Paulton:
7 Pheasant, 7 Stock Dove, 12 Woodpigeon, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 140 Skylark, 20 Redwing, 15 House Sparrow, 20 Meadow Pipit, 6 Chaffinch, 20 Yellowhammer.

RESERVOIRS

31-12-20 Great Northern Diver, Barrow Tanks (Gary Thoburn)
Barrow Tanks:

Long-tailed Duck.

Blagdon Lake:
5 Pheasant, 260 Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Black-headed Gull, 5 Cormorant, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard.

Bittern at Chew (Simon Isgar)
Chew Valley Lake
9 Cattle Egret and 3 Little Egret along Bickford Lane (Chew to Blagdon), 2 Cattle Egret flying along the R.Chew at Chew Magna at 4 p.m.

Woodford orchard:
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Fieldfare, 40 Redwing.

Nunnery:
3 Goosander flew past - one drake.

Heron's Green:
1 f. Scaup, 5 Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Common Gull, 3 Great White Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 2 GBB Gull, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Stonechat, 3 Pied Wagtail.

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Moreton (Ian Stapp)
Moreton:
13 Shoveler, 30 Pochard, 9+ Goldeneye, 40+ Woodpigeon, 1 Water Rail (calling), 1 Little Grebe, 1 GBB Gull, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 2 Raven, 20+ LT Tit + mixed tit flock, 2 Cetti's Warbler (calling), 2 Chiffchaff, 15+ Redwing.

Stratford:
6 Goldeneye, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 3+ Snipe, 1 f. Marsh Harrier, 3 Bearded Tit.

Herriott's Bridge:
11 Shelduck, Pochard, 8+ Goldeneye, 1 Water Rail (calling). 1 Bittern, Common Gulls, 2 GBB Gull, 3 Great White Egret, 5 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 m. Marsh Harrier, 2 Cetti's Warbler (calling), 8+ Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Siskin heard calling overhead.

Two Slavonian Grebes at Chew (Simon Isgar)

Reports:  Nancy Barrett, Diana Bunniss, Vera Carpenter, Chris Craig, Jane Cumming, Alan Daniells, Andy Davis, William Earp, Richard Giles & Fiona Neate, Patrick Hancock, Nick Hawkridge, Mike Jackson, Stephen Jones, Brian Lancastle, Bob Medland, Mike Meechem, Andy Middleton & Matt Plenty, Phil Quinn, Ian Stapp, Tony Scott, Howard Taffs, Mike Thomas, Gary Thoburn, Keith Williams, Steven Williams, opsbirding.

Wednesday 30 December 2020

30-12-20 Wednesday - Yellow-browed Warbler

Bright, cold, with a sunny start, clouded over a little later.

Cattle Egret, Scaup
Yellow-browed Warbler
Long-tailed Duck, Mediterranean Gull
Yellow-legged Gull


30-12-2020 Yellow-browed Warbler Bradley Stoke (Robin Jones)

BRISTOL

30-12-20 Otter EP (Rich Scantlebury)
Eastville Park:
2 Canada Goose, 13 Mute Swan, c30 Mallard, 6 Moorhen, 9 Coot, c110 Black-headed Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Kingfisher, 3 Jay, 2 Nuthatch, c20 Starling, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail and a dog Otter in the river.

Stoke Bishop - garden:
8 Blackcap (3f &5m) on the feeders today, equalling the previous record

Westbury-on-Trym
1 Raven calling from the roof level

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

30-12-20 Grey Plover OPS (Pete Hazwlwood)
Oldbury Power Station:
Wigeon, 1 Pintail (m), 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, Curlew, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, Fieldfare, 4 Stonechat

30-12-20 Blackcap Yate (Chris Teague)
Northwick Warth:
c.120 Oystercatcher, c.40 Curlew, 1 Knot, c.800 Dunlin, c.120 Redshank, 1 Buzzard, 1 Cetti's Warbler

Yate:
Garden: 1 Blackcap (m) still present
Brimsham Park: 8 Goosander, 1 Kingfisher
30-12-20 Goosander Yate (Chris Teague)

Bradley Stoke:
1 Yellow-browed Warbler - been around since Mon

Patchway, Charlton Hayes Lidl:
1 Lapwing - by the roundabout.

NORTH SOMERSET

Clevedon-Yeo:
120 Canada Goose, 125 Shelduck, 480 Wigeon, 70 Mallard, 350 Teal, 9 Goosander - Blind Yeo,  10 Coot. 1 Oystercatcher, 115 Lapwing, 15 Ringed Plover, 335 Curlew, 24 Turnstone, 175 Dunlin, 1 Jack Snipe - Blake’s Pools, 5 Snipe, 200 Redshank, 1 Yellow-legged Gull - ad at the Yeo, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 7 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egret - Dowlais, 2 Skylark, 25 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 4 Stonechat, 55 Pied Wagtail - single feeding flock, first light at Dowlais, 20 Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting.

BELOW M4 & BANES

30-12-20 Goldfinch Twerton (Jean Tye)
Bath:
Twerton gardens: 3 Woodpigeon, 1 Jay, 2 Magpie - 1 carrying nesting material, Carrion Crow, lots of Blue and Great Tit, 3 Blackcap (f & 2m), 1 Nuthatch, 12 Starling, 3 Blackbird, 14 Redwing - tree close by, 1 Robin, House Sparrow, Dunnock, 8 Chaffinch, 18 Goldfinch, 
30-12-20 Blackcap Twerton (Robert Hargreaves)

Royal Victoria Park: 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Jay, 1 Blackcap, 1 Nuthatch, 12 Redwing, 

30-12-20 Buzzard NSL (NSL-Birding)
Newton St Loe:

2 Mute Swan, 63 Mallard, 18 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck (f), 3 Goosander (flyover), 1 Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, 1 Coot, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Moorhen, 1 Coot, Black-h Gull, 8 Common Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 2 Lesser Black-b Gull, 6 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, 7 Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 1 Jay, 1 Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, 1 Raven, 4 Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 15 Skylark, Long- t Tit, 1 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Nuthatch, Blackbird, 70+ Redwing, 15 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush, Robin, House Sparrow, 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 35 Meadow Pipit, 35 Chaffinch, Greenfinch, 3 Bullfinch, 25 Goldfinch, c6 Siskin. 10 Yellowhammer, 

RESERVOIRS

Barrow Tanks:
1 Long-tailed Duck - distantly, 1 Mediterranean Gull

Chew Valley Lake

Woodford:
40+ mix of Fieldfare and Redwing

Heron's Green:
2 Scaup, 5 Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe, 6 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Great Black-b Gull, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Stonechat, 2 Pied Wagtail

Bickfield Lane:
20 Cattle Egret

30-12-2020 Slavonian Grebe CVL (Ian Stapp)
Moreton:

30 Pochard, 9+ Goldeneye, 40 Woodpigeon, 1 Water Rail, 1 Little Grebe, 4 Snipe, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 4 Great Black-b Gull, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Jay, 2 Raven, mixed Tits, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 20 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 20+ Redwing, 6 Siskin - over, 3 Reed Bunting

30-12-2020 Bearded Tit CVL (Simon Isgar)
Stratford:

3 Goldeneye (f &2m), Great Crested Grebe, mixed Tit flock - inc Coal Tit, 8 + Bearded Tit, 1 Redwing

Herriott's Bridge:
11 Shelduck, 6 Wigeon, 7+ Goldeneye, 1 Water Rail, 1 Snipe - over, 4 Great Black-b Gull, 5 Grey Heron, 1 Great White Egret, 4 Jackdaw, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail

Reports: Allan Chard, Tony Cook, Andy Davis, Heather England, Lee Gardiner, Robert Hargreaves, Pete Hazelwood, Matt Hobbs, Dave Hughes, Simon Isgar, Robin Jones, Brian Lancastle, Ian Loats, Paul Marshall, Aravind Ramesh, Steve Sanins, Rich Scantlebury, Ian Stapp, Howard Taffs, Chris & Dave Teague, Bri Thompson, Wayne Tucker, Jean Tye, Roger White, Steven Williams,

Tuesday 29 December 2020

29-12-20 Tuesday - Great Northern Diver

Bright Sunny start, light breeze, clouded over midday, wet sleet and rain later.

Slavonian Grebe
Little Owl
Cattle EgretBarn Owl
Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern Diver

29-12-20 Bullfinch CSC (Chris Teague)

BRISTOL


Blaise Estate:
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 2 Jackdaw, 4 Carrion Crow, 8 Blue Tit,  9 Great Tit, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, 6 Nuthatch, 6 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 2 Robin

29-12-20 Coot EP (Rich Scantlebury)
Eastville Park:
2 Canada Goose, 13 Mute Swan, 30 Mallard, 1 Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, 10 Moorhen, 8-9 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 110 Black-headed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 14 Cormorant, 4 Grey Heron, 1 Kingfisher, 1  Peregrine, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Treecreeper, 3 Nuthatch, c20 Starlings, Blackbird, 2 Redwing, Dunnock - singing, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Chaffinch

29-12-20 Kingfisher Snuff Mills (Ben Newby)
Snuff Mills - BOC walk:
2 Collared Dove, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, lots of Jackdaw - mostly in prs, 4 Nuthatch, 3 Redwing, 1 Grey Wagtail - (many thanks to the Ben, who called the Kingfisher and took the picture and was good enough to send it in)

Withywood - garden
1 Grey Heron, 2 Raven, 6 Redwing, 2 Grey Wagtail

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

New Passage/Northwick:
2000+ Starling - mini murmuration; a little video clip

29-12-20 Goosander Yate (Mark Coller)
Yate - Kingsgate Park:

7 Goosander

Chipping Sodbury Common:
1 Kestrel, 2 Stonechat, 1 Bullfinch, 4 Linnet

29-12-20 Redpoll Ithcington (Heather England)
Itchington - garden:
1 Redpoll 

Coalpit Heath - AWBS:
2 Buzzard, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1 drumming, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper, 97 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 16 Robin, 1 Stonechat, 18 Chaffinch, 66 Linnet, 8 Yellowhammer, 17 Reed Bunting.

NORTH SOMERSET

Gordano Valley:
2 prs. Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Water Rail - heard, 10+ Snipe, 2 Raven, 100+ Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Stonechat, 2-3 Meadow Pipit.

Clevedon Blind Yeo - Kenn Rd:
5 Goosander (3f. & 2 m), 2 Moorhen, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret

Banwell:
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Marsh Tit,  1 Nuthatch, 6 Meadow Pipit, 1 Bullfinch (f)

BELOW M4 & BANES

Siston - AWBS:
2 Stock Dove, 27 Woodpigeon, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Jay, 4 Magpie, 12 Jackdaw, 9 Carrion Crow, 2 Raven, 12 Blue Tit, 13 Great Tit, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch, 7 Wren, 19 Blackbird, 19 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 6 Robin, 1 Chaffinch, 4 Bullfinch, 

29-12-20 Fieldfare Marshfield (Serena Sweeting)
Marshfield:

1 Buzzard, 100's  of Jackdaw and Starling, a few Fieldfare and Redwing, 5 Stonechat, 

Bath - Bloomfield:
2 Redwing

Cameley:
6 Raven - interacting, noisy, 600 Starling - heading to roost at CVL, possibly, 8 Blackbird (all m), c10 Redwing, 

Compton Dando:
400+ Woodpigeon, 1 Little Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 200+ mix of  Jackdaw, Rook and Carrion Crow, 2 Raven, 20+ Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch, 12+ Linnet, 2 Yellowhammer

Stanton Drew:
1 Raven

Chew Magna:
9 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 1 Blackcap (m) - 1st in the garden this winter

Newtown:
1 Grey Wagtail

Paulton:
50 Woodpigeon, 40 Rook, 80 Skylark, 13 Blackbird, 1 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, 35 Meadow Pipit, 6 Chaffinch, 1 Bullfinch, 10 Goldfinch, 6 Yellowhammer

RESERVOIRS

Barrow Tanks:
good numbers of Pochard, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Great Black-b Gull, 

Blagdon Lake:
1 Pintail (m), 24 Cattle Egret, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Peregrine, 2 Stonechat

Chew Valley Lake

Dam:
5 Goldeneye (4f - 1m)

29-12-20 Chffchaff CVL (George Stacey)
Hollow Brook:

1 Chiffchaff

Moreton:
56 Pochard, 20 Goldeneye, 40 Woodpigeon, 1 Water Rail, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Snipe, 4 Great Black-b Gull, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,  2 Jay, mixed Tits, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 20+ Long-t Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Stonechat

29-12-20 Meadow Pipit CVL H Green (Iand Stapp)
Heron's Green:

5 Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe, 18 Lapwing, 2 Great Black-b Gull,  3 Grey Heron, 1 Great White Egret, 2 Stonechat, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 

Herriott's Bridge:
2 Mute Swan with colour rings, 11 Shelduck, 12+ Goldeneye, 2 Goosander (f & m), 1 Water Rail, 2 Great Black-b Gull, 5 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Jackdaw, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail

OUT OF AREA

Burnham-on-Sea beach:
1 Kentish Plover

Reports: Jon Angell, Di Bunniss, Mark Coller, Jane Cumming, Sean Davies, Andy Davis, Neil Delaney, Heather England, Lee Gardiner, Patrick Hancock, Nick Hawkridge, Mike Jackson, Brian Martin, Bob Medland, Fiona Neate & Richard Giles, Ben Newby, James Packer, Lisa Presland, Rich Scantlebury, George Stacey, Ian Stapp, Serena Sweeting, Chris Teague, John Thorogood

Monday 28 December 2020

28-12-20 Monday - Short-eared Owl

Miserable: cold, wet, and gloomy, with Bristol temperatures hovering between 2 and 3 °C. 

A good day to have a proper look through Birds of Chew Valley Lake, newly-published and available from tinyurl.com/ChewBirds

Cattle Egret, Great White Egret
Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl
Merlin
  
BRISTOL

28-12-20 Little Grebe, Eastville Park Lake (Allan Chard)
Eastville Park:
1 Little Grebe (unusual here), 1 Peregrine, 1 Redwing

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:
57 Canada Goose, 1 pr Stonechat, 13 Bullfinch (inc. flock of 8 in hedge on Lagoon 3)


28-12-20 Merlin, Northwick Warth (Aravind Ramesh)

New Passage/Northwick:
1 Merlin

Severn Beach:
160+ Dunlin, 1 pr Stonechat

28-12-20 Yellowhammer, Horton (Serena Sweeting)
Horton:
Badminton Hazel Wood - large flock including 20 Chaffinch, 20-30 Yellowhammers, 13 Reed Bunting 

Bitterwell Lake, Coalpit Heath:
1 pr Treecreeper

NORTH SOMERSET

Clevedon-Yeo:
Dowlais - 47 Canada Goose, 1 Greylag Goose, 3 redhead Goosander flew high inland, 3 Turnstone 

Bristol Airport:
1 Barn Owl, 1 Short-eared Owl (also present yesterday and favouring the SW corner of the Airfield)

BELOW M4 & BANES

Bath:
Bloomfield garden - 1 m Blackcap, 2 Redwing
Walcot garden - 1 Water Rail again

RESERVOIRS

Blagdon Lake:
1m  Pintail, 2 Common Sandpiper, 25 Cattle Egret, 2 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Stonechat , 

Reports :Phil Baber, Bob Hindle, Adrian Hoickey, Glen Maddison, Brian Martin, Aravind Ramesh, Serena sweeting, Larry Sweetland, Howard Taffs, blagdonlakebirdsopsbirding

Sunday 27 December 2020

27-12-20 Sunday

Temp 5 to 7°C. Bright Sunny day with a cool wind, but very warm out the wind

Scoter
Slavonian Grebe
Golden Plover
Cattle Egret
Starling
Hawfinch, Lesser Redpoll

27-12-20 Herons Green Pool! (Ian Stapp)
BRISTOL

Crews Hole:
3 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard

27-12-20 Kingfisher, Eastville Park (Allan Chard)
Eastville Park, BOC Walk:

13 Mute Swan, 30 Mallard, 50 Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, 4 Moorhen, 7 Coot, 160 BH Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 6 LBB Gull, 9 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 imm m Peregrine, 8 Jay, Carrion Crow, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Nuthatch, 2 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Dipper, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch, 6 Goldfinch

Hotwells walk:
4 Mallard, 20+ Feral Pigeon, 6 Woodpigeon, 3 Redshank, 125+ BH Gull, 15+ Herring Gull, 1 Cormorant, 1 Magpie, 20 Jackdaw, 3 Carrion Crow, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Blackbird, 2+ Redwing, 1 Robin

St Werburgh's Rd:
1 Grey Wagtail

Westbury-on-Trym, 26th:
1 f Hawfinch

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

27-12-20 Lesser Redpoll & Goldfinch, Itchington (Heather England)
Itchington garden:
1 Buzzard, 18 Long-tailed Tit, 2m 1 f Blackcap, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, 6 Chaffinch, 2+ Lesser Redpoll, 25 Goldfinch

Oldbury Power Station:
26 Wigeon, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Raven, 2 Stonechat, good numbers of Fieldfare, Redwing, Pied Wagtail and Linnet

27-12-20 Green Woodpecker, Almondsbury (Vera Carpenter)
Almondsbury:

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Wren, 20 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Greenfinch, 3 Roe Deer

Aust Services:
3 Shelduck, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, pair Kestrel, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Redwing, flock 15 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit

New Passage:
100 Lapwing, 110 Curlew, 40 Turnstone, Dunlin, Redshank

Yate, Brimshaw Park:
7 2m Goosander, 1 Kingfisher

NORTH SOMERSET

Nailsea garden:
3 Woodpigeon, 3 Magpie, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Blue Tit, 1 m Blackcap, Stallings, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnocks

Bristol International Airport:
55 Golden Plover

Clevedon, Walton St Mary garden:
1 Sparrowhawk (m), 2 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch

Anchor Head:
20 Wigeon, 1 Scoter

BELOW M4 & BANES

27-12-20 Starling, Rushmeaad Lane (Chris Teague)
Marshfield, Rushmead Lane:
2 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2,000 Starling, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Corn Bunting

Bath, Prior Park:
Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Green Woodpeckers, Redwings, Song  & Mistle Thrushes

27-12-20 Kestrel, Newton St Loe (Rob Hargreaves)
Bath, Newton St Loe:

1 f Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Collared Dove, 3 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 100 BH Gull, 150 Common Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 2 Jay, 1 Coal tit, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 16 Redwing, 1 Stonechat

RESERVOIRS

Litton Reservoir:
2 Mute Swan with 4 juveniles, 59 Mallard, 1 Pochard, 19 Tufted Duck, 13 Moorhen with 3 juveniles, 4 Coot, 18 Little Grebe, 1 Herring Gull, 2 Cormorant, 1 Buzzard over the village, 1 Raven, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Wren, 2 Blackbird, 3 Robin

27-12-20 Goldeneye, Moreton (Ian Stapp)
Chew Valley Lake:


Bickfield Lane:
29 Cattle Egret

Herons Green:
10 Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 GBB Gull, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Great White Egret, 2 Stonechat, 2 Pied Wagtail

27-12-20 Wren, Moreton (Ian Stapp)
Moreton:

50 Pochard, 20 Goldeneye, 1 Water Rail, 2 GBB Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 25 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Stonechat

Herriotts:
2 Shelduck, 0 Pintail, 12+ Goldeneye, 1 Water Rail, 2 GBB Gull, 5 Grey Heron, 2 Great White Egret, 1 Buzzard, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail

Reports: Dru Brooke-Taylor, Tash Cain, Vera Carpenter, Allan Chard, Chris Craig, Heather England, Richard Giles & Fiona Neate, Paul Gregory, Rob Hargreaves, Pete Harrison, Adrian Hockey, Mike Jackson, Lisegirl, Glen Maddison, Andy Mears, Panopticophopbic, David Poulton, Lois Pryce, Ann Rossiter, Rich Scantlebury, Ian Stapp, Chris Teague, blagdonlakebirds, nslbirding, opsbirding, severnsidebirds, TBOSG

Saturday 26 December 2020

26-12-20 Boxing Day - Goosanders

Mild, grey, overcast and very blustery, dry spells between the showers.  Very little news, you must all be still digesting your Christmas dinners.  Get some fresh air!

Goosander
Cattle Egret

  
Goosanders on Brimsham Park Lake (Peter Bryant)
BRISTOL

Fishpool Hill, Brentry:
35 Goldfinch in a garden.

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Brimsham Park Lake [ST714842]:
8 Goosander (2m., 6 f.)

26-12-20 Blackcap Yate (Chris Teague)
Yate - garden:
4 or 5 Woodpigeon, 4 Collared Dove, 1 Sparrowhawk,  2 Blue Tit, 1 Blackcap (m), 1 Pied Wagtail (m), 2 Chaffinch, several Goldfinch - one less - SH food!

NORTH SOMERSET

Backwell:
17 species in the garden including Sparrowhawk. Great Spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit, f. Blackcap (first this winter).

Backwell Lake:
18 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 1 Pochard, 40 Little Egret in to roost

Kingston Seymour:
(yesterday)  c.40 Little Egret.

Weston-Super-Mare:
2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Mistle Thrush in the cemetery.
(yesterday) 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in Weston-s-Mare woods.

Kestrel, Newton St Loe (NSL-Brding)
BELOW M4 & BANES

Bath:
Bloomfield - yesterday: m. Blackcap in garden.

Newton St Loe:
7 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 65 Black-headed Gull, 45 Common Gull, 6 Herring Gull, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 25 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Blackcap, 3 Fieldfare, 55 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Stonechat, 2 Pied Wagtail, 35 House Sparrow, 8 Chaffinch, 20 Goldfinch.

House Sparrow (NSL-Birding)

RESERVOIRS

Chew Valley Lake

Heron's Green:
1 Curlew - noisy individual landed briefly, 7 Cattle Egret

Herriott's
2 Great White Egret

Reports:  Peter Bryant, Phil Crouter, Mark Dadds, Andy Davis, Robin Lambert, Brian Martin, Phil Quinn, Chris Teague, Tim Warren, nslbirding

Friday 25 December 2020

25-12-20 Christmas Day - Red-crested Pochard, Black-necked Grebe

 

Happy Christmas to all our readers (photos by Chris Perry)

  
25-12-20  Please supply your own caption!
(photo taken outside Stratford Hide, CVL by Raoul Chandrasakera)

Bright winter's day - crisp sunshine with temperatures from 0 - 5°C

Long-tailed Duck, Red-crested Pochard
Slavonian Grebe, Black-necked Grebe
Golden Plover
 
BRISTOL

Ashton Court:
1 Jay, 2 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 7 Redwing, 1 Great Tit

Bishopston:
Garden ( on washing-up watch) -  2 Woodpigeon, 6.Magpie, 2 Coal Tit, 4 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Chiffchaff (1st in winter), Blackcap (m), 2 Blackbird - pr, 2 Redwing, 2 Dunnock

Eastville Park:
13 Mute Swan, c30 Mallard, 1 domestic Mallard, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Collared Dove, 6 Moorhen, 6 Coot, c120 Black-headed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 10 Cormorant, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Jay, 9 Magpie, 4 Nuthatch, c10 Starling, 1 Dunnock

Stoke Park, Duchess Pond:
24th - 3 Goosander (1m 2 f)

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:
Lagoon 1 -  68 Canada Goose, 50+ Wigeon, 1 m Pintail (Shepperdine), c30 Teal, 10+ Curlew, 1 Redshank

Yate:
Brimsham Park - 6 Goosander (1 x m, 5 x redhead), 9 Mallard, 2 Moorhen, 6 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush

25-12-20 Reed Bunting, Chipping Sodbury Common (Peter Bryant)

Chipping Sodbury Common:
Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Great Tit, Wren, 6 Redwing, 2 Reed Bunting

NORTH SOMERSET

Nailsea:
Youngwood Lane - 4 Magpie, Fieldfare, Redwing.

Backwell Lake: 
15 Canada Geese, 26 Mute Swan, 43 Mallard, 24 Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck, 12 Gadwell, 1 Pochard, 1 Farmyard Duck, 2 Coot, 6 Moorhen,100+ Black-headed Gull,  4 Cormorant.

Yatton:
Wemberham Lane - 1 Buzzard, 2 Peregrine, 1 Grey Wagtail, 10 Linnet

Kingston Seymour:
23/12/20 -  69+ Little Egret reported by local farmer, who  had counted 69 when they all took off and he missed a few

BELOW M4 & BANES


25-12-20 Golden Plover, Charmy Down (Rob Hargreaves)
Charmy Down:
AWBS count ( 23 species) - 57 Golden Plover, 28 Jackdaw, 35 Rook, 2 Raven, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Nuthatch, 25 Fieldfare, 9 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 5 Meadow Pipit, 7 Chaffinch

RESERVOIRS


25-12-20 Barrow Tank no 1 (Chris Teague)
Christmas wouldn't be complete without a photo of this beauty

Barrow Tanks:
No 1 Long-tailed Duck

Chew Valley Lake

Heron's Green:
1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Green Sandpaper

25-10-20 Red-crested Pochard,  CVL main lake from Herriott's Bridge (John Rossetti)

Herriott's Bridge:
12 Red-crested Pochard ( Chew record*)

* verified by the editor of the Birds of Chew Valley Lake 

Reports: Peter Bryant, Dani Callross, Raoul Chandrasakera, Chris Craig, Richard Giles and Fiona Neate,  Roland Griffin, Nick Hawkridge,  Jean Oliver, Chris Perry, Trevor Riddle, ,John Rossetti, Richard Scantlebury, Chris Teague, Gary Thoburn, Martin Wightman, opsbirding,  

Thursday 24 December 2020

24-12-20 Christmas Eve - Brent Goose

Bright sunshine. Very fresh cold wind from the North. Bristol temperatures fell from 7 - 4°C

Brent Goose
Long-tailed Duck
Slavonian Grebe
Cattle Egret, Great White Egret
Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Merlin
Little Owl
Corn Bunting
   

24-12-20 A seasonal bird, Moreton, CVL (Ian Stapp)

BRISTOL

Redland:
Garden - 4 Feral Pigeon, 2 Herring Gull, 2 Magpie, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Redwing, 7+ House Sparrow

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:
52 Canada Goose, 11 Mallard,  220 Wigeon, 48 Teal, 2 Coot, 2 Little Grebe, c 300  Lapwing, 27  Curlew, 30 Turnstone, c 200 Dunlin,  9 Redshank, 1 Snipe, 1 GBB Gull, 1 Cormorant, 3 Green Woodpecker, 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 1 Skylark, 1 Cetti's Warbler, c 115 Fieldfare, 1 Stonechat

Severn Beach/New Passage:
185 Canada Geese, 200 Wigeon, 2 Oystercatcher, 300 Lapwing, 5 Ringed Plover, 85 Curlew, 50 Turnstone, 100 Dunlin, 30 Redshank, 1 Merlin

Awkley, nr Almondsbury:
c.60 BH Gull,1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 GS Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker,  c.40 Rook, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Redwing, 1 Pied Wagtail

NORTH SOMERSET

Tickenham Moor/Nailsea Moor/Clevedon Moor:
51 Mute Swan, 11 Mallard, 27 Lapwing, 11 Herring Gull, 4 Grey Heron, 8 Little Egret, 1 Cormorant, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Magpie, 26 Jackdaw, 17 Rook, 27 Carrion Crow, 1 Raven, 3 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Wren, c. 250 Starling, 6 Blackbird, 24 Fieldfare, 4 Robin, 3 Stonechat, 3 House Sparrow, 1 Dunnock, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail, 8 Goldfinch

Sand Point/Bay:
1 f Sparrowhawk, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Stonechat, 2 Pied Wagtail, 11 Chaffinch, 2 Bullfinch 

BELOW M4 & BANES

Marshfield:
Rushmead Lane area - Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 20 Skylark, 600 Starling, 4 Fieldfare, 4 Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, 80 Linnet, 6 Yellowhammer, 12 Corn Bunting 

24-12-20 Stonechat, Newton St Loe (Wayne Tucker)

Newton St Loe:
12 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Stock Dove, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Coot, 7 Grey Heron, 3 Buzzard, 3 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker,  2 Kestrel, 1 Raven, 2 Jay,  11 Long-tailed Tit, 20 Starling, 2 Mistle Thrush, 9 Stonechat (patch record), 1 Grey Wagtail, 21 Meadow Pipit, 18 Chaffinch,  5 Yellowhammer

Keynsham:
Garden -  5 Feral Pigeon, 6 Wood Pigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 5 Magpie, 2 Jackdaw, 2 Blackcap, 12 LTT, 40+ Starling, 2 Dunnock,  2 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 16 Goldfinch 

Compton Dando:
200+ Wood Pigeon, 30+ Lapwing, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Little Owl, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 100+ Carrion Crow/Rook/Jackdaw,    30+ Redwing, 50+ Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush, 6 Blackbird, 12+ Goldfinch, 20 Linnet 

Marksbury:
200+ Gulls (BH mostly), 1 Red Kite

RESERVOIRS

24-12-20 Long-tailed Duck, Barrow Tanks (Keith Williams)

Barrow Tanks:
Tank 1 - 1 m Long-tailed Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Grey Wagtail 
Tank 2 this morning - Great Northern Diver.
Tank 3- 29 Coot, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, c30 Cormorant, 1 Grey Wagtail 

24-12-20 On its way? Great Northern Diver, Barrow Tanks (Bri Thompson)
Flew high this morning, and not reported this afternoon
                                                 
Blagdon Lake:
31 Cattle Egret.

Chew Valley Lake

Hollow Brook:
2 Chiffchaff (1 ringed), 1 Treecreeper.

Woodford:
1 Mistle Thrush plus a few Fieldfare and Redwing at the orchard

24-12-20 Brent Goose, Heron's Green, CVL (Simon Isgar)

Heron's Green:
1 dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Little Grebe,1 Snipe, 2 GBB Gull, 1 Cattle Egret, 2 Great White Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard, 2 Stonechat, 4 Pied Wagtail

Stratford:
1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Coal Tit, Blue and Great Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Goldcrest

Moreton:
40+ Pochard, 10+ Goldeneye, 100+ Wood Pigeon, 1 Water Rail, 4 G-BB Gull, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Jay, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher,  20+ L TT + mixed Tits
2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting  

Herriott's Bridge:
12 Shelduck, 7 Pintail, 12 Shoveler, 12+ Goldeneye, 1 Water Rail, 2 GBB Gull, 3 Great White Egret (numbers a lot less lately), 5 Grey Heron, 3 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher,  3 Jackdaw, 2 Cetti's Warbler,  1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Reed Bunting 

Reports:  Jon Angell, Nancy Barrett, Peter Coslett, Chris Craig, Sean Davies, Rob Hargreaves, Simon Isgar, Brian Lancastle, Andy Middleton, Mike Moxon, Jean Oliver, Lois Pryce, Dean Reeves, George Stacey,  Ian Stapp, Wayne Tucker,  Keith Williams, blagdonlakebirdsnslbirdingopsbirding,     severnsidebirdsTBOSG