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.