Sightings 17/2/11

Two Red Kite reports today (another yesterday). Early spring often sees some passage of these birds through Avon so keep alert for more sightings.


LITTLE STOKE-PATCHWAY:
A Red Kite seen soaring over the A38 around the Rolls Royce area 1.10pm (M Jackson).


SEVERNSIDE:
Shore count New Passage-Chittening, 40 Shelduck, 60 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 94 Oystercatcher (most Chittening), single Knot, 1,150 Dunlin (most Chittening), 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 30 Curlew and 35 Redshank.


AVONMOUTH (Hoar Gout):
A Red Kite reported near the Vosa pool 9.30am this morning before flying off northwards (per severnsidebirds).

LEIGH WOODS:

17.2.11 garden Blackcap © John Sparks, many thanks

The woods are quiet at the moment so John took these pics from the kitchen window this morning. Wintering Blackcaps are so widespread nowadays that it will be difficult to pinpoint accurate dates for the arrival of the summer visitors.

ABBOTS LEIGH:

2 Woodcock seen at dusk in display flight (A Rhodes).

CLEVEDON COAST:

Generally modest numbers of the expected species except for an influx of Dunlin. 

20 Canada Goose, 30+ Shelduck, 80 Wigeon, 60 Teal, singles of Cormorant, Grey Heron and Little Egret, 1♀ Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrine, only 2 Oystercatcher, 18 Grey Plover, 140 Lapwing, single Knot, 1,700 Dunlin, single Black-tailed Godwit, 90 Curlew, 1 Spotted Redshank, 260 Redshank and 120 Black-headed Gull (HE Rose).

BLAGDON LAKE:

The ♀ Smew still present (Top End) to mid-day (A Adams).

CHEW VALLEY LAKE:

Heron's Green: 1 Green Sandpiper

Moreton: a Scaup off the point (A Adams).

CHEDDAR RES:

1 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Red-crested Pochard (A Adams).

Portbury 16/2/11:

A flyover Red Kite at Prior's Wood 12.54pm yesterday (RJ Prytherch).

We normally get some spring passage of birds through Avon in March so expect some more records.