23rd Oct '16 Sunday - Pallas's Warbler

Flocks of migrating thrushes and finches heading up-channel into the NE wind this morning.  Several observers have been out there doing vis-mig counts.

BRISTOL:
Overscourt Woods:
1 Tawny Owl, 4 Goldcrest, 4 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Jay, 2 Linnet, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Bullfinch. 
Warmley Forest Park:
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Tawny Owl, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Greenfinch, 6 Goldfinch, 2 Bullfinch.
Stoke Park:
1 Buzzard, 1 Jay, 20+ Redwing

Hanham, Stone Hill:
1 Barn Owl - hunting around the hill.

Oldbury Power Station:
Visible Migration watch (vismig) 2 hrs:
5 Snipe, 12 Skylark, 20 Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Mistle Thrush, 6 Fieldfare, 70 Redwing, 1 Brambling, c400 Chaffinches, 6 Greenfinch, 1 Siskin, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Yellowhammer.

Aust Warth:
1 fly-past Pintail, 1 Stonechat., 100+ Starling through.

Littleton Warth:
3 flyover White-fronted Goose early afternoon to north, perhaps the Slimbridge birds. 85 Wigeon, 65 Teal, 120 Dunlin, 65 Redshank, 1,000+ Starling (feeding in field), 35 Meadow Pipit.

New Passage / Pilning Wetlands:
3 Little Egret, Avocet, 20 Grey Plover, Ruff, Snipe.
Visible Migration watch (vismig), 0730-1050:
6 Skylark, 47 Meadow Pipit, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 3200 Starling, 1785 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 47 Siskin, 3 Redpoll, 19 Goldfinch, 11 Bullfinch, 5 Linnet, 3 Reed Bunting.

23/10/2016 Molly ringing a Redwing at GVRS this morning
(Shane Pannell)

Gordano Valley Ringing Station:
15 Redwing and 13 Redpoll ringed this morning

Portishead:
45 Redshank on the foreshore at high tide.
250+ Starling off Valley Road (feeding in fields after muck-spreading).

Old Town Quarry, Weston:
Hobby over (late date for this migrant). 

Bath:

Red Kite over one blogger's garden.

Keynsham/Saltford/Bitton:
Pallas's Warbler on the LMS railway-line / cycle path towards where it crosses the River Avon, north of the town (also a Yellow-browed Warbler present earlier this week)

23/10/2016 Common Sandpipers at Chew (Bob Brewer)

Folly Farm :
2 Buzzard, 30+ Stock Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Jay, 3 Goldcrest, 6 Redwing.

Blagdon Lake:
1 Egyptian Goose, 7 Greater Scaup, 1 Goldeneye, 10 Great White Egret, 25 Little Egret, 4 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 293 Lapwing.

Chew Valley Lake:
Stratford hide:
Scaup.
Villice Bay:
2 Common Sandpiper.
Around the Lake
1 juv male Scaup, 6 Little Egret, 16 Great White Egret, 54 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper,
1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 10 Siskin. 

Steart:

(out of our area but we couldn't resist this photo of a Lesser Yellowlegs there; also Cattle Egret and Short-eared Owl today)

23/10/2016 Lesser Yellowlegs at Steart (Lee Gardiner)

Reports: Paul Bowerman, Bob Brewer, Ken Carruthers, John Clark, Will Duckworth, Lee Gardiner, David Gibbs, Peter Hazelwood, Dremot Lennon, Lisegirl, John Martin, Shane Pannell, Chris Perry, Gill Sapsed, Mrs Trellis, Keith Vinicombe, Andrew Waygood,  blagdonbirds, NSLBirding, Severnsidebirds

22nd Oct '16 Saturday - Redpoll, 22 Great White Egret

Redpoll at Aust Cliff
Yellow-browed Warbler at Severn Beach
22 Great White Egret roosted at Chew this evening
Bearded Tit at Herriott's Bridge and Jack Snipe from Stratford Hide, CVL

22-10-16 Jack Snipe (Ian Stapp)
All the rage at Stratford hide

Oldbury Power Station - visible migration early: 
6 Skylark, c40 Redwing, 220+ Chaffinch, 8 Redpoll
Also: 30+ Blackbird, c25 Song Thrush, 9 Stonechat (site record!), 7+ Siskin, c20 Reed Bunting

Aust Cliff:
Visual migration 7.25-8.50:
16 Canada Goose, 104 Starling, 2 Fieldfare, 73 Redwing, 6 Song Thrush, 21 Pied Wagtail,
6 Meadow Pipit, 273 Chaffinch, 21 Greenfinch, 18 Goldfinch, 1 Siskin, 52 Linnet, 65 Redpoll

22-10-16 Short Eared Owl (John Martin)
Flying over New Passage early today

New Passage/Northwick:
1 Little Egret, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Stint, 16 Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff, 1 Short-eared Owl,
1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Jay, 2 Raven, 2 Great Tit,
16 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, Starlings moving, 6 Redwing, 1 Grey Wagtail, Chaffinches on move, 16 Siskin

Severn Beach:
21-10-16 evening:
Goldcrests, 14 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, No YBW,
22-10-16: 1 Stonechat, 4 Wigeon, 1 Sparrowhawk, 30 Dunlin, 71 Turnstone,
1 Yellow-browed Warbler

Portbury Wharf:
12 Shelduck, 80 Wigeon, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, Lapwing, 30+ Dunlin, 4 Curlew, 11 Snipe,
12 Redshank, 8 Collared Dove, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 300 Starling, 2 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 3 Stonechat, 30+ Goldfinch, 30+ Linnet, 2 Siskin, Bullfinch, 4 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting

22-10-16 House Sparrow (Paul Milo Milsom)
Just because they never get seen here

Yatton:
2 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 1 Water Rail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 4 Meadow Pipit

Worle:
2 Reed Bunting

Marshfield:
Barn and Little Owls yesterday with both from Down Road in the evening

Batheaston:
3 Teal, , 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 5 Snipe, 1 Jay

Peasdown St John to Radstock, fields by A367:
21 Golden Plover (21 counted at Bristol Airport recently)

22-10-16 Great White Egret (Robert Hargreaves)
Some of the 22 of Heron's Green before flying to roost

Chew Valley Lake:
19 Great White Egret roosted at Chew last night
22 Great White Egret and 3+ thousand Gulls roosted at Chew this evening
Heron's Green:
1 Little Egret, 13 Great White Egret, 2 Little Grebe (pond), 12 Little Grebe (lake), 1 Buzzard,
1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Cetti's Warbler, c.500 Starling (flying West),
c.30 Pied Wagtail
Moreton:
1 Buzzard, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Meadow Pipit
Lane Stratford to Moreton:
2 Jay, 2 Coal Tit, 9 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Treecreeper, 20+ Redwing,   2 Stonechat
Stratford:
3 Jack Snipe, 2 Common Snipe, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Siskin, more Birders

22-10-16 Black Headed Gull (CVRS)
With BTO ring

Chew Valley Ringing Station:
1 Teal, 1 BH Gull (BTO No. EY55286), 10 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Cetti's Warbler
Herriotts End:
2 very smart Pintail, 2 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egret (bay), 1 Water Rail (wall bridge), 1000 Gulls, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Bearded Tit, c.500 Starling (flying North-East), 1 Grey Wagtail, 25+ Pied Wagtail

22-10-16 Bearded Tit (Ian Stapp)
Not just heard at Herriott's Bridge

Reports: Rich Andrews, Bath RSPB, Ken Carruthers, Pete Coslett, Anne Crowe, Brian Edge, Steve Emery, Robert Hargreaves, Peter Hazelwood, Brian Lancastle, Lisegirl, John Martin, Trevor Riddle, Tony Scott, Ian Squire, Ian Stapp, Christopher Vines, blagdonlakebirds, ChewValleyRingingStation, nslbirding, opsbirding, severnsidebirds, TBOSG

21st Oct '16 Friday - YBW, Spotted Crake, Jack Snipe

Headlines:
A misty start followed by a gloriously sunny day.
Yellow-Browed Warbler at Severn Beach, 2nd site record
A record single count of 19 Great White Egret. Blagdon Lake this morning, then again at CVL this evening
The male, partial eclipse Ring-Necked Duck, Spotted Crake and 4 showy Jack Snipe at CVL

21-10-16 Jack Snipe (Ian Stapp)

1 of 4 bobbing around in front of Stratford Hide

BRISTOL
Montpelier:
1 Buzzard, 1 Chiffchaff
Riverside Park:
1 Kingfisher

21-10-16 Water Rail (Lisa Presland)

Welcome back to Chestle Pill outflow

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
1 Water Rail, 11 Ringed Plover, 2 Goldcrest, 12 Long-Tailed Tit, Redwing, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Siskin

Severn Beach:
Yellow-Browed Warbler (found by Tony Scott, willows by the 'pipes')

Down Road, Marshfield:
1 Barn Owl, 1 Little Owl

North Widcombe:
1 Kestrel

21-10-16 Kestrel (Bob Brewer)

Barrow Tanks:
9 Shoveler, 1 Lapwing, 2 Common Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper

21-10-16 Great White Egret (Robert Hargreaves)

Most of the record 19 GWEs at Blagdon today

Blagdon Lake:
9 Barnacle Goose, 5 Scaup, 27 Little Egret, 19 Great White Egret (site record), 1 Peregrine,
c300 Lapwing, 1 juv Little Stint, 1 Dunlin, 1 Black-Tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Bearded Tit (Top End), 1 Stonechat

Chew Valley Lake:
Woodford:
139 Cormorant (fishing party)

21-10-16 Water Rail, Spotted Crake & Green Sandpiper (Robert Hargreaves)

Green Sandpiper ignores Water Rail on warpath at Villice

Villice:
2 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret  1 Water Rail, 1 Spotted Crake, 25 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper
Heron's Green:
14 Little Grebe, 2 Lapwing, 1 Common Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Stonechat
Moreton:
1 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret   2 Buzzard, 1 Great Black-Backed Gull, 2 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Reed Bunting

21-10-16 a Covert of Coot (M Davis)

Stratford, CVL

Stratford:
1 (F) Scaup, 1 (M) Ring-Necked Duck, 1 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret  1 Little Grebe, 1 Water Rail, 27 Lapwing, 4 Jack Snipe, 2 Common Snipe, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 12 Meadow Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting

Herriotts End:
6 Pintail, 15 Shoveler, 1 Little Egret, 6 Great Black-Backed Gull, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail

Reports: Paul Bowerman, Des Bowring, Bob Brewer, Peter Coslett, Andy Davis, Michael Davis, Lee Gardiner, Robert Hargreaves, John Martin, Nigel Milbourne, Lisa Presland, Tony Scott, Ian Stapp, Zoe Trinder-Widdess, blagdonlakebirds

20th Oct '16 Thursday - Brambling

Brambling at Severnside and Sand Point
Little Grebe (has returned!), at Newton St Loe with a Water Rail and Marsh Tit
Mandarin Duck, Ring Necked Duck, Red-legged Partridge and Great White Egret at CVL
Jack Snipe at Clevedon-Yeo
Golden Plover at Bristol Airport

9-10-16 Ruff (Matt Scott)
No Ruffs reported from Severnside today yet

BRISTOL
Eastville Park:
Dipper

Oldbury Power Station:
1 Black-tailed Godwit, c.80 Bar-tailed Godwit (high over), 290 Curlew

Severnside migration 07:50 - 09:00:
82 Woodpigeon, 3 Jackdaw, 172 Starling, 167 Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, 731 Redwing, 2 Brambling, 61 Linnet, 3 Redpoll - 1223 individuals, 9 species in 1:10 hours

Mule Lane, Damery nr motorway bridge:

1 Hoopoe at 3:10pm on the verge, flew towards A38

Bristol Airport:
21 Golden Plover

Clevedon-Pill:
Shelduck, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Peregrine, Moorhen, Kingfisher, Long-tailed Tit

Clevedon-Yeo:
9 Mute Swan, 60 Shelduck, 40 Wigeon, 25 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 60 Mallard, 1 Cormorant, 20+ Liittle Egret, 2 Buzzard, 25 Oystercatcher, 22 Grey Plover, 70 Lapwing, 8 Ringed Plover, 110 Curlew, 45 Turnstone, 240 Dunlin, 240 Redshank, 1 Jack Snipe, 150+ Black-headed Gull, 4 Rock Pipit

Sand Point:
4+ Chiffchaff, 14+ Fieldfare, c.6 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Brambling, 1 Redpoll

20-10-16 Redwing (Wayne Tucker)
Lots of flocks by Top End Lake

Newton St Loe:
1 Teal, 1 Heron, 1 Little Grebe (has returned!), 1 Water Rail, 2 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Raven, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Marsh Tit, 6 Skylark, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper, 60+ Redwing, 2 Stonechat m/f, 4 Grey Wagtail, 3 Yellowhammer

Barrow Gurney Tanks:
7 Shoveler, 1 Scaup (female, Tank 2), 10 Little Grebe, 1 Stonechat

Blagdon Lake:
7 Scaup, 30 Little Egret, 16 Great White Egret,  1 Dunlin, 1 juv Little Stint, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 juv GBB Gull (Yellow 'D:DK'), 1 Stonechat

20-10-16 Stonechat (Ian Stapp)
Couple by Stratford hide

Chew Valley Lake:
Villice:
3 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egret
Heron's Green:
1 Great White Egret, 2 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Stonechat

20-10-16 Red-legged Partridge (Ian Stapp)
Unexpected in front of Moreton Hide

Moreton:
270+ Canada Goose (fly past hide going West), 1 Red-legged Partridge (in front of the hide), 3 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret (Ringed bird AAF), 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Peregrine, 4 Jay, 10 Meadow Pipit (in front hide)
Stratford:

1 drake Mandarin Duck (Alec?), 1 drake Ring Necked Duck (partial eclipse), 2 Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper, 

2 Stonechat

Herriotts End:
1 Great White Egret, 52 Lapwing, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Grey Wagtail

11-10-16 Common Sandpiper (Bob Brewer)
From Villice Bay but been reported elsewhere at CVL today

Reports: Alec?, Zara Bowers, James Butcher, Anne Crowe, David Gibbs, Robert Hargreaves, Peter Hazelwood, Matt Hobbs, Adrian Hockey, Mike King, David Poulton. Harvey Rose, John S, Ian Stapp, Chris Stone, Wayne Tucker, blagdonlakebirds, nslbirding, opsbirding, severnsidebirds, 

19th Oct '16 Wednesday - Bewick's, Spoonbill, Scaup

Today's Headlines
Mostly sunny, but with some showers this afternoon
2 Spoonbill and a calling Bearded Tit at Portbury Wharf this afternoon
First Bewick's Swans of the Autumn over Clevedon
7 Scaup new into Blagdon Lake
Ring-Necked Duck still and a Bearded Tit at Chew Valley Lake

19-10-16 Kestrel (Bob Brewer)

BRISTOL
Stockwood Open Space:
15 Wood Pigeon, 12 Magpie, 2 Jay, 15 Long-Tailed Tit, 2 Blackbird, 3 Robin, 2 Stonechat, 1 Linnet, 2 Bullfinch

19-10-16 Female Pintail (John Martin)

Pilning Wetland

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
1 Pintail, 1 Little Egret, 2 Golden Plover, 46+ Grey Plover, 9 Common Gull, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 18 Redwing, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Redpoll (to NE)

19-10-16 Spoonbill (Chris Stone)

Briefly dropped in at Portbury Wharf this afternoon

Portbury Wharf:
2 Spoonbill, 1 Bearded Tit (heard calling)

Walton Bay, Clevedon:
2 Bewick's Swan (over to the NE, first of the Autumn)

Clevedon-Yeo:
60 Shelduck, 20 Teal, 20 Wigeon, 3 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 20 Lapwing,  60 Oystercatcher, 45 Turnstone, 22 Grey Plover, 120 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 70 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Stonechat, 2 Song Thrush, 40 Skylark, 20 Meadow Pipit, 10 Linnet

Kenn:
1 Fieldfare, 1 Sparrowhawk

Bristol Airport:
3 Swallow

Blagdon Lake:
7 Scaup, 27 Little Egret, 11 Great White Egret, 26 Grey Heron, Lapwing, 1 Black-Tailed Godwit, 1 juvenile Little Stint, 1 juvenile Ruff, 1 Linnet, 1 Redpoll

19-10-16 Egrets and BH Gull (Bob Brewer)

Fish Fight!

Chew Valley Lake
Dam:
1 Egyptian Goose
Woodford:
3 Little Egret, 9 Great White Egret (5 in Villice Bay entrance, rest in the reeds around the lake)
Heron's Green:
1 Goosander, 14 Little Grebe, 1 Common Snipe, 2 Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting

19-10-16 Goosander (Ian Stapp)

Heron's Green CVL

Moreton:
3 Little Egret, 4 Great White Egret (including the ringed bird 'AAF'), 1 Buzzard, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Great Black-Backed Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Raven, 2 Jay, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechat, 2 Meadow Pipit

19-10-16 Stonechat (Ian Stapp)

1 of 3 nice and close to Stratford hide today

Stratford:
1 Pintail, 1 Ring-Necked Duck, 3 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting               
Herriott's End:
55 Lapwing, 1 Bearded Tit (male, lakeside reedbed)

Reports: Bob Brewer, Teresa Chard, John Croxton, Andy Davis, Adrian Hockey, John Martin, Nige Milbourne, Trevor Riddle, Harvey Rose, Ian Stapp, Chris Stone, Mrs Trellis, blagdonlakebirds

18th Oct '16 Tuesday - Curlew Sandpiper

A lovely sunny day after overnight rain, with the wind going NW.

Ducks at Chew flushed by a boat (Bob Brewer)

BRISTOL
Stockwood Open Space:
20+ Woodpigeon, 15+ Long-tailed Tit (2 groups), 20+ Goldfinch.

Marshfield:
Rushmead Lane:
c1000 Common Gull, 3 Swallow, 1 House Martin, c20 Corn Bunting bathing and drinking in puddles.

Shire Valley:
Several Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Goldcrest. A tit flock consisting of Long-tailed, Blue, Great, Coal and two Marsh Tit. 2 Treecreeper, several Jay and Raven, Bullfinch, few Chaffinch.

Saltford:
BOC Bird Walk:

1 Mute Swan,1 Grey Heron, 5 Buzzard, 2 BH Gull, 220 Common Gull, 2 LBB Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 3 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 12 Magpie (2s and 3s), 2 Raven, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Blackcap, 1 Song Thrush, 6 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 12 Robin, 2 Bullfinch, 16 Linnet, 12 Goldfinch.

Oldbury Power Station and yacht club:

76 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret, 100+ Grey Plover and 218 Redshank (record counts for this site on big high tide this morning), 1 Curlew Sandpiper, c100 Lapwing, c200 Curlew, c600 Dunlin, 10+ Knot, 5 Snipe, c60 Turnstone. Also, Peregrine,  4 Wheatear, 2 Stonechat, 1 Rock Pipit, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldcrest.

Aust (early morning):

Short-eared Owl being mobbed by Carrion Crows (David Knowles).

Sand Point:
Merlin, Wheatear, Treecreeper, Firecrest (Nick Workman - by the gate half way up the path from the car park).

Paulton sewage works:
5 Meadow Pipit, 8 Pied Wagtail, 1 Stonechat (from our correspondent in a typically salubrious birding spot)

female Scaup at Chew (Ian Stapp)

Blagdon Lake:
12 Great White Egret, 19 Little Egret, 2 juv Ruff, juv Little Stint, 2 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, Stonechat,

Chew Valley Lake:
Female Ferruginous Duck (from Stratford/Herriotts), at least 8 Great White Egret.
Villice Bay (from the road):
6 Great White Egret, 3 Little Egret.

Herons Green:
2 Great White Egret, 1 Little Egret, 2 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Stonechat.

Moreton/Stratford:
1 Great White Egret, 2 Little Egret, 1 Pintail, 1 female Scaup, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Peregrine (Richard M), 1 Kingfisher, 1 Tawny Owl (in the wood), 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Raven, 2 Jay.

Herriots Bridge:

2 Great White Egret, 2 Little Egret, 4 Pintail, 6 Common Gull, 1 Water Rail,  1 Grey Wagtail.

Reports: Bob Brewer, Teresa Chard, Chris Craig. Paul Gregory, Patrick Hancock, Peter Hazelwood, David Knowles, Andy Middleton, Ian Stapp, Geoff Suter, Nick Workman, blagdonbirds,:southglosbirds.

17th Oct '16 Monday - Little Gull, Goosander

Little Gull at Middle Hope, Sand Point
18 Great White Egret, Little Stint, Yellow-legged Gull, at Blagdon Lake
Ferruginous Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Goosander, Jack Snipe at Stratford Hide, CVL

17-10-16 Dipper (Allan Chard)
Singing in the River Frome at Eastville Park

BRISTOL

Cabot Circus:

1 Kingfisher (3.30 pm River Frome tunnel/culvert), 1 Grey Wagtail

Durham Down, Goat Gully 15-10-16:
1 Golden Oriole
Eastville Park:
1 Dipper

Littleton Warth:

20+ Grey Plover, 3 Wheatear

17-10-16 Stonechat (Lise Presland)
A family at Aust this morning

Aust:
1 Kestrel, 3 Swallow, 2 Stonechat

Clevedon Yeo:
1 Canada Goose, 30 Shelduck, 210 Wigeon, 3 Cormorant, 4 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron,
66 Oystercatcher, 18 Ringed Plover, 6 Grey Plover. 105 Lapwing, 1 Knot, 190 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel,
190 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 280 Redshank, 16 Turnstone, 10+ Skylark, 1 Wheatear, 80 Meadow Pipit

Sand Point:
1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 25 Chaffinch, 2 Wheatear
Middle Hope:
1 imm Little Gull, 1 Wheatear, 22 Chaffinch, 6 Linnet

Uphill WeBS:
258 Shelduck, 97 Teal, 65 Wigeon, 24 Mallard, 6 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 98 Oystercatcher,
24 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 50 Lapwing, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit,
36 Curlew, 497 Redshank, 185 BH Gull, 15 Herring Gull, 11 LBB Gull, Chaffinch (flocks passing over)

17-10-16 Starling (Ian Stapp)
At his home in Keynsham

Keynsham:
150 Starling

Compton Dando:
1 Buzzard, 1 Raven, 130 Linnet (single flock), 10 Yellowhammer

Blagdon Lake WeBS:
295 Canada Goose, 9 Barnacle Goose, 1 Egyptian Goose, 942 Wigeon, 433 Gadwall, 2030 Teal,
560 Mallard, 53 Pintail, 690 Shoveler, 26 Pochard, 43 Tufted Duck, 22 Little Grebe, 84 Great Crested Grebe, 24 Little Egret, 18 Great White Egret, 27 Heron, 1615 Coot, 265 Lapwing,
1 juv Little Stint, 2 Dunlin, 2 juv Ruff, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Common Gull,
2 Chiffchaff

17-10-16 Meadow Pipit (Ian Stapp)
Two of many in Avon at Woodford, CVL

Chew Valley Lake:
3 Great White Egret, 1 ad Yellow-legged Gull, 58 Lapwing
Woodford:
1 Buzzard,  1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 11 Long-tailed Tit with 6 Blue Tit,  2 Great Tit, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Meadow Pipit
Villice Bay:
1 juv Scaup (moulting into a first-winter male), 1 juv Spotted Crake

Heron's Green:
1 Little Egret, 12 Little Grebe, 1 Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Stonechat

Moreton:
2 Jay, 2 Raven
Stratford Hide:
1 Pintail, 1 female Ferruginous Duck, 1 drake Ring-necked Duck, 1 female Goosander (first this autumn),
1 Little Egret, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Lapwing, 3 Jack Snipe, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 13+ Goldfinch
Herriott's End:
3 drake Pintail, 15 Shoveler, 28 Lapwing, 1 Cetti's Warbler

Pallid Harrier seen at Greylake RSPB Reserve

17-10-16 Pallid Harrier (Joe Cockram)
Back of camera close view at Greylake left photographer shaking

Reports: Derek Angell, Pete Brain, Rosemary and Richard Brown, Allan Chard, Joe Cockram, Phil Delve, Brian Gibbs, David Gibbs, Robert Hargreaves, Lisegirl, Nigel Milbourne, Harvey Rose, Vic Savery, Ian Stapp, Keith Vinicombe blagdonlakebirds, nslbirding, opsbirding, severnsidebirds

16th Oct '16 Sunday - YBW Hoopoe, Pectoral Sandpiper

Today's Headlines:
A rainy start, brightening up later, quite a strong southerly breeze.  Not that many reports today compared to recently - surely there can't be more exciting birding outside of Avon?

Yellow-Browed Warbler re-trapped this morning at Chew Valley Ringing Station
Hoopoe again, just over the border in Woodford/Stone, Glos.
The juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper still at Blagdon Lake - 11 days now

16-10-16 Grey Wagtail (Lisa Presland)

Lisa's favourite bird, Chestle Pill

New Passage/Northwick:
20+ Canada Goose, 8 Shelduck, 200+ Wigeon, 50+ Gadwall, 50+ Teal, 30+ Shoveler, 2 Little Egret, 50+ Oystercatcher, 40+ Grey Plover, 80+ Lapwing, 40+ Curlew, 100+ Black-tailed Godwit, c.60 Turnstone, 30+ Knot, 2 Ruff, 2000+ Dunlin, 100+ Redshank, 1 Snipe, 2 Common Gull, 2 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Raven, c.30 Skylark

Portishead /Marina
6 Long-tailed Tit at the head of the marina, 1 Curlew on the foreshore, 100s of distant gulls.


Yatton:
1 Merlin

16-10-16 Chiffchaff (Allan Chard)

Blagdon Lake

Blagdon Lake:
18 Little Egret, 3 Great White Egret, 1 Water Rail, 1 juv Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 juv Little Stint, 2 Dunlin, 2 juv Ruff, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Chiffchaff

16-10-16 Buzzard (Ian Stapp)

Moreton, CVL

Chew Valley Lake:
Heron's Green:
18 Little Grebe, 1 Common Snipe, 2 Stonechat
Moreton:
1 Little Egret, 4 Great White Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 1 Raven, 11 Long-Tailed Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Chaffinch

16-10-16 Treecreeper (Ian Stapp)

Moreton, CVL

Stratford:
1 Little Egret, 2 Great-White Egret, 1 Buzzard, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Meadow Pipit
Herriott's End:
1 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egret, 1 Grey Wagtail
Chew Valley Ringing Station:
1 Yellow-Browed Warbler (originally ringed at CVRS last weekend)

An update on The Biking Birder...

The Biking Birder

Beach cleaning on Fair Isle

You may remember that the Avon Birds Blog covered Gary Prescott's visit to the area back in January. He was just setting off on his Big Green Year, attempting to see 300+ bird species by bike and fundraising for charity at the same time .  His list was in the mid-90s back then, but the wintering Lesser Scaup at Chew was a handy bird.  Getting on 6,000 miles pedalled later, Gary is up in Shetland and has so far picked up 302 bird species on his travels. He has already smashed the previous UK Green Year record and he is only a couple of rare 'Sibes', a waxwing and a little auk away from the European record. You can follow Gary's year and find out how you can donate to the charities he is supporting here - http://bikingbirder2016.blogspot.co.uk/

Reports: Alan Ashman, Allan Chard, Spencer Edgerton-Smith, Robert Hargreaves, Lisa Presland, Mike Salter, Ian Stapp, Jenny Clark @cvrsnews, blagdonlakebirds

15th Oct '16 Saturday - Ring Necked Duck

Great White Egret numbers into 20's

180 Grey Plover at New Passage a record count, and 2000 Dunlin
Yellow-browed Warbler and Hoopoe recently in the Woodford Area
Ring-necked Duck and 3 Black-necked Grebe at Chew Valley Lake

15-10-16 Peregrine (Stephen Griffiths)
Crows waiting at Farrington Gurney

BRISTOL
Ashton Court:

2 Buzzard, 20+ Jackdaw, 2 Raven, 1 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 

1 Goldcrest, 3 Goldfinch
Oldland Common:

1 Grey Heron seen last two mornings in my pond ate my large white goldfish!

St George's Park:
1 Little Grebe. 1 Kingfisher, 1 Jay
Stoke Park, Duchess Pond:
1 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard, 2 Jay, 2 Raven, 1 Song Thrush, 6 Redwing (shy)

15-10-16 Yellow-browed Warbler (Vic Savery)

Woodford Area:
1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 14-10-16: 1 Hoopoe

Oldbury Power Station, inc WeBS:
21 Canada Goose, 10 Little Egret, 8 Grey Heron, c.30 Grey Plover, 101 Lapwing, 230 Curlew,
150 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 46 Redshank, 15 Skylark, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Mistle Thrush, 8 Stonechat,
5 Wheatear, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Redpoll, 10 Reed Bunting

15-10-16 Wheatear (Mrs Trellis)

Littleton Warth: 

83 Canada Goose, 15 Wigeon, 35 Teal, 2 Little Egret, 4 Oystercatcher, 8 Curlew, 4 Wheatear

Aust Warth mid-day: 

1 Kestrel, 2 Lapwing, 1 Stonechat

New Passage: 

2 ad, 5 juv. Mute Swan, 11 Canada Goose, 1 Shelduck, 350+ Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 60 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrel, 7 Little Grebe, 1 Water Rail, 15 Coot,
190 Oystercatcher, 180 Grey Plover, 74 Lapwing, 60 Knot, 2000 Dunlin, 1 Ruff, 4 Snipe, 135 Black-tailed Godwit, 210 Redshank, 2 Kestrel, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Long-tailed Tit,
3 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 30 Pied Wagtail, 35 Meadow Pipit

Portbury coast:
3 Water Rail (seawall ditch)

15-10-16 Kingfisher (Lee Gardiner)
This the urban St George's Park bird

Portishead:
2 Kingfisher dashing about on the pill by Brampton Way

15-10-16 Kestrel (Peter Coslett)
West Town Farm, Marshfield

Marshfield:
60+ Red Legged Partridge, 60+ Pheasant, 1 Red Kite (Tormarton Road), 4 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel,
c.500 Common Gull (Tormarton Rd), 3 Stock Dove, 15 Collared Dove, 3+ Raven, Sky Lark,
1 Fieldfare (Shire lane), 2 Stonechat (Northfield La), 40+ Linnet, 100+ Goldfinch (Down Rd), Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting

Newton Park:
1 Grey Heron, 1 Teal, 25 Mallard, 1 Kingfisher, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 1 Grey Wagtail

15-10-16 Meadow Pipit (Stephen Griffiths)
Farrington Gurney

Farrington Gurney;

1 Peregrine falcon attacking the BH Gulls, then dispossessed by a pair of Buzzards, Crows,
10 Meadow Pipit, c.100 Pied Wagtail

Blagdon Lake:
20 Little Egret, 7 Great White Egret, 1 juv Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 juv Little Stint, 3 Dunlin,
3 juv Ruff, 1 Black-tailed Godwit

15-10-16 Great White Egret (Ian Stapp)
17 all together by reeds East shore, CVL

Chew Valley Lake:
25 Pintail, 2 Goldeneye, 7 Water Rail, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 juv Yellow-legged Gull, 30 Jackdaw hawking insects

East Shore:
1 ad male Ring-necked Duck, 3 Black-necked Grebe
Villice Bay:
2 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egret, 6 Little Grebe, 10 Lapwing, 1 juv Ruff, 2 Common Sandpiper,
1 Cetti's Warbler,  1 Grey Wagtail
Heron's Green;
12(lake) and 2(pond) Little Grebe, 1 Buzzard, 2 Snipe , 2 Stonechat (pair)  
Moreton;
2 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Tawny Owl (hide wood), 2 Jay, 1 Cetti's Warbler
Stratford;
1 Little Egret, 17 Great White Egret ( East shore), 1 Great White Egret (by hide), 1 Water Rail (heard)
Herriot's End:
8 Pintail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 female Bearded Tit (behind Heligoland)

15-10-16 Buzzard (Stephen Griffiths)
Crows still waiting at Farrington Gurney

Reports: Apologies if your name is missing, Paul Bowerman, Teresa Chard, Peter Coslett, Chris Craig, Andy Davis, Lee Gardiner, Stephen Griffiths, Robert Hargreaves, Peter Hazelwood, Mike King, Karen Locke, Shane Long, Andrew Middleton, Cuban Mule, Lise Presland, Lois Pryce, Gill Sapsed,, Ian Stapp, Mrs Trellis, blagdonlakebirds, nslbirding, opsbirding, severnsidebirds, TBOSG

Next Monday (17th October) is the 40th Anniversary of Timsbury Nats. There is a special meeting to record the event and natural history presenter Mike Dilger is the guest speaker. Mike is a well-known face from the telly with regular appearances on the One Show and Springwatch etc. As always the meeting is free to members and £3 for visitors. The coffee/tea is free and there will be a slice of birthday cake. Doors open at 7.00 and the meeting starts at 7.30 pm at the Conygre Hall, Timsbury. 

14th Oct '16 Friday

Wet first thing then brightened up

Great White Egret still at Chew/Blagdon
2 Reeve at Pilning Wetland

14-10-16 Nuthatch at Compton Dando (Ian Stapp)

Bristol, Eastville Park:
1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kingfisher,  4 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6 Goldfinch

14-10-16 Grey Wagtail on Colston Weir in Eastville Park (Martin Tayler)

Shepperdine:139 Black-tailed Godwit (feeding on the shore - quite a sight!)

Littleton Warth:

63 Canada, 2 Little Egret, 6 Oystercatchers, 80 Dunlin, 18 Redshank, 1 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear, 50 Meadow Pipit, 70 Linnet, 3 Reed Bunting

14-10-16 Reed Bunting at Littleton Warth (Mrs Trellis)

Aust STW:
11 Fieldfare (feeding in the bushes), 2 Grey Wagtail

New Passage/Northwick:
1 Marsh Harrier Female (Kevin Bainbridge) (over Pilning Wetland at 10.57am), 1 Egyptian Goose in with Canada Geese, 2 Reeve (on scrape), 2 Pintail, 1 Kestrel, 6 Redwing, 1 Wheatear (on Saltmarsh)

Tickenham:
6 Mistle Thrush (at Tickenham Church at 12.30pm today).

Backwell Lake:
1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 2 Grey Wagtail, Pair of Wigeon (unusual for here), 1 Shoveler, plus resident Mute Swan family of 8 cygnets.

Clevedon-Yeo:
1 Mute Swan, 73 Canada Goose (Dawn roost on Estuary), a few Shelduck, 60 Wigeon, Teal present,

80 Mallard, 7 Cormorant, 6 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 20 Oystercatcher, 16 Grey Plover, 

18 Lapwing, 22 Knot, 80 Curlew, 160 Dunlin, 180 Redshank, 17 Turnstone,  a few gulls,

1S Stonechat, 2 Wheatear, 2 Rock Pipit.

Sand Point and Bay:
1 f Pintail, 4 Reed Bunting, 9 Stonechat, 10 Skylark, 1 CC, c10 Chaffinch, 2 Linnet

14-10-16 female Pintail at Sand Point this morning (David Gibbs)

Bath, Victoria Park:
7 Buzzard (circling together briefly over the park around 2pm as if playing a thermal).

Compton Dando:
Farm Land Bird Survey at Compton Dando this morning:
11 Herring Gull, 4 L BB Gull,  23 Crow,  48 Jackdaw,  23 Robin, 23 Blue Tit,  5 Pheasant,  

78 Starling, 15 Redwing, 6 Dunnock,  4 Yellowhammer, 10 Blackbird, 1 Buzzard, 8 Wren, 

1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 20 Linnet, 6 Goldfinch, 9 Wood Pigeon, 6 Jay, 15 Pied Wagtail, 

8 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Magpie, 2 Great Tit,  2 Green Woodpecker,  2 Chaffinch, 2 Raven, 

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,  1 Nuthatch, 2 Skylark  (31 Species of bird in 1 hour 45 min - not too bad!)

14-10-16 Redwing at Compton Dando (Ian Stapp)

Bristol Airport:

A lone Swallow over Bristol airport this lunchtime

Chew Valley Lake:
Woodford:
1 Peregrine (dead branch Denny Island), 3 Meadow Pipit (boat slipway), 9 Pied Wagtail,  1 Jay
Villice:
Spotted Crake, 10 Great White Egret, 3 Little Egret

14-10-16 Spotted Crake came out at Villice today (Bob Brewer)

Heron's Green:
3 Snipe (bay), 2 Stonechat,  1 Green Sandpiper,  10 Little Grebe, 1 Buzzard
Moreton:
1 Tawny Owl, 5 Jay, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler,  

4 Meadow Pipit,  2 Buzzard

14-10-16 Great Spotted Woodpecker at Moreton (Ian Stapp)

Stratford:
6 Great White Egrets, 4 Lapwing, 2 Pintail

14-10-16 Great White Egret devouring the delights of Chew (Bob Brewer)

Herriotts End:
10 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Pintail, 1 Cetti's Warbler

Probably 13 Great White Egret at the lake today

Reports: Kevin Bainbridge, Paul Bowerman Bob Brewer, David Gibbs, Peter Hazlewood, Adrian Hockey, John Grifffiths, Ian Stapp, Martin Tayler, Mrs Trellis, Timothy Warren