Sightings 16/4/11

Grasshopper Warblers coming through in some numbers so far this month. Whimbrel numbers also on the increase, hopefully the other passage waders soon to follow.

BRISTOL:

16.4.11 Dipper, Eastville Park

16.4.11 Whitethroat, Duchess Pool

16.4.11 Mistle Thrush, Fishponds

all photos © Allan Chard, many thanks

City centre: a Common Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail pair seen at the Bristol bridge area 1pm (M Jackson).

Frenchay:

16.4.11 1 of 4 Tawny Owlet in the Frome valley area

© Andy Jordan, many thanks



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

CHIPPING SODBURY :

16.4.11 © Darren Pearce

an inconclusive photo of one of the Ring Ouzels. DNA sample awaited.

On the common this morning: 8 flyover Mute Swan, 6 Skylark, 3 Chiffchaff, single Willow Warbler, 2 Ring Ouzel, 10 Wheatear, 8 Meadow Pipit, a Mistle Thrush, 1 Linnet and numerous Blackcap (D Pearce).

OLDBURY POWER STATION:
Single Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 13 Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler and a Wheatear (combined reports, W King, M Plenty).

LITTLETON WARTH:
WeBS count: 4 Canada Goose, 14 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 5 Mallard, single Cormorant, 53 Curlew, 17 Redshank, 15 LBB Gull, 24 Herring Gull, a Little Owl, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 7 Wheatear (J Martin).

SEVERNSIDE:
Best bird of the day was a female Eider seen off Severn Beach, a bit of a rarity for both the patch and the county.

Wader highlights were 20 Whimbrel and 2 Common Sandpiper. Best of the migrants were 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroat, single Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail and 6 Wheatear (per severnsidebirds).

PORTBURY DOCK:
15 Ringed Plover, 38 Dunlin, 11 Redshank (river Avon) and 10 Wheatear (CJ Stone).

PORTBURY WHARF:
2 Black-tailed Godwit in summer dress and a Whimbrel of note (CJ Stone).

BARROW TANKS:
A Barnacle Goose, just 4 Common Sandpiper (9 yesterday), 2 Grasshopper Warbler and 3 Wheatear (S Davies).

CLEVEDON:
Blind Yeo: a Buzzard and a Kingfisher at the Manmoor Lane area 8am (M Saffery).

Coast: a Sanderling, 5 Whimbrel and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit (H Taffs).

SAND POINT:
2 Swallow, 5 Grasshopper Warbler, 15 Whitethroat, and a Siskin (per westonbirds).

BREAN DOWN:
7 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Wheatear, 1 Siskin and a Redpoll (per westonbirds).

GWENT:
Newport Wetlands: an Iberian Chiffchaff heard singing (E Drewitt).

WEYMOUTH:
Bill seawatch: 6 Fulmar,14 Gannet, 192 Guillemot, 43 Razorbill, 4 Puffin and 2 Manx Shearwater.

Obs garden: a Grasshopper Warbler and a Firecrest of note.

Lodmoor: the Long-billed Dowitcher still present (all A Rhodes).