Sightings 30/4/11

Another day of large numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits flying up the estuary. The schwerpunkt was at Portbury Wharf (4 birds) and Severnside (1,760 birds).

BRISTOL:
Henbury: over the garden, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, a Hobby, 6 Swift and 2 Swallow (B Lancastle).

Purdown:

30.4.11 Whitethroat © John Bimson, many thanks

Seen 12.30-2.30pm: a soaring Cormorant (!), a male Kestrel, 4 Swallow, 2 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff and a Raven shooing off a Buzzard (J Bimson).

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds, J Martin: many birds heading NE into the headwind as is the custom here:

NP-NW: the male Gadwall still, 5 Teal, c.100 Bar-tailed Godwit (disappearing towards Aust) and 2 Yellow Wagtail.

Severn Beach: 25 Ringed Plover, 4 Grey Plover, 4 Knot, 1 Sanderling, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 90 Dunlin, 20 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper, 12 Turnstone, 1 dark morph Arctic Skua, 110 Arctic Tern, 2 Commic Tern, 10 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 7 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Wheatear and 5 Tree Pipit.



30.4.11 Curlew Sandpiper © Paul Bowerman, many thanks

photographed at Shaft rocks, our first of the spring



Ringed Plover & Dunlin © Allan Chard, many thanks

the small waders are starting to appear at Severnside.....

Chittening Warth: at the Holesmouth section: 8 Oystercatcher, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Knot, 13 Dunlin, 250 Bar-tailed Godwit (from yesterday), 7 Curlew, 15 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper and a Wheatear (S Davies).

Today's Severnside Bar-tailed Godwits:

Adding up all the various counts, an estimated 1,760+ Bar-tailed Godwits were seen on passage during the day. About 250+ birds in the morning and later c.1,500 birds during the afternoon, especially late afternoon/evening when there was a steady stream of birds moving upriver, often veering off to the north-east and over the Severn Beach shops.

1,760 birds is considered to be a conservative estimate, many more must have been missed.

Many thanks to Paul Bowerman at severnsidebirds for supplying the information, even before he updated his own site.

some of the Bar-tailed Godwits, © Paul Bowerman, many thanks

30.4.11 Bar-tailed Godwit © Allan Chard, many thanks



PORTBURY WHARF:

Shore: 2 Grey Plover, 14 Dunlin and 4 Bar-tailed Godwit.

Pools: too exciting for words (S Hale).

PORTISHEAD:
Battery Pt: 11 racing Pigeons seen on the seawatch.

Beach: a female Wheatear (S Hale).

CLEVEDON COAST:
Dowlais: 3 summer plumaged Knot and 3 White Wagtail of note (H Taffs).

Blake's pool: a Marsh Harrier this morning.

Kingston Seymour: a Cuckoo

BARROW TANKS:
4 Common Sandpiper and a Common Tern (S Davies).

Sightings 29/4/11

Large numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits recorded in the upper estuary today with at least 1,500 birds flying  through the Severnside patch. A very localised event, our other coastal sites reported hardly any of these birds at all.

Prolonged spells of north/north-easterly winds in spring often produce good numbers of both Terns and Bar-tailed Godwits in the estuary in Avon but these Godwit numbers are huge by any standards, exceeded only by the exceptional passage of 1984.

Wider afield, yesterday, Portland had 6,000 Bar-taileds passing by and farther along the English Channel, Dungeness reported 7,000+ birds.


BRISTOL:

Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover 'doing the bizz'

CHIPPING SODBURY:
A female Ring Ouzel on the golf course 5pm, probably the long-staying bird seen on the nearby Common (W King).

OLDBURY POWER STATION:
1 Grey Plover, 18 Bar-tailed Godwit, 26 Whimbrel and a Wheatear (yacht club) (per opsbirding).

ALMONDSBURY:
Lower Knole Farm am: 2 flyover Canada Goose WSW, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler and 13 Sedge Warbler (M Dadds).

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds, J Martin:
Fantastic numbers of Bar-tailed Godwit were recorded on the patch this morning. Hundreds of birds were seen 'on the deck' at the main sites at Chittening, Severn Beach and New Passage/Northwick/Aust as well as many passing flocks which were not bothering to stop.

The evening passage was much lighter and the final day's tally was estimated to be in excess of 1,500 birds.

This is by far our best Godwit passage since the extraordinary numbers recorded in 1984.

Around 40+ Whimbrel were recorded at the same time and there were 2 Arctic Skuas seen this evening.

Many thanks to Paul Bowerman for the updates and end of day tally.

29.4.11 Whimbrel, Severn Beach © John Martin, many thanks

Lest we forget, good numbers of Whimbrel here today also!

PORTBURY WHARF:

5 Bar-tailed Godwit along the shoreline (H Taffs).

PILL:

29.4.11 © Roger Hawley, many thanks

Little Grebe+chick and one of the successful Ravens.

BARROW TANKS:

6 Common Sandpiper, a Whinchat and the Yellowhammer still (S Davies).

BURRINGTON HAM:
1 Swift, a Cuckoo and a singing  male Tree Pipit here this afternoon (G Jones).

SOMERSET LEVELS:



29.4.11 Meadow Pipit and Cuckoo © Allan Chard, many thanks

Also seen by Allan, a Blue-headed type Yellow Wagtail, presumably the 'Channel' Wagtail that has been reported here recently.



Sightings 28/4/11

Red Kites in Avon so far this month: Yatton (8th), RPD (9th), Redland and Clifton (9th), CVL (18th), Burrington Combe (22nd), Kingswood (22nd), Winford (23rd), Chipping Sodbury (25th), Marshfield (25th), Bristol airport (27th) and Severn Beach (28th).

There was some seabird and wader passage in the estuary at last today.


BRISTOL:
Eastville: 2 Goldcrest at the park (R Scantlebury).

CHIPPING SODBURY:
The female Ring Ouzel still present to 1.30pm at least (D Pearce). 12th day of stay.

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds,
Severn Beach:  a Red Kite over 7.45am.

On the late afternoon/evening seawatch: 120 Bar-tailed Godwit, 22 Whimbrel and 2 Arctic Skua but no Terns at all.

PORTBURY WHARF:
5 Whimbrel and a Swift new at the pools this morning. 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat along wharf lane (S Hale).

PORTISHEAD:
Battery Pt seawatch 1.45-5.15pm: single Kestrel, Hobby and Peregrine, 75 Bar-tailed Godwit, 105 Wader sp, probably Whimbrel/Bar-taileds, 2 Skua sp, 145 Tern sp (80/40/15/10), thought to be Common/Arctic.

Backdrop to the seabird passage was a steady stream of Swallow to north, c.140 birds (S Hale).

PILL:

28.4.11 House Sparrow © Roger Hawley, many thanks

a rare bird in some Pill gardens

Along the foreshore scrub: 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, a Willow Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 7 Sedge Warbler and 2 Bullfinch.

One of the Raven chicks fledged and was out flying today (R Hawley).

CLEVEDON COAST:
Shore highlights this morning were: 18 Bar-tailed Godwit, 28 Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpiper and 6 Wheatear (HE Rose).

Still a noted lack of small waders such as Sanderling and Dunlin.

Sightings 27/4/11

Another very quiet day for birds, not helped by the low (high) tides in the afternoon.

BRISTOL:
Hanham:

 'mystery bird' photographed today and sent in by Cheryl

Please let us know what you think this bird is. It's a 'first past the post' election, no AV here. We'll post the most popular call. No names to spare blushes.

ALMONDSBURY:
Lower Knole Farm: 12 Sedge Warbler here this morning: 2 pairs and 7 singing males in one 100x240m field and another singing male just beyond this area (M Dadds).

PORTBURY WHARF:
Today's endorphin rushes were a Cetti's Warbler and 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat (S Hale).

The observer had to go and lie down afterwards.

LULSGATE:
A flyover Red Kite seen at Bristol airport 1pm (A Hockey).The observer was on duty, looking out for paragliders over the Mendips at the time.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE:

this morning's Cuckoo being mobbed

© Sean Davies, many thanks

Moreton: a Cuckoo here this morning (S Davies).

Sightings 26/4/11

HOAR GOUT:
The Vosa Little Egret seen near the Honda car park today (L Maber).

PORTBURY WHARF:
Not much, a Common Sandpiper at the island and a mixed flock of c.40 hirundines over the pool (c.25 House Martin, 10 Swallow and 5 Sand Martin) (S Hale).

WALTON BAY:
A steady but slow passage of Swallows to north-east noted all day...around 500+ birds with a few House Martin plus 1 Swift (HE Rose).

CHEW VALLEY LAKE:
The Little Ringed Plover still present at the dam this morning (S Davies).

Sightings 25/4/11

A much quieter day today for birds, even Portbury Wharf was struggling to find anything of interest.

BRISTOL:
Avonmouth: 12 Whimbrel and 2 Wheatear at the Holesmouth foreshore. (S Davies).

Holesmouth is the extreme southern end of Chittening Warth, south of the Mitchells Salt Rhyne and just off the Severnside patch.

MARSHFIELD:
A flyover Red Kite at 4pm (M Thomas), possibly the Chipping Sodbury bird or a new migrant.

CHIPPING SODBURY:
The female Ring Ouzel reported again on the Common this morning and a flyover Red Kite here at 2.30pm (D Pearce).

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds:

25.4.11 hot off the press via 'phone-scoping'
Whinchat (top) & Wheatear (below) at New Passage 
© Ian Duncan, many thanks

Aust Warth:  2 Whitethroat, 6 Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler and 5 House Martin, birds seen to be collecting mud for nesting.

NP-NW: the ringed Grasshopper Warbler seen again and a Whinchat nearby. Other highlights were 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear and 3 Raven.

Chittening Warth: 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warbler and 11 Sedge Warbler.

PORTISHEAD:

25.4.11 Purple Sandpiper © Andy Jordan, many thanks

at least 4 birds still on the rocks today

HAMPSHIRE:

Club member Allan Chard on tour:

Little Ringed Plover at Blashford Lakes 
& Common Tern at Tichfield Haven
© Allan Chard, many thanks



Sightings 24/4/11

LOWER WOODS:
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Blackcap, a Coal Tit, 3 Nuthatch and 2 Bullfinch (C Porter).

CHIPPING SODBURY:
The female Ring Ouzel still present, now on its 9th day of stay (C Porter).

OLDBURY POWER STATION:
The Little Ringed Plover still (1st recorded on 11th), 3 Ringed Plover, 5 Whimbrel, 5 GBB Gull, 18 BH Gull, a Cuckoo, 8 Swallow, a Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Lesser Whitethroat and 4 singing Sedge Warbler (per opsbirding).

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds, J Martin:
Severn Beach:  a Turtle Dove near the pipes, 1st here for 8 years was the highlight here today.

Other notable records here were; 5 Common Sandpiper at the Orchard pools, an Arctic Skua, a Cuckoo and 9 Yellow Wagtail.

NP-NW: 5 Mediterranean Gull (2 adults), 1 Cuckoo, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, a Wheatear and 2 over-flying Yellow Wagtail.

Ringing totals here: 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler, 8 Sedge Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, a Linnet and a Reed Bunting. Many thanks to Paul Bowerman/Ed Drewitt for this information.

24.4.11 Grasshopper Warbler © Paul Bowerman, many thanks

HALLEN:
3 Lesser Whitethroat (E Drewitt).

CLEVEDON COAST:

Channel View farm leg: 3 Little Egret, 6 Oystercatcher, 6 Lapwing, just 1 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 12 Whimbrel, 2 Redshank, 2 female Wheatear, 1 Pied Wagtail, a Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat and 4 Reed Warbler (R&J Staples).

BARROW TANKS:
43 Great-crested Grebe (good spring count here), 4 Common Sandpiper and the Yellowhammer still (S Davies).

CHEW VALLEY LAKE:

24.4.11 a couple of illustrative shots of the dam birds, Ringed Plover (top)
and Little Ringed Plover (below) © Sean Davies, many thanks

Dam: 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 5 Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher (S Davies).

Gordano Valley 20/4/11:
Clapton-in-Gordano: a late report received of 2 flyover Osprey (M Hedges per clevedonbirds). 1 bird drifted off towards Clevedon, the other bird headed towards Portishead.

Sightings 23/4/11

+ BRISTOL:
tidal Avon, Cumberland Basin to estuary: 20+ Shelduck, some Heron chicks at the heronry, 8 Oystercatcher, 9 Whimbrel, 1 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper and 6 Whitethroat (E Drewitt, boat cruise).

Eastville Park: 2 Kingfisher, 3 Grey Wagtail of note (R Scantlebury).

Snuff Mills: 1 male Grey Wagtail, a Jay plus Blackcap and Chiffchaff noted (R Scantlebury).

Stoke Park: common Warblers in plague like proportions here apparently, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 15+ Whitethroat and then the observer lost the will to continue counting (R Scantlebury).

+ CHIPPING SODBURY:
Common: the female Ring Ouzel still present this morning (first reported on 20th).

Other sightings, a Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, a Green Woodpecker, 6 Skylark, just 3 Swallow, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, a Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, a female Wheatear, 5 Linnet, 2 Bullfinch and 2 Reed Bunting (D Pearce).

+ SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds, J Martin:


23.4.11 Reed Warbler, Aust Warth

© Vic Savery, many thanks



23.4.11 Sedge Warbler, Aust Warth

© Rod Holbrooke, many thanks

Highlights across the patch:

Raptors:  a Hobby and 2 Peregrine.

Waders: 18 Whimbrel.

Seabirds: 3 Arctic Skua (2 dark, 1 pale) and 2 Sandwich Tern early on, conditions looked promising but nothing seen later.

Gulls: a 2cy Mediterranean Gull (our 1st report this month), 27 BH Gull and 61 Common Gull (mostly 2cy).

Migrants: 1 Sand Martin NE, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear and 11 Yellow Wagtail.

+ CLEVEDON COAST:
Blind Yeo: a Common Sandpiper at Manmoor lane 8am (M Saffery).

+ WINFORD:
A Red Kite over the house this afternoon (R Mielcarek).

SOMERSET LEVELS:
Some rubbish shots by Allan Chard, please forgive us for posting them:

Marsh Harrier

 

Bittern

 

male Garganey

 

Sparrowhawk



Towards the end of the day, Allan was running out of film so had to resort to photographing 2 species at the same time....

Crow mobbing a Buzzard

© Allan Chard, many thanks



Sightings 22/4/11

Very large numbers of Terns in Bridgwater bay this morning but only smaller numbers were recorded into Avon waters.

+ BRISTOL:
Hotwells:  a Common Sandpiper at Cumberland basin 3pm (K Bainbridge).

OLDBURY POWER STATION:
3 Peregrine, the Little Ringed Plover still, just 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Sedge Warbler and 2 Wheatear (per opsbirding).

+ SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds, B Lancastle, J Martin:

22.4.11 Linnet pair on Northwick Warth this morning

© Allan Chard, many thanks

NP-NW: 70 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 8 Teal, a Grasshopper Warbler (Grebe pond), 1 Redstart, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Sedge Warbler, 1 Wheatear, the usual 2 Raven and a Redpoll through.

Severn Beach: 1 male Gadwall, 1 Little Egret, 1 Little Ringed Plover NE, just 2 Dunlin, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 50 Whimbrel, 3 intermediate morph Arctic Skua, 4 BH Gull, 2 Sandwich Tern NE, 1 Common Tern NE, 35 Commic Tern, 5 House Martin, 3 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 White Wagtail and a Tree Pipit.

Chittening Warth: 1 Sanderling, 1 Whimbrel, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warbler and 8 Sedge Warbler.

PORTBURY DOCK ESTATE:


22.4.11 Sedge Warbler © the Sightings Page team

note disdainful look as picture was taken

 At least 6 Sedge Warbler singing along the Drove Rhine this morning ( S Hale).

+ PORTBURY WHARF:
2 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper and 4 Lesser Whitethroat (S Matthews).

On the island, the Canada Goose which began sitting on 6 April has abandoned its original nest and appears to be re-sitting anew about 5 yds away.

+ PORTISHEAD:

22.4.11 4 Purple Sandpipers seen this morning on the rocks

+ PILL:

22.4.11 Ravens at nest © Roger Hawley, many thanks

1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat and 4 Sedge Warbler (R Hawley).

+ CLEVEDON COAST:
Ladye bay: a single flock of 120 Arctic Tern on this evening's seawatch (P Chapman).

+ BARROW TANKS:
A couple of locally uncommon birds here this morning, a Kingfisher and a Yellowhammer.

Others, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Wheatear and a Sedge Warbler (S Davies).

+ BLAGDON LAKE:
6 Common Sandpiper (S Davies).

+ BURRINGTON COMBE:
A Red Kite high over 1.45pm today (S Matthews).

+ BERROW:
Excellent seawatching: a Pomarine Skua, 4 Black Tern and a staggering 1,600 Commic Tern (per berrowbirds).

+ SHAPWICK HEATH:
The Lesser Yellowlegs still present to 4pm at least. Other goodies: 5 Hobby, 2 Ruff, a Common Sandpiper, 1 Garden Warbler, 4 Blackcap and 20 Swift. (E Drewitt).

+ CATCOTT LOWS:
A fine looking male Garganey of special note (E Drewitt).

Sightings 21/4/11

The Somerset levels sites hitting form at the moment. The Lesser Yellowlegs still present at Meare Heath lagoon to 6pm at least.

Some stirring of seabird passage off Clevedon and Severnside today.


Wendy currently has c.450 Wheatear records for April so we should pass the 500 mark sometime over the holiday weekend.

We don't want to put you off but the Sightings Page team has a surprise in store for the birder who sends in the 500th record....

+ BRISTOL:
Purdown: near Duchess pond this morning, single Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel, a Green Woodpecker, 1 Swallow, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Meadow Pipit (L Wheatland).

Clifton: 2 Blackcap and 3 Chiffchaff near the suspension bridge of note. 4 Holly Blue, 2 Orange-Tip and 4 Speckled Wood butterflies also seen (K Williams).

Eastville Park:

21.4.11 © Allan Chard, many thanks

a hungry Grey Heron at the lake early this morning

+ OLDBURY POWER STATION: per opsbirding:
Shore: 1 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper (lagoon),21 BH Gull and 1 Common Gull.

Migrants: 3 Sand Martin, a House Martin, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Sedge Warbler, 2 Wheatear, 4 Yellow Wagtail and 60 Goldfinch.

+ SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds:
seabirds: 2 Arctic Skua, 2 Black Tern and 60+ Arctic Tern off Severn Beach.

waders: not much except for 6 Whimbrel off Severn Beach. No sign of any Bar-tailed Godwit passage yet.

migrants: 1 Grasshopper Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 9 White Wagtail and 7 Tree Pipit.

others: 125 Shelduck at New Passage-Northwick and a Red-legged Partridge at Severn Beach.

+ PORTBURY WHARF:
pools: 2 Oystercatcher, 26 Dunlin, 2 Redshank and a Common Sandpiper at the island.

bushes/scrub: 3 Cetti's Warbler and 4 Lesser Whitethroat (S Hale).

+ PORTISHEAD:
Battery Pt: 4 Purple Sandpipers (S Hale).

+ CLEVEDON COAST:
Morning's count 6.30-9am to Yeo Est: 7 Mute Swan, 40 Shelduck, 15+ Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Little Egret, 6 Oystercatcher, 5 Ringed Plover, single Golden and Grey Plover, 8 Lapwing (still some displaying at the Yeo), 24 Dunlin, 18 Whimbrel, 3 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Turnstone, 2 LBB Gull, 2 GBB Gull, 20+ Meadow Pipit, single Yellow Wagtail, 5 Wheatear, 6+ Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3+ Whitethroat, 3+ Chiffchaff and 2 Raven (HE Rose).

Dowlais: Lapwing succesfully bred, 3 chicks. 3 Wheatear also nearby (J Croxton).

Ladye Bay: this evening's seawatch totals: 7 Whimbrel, 2 Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skua and 140 Arctic Tern (R Hunt, H Taffs).

20/4/11: 3 Whinchat and 12 Wheatear at the Kingston Seymour seawall (J Croxton).

+ SAND PT:
1 Little Ringed Plover, 11 Whimbrel (bay), 1 Arctic Skua, a Cuckoo, 5 House Martin, a Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Wheatear, 10 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Tree Pipit and 3 Redpoll (per westonbirds).

CHEW VALLEY LAKE:
Moreton: 4 Little Egret.

Herriott's: 2 Little Egret (S Davies).

+ CATCOTT LOWS:
3 Ruff and 2 Wood Sandpiper of note today (per SOS).

yesterday's Willow Tits 20/4/11:

© Phil Baber, many thanks

Phil will send the full description plus sketches and any photographs to the Recorder.
Many thanks again Phil.

Recent past records for Willow Tit at this site are: July 2005, December 2009 and June/July 2010, many thanks to Brian Lancastle for this information.



Meare Heath 20/4/11:
A Gull-billed Tern seen by several observers but no reports of the bird so far today.

Sightings 20/4/11

Wheatears: please send in all records, we'd like to try and break the 500 mark for the month, we're currently on about 400 birds give or take a few. Many thanks.

Highlights in Avon today were 2 Ring Ouzel, 3 Willow Tit and early arrival of Swifts. Tern and Skua passage still to kick off.

In Somerset, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Meare Heath, it should be a popular attraction if it hangs around.

BRISTOL:
Henbury: from the garden: 2 Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 1 Raven and 5 Swift, our first of the spring (B Lancastle).

Sea Mills: a Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Whitethroat plus some House Martin around the station (S Matthews).

LOWER WOODS (South Glos):
3 Willow Tit here today (P Baber). 2 birds were seen and heard well, then this pair saw off a 3rd bird which intruded. Description to follow.

A bit of a county rarity, many records fall by the wayside due to confusion with Marsh Tit.

CHIPPING SODBURY:
A female Ring Ouzel reported on the Common today (per D Pearce).

OLDBURY POWER STATION:
The site reported to be quiet, 3 Tree Pipit the best birds (M Plenty).

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds, J Martin:
Aust Warth: 30 Shelduck, 3 Gadwall, 1 Buzzard, a Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 6 Turnstone, 2 Wheatear and a Tree Pipit.

NP-NW: 62 Shelduck, still 3 Wigeon lingering, single Kestrel, a Grey Plover, 21 Whimbrel, 5 Curlew, 2 Raven, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, a Whinchat, 7+ Yellow Wagtail and c.60 Meadow Pipit,

Severn Beach: highlights were a male Ring Ouzel near the outflow pipes 9.45am and a Barn Owl out over the Riverside Park in the evening.

Other sightings: 7 Shelduck, a Sparrowhawk (hunting the waders), 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 6 Dunlin, 24 Turnstones, 1 GBB Gull, 4 Sand Martin NE, 13 Swallow NE, 2 House Martin NE, 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat, 'shedloads' of Whitethroat, single Garden Warbler, 2 singing Sedge Warbler, a male Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail NE, 25 Meadow Pipit NE and 1 Tree Pipit NE.

Chittening Warth: 6 Shelduck, 3 Curlew and a Common Sandpiper.

PORTBURY WHARF:
A Common Sandpiper on the pools and 2 Redstart along the wharf lane hedgerows (K Bainbridge, W Middlemist).

PORTISHEAD:
Battery Pt: a Shoveler pair and 3 Cormorant upriver on the seawatch 7am-9am and 4 Purple Sandpiper on the rocks (S Hale).

CLEVEDON:
3 Swifts over the town this afternoon, our first of the spring...along with the Henbury ones! (H Taffs).

CHEW VALLEY LAKE:
Dam: 3 Little Ringed Plover and 4 Common Sandpiper.

Parkland: a Hobby about.

Heron's Green: 1 Grasshopper Warbler.

Herriott's: single Little Egret and Redshank (all S Davies).

SAND PT:
This morning: 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 15+ Whitethroat, 6 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat and 2 White Wagtail (per P Bowyer).

BREAN DOWN:
2 Gannet, 170 Dunlin out to sea. Migrants: 5 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Wheatear, 7 Tree Pipit and 2 Redpoll (per westonbirds).

MEARE HEATH:
A Lesser Yellowlegs until 1.30pm at least (per SOS).

Clevedon coast 10/4/11:
Late report received of 50 Wheatear along the Channel View farm stretch and including the leg up the Yeo Est (K Williams).

Sightings 19/4/11

100+ Wheatear reported so far today. Allowing for some duplication of sightings, around 350+ Wheatear have been reported to us so far this month.

Grasshopper Warbler also to the fore, c.70 birds reported so far this month.

BRISTOL:
Purdown:  a female Sparrowhawk, single Green Woodpecker, 4 Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler of note (J Bimson).

OLDBURY POWER STATION:
2 Little Ringed Plover, 15 Ringed Plover, 45 Dunlin, 7 Whimbrel, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 32+ Whitethroat, 4 Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 10+ Wheatear and a single Tree Pipit (per opsbirding).

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds, J Martin: final totals,
Aust Warth: a Peregrine, a Common Sandpiper, 5 Lesser Whitethroat and 7 Wheatear.

NP-NW: 130 Shelduck of note.

Severn Beach: 8 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 9 Knot, 8 Dunlin, 44 Whimbrel, 3 Curlew, 3 Sand Martin, 20 Swallow, single House Martin, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Wheatear and 3 Yellow Wagtail.

NORTH SOMERSET:

19.4.11 Barn Owl

PORTBURY DOCK:
A male Redstart and 11 Wheatear this afternoon (S Hale).

PORTISHEAD:



19.4.11 Unbelievably, taken by the Sightings Page team

Battery Pt: dawn seawatch produced 5 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Turnstone, 3 Common Gull, a reeling Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Wheatear (S Hale).

You couldn't mistake Portishead for Porthgwarra.

FAILAND:
2 Wheatear at Windmill Hill (A Rhodes).

PILL:
At least 2 Grasshopper Warbler singing well along the cycle track near the M5 bridge this morning (V Savery).

Shoreline and scrub: 2 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Peregrine over, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 2 Sedge warbler and 6 Wheatear (R Hawley).

CLEVEDON COAST:
Ladye bay: 20 Terns upriver 5.15pm, though to be Arctic.

Dowlais: a male Whinchat 7.30pm (H Taffs)

YATTON:
Strawberry line: this afternoon, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler and 5 Chiffchaff ( M Saffery).

SAND BAY:
6 Ringed Plover and 23 Dunlin this evening (P Bowyer).

BARROW TANKS:

19.4.11 Dunlin © Sean Davies, many thanks

LITTON RESERVOIR:

WeBS count today: 2 Mute Swan, 31 Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck, single Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Great-crested Grebe, 10 Coot and 3 Moorhen.

Other sightings, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Blackcap, a Song Thrush, 1 Treecreeper and 2 Goldfinch (C Porter).

CHEW VALLEY LAKE:
Dam: 3 Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper.

Villice: a Marsh Harrier through to North this morning. Migrants noted were, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 5 Garden Warbler and several Blackcap (D Nevitt).

DUNDRY:
Still cooking on gas near the village hall: this morning: 40 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 6 Tree Pipit and 12 Yellowhammer.

this evening: same field held 59 Wheatear, a Redstart, a male Whinchat and 6 White Wagtail (all D Nevitt).

(the observer has been disguising himself as a scarecrow in the ploughed field in order to get the best views).

ANCHOR HEAD (W-s-M):
A dark phase Arctic Skua and 13 Tern sp. upriver of note (per westonbirds).

ROWBERROW:

19.4.11 Cuckoo © Allan Chard, many thanks

BREAN DOWN:

19.4.11 singing Swallow and Grasshopper Warbler

© Allan Chard, many thanks

6 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Stonechat, 3 Wheatear, several Willow Warbler and countless Whitethroat on the down (A Chard).

BURNHAM-on-SEA:
An early Swift here this morning (per SOS).

MEARE HEATH:
A Wood Sandpiper on the drained pool late morning (per SOS).

Sightings 18/4/11

66 Wheatears recorded today.

BRISTOL:
Sea Mills: 2 Shelduck, 9 Mallard, single Common Sandpiper and Greenshank, 23 Redshank and 2 LBB Gull (AD Scott).

LOWER WOODS (south Glos):



18.4.11 Nightingale © Allan Chard, many thanks

2 Nightingale present at the woods today (A Chard).

Nightingale is becoming increasingly scarce in Avon and for birders to tick this species locally is an achievement in itself, but to manage to photograph them so clearly is, well, positively rude!

YATE:
A Cuckoo heard calling 5.25am (per D Pearce).

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds, highlights:
Aust Warth: 4 Wheatear at the Cake Pill leg.

NP-NW: 10 Sedge Warbler (Grebe pond), a Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 5 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Raven of note. Another Wheatear nearby at the Shaft cottages.

Severn Beach: a Great-crested Grebe, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Wheatear.

Chittening Warth: a Little Egret and a Common Sandpiper.

PORTBURY DOCK:
1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper and 10 Wheatear this evening (S Hale).

PORTBURY WHARF:
3 Wheatear near the 1st hide and a Grasshopper Warbler along the boundary rhine (H Parsons).

PILL:
M5 river Avon: at least 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff and singles of Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat and Blackcap singing this morning (V Savery).

KEYNSHAM:
2 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow and 5 Wheatear in fields alongside river Avon, upstream from Lockeeper Inn (L Wheatland).

CHEW VALLEY LAKE:
A really good showing of birds here today: a Greylag Goose, a male Wigeon, 2 male Garganey, a Scaup,1 Little Egret, a Red Kite, 6 Little Gull (5 adults, 1 1st winter), 2 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Black Tern, 1 Arctic Tern, 1 Common Tern,  a Raven family party including 3 juveniles, a female Wheatear, a Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Garden Warbler, a Lesser Redpoll and 4 Brambling (combined reports S Davies, and per SH).

BARROW TANKS:
Just 4 Whitethroat recorded (D Nevitt).

DUNDRY:
An impressive overnight 'fall' of 35 Wheatear in fields near the village hall this morning, additional cream supplied by 2 Ring Ouzel and a Redstart (D Nevitt).

Weymouth:
A couple of pics from Alex Rhodes who has just returned from a few days birding at Portland Bill and other local sites.

© Alex Rhodes, many thanks

Firecrest (at the Bill) and the LB Dowitcher at Lodmoor



Sightings 17/4/11

BRISTOL:
Henbury: a Treecreeper and 2 Brambling still at Moorgrove Wood (B Lancastle).

CHIPPING SODBURY:
1 Ring Ouzel left on the common this morning (D Pearce).

ALMONDSBURY:
Lower Knole Farm: a Cuckoo (heard), 9 Song Thrush, 2+ Lesser Whitethroat and single Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler (M Dadds).

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds, B Lancastle, J Martin:

17.4.11 Greenfinch, nNew Passage © B Lancastle, many thanks

we can't remember having posted this species before

Passerine migrant totals across the patch: 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Whitethroat, 3 Whinchat (Aust, our first of the spring), 6 Wheatear, 5 Tree Pipit, 3 Yellow Wagtail and single Brambling and Siskin.

Pick of the waders were: 2 Little Ringed Plover and 2 summer-plumage Black-tailed Godwit

A Rosy-faced Lovebird was seen at Severn Beach, heading off over the water to Wales.

PORTBURY WHARF:
Restful here, just 2 Cetti's Warbler and 3 Lesser Whitethroat disturbing the peace (S Hale).

PORTISHEAD:
Battery Pt: 7 Purple Sandpiper on the rocks this evening.

Not much on the seawatch, 2 GBB Gull and c.40 Cormorant spooked off Denny Island by something but no Terns or Skuas seen (S Hale).

GORDANO VALLEY:
Caswell Moor: a singing Lesser Whitethroat and a Yellowhammer off Gypsy lane (S Hale).

CLEVEDON COAST:
Numbers on the low side due to early morning mist, inventory as follows:

6 Mute Swan, 10 Canada Goose, 40 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 10 Mallard, 1 Tufted Duck (male on estuary), single Little Egret, 8 Oystercatcher, 12+ Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 4 Lapwing, 1 Sanderling, 19+ Dunlin, 5 Whimbrel, 13+ Curlew, 4+ Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Turnstone, 38 Herring Gull, 6 LBB Gull, 4 Yellow Wagtail to NE, 20 Blackbirds (high number), 4+ Reed Warbler, 2+ Chiffchaff, 70+ Starling and a Reed Bunting (HE Rose).

SAND PT:


17.4 11 Stonechat © Keith Williams, many thanks



A Stonechat pair, 4 Rock Pipit and plenty of Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Linnet (K Williams).

BARROW TANKS:
35 Sand Martin, 6 Common Sandpiper, a Wheatear, 2 Willow Warbler and 2 Whitethroat (D Nevitt).



BREAN DOWN:

Swallow 17.4.11 © Paul Bowyer, many thanks

5 Swallow, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 12 Whitethroat, 3 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Tree Pipit,  and a Common Redpoll (combined reports, S Matthews, per westonbirds).

SOMERSET LEVELS:
Tealham Moor: the 3 Yellow Wagtail ('channel sp') reported again (S Matthews).

VELVET BOTTOM (Mendips):
1 Tawny Owl, 1 Nuthatch, 5 Redstart, 2 Stonechat (pair), 3 Wheatear and plenty of Ravens (P Baber).

Walton Bay 15/4/11:
A late (and bizarre) report of a Lesser White-fronted Goose in the observers' (coastal) garden (HE Rose).

We're looking forward to seeing the description, it'll have to be a belter...