Sightings 7/2/11

BRISTOL:
Brislington: 2 Raven over the Emery Rd area again (CJ Stone), also seen here on 3rd by same observer.

SEVERNSIDE:
Northwick Warth: 3 Brent Geese, the Merlin and a Peregrine.

Severn Beach: the Black Redstart still hanging on, a Water Rail and a Blackcap also noteworthy (per severnsidebirds)


PORTBURY WHARF:
A Cetti's Warbler calling from the reed-bed and 13 Shoveler and 7 Pochard of note amongst the ducks. The Barn Owl was out hunting 4.45pm

No sign of yesterday's Bittern(S Hale).

NAILSEA:
A Brambling and a Siskin (1st of the winter) in the garden mid-day (T Jeal).

BATH:
A Tawny Owl calling 5am at top of Widcombe Hill (D French).

Sightings 6/2/11

BRISTOL:
Kingswood: 21 Waxwings at the Bellvue Rd locality 12.15pm today (M Hayes).

Henleaze: 11 Waxwing near the Newman Hall car park (C Craig). Yes, where we hold our evening meetings!

SEVERNSIDE:
Much lighter winds today with just 1 Kittiwake being seen. Combined shoreline totals from the main areas as follows:

45 Shelduck, 350 Wigeon, 100 Teal, 40 Oystercatcher, 200 Dunlin, single Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 40 Curlew, 50 Redshank and 2 Turnstone (J Martin, per severnsidebirds).


PORTBURY WHARF:
Bird of the day here was a Bittern flushed from the ditch along Wharf lane at 10am, it flew over and landed in the reeds at the main north pools towards the sewage farm. A new species for the reserve since the pools were created about 6 years ago.

(Tuesday group for 8th Feb: check out the reed-fringed pools from the middle hide, best vantage point).

Other sightings, 17 Canada Goose, 27 Shelduck, 75 Wigeon, 2 Cormorant, 57 Lapwing and 85 Dunlin (on the island) (combined reports, S Hale, R Hawley).

PORTISHEAD:
The male Black Redstart (first reported 2/1/11) is still present in the Sorrel gardens locality. A female type Black Redstart is also still present over at the marina on the rocky beach by the outer lock gates.

ABBOTS LEIGH:

6.2.11 Long-tailed Tit, photo Alex Rhodes, many thanks

garden highlights today, 2 Buzzard, a Goldcrest, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Coal Tit, a Nuthatch and 2 Raven (A Rhodes).

CLEVEDON COAST:
Shoreline count today was: 45 Shelduck, 180 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 18 Shoveler, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 1 female Merlin, 22 Oystercatcher, 4 Ringed Plover, 42 Grey Plover, 50+ Lapwing, 1,250 Dunlin, just 1 Snipe (heard), 60+ Curlew, 280 Redshank (180 at Yeo Bank Farm), 1 Spotted Redshank, 29 Turnstone, 100+ Black-headed Gull, only 4 Herring Gull, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Meadow Pipit and a Chaffinch in song (HE Rose).


BLAGDON LAKE
3 Scaup, single Little Egret and 10 Goosander (S Davies).

SOMERSET LEVELS:
Ham Wall: 2 Bittern, a Great-crested Grebe, 40 Lapwing, singles of Redwing and Treecreeper and a party of 15 Siskin (C Porter).

Sightings 5/2/11

Another windy day with the only sea-bird records being Kittwakes off Severnside.


BRISTOL:
Henleaze: Still 11 Waxwing at Waitrose 11am this morning (R Mackay).


OLDBURY POWER STATION:
3 Pintail downriver (per opsbirding).

WICK:
Noted in Golden Valley today, Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Nuthatch (S Loaring).

SEVERNSIDE:
New Passage:

5.2.11 photo: Sarah Loaring, many thanks

Garden raider today

Severn Beach: a flock of 200 Kittiwake off the bridge area (per severnsidebirds)

PORTBURY WHARF:
Plenty of Black-headed Gulls on the pools but Phalarope free.

KARNATAKA (India):

5.2.11 photos: Stephen Judd, many thanks

We know what you're thinking......a couple of Heron-like birds.....it must be the Somerset levels going through another very purple patch.

Actually, they are Painted Stork and Spoonbill photographed at the Ragantitthu bird reserve today, thanks to the wonders of modern technology!

We're hoping Steve can send us a meercat photo too.......

Sightings 4/2/11

A very windy day, 1  flock of Kittiwakes reported off Severnside.

YATE COMMON:
7 Canada Goose (Cooper's lake), 1 Snipe, a Jay, single Lesser Redpoll, 3 Bullfinch and 3 Reed Bunting (D Pearce).

SEVERN BEACH:
A flock of 200 Kittiwake reported below the bridge 11.30am (per severnsidebirds).


AVONMOUTH:

4.2.11

A Peregrine on its usual perch inside the docks.

PORTISHEAD:

4.2.11, birds best seen at high tide

5 Purple Sandpipers at Battery Pt rocks this morning.

PORTBURY WHARF:

4.2.11 Mediterranean Gull on the main pool am

At the pools, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Snipe, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 11 Common Gull plus the the usual duck suspects.

Sightings 3/2/11

BRISTOL:
Clifton: 4 Sparrowhawk at the Downs today, 1 bird tried to take one of the Mistle Thrushes present (C Jones).


Fishponds: A flyover Raven at Eastville Park this morning (L Wheatland).

Brislington: A flyover Raven noted (CJ Stone). City sightings of this species seem to be becoming more common recently, or may be it's just the time of the year.....

YATE:
At Kingsgate Park this morning: 2 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, a male Shoveler, singles of Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker, a male Blackcap, 2 Coal Tit and 2 Siskin (D Pearce).

SEVERNSIDE:
New Passage: 18 Shelduck, c.300 Wigeon, 6 Gadwall, 40 Oystercatcher, 17 Lapwing, single Knot, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 44 Curlew and 15 Redshank.

Orchard Pools: just 10 Gadwall reported (per severnsidebirds).

PORTBURY WHARF POOLS:
12 Canada Goose, 7 Pochard, 5 Shoveler and 2 Dunlin (new in on the island) of note this morning (S Hale).

The Stonechat was seen again this afternoon near the Ashlands housing estate (A Gibb), it appears to be the only Stonechat in the Universe.

CLEVEDON COAST:
A familiar canvas: 6 Mute Swan, 39 Canada Goose, 40+ Shelduck, 90 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 10 Mallard, single Little Egret, 14 Oystercatcher, 46 Grey Plover, 60 Lapwing, single Knot, 1,050 Dunlin, 210 Curlew, 100+ Redshank, 26 Turnstone, 200 Black-headed Gull and a Raven (HE Rose).


BACKWELL LAKE:

3.2.11 male Goosander this morning

It has been a good winter for Goosander at the lake with up to 6 birds present during December/January. 

There were 6 Common Gulls in with the Black-headed Gulls plus the usual cast of Pochard, Tufted Duck and other species (S Hale).

Sightings 2/2/11

Weather outlook:
Becoming windy! Those in the know will be heading for Severn Beach seawall for the morning tide. Saturday looks the worst and best day.




BRISTOL:
Horfield: A flyover Peregrine seen mid-morning (CJ Stone).

OLDBURY POWER STATION:
A Water Rail at No.2 lagoon (per opsbirding)

SEVERNSIDE:
New Passage: Shoreline count this morning: 300 Wigeon, 40 Oystercatcher, 1 Knot, 500 Dunlin, single Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Redshank and 2 Turnstone (per severnsidebirds).

PORTBURY WHARF:
9 Mute Swans, 36 Wigeon, 26 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 15 Tufted Duck and 30 Lapwing of note (S Hale).

PORTISHEAD MARINA:

The Black Redstart was still present near the outer lock gates area. It hangs out on the rocky beach next to the fishermans pier. Easiest access is down the steps from the Royal Hotel or park anywhere at the marina and walk to the outer lock gates.

The bird first turned up here in early January.

2.2.11 all stunning photos: the Sightings Page team

No sign of the Goosander today but there are plenty of fish in the marina to attract the birds.

BATH:
5 Redpoll in a Shaston garden today (M Scott).


Bird Records 2010:
A last call to ask you to send in any outstanding records. Work has already started on the county Report but we can still fit in some late arrivals if you are quick.


Our Club News page contains a list of (locally rare) sightings submitted last year and which require some supporting description for them to be accepted. Please check it out and send something in, it would be a crime if some excellent records fell by the wayside for want of a few words. 


Reminder that if you have already sent in reports to our sightings page in 2010, we will have logged it on Wendy, so there is no need to send them in again. We have sent Wendy to the Avon Recorder.


Many thanks everyone.


Gambia January 2011:
Club member John Thorogood's account of his recent trip to Gambia posted to the Club News page. Many of the sites and bird photos will be very familiar to members. Many thanks John.


Saltford Sewage Works 11/1/11:
Late record just received of a putative 'Siberian' Chiffchaff here ....in woodland near the north gate entrance (W Duckworth). The bird looked different to other Chiffchaffs at the site around this time and, crucially, it had a different call. Worth checking out if you live out that way.

Sightings 1/2/11

BRISTOL
11 Waxwing still present at Henleaze (Waitrose) this morning (K Bainbridge). The birds were first reported here on 22 Jan.

previously unpublished photo (28.1.11): John Sparks

Late record: 31/1/11: 20 Waxwing at Morley Rd, Staple Hill 1.40pm, then flew off east (M Hayes).

WARMLEY:

1.2.11 Waxwing this morning: Pete Coslett

19 Waxwing in trees in Bickford Close 9.40am this morning (per TBOSG)

PUCKLECHURCH:

Tawny Owl: photo Gordon Youdale, many thanks

Regular in its tree-hole here.

SEVERNSIDE:
New Passage-Northwick: Not much change, highlights were: 200 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 27 Oystercatcher, single Knot, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit still, 31 Curlew, a Green Woodpecker, 18 Fieldfare, 22 Redwing and a Raven (per severnsidebirds).

PORTISHEAD:

the view from Botellino's & where the Goosander was

1.2.11 photos: Brian Atkinson, many thanks

The female Goosander was back in the marina at lunch-time, it first turned up here back in December 2010 during the very cold spell (B Nuttall). Main water opposite Botellino's. 

NAILSEA:

1.2.11 garden Yellowhammer: photo Tim Jeal, many thanks

5 Yellowhammer in the garden today (T Jeal). Tim has a rural garden backing on to agricultural fields and the birds come in from there.

BACKWELL LAKE:

The male Goosander and the Bittern showing well in the afternoon sunshine today (T Worsfold).

CHEW VALLEY RINGING STATION:

photos: Alex Rhodes, many thanks

Club member Alex Rhodes had a rewarding and instructive visit to the ringing station recently and sent us these pics of birds in the hand. If you've not been before, it's worth a visit and the ringers don't bite. 

Check out the CVRS website at http://www.chewvalleyringingstation.co.uk/

STEART:

The 14 Pink-footed Goose still present in fields at Wall Common to 10.45am this morning and looking settled (per SOS).