Sightings 1/5/11

Swallows:
Reports indicate a significant and sustained migration of Swallows up the estuary for the past week or so.

We've received reports of 'plenty', 'lots of' and 'shedloads' which are very descriptive but don't help us to quantify the true numbers and record them for the county report.

So, if members are out and about on the coast this week, please could you try and feed Wendy some numbers to chew on. Thanks.


BRISTOL:
St Andrews:  2 Hobby over early evening, 6pm and 6.20pm (J Rossetti).

Henbury: from the garden today: 2 Buzzard and single Kestrel and Hobby to north-east (B Lancastle).

Avonmouth: at the Holesmouth shoreline: 1 Peregrine, 305 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel, 20 Swift, 12 Wheatear, a Tree Pipit and lots of Swallow but uncounted (S Davies).

The Bar-tailed flock has been present here for 3 days now.

ALMONDSBURY:
Lower Knole farm: 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 16 Sedge Warbler, a Whinchat and a Tree Pipit (M Dadds).

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds, J Martin:

Todays Bar-tailed Godwit count was estimated to be at least 865 birds (400 SB, 160 NP-NW and 305 CW). Clevedon and Bridgwater bay also recorded large numbers, so clearly the passage is still ongoing.

The final patch tally and highlights as follows:

80 Shelduck, an Osprey 6.50am, a Peregrine upriver, 24 Ringed Plover, 4 Grey Plover, 8 Knot, 2 Sanderling, 102 Dunlin, a female Ruff, 48 Whimbrel, 14 Common Sandpiper, 14 Turnstone, 2 Arctic Skuas, a 2nd summer Little Gull (3cy), 30 BH Gull, 2 Arctic Tern, 100+ Commic Tern, a Short-eared Owl, 15 Swift, a Raven, single Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Whinchat, 27 Wheatear, 11 Yellow Wagtail, single White Wagtail, 4 Tree Pipit and another day of many passing Swallows.

These are combined totals from the various sites on the patch during the day (but most at Severn Beach), peak times obviously the morning and evening tides. Wendy details individual counts at the separate sites.

(Andy Jordan)
Barwits - 80 flew over in three small groups heading inland (there may have been more but this is all I saw)
Whimbrel - 4-5 on rocks at high tide

Also had:
Common Sand - 1
White Wagtail
Wheatear - 4

1.5.11 Sanderling with Dunlin on the beach

© Allan Chard, many thanks

 

CLEVEDON COAST:

Highlights to Yeo Est this morning: 2 Peregrine (Blackstone), 10 Oystercatcher, 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Lapwing+ 2 juvs (Dowlais), 35 Dunlin, at least 200 Bar-tailed Godwit*, 6 Curlew, 68 Whimbrel, 2 Redshank, 5 Common Sandpiper, 2 Swift, 20 Swallow, 10 Reed Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, a Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 12 Wheatear, 3 Whinchat and 1 Yellow Wagtail (combined reports, HE Rose, H Taffs).

* 200 Barwits in Channel View bay and another or part of same 160 Barwits at Yeo Est.

Ladye bay: 60+ Bar-tailed Godwit upchannel this evening (H Taffs).

CLAPTON MOOR:
1 Whinchat (H Taffs).

KENN MOOR:
1 Little Egret, a Buzzard, 1 Hobby, 2 Swift, 6 Skylark, 1 Whitethroat and a Sedge Warbler at the Claverham Drove section (M Saffery).

BURNHAM-on-SEA:
13 Pomarine Skua upchannel to north 8pm (per P Bowyer).



Just out of area, reported today:
Chepstow: a White Stork

Cotswold Water Park: a Black Kite