Sightings 21/7/16

21/6/16 Tufted Duck at Litton Res (Mrs Trellis)

Otter: 2 Otter seen at a (new) undisclosed site in north Somerset this evening. Info passed on to Otter Gill who is thrilled to bits. We birders are a rich source of all her Otter records apparently....so please send in all sightings. Thanks everyone.

Avon Birds: Wow!!...we had 1,400 page-views yesterday, one of our best days ever.
Unfortunately, 1,370 of these were due to Mrs Trellis logging back in to the site to correct typos and mistakes in her earlier posts. Bummer.

Oldbury Power Station:

1 Whimbrel, 1 Mediterranean Gull.

New Passage-Northwick:
Mostly wetland again, 38 Canada Goose, 5 Teal, 5 Little Egret, 35 Oystercatcher, 8 Little Ringed Plover, 40 Lapwing, 1 Little Stint, 55 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 20+ Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, 20 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 75 Redshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Wheatear, 4 Yellow Wagtail.

21/7/16 Mediterranean Gull (John Martin)

Severn Beach:

Tesco Pool: 1 Stonechat.

Abbots Leigh:

Sandy Lane end: 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 3 Goldfinch.

Portbury Dock:

32 Shelduck young, 130 BH Gull.

Portbury Wharf:
1 female Wigeon, 1 Tufted Duck brood, 1 Little Grebe brood, 5 Redpoll.

Clevedon coast:

Wain's Hill-Yeo Est: 18 Canada Goose, 25 Shelduck + 33 young, 50 Mallard, 1 Tufted Duck brood, 14 Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 29 Oystercatcher, 18 Dunlin, 4 Whimbrel, 160 Curlew, 7 Common Sandpiper, 140 Redshank, 300 BH Gull, 60 LBB Gull, 25 Herring Gull, 2 Swallow, 1 Reed Warbler, 20 Linnet.

Blagdon Lake:

43 Mute Swan, 200+ Canada Goose, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Grey Wagtail.
Bickfield Farm: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Hobby, 1 Swallow, 3 House Martin nests active, 30 Starling, 40+ House Sparrow.

Litton Res:
7 Mallard, 27 Tufted Duck (22 young), 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe (+ 2 young), 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

21/7/16 Little Grebe on nest (Mrs Trellis)

Planet Chew:

Heron's Green: 1 ringed juv Yellow-legged Gull. Bird ringed at Sempach, Switzerland (Andy Davis).
Other stuff, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Redshank, 7 Common Sandpiper.


Reports: Sean Davies, Andy Davis, Ian Hayes, John Martin, Harvey Rose, Vic Savery, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, opsbirding, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 20/7/16

Some new waders in at the coast today.

Temple Back (Bristol):
1 Kingfisher, Feeder.

Sneyd Park (Bristol):
1 flyover Red Kite 8am (Peter Lunt). Perhaps, yesterday's Barrow Tanks bird.

Sea Mills (Bristol):
16 Redshank, 45 BH Gull, 2 active House Martin nests.

Marshfield:
West Littleton: 1 Hobby, dam.

Oldbury Power Station:
1 Sanderling new (1st of the autumn, Pete Hazelwood), 1 Common Sandpiper.

Aust Warth:
2 juv Kestrel, 1 Whimbrel, 8 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpiper, 127 BH Gull, 1 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit, 5 Linnet.

New Passage-Northwick:
Rubbish here today, hardly worth looking at the Pilning wetland pools and cut fields, or the saltmarsh and shore.
22 Canada Goose, 5 Little Egret, 11 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Little Stint new (1st of the autumn, Paul Bowerman, John Martin), 30 Dunlin, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 66 Redshank, 2 adult Mediterranean Gull, 18 Yellow Wagtail. That was all.

20/7/16 Little Stint (John Martin)

Today's Little Stint are very early for Avon. Normally, we don't get them until September...and sometimes none at all.

Portbury Dock:
3 Shelduck broods, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 10 Oystercatcher + 2 juvs, 3 Ringed Plover, 25 Dunlin, 50 Curlew, 4 Common Sandpiper, 70 Redshank, 1 juv Mediterranean Gull.

Kenn:
1 Kingfisher again, pier.

Backwell:
Common: 1 Skylark, 40 Linnet, 6 Yellowhammer, singing males.

Compton Dando:
1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 6 Stock Dove, 1 Barn Owl, 30 Swift, 6 Green Woodpecker (inc juvs), 20 House Martin, 1 Whitethroat, 6 Goldfinch, 2 Bullfinch, 3 Yellowhammer.

20/7/16 Barn Owl (Ian Stapp)

Rubbish pic by Ian. We were hoping for a classic pose of a Barnie perched on a post with a vole in its beak, instead we got this. C'est le vie, still we mustn't grumble.

Barrow Tanks 19/7/16:
1 flyover Red Kite 4.30pm (James Fiddock).

Reports: Paul Bowerman, John Duffy, James Fiddock, Pete Hazelwood, Peter Lunt, John Martin, Lois Pryce, Trevor Riddle, Ian Stapp, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, TBOSG.

Sightings 19/7/16

19/7/16 Little Owl at Marshfield (Allan Chard)
3 birds

Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Some nice news after the local sadness: HERE.

Chew Valley Ringing Station Report 2013-2015: We've just received our complimentary copy. It's a lovely read and well done to all concerned in its publication.

More details: http://www.chewvalleyringingstation.co.uk/.

Ashton Court (Bristol):
Mansion House environs: 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker.

Oldbury Power Station:
1 Lapwing, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Raven, 8 House Sparrow, 1 Yellow Wagtail.

New Passage-Northwick:
Wetland: 19 Canada Goose, 3 Tufted Duck broods, 3 Cormorant, 6 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 10 Little Grebe, 2 Water Rail families, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 25 Lapwing, 26 Dunlin, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 60 Redshank, 5 Yellow Wagtail.

Portbury Wharf:
1 Wigeon, 1 Water Rail, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 12 Swift, 1 Sand Martin.

Clevedon coast:
Yeo Est end: 20 Shelduck + 20 young, 3 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Whimbrel, 100 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 6 Turnstone (1st returners, Trevor Riddle), 500 BH Gull, 1 Skylark, 100 Swallow, 3 Wheatear, 40 Linnet.

Planet Chew:
Caspian Gull: 1 flyover at Heron's Green this morning (Mrs Trellis), rare bird for Avon. Unusually, the bird was carrying an orange tail-tag with white letters 'EASY JET'. If anyone knows of such a gull colour-tagging project, please could you let us know. Thanks.
We've sent the description to the Recorder but we're not hopeful....lone observer...tricky species...no photograph...etc...

Velvet Bottom (Somerset):
2 Buzzard, 1 Water Rail, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Raven, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 2 Nuthatch, 5 Mistle Thrush, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Redstart, 5 Bullfinch.


Reports: Allan Chard, Paul Bowerman, Robert Hargreaves, Pete Hazelwood, Trevor Riddle, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 18/7/16

18/7/16 the White Stork at Slimbridge today (Jim Parry)

Gary Thoburn Photos: Gary has just uploaded his Point Pelee pics: Here.

Marshfield:
Shire Valley: 2 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Yellowhammer.
West Littleton: 1 Little Owl, in the barn.
Pied Wagtail numerous everywhere on the patch.

18/7/16 Spotted Flycatcher (Don Smith)

Oldbury Power Station:
20 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper.

Aust Warth:
3 Shelduck young, 3 Kestrel (family party), 4 Common Sandpiper, 30 BH Gull (anting), 3 Skylark.

18/7/16 Kestrel (Mrs Trellis)
adult + 2 juvs out hunting this evening

New Passage-Northwick:
18 Canada Goose, 9 Teal, 2 Little Egret, 2 Water Rail + 2 chicks, 8 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, 24 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 15 Redshank, 600 BH Gull, 2 Raven, 2 Yellow Wagtail.

18/7/16 Water Rail + chick, Pilning wetland (Paul Bowerman)
1st breeding record for Severnside

Severn Beach:
2 juv Green Woodpecker, sea-front.

Abbots Leigh:

Sandy Lane end: 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 new Blackbird family, 4 Goldfinch, 1 Bullfinch.
Pool environs: 9 Mallard, 1 Buzzard, 5 Moorhen, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Nuthatch, 1 Goldfinch.

Portbury Dock:
1 Little Egret, 1 Hobby, 1 Peregrine, 32 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, 65 Curlew, 1 BH Gull + darvic ring, 3 GBB Gull,  4 Stock Dove, 60 Starling, 4 Rock Pipit, 12 Linnet.

Kenn Moor:
2 Grey Heron, 4 Buzzard, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Skylark, 2 Reed Warbler, 6 Mistle Thrush, 8 Linnet, 1 Reed Bunting.
17/7/16: 1 Kingfisher, Kenn Pier.

Newton St Loe:
1 Stock Dove, 1 Collared Dove, 20 Swift, 6 Magpie, 35 Swallow, 25 House Martin, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Pied Wagtail.

Bath 16/7/16:
City Centre weir: 3 Otter. Otter Gill is over the moon...and currently on a slingshot trajectory towards Jupiter.

Blagdon Lake:
3 Common Sandpiper, dam.

Planet Chew:
2 Shelduck + 3 young, 1 drake Wigeon, 1 drake Common Scoter again (Sean Davies, Nunnery), 1 Little Egret, 15 Little Grebe (increase), 3 Buzzard, 2 Hobby, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 3 GBB Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 40 Sand Martin, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 14 House Sparrow, 13 Grey Wagtail, 11 Pied Wagtail, 27 Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Purple Hairstreak (Nunnery).

18/7/16 Black-headed Gull (Ian Stapp)
numbers of BHG's now building quickly here

Reports: Paul Bowerman, John Croxton, Sean Davies, Robert Hargreaves, Karin Rhodes, Trevor Riddle, Don Smith, Ian Stapp, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, Keith Vinicombe, BL birds, opsbirding, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 17/7/16

Gary Thoburn Photos: Gary has just uploaded his Point Pelee pics: Here.
They're not in Mrs Trellis' class....

Shepperdine:
Windbound leg: 1 Shelduck pair + 3 young, 11 Mallard, 1 Little Egret, 3 Oystercatcher, 8 Curlew, 200+ BH Gull, 8 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 7 House Sparrow.

New Passage-Northwick:
18 Canada Goose, 34 Shelduck young, 9 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck broods, 2 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 14 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Lapwing, 34 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 28 Redshank, 3 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sand Martin, 4 Yellow Wagtail.

17/7/16 Green Woodpecker (John Martin)

Portbury Wharf:

1 female Wigeon, 1 Gadwall brood, 48 Mallard, 12 Little Grebe, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Stock Dove, 1 Little Owl (Sheepway Lane), 1 Kingfisher, 17 Swallow, 4 Chiffchaff.

Blagdon Lake:
45 Mute Swan + 8 juvs, 1 Egyptian Goose, 6 Common Sandpiper.

Planet Chew:
1 drake Common Scoter, 1 Hobby, 1 Oystercatcher.

Reports: John Martin, Andy Mears, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, BL birds, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 16/7/16

Marshfield:
Down Rd: 2 Spotted Flycatcher.

Oldbury Power Station:
1 adult Yellow-legged Gull this morning. Records away from Planet Chew are unusual.

New Passage-Northwick:
6 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 3 Tufted Duck broods, 3 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail, 10 Little Ringed Plover, 15 Lapwing, 24 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 25 Redshank, 2 Swift, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Rock Pipit.

Leigh Woods:
North Rd: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Abbots Leigh:
Sandy Lane end: 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 flyover Raven, 4 Goldfinch.

16/7/16 Dunnock brood (Alex Rhodes)

Nailsea:

Wookey Close: 1 Bullfinch pair + youngsters, in the garden.

Saltford:
A4 Copse Rd: 1 Hobby, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Yellowhammer, this morning.

Barrow Tanks:
3 Mute Swan, 120 Tufted Duck, 5 Cormorant, 19 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Buzzard, 7 Common Sandpiper, 3 BH Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Raven, 10 Sand Martin, 4 Grey Wagtail, 9 Pied Wagtail.

Blagdon Lake:
Little change, 52 Mute Swan, 4 Grey Heron, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Buzzard, 4 Common Sandpiper, 70+ BH Gull, 3 GBB Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Grey Wagtail.

16/7/16 Common Sandpiper (Mrs Trellis)
Dam end as usual

Reports: Pete Coslett, Alex Rhodes, Mrs Trellis, Chris Vines, Carolyn Westlake, opsbirding, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 15/7/16

Marshfield:
2 Quail heard (Down Rd/Rushmead Farm) this morning.
Other stuff, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Owl, 40 Linnet.

New Passage-Northwick:
Mostly wetland, 3 Mute Swan + 5 cygnets, 5 Canada Goose, 1 Gadwall brood, 3 Tufted Duck broods, 4 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail, 13 Little Ringed Plover, 20 Lapwing, 26 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 30 Redshank, 4 Sand Martin, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 40 Pied Wagtail.

Portbury Dock:

15/7/16 Oystercatcher chick (Chris Stone)

Portbury Wharf:

1 female Wigeon, 1 Tufted Duck brood (7 ducklings), 1 Hobby, 14 Dunlin, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper.

Paulton:
1 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Buzzard, 1 Stock Dove, 9 Swift, 5 Skylark, 30 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 10 Linnet, 7 Yellowhammer.

Blagdon Lake:
39 Mute Swan + 7 cygnets, 198 Canada Goose, 1 Egyptian Goose, 2 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Little Grebe, 9 Great Crested Grebe (3 on nests), 2 Buzzard, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 55 BH Gull, 80+ Swift, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Goldcrest, 200+ House Martin, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Nuthatch, 6 Grey Wagtail, 11 Siskin (juvs in trees by Lodge,).
Bickfield Farm: 6 active House Martin nests, 7 House Sparrow.

15/7/16 Brown Hare (Mrs Trellis)
at least 2 in Holt Farm fields today + 3 Roe Deer

Planet Chew:

15/7/16 Black-tailed Godwit (Mrs Trellis)
9 birds at Herriott's today

Reports: Patrick Hancock, John Martin, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, severnsidebirds, TBOSG.

Sightings 14/7/16

July 2016 the Collared Pratincole at Ham Wall, Somerset (Jeff Hazell)
just the 1 bird, our heart really goes out to those poor Somerset boys...

Stoke Park (Bristol):
1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler of note.

New Passage-Northwick:
2 Little Egret, 13 Little Grebe, 1 Water Wail + 2 young, 9 Little Ringed Plover, 20 Lapwing, 8 Dunlin, 43 Redshank, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Portbury Wharf:
11 Mute Swan, 3 Canada Goose, 31 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Moorhen + chick, 7 Coot, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Redshank, 3 BH Gull, 1 LBB Gull pair + 3 young.

14/7/16 Comma (Mrs Trellis)

Barrow Tanks:
24 Tufted duck, 6 Cormorant, 1 Little Grebe, 9 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Sand Martin.

Blagdon Lake:
1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 5 Common Sandpiper, 4 Redshank, 4 Grey Wagtail.

Planet Chew:

1 Greylag Goose, 2 Shelduck + 3 young, 30 Teal, 3 Little Egret, 5 Buzzard, 226 Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 100+ BH Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 2 GBB Gull, 20 Swift, 40 mixed Swallow/House Martin, 1 Grey Wagtail, 14 Pied Wagtail, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Reed Bunting.

Reports: Robert Hargreaves, Jeff Hazell, Gill Sapsed, Ian Stapp, Mrs Trellis, BL birds, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 13/7/16

Please note:
Bristol Ornithological Club will take over ownership and running of Avon Birds in a few weeks time when their volunteers have been trained up sufficiently in sarcasm, irony, warped humour and the Sir Alex Ferguson 'hairdryer' treatment (for any photos that are posted).
We'll let you know when this happens.

Apologies for a rather (date) complicated posting today, we've caught up on recent sightings. Things will be cleaner and back to normal tomorrow. Thanks everyone.

Hanham (Bristol) 12/7/16:
1 Tawny Owl calling, evening.

Ashton Court (Bristol):
Mansion House environs: 1 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest.

Leigh Woods 11/7/16:
North Rd: 1 calling Tawny Owl 3.45pm.

Marshfield:

13/7/16 Little Owl (Pete Coslett)

Oldbury Power Station:

11/7/16:1 Green Sandpiper, 1 sum plum Mediterranean Gull, 100 BH Gull.

New Passage-Northwick (mostly wetland stuff):
1 Mediterranean Gull, wetland. A few of this species starting to re-appear now, numbers should pick up including those chequered juveniles.
Other stuff, 5 Gadwall, 3 Tufted duck broods, 3 Little Egret, 10 Little Grebe, 9 Little Ringed Plover, 20 Lapwing, 12 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 1 Greenshank, 5 Common Sandpiper, 33 Redshank, 300 BH Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Yellow Wagtail.

10/7/16: 5 Teal, 2 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 11 Little Ringed Plover, 20 Lapwing, 6 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 17 Redshank, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 20 Pied Wagtail.

11/7/16: 1 Little Egret, 35 Oystercatcher, 16 Little Ringed Plover, 20 Lapwing again, 8 Dunlin, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Curlew, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 300 BH Gull.

12/7/16: 3 Little Egret, 6 Little Ringed Plover, 22 Lapwing, 15 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank (1st of the autumn), 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Long Ashton 11/7/16:
Gatcombe Lane: 1 Hobby.

Abbots Leigh:
Sandy Lane end: 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 flyover Raven, 6 Swallow, 4 Goldfinch, 1 Bullfinch.

Portbury Dock:
8 Rock Pipit.

12/7/16: 7 Oystercatcher, some nesting, 1 juv Wheatear.

11/7/16 Ringed Plover + chick (Mrs Trellis)
only 1 chick remaining from original 2

Portbury Wharf:

1 Little Egret, 14 Knot (1st of the autumn, Chris Stone), 3 Dunlin, 5 Black-tailed Godwit.

11/7/16: 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper.

Nailsea:
Wookey Close: 1 male Bullfinch back, garden feeders.

Clevedon coast:
11/7/16:Yeo Est end: 100 Shelduck, 2 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Whimbrel, 30 Curlew, 2 Skylark, 1 Wheatear, 30 Linnet.
12/7/16: Wain's Hill: 3 Peregrine (adult + 2 juvs).

Sand Pt 11/7/16:
1 Wheatear.

Blagdon Lake:
10/7/16: 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Owl (Bickfield lane).
12/7/16: 1 Osprey (Top End per BL birds).

Reports: Pete Coslett, Roger Hawley, Adrian Hockey, Rob Laughton, Karin Rhodes, Trevor Riddle, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, Robert Westlake, BL birds, opsbirding, severnsidebirds.

Important - please read

Change of Plan - and Great News: 13 July 2016

By public demand and pressure, we are re-starting the Avon Birds blog. We ask everyone to send us their sightings again as usual which will be posted on a daily basis as before.

There is an important change which we wish to make everyone aware of:

1. We've persuaded Bristol Ornithological Club to take over ownership and editorship of Avon Birds as soon as Mrs Trellis can train up their team of volunteers.

2. This will be in the coming weeks and we'll notify everyone of the actual change via the blog about this. We expect the same 'avonbirding@gmail.com' address to apply.

3. Essentially, you will see no difference in anything, just new owners behind the scene.

4. We think this is a sensible way forward for everyone's benefit.

Finally, we'd like to say to everyone how humbled we are by all your very kind comments about the popularity and usefulness of the blog and the many many requests made to us that we reconsider closure and get the blog up and running again.

Mrs Trellis was brought to tears by your support, so much so that she has been wiping away the tears with the hem of her Dirndl dress...

Thanks for your patience everyone...now please get contributing....

*******************

Saturday 9 July 2016 was our last posting - Avon Birds is now closed down.

After several years blogging, we feel we've done our bit of reporting for the local bird community....time for someone else to takeover.

In closing down, we'd like to thank everyone, contributors, photographers and readers for making the blog such a success. We could not have done it without you all.

Our final request is that you make sure you that your bird sightings reach the county Recorder by whichever route works best for you.

These pages will disappear in a few days time when news has got around.

Good birding everyone.

Sightings 9/7/16

9/7/16 Little Bittern (Brian Thompson)
at RSPB Ham Wall, Somerset this morning

Only 6 records ever of Little Bittern in Avon, the last one in 1993.

Details on the amazing RSPB Ham Wall site: HERE.

Oldbury Power Station:
8 Little Egret, shore. Good count for here.

New Passage-Northwick:
Shore & Wetland: 12 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 7 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 3 Tufted Duck broods, 3 Little Egret, 30 Oystercatcher, 18 Little Ringed Plover, 30 Lapwing, 5 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Curlew, 7 Common Sandpiper (Chestle Pill), 1 Green Sandpiper, 29 Redshank, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Adder (2nd sentry box footpath to wetland).

Abbots Leigh:
Pool environs: 12+ Blackbird, 3 Silver-washed Fritillary.

Pill:
Crockerne Drive: 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Bullfinch.

Portbury Dock:
2 Shelduck broods, 1 Little Egret, 1 juv Little Ringed Plover, 13 Dunlin, 13 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper.

Portbury Wharf:
1 female Wigeon, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper.

Blagdon Lake:
1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Common Sandpiper, 8 Grey Wagtail.

Planet Chew:
1 flyover Red Kite 3.54pm to south (Anthony Cook).
Other stuff of note, 1 Greylag Goose, 2 Shelduck + 3 young, 11 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 13 Cormorant, 5 Little Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Buzzard, 2 Hobby, 1 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 110 BH Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull (2cy), 2 Yellow-legged Gull (Heron's Green), 4 GBB Gull, 6 Common Tern, 2 Raven, 25 Pied Wagtail.

Reports: Paul Bowerman, Anthony Cook, Sean Davies, Robert Hargreaves, Craig Lewis, John Martin, Paul Milsom, Marcus Rhodes, Chris Stone, BL birds, opsbirding, severnsidebirds.

Sightings 8/7/16

New Passage-Northwick:
Mostly wetland stuff, 1 Little Egret, 20 Oystercatcher, 13 Little Ringed Plover, 9 Lapwing, 6 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 80 BH Gull, 1 Yellow Wagtail.

Barrow Tanks:
1 Kestrel.

Blagdon Lake:
36 Mute Swan + 11 cygnets, 12 Canada Goose, 1 Egyptian Goose, 174 Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant, 4 Grey Heron, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Common Sandpiper, 21 BH Gull, 3 GBB Gull, 3 Goldcrest.
Bickfield Farm: 14 House Martin (7 active nests), 9 House Sparrow.

8/7/16 House Martin (Mrs Trellis)
Bickfield Farm and ready to go...

8/7/16 Hare (Mrs Trellis)
2 in Home Farm fields

Planet Chew:

1 Barnacle Goose (Whalley Bank), 2 Egyptian Goose (Dam), 2 Shelduck + 3 surviving young, 21 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 1 Goldeneye, 6 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 3 Hobby, 1 Lapwing, 50 BH Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 8 GBB Gull, 1 Raven, 7 Sand Martin, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 6 House Sparrow, 31 Pied Wagtail, 3 Reed Bunting.

8/7/16 Hobby (Ian Stapp)
Heron's Green end

8/7/16 Yellow-legged Gull (Keith Vinicombe)

8/7/16 Reed Bunting (David, Lakeside Optics)
Bittern Trail

Reports: Ian Stapp, Mrs Trellis, Keith Vinicombe, severnsidebirds.