Sightings 23/5/11

SEVERNSIDE:
Severn Beach: 1 Gannet and Kittiwake in the evening (per severnsidebirds).


PORTBURY WHARF:
4 Great Black-backed Gull on the island pool and 2 Goldcrest along Wharf lane, 30yds before the first hide (S Hale).

CLEVEDON COAST:
Ladye Bay: 25 Eider (5 males)*, 43 Manx Shearwater and a Great Skua (per clevedonbirds).

* presumably part of the same lingering flock that was seen off Severn Beach on 12th.

Lesvos May 2011 - Gordon Youdale

Our club chairman has recently returned from a birding visit to Lesvos and sent us these photos. Full report to follow later.

Many thanks Gordon.

Short-toed Eagle © Gordon Youdale

Scops Owl © Gordon Youdale

Krupers Nuthatch © Gordon Youdale

Collared Pratincole © Gordon Youdale

Sightings 22/5/11

Strong south-westerly winds in the estuary today with the 'schwerpunkt' of the seabird activity inevitably being recorded off Severnside and Sand Pt.

Reports per severnsidebirds, per westonbirds, B Lancastle, J Martin, S Hale, H Taffs.

	Severnside	Avm Docks	Portishead	Clevedon	Sand Pt
Fulmar	5+		1	4	4
Manx Shearwater	8	2	9	25	180
Storm Petrel	1				1
Gannet	3+		4	15	49
Shag	1
Pomarine Skua	2
Arctic Skua	6
Skua sp					1
Kittiwake	80+	80			1
Little Tern	1
Arctic Tern	2				1
Razorbill				2
Guillemot					5
Auk sp. (G or R)	4+			1

Severnside photos

22.5.11 Storm Petrel © Sarah Loaring, many thanks
our first Petrel of the year

22.5.11 Pomarine Skua © Paul Bowerman, many thanks

22.5.11 Arctic Skua © Paul Bowerman, many thanks

Other sightings:

Severn Beach: 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderling and 12 Dunlin (1 of the race 'arctica') at the beach this morning.

RSPB Ham Wall: A female Red-footed Falcon, first reported at Meare Heath on 19th.

Sightings 21/5/11

MARSHFIELD:

21.5.11 Spotted Flycatcher © Martyn Hayes, many thanks

2 pairs back in the Shire valley area of the patch



PORTBURY WHARF:

21.5.11 Reed Warbler near the D'arcy hide.

The Barn Owl was still out hunting early this morning (S Hale).

SAND BAY:
35 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderling, 135 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel and 10 Curlew (per westonbirds).

Sightings 20/5/11

BRISTOL:
Clifton: a newly fledged party of 5 Mistle Thrush at the Christ Church green at mid-day (K Williams).

Fishponds:

20.5.11 Blue Tit © Allan Chard, many thanks
ragged because it has a family to feed....

MANGOTSFIELD:

20.5.11 Mallard © Sarah Loaring, many thanks

Several Mallard seen resting on roof tops today.

PORTBURY WHARF:

20.5.11 Barnacle Goose at the main pool early am
jaw-dropping photography from the Sightings Page team

Also at the pools, 4 Gadwall, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin and a Redshank (A Middleton).


PILL:
The Raven family (at least 5 birds) still loafing around the M5 bridge area today (V Savery).

Slimbridge WWT 19/5/11:

19.5.11 Oystercatcher © Gordon Youdale, many thanks
many hatchings of various species around the site now

Sightings 19/5/11

SLIMBRIDGE WWT:
An immature Night Heron reported on site today (per slimbridgebirds).

YATE:
Heroic deeds on the Common this morning: 10 House Martin, 2 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 1 female Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, single Whitethroat and 2 Reed Bunting (D Pearce).


PORTBURY DOCK:

Whimbrel 19.5.11 © Chris Stone, many thanks

22 Tufted Duck, 1 Peregrine (mobbing 2 Raven), 3 Whimbrel, 8 Curlew, a flock of c.50 small waders, Ringed Plover/Dunlin and a Cuckoo (CJ Stone).

PORTBURY WHARF:
4 Great Black-backed Gull on the main pool of note this morning (S Hale).

Sightings 18/5/11

AVONMOUTH DOCK:
11 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin and 1 Whimbrel (S Hale).

NAILSEA:
A Little Owl seen 4pm (M Saffery).