TBOSG

 

Gary Thoburn

 

2020

APRIL: A male was noted around 11:15 at Lady's Wood, Wickwar (ST: 730 858) on the 8th. OCTOBER: One was seen briefly from a garden in Kingswood, Bristol before heading south-east mid-morning on the 11th; One north-east over Severn Bridge Viewpoint, Aust in the morning on the 14th.

 

2019
OCTOBER: One was noted in flight east over Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station around 09:00 on the 29th.

 

2108
JANUARY: Up to six birds at St Anne's Church, Oldland Common between the 1st - 31st with seven on the 11th and eight on the 26th; One, possibly two, at the east end of Cloud Wood, Marshfield on the 7th, 10th and 22nd; One flew over the reedbed at Lagoon II, Oldbury Power Station alighting in trees briefly on the 11th; One was visiting feeders in the Withymead area, Marshfield from the 18th - 31st; One reported from Siston Common on the 20th. FEBRUARY: Up to five at St Anne's Church, Oldland Common between the 1st - 27th with seven on the 19th; six on the 24th; One in the Withymead area, Marshfield from the 1st - 19th; Six reported from Salthouse Farm Park, Severn Beach on the 26th. MARCH: One in the Withymead area, Marshfield from the 3rd - 10th, 14th and 25th with two present on the 6th; One in the St. Anne's Church/ Willsbridge area on the 4th with three present on the 6th, two on the 11th; One south-west from Aust Cliffs then over Aust Warth on the 10th. APRIL: One in the St. Anne's Church/ Willsbridge area on the 8th; Two reported from Thornbury early in the month.

 

 

2017
OCTOBER: At least one over Northwick Warth on the 15th; One over Aust Cliffs on the 18th; Three birds were both seen and heard in flight over Oldbury Power Station during a migration watch on the 24th; Two were noted in bushes at the south end of Lagoon II, Oldbury Power Station before moving towards The Orchard on the 26th; One from Kingsgate Park, Yate on the 30th. NOVEMBER: Two were seen in flight over Cribbs Causeway at 07:00 on the 2nd; At least four birds were present at Lower Woods, Wickwar on the 5th with an additional bird noted at Oldbury Power Station; A juvenile/ female was seen in trees at at the south-west end of Lagoon III, at Oldbury Power Station on the 16th- 17th; Two birds in trees at the Horton end of Chipping Sodbury Common at 14:30 on the 19th; Two around Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station on the 28th; One, probably this species, heard calling in trees in front of the house, within the one way system at Tortworth Court on the 30th. DECEMBER: One in treetops at the south-west end of Lagoon III on the 5th - 7th and 9th; Two at the east end of Cloud Wood, Marshfield on the 12th with one reported there on the 15th; Three were present and flying around the churchyard at St Anne's Church, Oldland on the 13th - 15th with four on the 16th, one on the 18th, at least three on the 24th, at least two on the 28th; five present on the 30th, at least three birds possibly five on the 31st; One reported from Hanham Court, Hanham on the 16th and 28th.
 

2015
Three birds were flushed from bushes around Orchard Pools, Severn Beach at 09:30 on November 4th before heading south; A wholly unconfirmed report of two in flight over Pilning Wetland on November 9th; One, probably this species, was seen in flight to the south-west of Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station on November 12th and subsequently south-west along the shoreline.
 

2014
One in flight over Quarry Road, Chipping Sodbury at 15:30 on November 17th.
 

2013
One heard well but seen briefly at Monks Pools, Winterbourne (ST: 638 810) on January 1st; One briefly at Pixtons Green south east of Marshfield on January 13th around ST: 794 713; A female at Kingsgate Park, Yate on February 24th - 27th. The same or another at the same site on March 17th; One flew from trees at the entrance to Oldbury Power Station towards the estuary at 13:00 on July 31st; One in flight over the orchard at Oldbury Power Station at 11:45 on December 1st.
 

2012
At least one at 09:00 in a massive visible migration past New Passage and Aust Cliffs on October 25th; One in flight north-east past Oldbury Power Station on October 26th with a second there on October 27th; Two in flight then sat in trees on November 18th near Lyegrove Farm, north of the B4040 between Old Sodbury and Badminton then flew off west.
 

2011
One on March 20th at Kingsgate Park, Yate at 08:30; On November 11th, one flying high to the north-east at Oldbury Power Station; On December 18th at 10:00, a large finch with a white stripe through the wing and probably this species with Chaffinch flock between Latteridge and Earthcott Green.
 

2010
One in flight north-east past New Passage on October 11th with a further individual there on October 12th; One flying high to the north-east at Oldbury Power Station on November 11th.
 

2009
One at 15:20 near Hawkesbury Upton in trees on west side of the Cotswold Way around ST: 773 871 on January 7th; One on Ringswell Common, Doncombe Valley, Marshfield on January 15th; One probably this species flew over Ringswell Common, Doncombe Valley on January 18th; Five at Bodkin Hazel Wood, Petty France on January 25th where they appeared to fly in from the Hawkesbury Upton direction then flew south-east towards Badminton; A male in trees at the bottom corner of Manorbrook School Field and Streamside Walk, Thornbury (ST: 643 910) on February 17th & 19th. St. Anne's Churchyard, California Road, Longwell Green: One was seen on January 28th with three present on January 29th and nine on January 30th - 31st; Five were present on February 1st with one wandering to Willsbridge Mill car park on Longbeach Road; Three present on February 2nd - 3rd & 10th with at least five on February 5th, seven on February 9th, 16th - 17th, six on February 11th & 15th; two on February 14th; At least six were still present on February 23rd & 25th; Four showing on February 27th; Possibly as many as six were heard calling on March 7th with at least three seen on March 13th; Two were present on March 18th, 20th & 25th; At least one was noted late afternoon on April 1st. Kingsgate Park, Yate: Four were seen on February 12th with one still present on February 13th, 18th and 25th, two on February 19th & 20th; up to four were noted on February 14th; Three on February 26th; Two were seen at lunchtime on March 6th with four at the same time on March 11th; Two were present early morning on March 16th.
 

2008
Two, a male and female at Ringswell Common, Marshfield 300 metres east of Marshfield ST Works at 11:15 on November 26th; One at Thornbury in the Streamside Walk/ Hyde Avenue area on November 30th; A male at Marshfield on Ringswell Common on December 1st - 4th; One at ST: 784 713 near Motcombe Farm, Two on Ringswell Common, Marshfield in the Doncombe Valley on December 8th with one still on December 10th; One in Kingsgate Park at Yate in trees behind the lake on December 11th - 13th.
 

2007
One was noted at Hawkesbury Upton on January 9th.
 

2006
On January 31st three from Brimsham Park in Yate at 13:15. (ST: 714 842) Generally there were on average six to nine birds present, but on February 7th there were twelve reported. Present from January 31st until at least March 11th when five were seen at 09:00; An adult male (possibly two) at Willsbridge Mill on at least March 26th. 20th.
 

2005
Two, a pair, on November 12th in a garden at North Common, Warmley; On December 18th one at Brimsham Park in Yate. At approximately 12:15 the bird was near the lake at the edge of the houses associating with Greenfinch and Goldfinch, as well as Blue Tit. After alighting at the top of a medium height tree it stayed for 20 - 25 minutes allowing clear close views it didn't seem to be alarmed by a close approach. Eventually it left to fly past the lake and on towards the east. (ST: 714 839). It was seen again on December.
 

1997
Two on November 1st at Oldbury Power Station.
 

1991
Two flying north-east past New Passage on June 1st.
 

1979
Up to four birds from Inglestone Common sometime between January 6th and July 28th.
 

1978
Reports of up to eight birds at Inglestone Common from January 1st up to April 24th and from July 6th onwards.
 

1975
Reference is made to one or more birds seen at Hallen sometime this year.
 

1972
Reports of up to six birds from Inglestone Common sometime this year.
 

1957
One in flight at Frenchay on April 6th.
 

1954
Two presumed winter adults on November 28th at Tortworth.
 

1952
On June 1st a presumed adult from Dodington Park. 1950 On March 18th a presumed adult at Old Sodbury.
 

1941
On May 18th one was reported in the grounds at Tortworth Court where, with, an abundance of suitable nesting sites the bird is possibly a regular breeder. Recorded historically as common at Tortworth (cf. Witchell and Strugnell, The Fauna and Flora of Gloucestershire, 1892; p. 65).
 

1940 - 1875

No records were found between these years!

 

1874
Bristol Naturalists Society New Series Volume 1: 1874 -75 - 76: Listed as abundant and remaining until late spring. Breeding in the Almondsbury area where nests and eggs were collected.