Sightings 27/3/11

There was a fall of Wheatears around the Portbury Dock area today with at least 25 birds counted.

BRISTOL:
Eastville Park: 4 Kingfisher, a male Grey Wagtail, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Blackcap and a Treecreeper with nest material. Anglers at the lake caught a 20lb carp (R Scantlebury).

Montpelier: a Buzzard over the Cadbury pub and single singing Blackcap and Chiffchaff at the railway line.

St Werburgh's: a Blackcap and 3 singing Chiffchaff at the Narroways area.

SEVERNSIDE:
A similar cast of birds along the shoreline today, 3 Knot were new in plus 2 Little Ringed Plover. The Wheatear count was 10 birds today (per severnsidebirds, S Davies).

Below, some Severnside pics sent in by Andy Jordan.

26.3.11 Short-eared Owl, Aust Warth

27.3.11 Chiffchaff, Northwick Warth

27.3.11 Wheatear, Northwick Warth
all photos© Andy Jordan, many thanks

AVONMOUTH:

Holesmouth: 10 Gadwall, 3 Knot, 80 Redshank and 7 Wheatear this afternoon (S Davies).

ABBOTS LEIGH:
Highlights here: 4 Buzzard, a female Blackcap, 2 Raven and 2 Redpoll (A Rhodes).


PORTBURY DOCK:

27.3.11 Wheatears
14 birds this morning, then another 11 birds in the afternoon

27.3.11 male Redstart 4pm this afternoon

PORTBURY WHARF:

Plenty of stuff at the pools and scrub, best of the bunch: the 3 Bar-headed Goose again, a Grey Heron + eel, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 63 Redshank, 2 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, a Marsh Tit and 8 Reed Bunting (A Rhodes).


CLEVEDON COAST:

27.3.11 Redpolls © H Taffs, many thanks
some of today's birds were thought to be Common Redpolls (flammea)

Wain's Hill: 250 Woodpigeon, 3 Swallow, 2 Tree Pipit, 300 Meadow Pipit, a Willow Warbler, 2 Siskin, 30 Redpoll (H Taffs).

SAND POINT:
Highlights at the BNS meeting here this morning: 1 Kestrel, 150+ Woodpigeon, a Green Woodpecker, 300+ Meadow Pipit, 4 Stonechat (2 prs), a Ring Ouzel, a late Redwing, 6 Chiffchaff, 6 Greenfinch, 2 Siskin, a Redpoll, 6 Linnet and 20+ Goldfinch (E Drewitt).

BARROW TANKS:
Back to normal, just 90 Sand Martin and a singing Willow Warbler (S Davies).

BATH AREA:
Bushey Norwood: 1 Raven.

Lansdown: still loitering at the racecourse, 162 Golden Plover here today.

Batheaston: a male Shoveler on the river Avon (all J Cumming).

BREAN DOWN:

27.3.11 Ring Ouzel © Paul Bowyer, many thanks
Better than the rubbish we posted yesterday

1 Black Redstart, a Ring Ouzel and a few House Martin of note on the Down this morning (P Bowyer).

SOMERSET LEVELS:
Shapwick: an Osprey reported over the village 2.30pm (per SOS).

WINCHESTER:
Blashford Lakes:

27.3.11 Little Ringed Plover © Allan Chard, many thanks.

Not local but a timely photo in view of the passage now underway