TBOSG     S. Glos News 2009

The S. Glos year list for 2009 was 212! - A New S. Glos Record

The S. Glos year list was broken today with the addition of Willow Tit reported from Wetmoor at Lower Woods Nature Reserve near Wickwar at 15:30 around ST: 745 875. This is a significant area for Willow Tit in S. Glos in that most of the thirty-five records so far have originated around here. The new record is 212 so if you were responsible for this find please get in touch!

The Little Egret was still present at New Passage, a female Goosander flew high to the west over Kingswood in Bristol at mid day and a female/ 1st winter Black Redstart was noted on the perimeter fence at Oldbury Power Station.

Two Bewick's Swan were seen in flight heading north over Aust Warth this afternoon. More regular than Whooper's with just fourteen records thus far Bewick's are still a scarcity in the region with the count this year soaring to a heady five individuals.

At Oldbury Power Station an adult Mediterranean Gull was noted on Lagoon III and nearby there were four Little Egret in a flooded field at Park Farm just outside Thornbury. At Severn Beach a Grey Phalarope was found swimming off Shaft Beach before flying south at 10:40. Three Grey Phalaropes have been seen so far this year (bringing the total to twenty-one for S. Glos) equalling 1983 when the recording areas highest count of three together were noted at New Passage.

A Black Redstart has been seen recently on a manure heap to the north-east of Sheppardine

A Short-eared Owl was noted along the shore near Lagoon III at around 08:45. It was seen to fly low over the estuary when it was mobbed by gulls and returned flying over the hedge into Lagoon III where it probably went to roost. Security officials reported a Barn Owl early this morning in flight across the road near Oldbury Lane. A female Merlin was present on Northwick Warth.

A male Cetti's Warbler was heard calling from Northwick Warth. The first Cetti's Warbler reported from S. Glos was as recently as 1994 and with just eighteen records since it emphasises the rarity status of this illusive skulker.

In recent days Severnside has achieved world wide status with the appearance of Black-bellied Storm Petrel off Severn Beach. An accounting of the fantastic sea watching spell can be seen here. http://www.severnsidebirds.co.uk/page4.html

The run of remarkable birds on Severnside continued today when the 'Gloucestershire' adult Pacific Diver dropped in at Severn Beach. This first for S. Glos was noted by yours truly as it flew under the Second Severn Crossing at about 400 yards range to land on the water off 'Burger Bar Bay' at 10:45. Several other birders were quickly put on to the bird as it came to rest where it showed well for around fifteen minutes in the winter sunshine. Taking several dives with no success it preened briefly before flying strongly south-west towards Denny Island and Portishead at 11:00. The salient features were noted including the 'throat strap', lack of rear flank patches and in flight the ventral strap. Also noted was the 'sleekness' of the head lacking the angularity found in Black-throated Diver and several white scapular feathers.

Also today from Severn Beach the sub adult Pomarine Skua was present at 09:00.

Have you caught your breath yet...! Severn Beach sea watching dominates the birding scene in S. Glos again today; On a less windy morning two Little Auk were present as was a pale morph sub adult Pomarine Skua, four Leach’s Petrel and two late Swallows.

News from S. Glos today is dominated by the occurrence of a Fregetta Storm Petrel off Severn Beach this morning. This finding is significant not only in the fact that it is clearly a first for S. Glos it also a first for Britain and Europe! Although recorded in N. America there are very few northern hemisphere records. Though subject to ratification by the BBRC there is an element of confidence here that the record will be added to the British List in due course.

It was first seen off Severn Beach at 08:20 this morning and was lingering off the sea wall until 08:35. It was seen several more times distantly until 09:40 when it was lost to view in mid channel. Despite a desperate and length search by the assembled crowd the bird was not seen again by dusk.

In the midst of this incredible find lets no lose sight of the other excellent birding had on the Severnside patch throughout a remarkable day, one that will go down in ornithological history...so... also today from Severn Beach there were at least four Leach’s Petrel and quite possibly up to fourteen, Little Auk was noted at around 12:00, Grey Phalarope (the twentieth S. Glos record) flew west at 12:45, a pale morph Pomarine Skua was seen at around 13:30 plus Great Skua.

Reported from Severn Beach today were at least six Leach’s Petrel, three Great Skua, a juvenile Shag, two Gannets, c.200 Kittiwakes and Fulmar. A Little Auk was also seen from Severn Beach at around 13:35 and again at 14:20 and 14:35. This bird makes a total of four this year so far and the best ever year for this species in S. Glos! A Pomarine Skua was noted in the OPS area unfortunately not specific date or location is available at the moment!

Seabird totals from Severn Beach included a minimum of four Leach’s Petrels (this was the most on view in a single scan but there were probably many more. At least two were still showing four hours after high tide at 14.20), at least four Great Skua's (a marauding gang of four attacked a flock of Kittiwakes but other groups of three and two were seen), two adult Gannets, Fulmar, Shag (much rarer than Petrels here), at least 80 Kittiwakes and a 1st winter Little Gull.

That Shag is very scarce in S. Glos is emphasised by the fact that the one noted above is no only the first this year but is also likely to be just the thirtieth S. Glos record. The highest count of Leach's Petrel is c.250 on October 26th 1952 off Aust Warth.

Also today brilliant news from Lower Woods on Inglestone Common near Wickwar; The first Great Grey Shrike for S. Glos since 1983 an absence of 26 years and significantly the earliest reported too!

On a very unsettled day and south-westerly winds Northwick Warth produced a pale morph Pomarine Skua seen heading north at 13:10 a Great Skua at 13:50 and at least 35 Kittiwakes. Fifteen Pomarine Skua's have been seen in S. Glos this year so far eleven of which occurred in May. At Oldbury Power Station a Jack Snipe was flushed from the salt marsh.

An afternoon showing on the coast produced a Marsh Harrier between New Passage and Severn Beach at 15:30. That's the third this year and just the twenty-second ever for S. Glos. At around the same time, 15:30 a Black Redstart was seen in a garden on Riverside Park, Severn Beach and a female Merlin was noted at New Passage at 16:00.

Severnside was the place to be today offering three additions to the S. Glos year list with at Severn Beach; A Leach's Petrel was seen at around 09:00 flying out onto the estuary (the first for two years) and Storm Petrel was logged at 10:00 of the sea wall. Later in the day two Shorelark were reported in flight over Aust Warth saltings at 13:30. This occurrence of Shorelark is significant on several levels. It represents the first sighting for over five years, the first multiple sighting for S. Glos and just the fifth and sixth records!

A female/ 1st winter Black Redstart was noted in a Mangotsfield garden and an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen in fields with Black-headed Gulls near Cowhill, Oldbury on Severn. A Cetti's Warbler was heard at Northwick Warth bringing the S. Glos total to just eighteen (18) with four counted this year. The ringtail Hen Harrier was seen again at Rushmead Lane near Marshfield.

Bewick's Swan however is a little more regular and three (the first this year) south past Severn Beach this morning brought the total birds seen in S. Glos this year to 200! Additionally this morning a Richard’s Pipit was seen and heard as it flew south-west over New Passage at around 11:00. There have been five records of 'Dick's Pip' in S. Glos with three occurring in November and one in December. The exception was a spring bird in March 2007 heading north over Northwick and Aust Warth's

Today's stormy weather brought with it a smattering of sea birds; At Severn Beach this afternoon there were three Little Auks, one of which flew south-east over Beach Avenue at 13:55 closely followed by two more flying north-east at 14:40 towards and possibly beyond the Second Severn Crossing, around 200 Kittiwakes, an adult Little Gull and a drake Common Scoter.

Around twenty-five Little Auk have been logged in S. Glos all of which have occurred between October and February and usually the victims of storms emanating from the south-west.

Two Whooper Swans were reported flying over Aust Warth this afternoon. There are no documented references to Whooper Swan prior to 1983 though they no doubt have occurred. The count to date has reached fourteen confirming the scarcity of the majestic creatures in the recording area.

An adult winter Mediterranean Gull was seen on Withymead Playing Fields at Marshfield with around fifty Common Gull this lunchtime. Over twenty Mediterranean Gulls have been logged this year in S. Glos with seventy plus birds days amassed so far! The best months this year so far are July and August with 34 and 16 bird days respectively.

A female/ juvenile Hen Harrier was seen over Harcombe Wood from the long track near Ebbdown Farm at Marshfield this morning. It's the fourth this year in the recording area and just the twenty-fourth ever for S. Glos! Also today a single Little Egret was present at New Passage.

One Little Egret was noted at New Passage, and around a mile inland of Oldbury Power Station two were present on a rhine near the Severn Drainage Board Offices. Also at OPS the male Black Redstart was again showing on and off in the same area as on the 26th.

Little Egrets were reported from Northwick Warth and the main rhine at Oldbury Power Station on the 24th (taking the total bird days for this species in S. Glos in 2009 to over 200) and an adult Kittiwake was noted off Severn Beach on the 25th.

A further reduction to the Little Egret count on Severnside left a single bird in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area on the 18th, increasing to three on the 19th and levelling out at two on the 21st. On the 20th a Black Redstart visited a garden at Alveston.

A Little Egret was seen along the shore at Oldbury Power Station and the male Mandarin was on show at Shepperdine. Star bird at Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth was a Cetti's Warbler which was trapped and ringed. Also present were a further two Little Egret.

The recently somnolent days birding in S. Glos were rudely interrupted today by the appearance of the regions first ever Glossy Ibis. Tracked up the coast it was first noted at Severn Beach, then New Passage and Northwick Warth to be lost to view over Aust Warth. Incidentally the Little Egret was still on show in the area.

A Red Kite was seen drifting north-west over Middledown Road at Marshfield. The adult Mediterranean Gull and one Little Egret were seen at New Passage, the Short-eared Owl was seen over Northwick Warth at 17:45.

The Barnacle Goose reported on the 3rd was still present with Canada Geese between Keynsham and Swineford opposite Avon Valley CP today. The regular limping adult Mediterranean Gull and three Little Egret were seen at New Passage.

At Oldbury Power Station today the now transformed Mandarin was showing well in it's finery along the shore. Also two Little Egret roosted on Lagoon III. Two more Little Egret were noted in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area. Also today several Clouded Yellows were noted on Severnside and OPS.

In a lean spell for both scarcities and rarities in S. Glos the momentum was maintained with the presence of several Little Egret at coastal sites with individuals on the 6th & 7th and two on the 8th in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area. The Short-eared Owl was noted on both the 5th & 6th from around 17:00 at Aust and an adult Mediterranean Gull was present on 5th at Severn Beach.

A Great Skua was seen off Severn Beach on the 3rd. On the 4th Short-eared Owl was noted around 18:10 hunting over Aust Warth and Little Egret was seen at New Passage. Another Little Egret was noted at OPS. A Barnacle Goose was noted with c.70 Canada Geese between Keynsham and Swineford opposite Avon Valley CP. This occurrence represents the earliest record of this species for S. Glos by at least sixteen days!

A Little Egret was still present at OPS today but normal service resumed on the coast at Severnside where still available were an adult Mediterranean Gull at New Passage and Short-eared Owl on Aust Warth.

The first Ruff of the year was found this morning at the mouth of Cake Pill on Aust Warth and was accompanied by a Curlew Sandpiper, however, amazingly S. Glos's second and Severnsides first Semipalmated Sandpiper was ID'd on the foreshore at New Passage by sadly lingered for just a few hours. Fortunately it was present long enough to not only positively 'call it' as a juvenile/ 1st winter but also to capture some record shots. This occurrence also represents the latest record for this species in S. Glos.

Almost anticlimactically S. Glos's first ever Grey-headed Wagtail went almost unnoticed amongst the frenzy of activity surrounding the SemiP. Noted as Motacilla flava thunbergi the presumed adult was present with Meadow Pipit feeding among cattle for a short while on the salt marsh at Northwick Warth this morning.

Other sightings today included Mediterranean Gull at New Passage, Common Scoter on the estuary there and Short-eared Owl at 18:35 on Northwick Warth. At Oldbury Power Station the male Mandarin plumped for Lagoon III where it was noted as beginning to moult.

In the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area there was a ringtail Hen Harrier noted flying east. This individual represents just the twenty-third record for S. Glos and the third this year. Also here two Little Egrets were lingering and an adult Mediterranean Gull put in an appearance. At OPS two more little Egret were on show. A Short-eared Owl was seen quartering over the model airfield on Rushmead Lane at Marshfield at dusk.

Northwick Warth area included the first Short-eared Owl of the autumn and Little Egret. A Curlew Sandpiper was noted at Severn Beach and Lagoon I at Oldbury Power Station furnished another. Also there were Spotted Redshank and Little Ringed Plover.

The second Osprey of the autumn (and twenty-first ever for S. Glos) was seen flying south from New Passage at 07:30 with other visible migrants reported heading north-east (between 06.30-08.30) were five Tree Sparrows. The Northwick Warth/ New Passage area held two Little Egret.

After a 74 year absence Marsh Warbler has again occurred in S. Glos! One was trapped, ringed and released at Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on August 22nd. Once processed the biometric details were shared with several more experienced 'acro' ringers for corroboration who subsequently confirmed the identity. Just four Marsh Warbler have been recorded in S. Glos with the first, a pair photographed at the nest with three eggs, at Patchway exactly 100 years ago in 1909! This occurrence also represents the latest date for this species in S. Glos. Our thanks to the efforts of the 'Severnside Birders' without which this elusive and enigmatic warbler would have gone unrecorded.

A Little Egret was on show at Oldbury Power Station today. Three juvenile Curlew Sandpipers the first this year were logged at Severn Beach this evening and nearby two Little Egret were seen in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area and a further individual was noted at Aust Warth.

A S. Glos record three Ring Ouzel were seen briefly on Northwick Warth this morning and another record eighteen (18) Pale-bellied Brent Geese were logged on the shore at Severn Beach this afternoon. Not only does this occurrence far exceed any previous records it also represent the earliest date for this 'brent goose' form by some three months...! Also at Severn Beach today was a Little Egret.

A Little Egret was reported at Shepperdine and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was present on Northwick Warth. Star bird today though was a Grey Phalarope (S. Glos' nineteenth record) which was found off New Passage on the mornings low tide. It lingered throughout the day and was still present this evening.

A Grasshopper Warbler was trapped, ringed and released on Northwick Warth early morning and an Osprey (S. Glos' twentieth record) drifted over there heading south late morning before being seen over Piling shortly after.

Still present at Oldbury Power Station for it's sixth day the juvenile Wood Sandpiper was showing on and off and the Mandarin reappeared nearby at Shepperdine. At New Passage a juvenile/ 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull was noted and at least one 'limping' adult Mediterranean Gull. Two Avocet were on Northwick Warth and nearby a Little Egret was seen on Aust Warth.

Six Grasshopper Warblers including at least four juveniles were reported from Lower Knole Farm, Almondsbury, the juvenile Wood Sandpiper was still present on Lagoon I at OPS, and on Northwick Warth Mediterranean Gull and Little Egret were both present.

From the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area this morning there were three Arctic Skua's. One all dark individual probably an adult, two brownish birds with paler brown heads, probably juveniles. One was noted terrorising the Black-headed Gull flock on Northwick Warth before landing on the water where it was joined by two others !! They then flew down and landed at the mouth of the pill, eventually drifting down towards the Second Severn Crossing on the falling tide at 11:00. (Dick Reader) There have been around thirty (30) Arctic Skua in S. Glos waters so far this year!

At Oldbury Power Station the 18th S. Glos and 4th site record of Wood Sandpiper (a juvenile) was present on Lagoon I mid-morning. With three birds occurring between mid May and the end of July, S. Glos has produced more Wood Sandpipers in 2009 than in any previous years.

A winter adult Mediterranean Gull and two Little Egret were both noted on Northwick Warth, and only the second Pied Flycatcher of the year was seen at The Glen, New Passage. A ringtail Hen Harrier was reported from Oldbury Power Station around Lagoon II at about 15:45. It represents the 22nd S. Glos record and just the second this year with both birds coming from OPS.

The Mandarin was again on the 'Lake' at OPS this morning and again relocated to the shore, where it stayed until 09:00 at least. An adult winter plumaged Mediterranean Gull was reported from the Northwick Warth area an Little Egret was seen at New Passage. An unidentified large dark raptor was reported in the Middledown Farm area near Marshfield; Quail was also still present in the same area. Two more Quail this afternoon at Marshfield - one near the clover field along Down Road, the other along Shirehill Lane between Down Road and Shire Hill.

Reports from Northwick Warth included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull and at Oldbury Power Station a juvenile, or eclipse, male Mandarin Duck was on the lake before it flew to the shore where it was in the company of Mallard until 11:00 when it flew upriver. This is the 8th record of Mandarin at the site. (pers. com. Pete Hazelwood)

A moulting adult Mediterranean Gull was reported from the New Passage area.

A Quail was heard in a clover field on Down Road at Marshfield. At Oldbury Power Station and adult Mediterranean Gull was seen on Lagoon III in the evening roost and a Little Egret flew over Lagoon II. In the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area another adult Mediterranean gull was on show.

An exceptional day for records in S. Glos today; Equalling the latest S. Glos date - a Wood Warbler was noted along Marshwall Lane at Almondsbury in a mixed flock of small passerines and on Severnside an Avocet was seen in flight up river past New Passage at 10:15 representing the earliest S. Glos record and beating the previous record from Oldbury Power Station on August 7th 1999 by five days!! Also today at Marshfield a Quail was heard calling from clover along Shirehill Lane and at New Passage an 'unringed' juvenile Mediterranean Gull was present.

A new juvenile Mediterranean Gull was noted at New Passage today. It sported a green plastic leg ring with white lettering and is apparently of French origin. A Little Egret was on Lagoon I at Oldbury Power Station.

30th:

The first Gannet of the year, an adult floated up river off New Passage at 10:05 and the juvenile Mediterranean Gull was still lingering.

Two Wood Sandpipers (the 16th & 17th S. Glos records & equalling the highest count in August 1979) were seen this morning on Northwick Warth before flying south over New Passage. Also on Northwick Warth were two adult Mediterranean Gulls.

Firsts for the year in S. Glos today was a fly-over Crossbill heard early this morning at Lower Knole Farm, Almondsbury and Turtle Dove flying towards Harcombe Wood near Ebbdown Farm at Marshfield. At Littleton-on-Severn high tide today there were two Mediterranean Gulls, an adult and juvenile together and on Severnside in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area there were three Mediterranean Gulls, 2 adults & a juvenile. Up to five Quail heard calling at Marshfield with one from Middledown Lane, two in an area with no access and two north of Down Track from Down Road.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull and two adult Mediterranean Gulls were present at New Passage. A juvenile Little Ringed Plover was noted at Severn Beach this evening. An adult Mediterranean Gull was noted this evening in the roost at Oldbury Power Station.

The Mediterranean Gulls were on show on Severnside today with four birds present, an adult and a juvenile in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth areas, another adult at Aust Warth and an additional adult at Severn Beach. The adult Yellow-legged Gull was again seen at Oldbury Power Station on Lagoon III.

Mediterranean Gulls continue to be seen in S. Glos with another record equalling haul at Oldbury Power Station this time; four birds were noted, three adults and a 1st summer in the evening roost on Lagoon III.

A veritable flock of Mediterranean Gulls were seen at New Passage on Severnside this evening with two adults, a juvenile and a 2nd summer. This count equals the previous highest when four were noted on April 13th 2002 also at New Passage! Whilst at Marshfield single Quails was heard just east of Rushmead Farm and Down Road. At Oldbury Power Station in a bit of a gull fest both Yellow-legged Gull, a juvenile, and two more adult Mediterranean Gulls were noted in a large mixed roost on Lagoon III. Also today a Red Kite was seen over Church Road at Hanham.

Hot on the heel's of the first Eider for three years in S. Glos were another two; a female accompanied by an immature male off Severn Beach this morning. Nearby at Aust Warth a juvenile Little Ringed Plover suggests an early returning migrant?

At least twelve adult Mandarin with eight ducklings in three broods were noted at Dodington Lakes today. This occurrence represents the highest count for S. Glos eclipsing the previous record by one when twenty-three were seen on September 30th 1990 at Tortworth.

At Severn Beach this evening a dark morph Arctic Skua was seen pursuing gulls and the first Little Tern for S. Glos this year was also present. Three Quail were still present in fields east of Rushmead Lane between Culverslade and Rushmead Farm near Marshfield.

Two Quail were still present on Middledown Lane, south of the lane in the barley field about 400 metres east of the A46. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were a present this evening at Severn Beach at 18:40 and were last seen to fly off to the south-east.

A Cetti's Warbler was heard in scrub near the R. Boyd at Wick Quarry from Raven's Rock raptor watch point this evening. It represents the sixteenth S. Glos record, the first this year and the first record of this species at this site. A Nightingale was present at Horwood Farm in Lower Woods at Inglestone Common.

A Channel Wagtail was present on Northwick Warth with two Yellow Wagtails.

Two Sandwich Terns were seen heading south-west at Oldbury Power Station at 07:25. At Severn Beach there were six Arctic Skua, one upriver at 09:30 with five lingering over high tide plus a Sandwich Tern.

At Severn Beach there were two Arctic Skua's seen before flying inland and a flock of 90 Kittiwake, this evening at 19:40 a flock of eleven Pomarine Skua's (ten pale morph, one dark morph), a dark morph Arctic Skua and a mobile flock of 40 Kittiwake were present.

Two unidentified Skua's (one light and one dark morph) were noted at long range off Severn Beach this morning. And the first Spotted Flycatcher of the year for S. Glos was noted along Broadmead Brook at Shire Hill also this morning.

A Wryneck (S. Glos's seventeenth record) was seen and photographed around 17:00 in a garden at Thornbury, also at Thornbury an unconfirmed report of a Hoopoe at Lower Morton seen on a fence post,  and at least 100 'Comic Terns' were seen from the shore at Severn Beach this evening.

Unfortunately there was no sign of the reported Hoopoe at Doynton in a brief search this morning however, a Grasshopper Warbler was heard at Severn Beach and the first Whinchat for 2009, a male was logged from Northwick Warth.

A Hoopoe (S. Glos's sixteenth record) was seen on a telegraph pole at Woodmead Lane, Doynton at 18:30 around ST: 725 744 and was last seen in flight heading north-east towards Dyrham. This area is rapidly becoming the 'Hoopoe Triangle' of S. Glos with three separate occurrences within a mile of one another! One in 1950 at Woodlands Farm, Doynton, one at Sands Farm, Dyrham in 2008 and now this latest sighting at Doynton.

A male Goshawk seen well in trees and then in flight for five minutes at Shire Hill, Marshfield. Three dark morph Arctic Skua's were seen together off Severn Beach, an adult Little Gull flew high inland and a female Merlin was also present.

A second female Marsh Harrier was seen today at Severn Beach around 10:00, it then flew north-east towards New Passage. The first Pied Flycatcher (male) of 2009 was logged on Siston Common near the dog kennels at 13:30. Two Short-eared Owls were still present at Aust Warth this evening.

A Short-eared Owl was present and on show for around ten minutes this morning at the Yacht Club near Oldbury Power Station. On Severnside a female Marsh Harrier, the first for S. Glos this year and just the twentieth ever record, flew low south over Northwick Warth, and a Grasshopper Warbler was also present there just two days later than the earliest record. Migrants at Severn Beach included 11 Redpolls several of which were probable Mealy Redpolls.

Coastal regions were the place to be today, Aust Warth produced a dark morph Arctic Skua which was 'picked up' coming from the Welsh sector and noted continuing north-east inland. Three Short-eared Owls were also seen at Aust Warth with a further individual over the shore at Severn Beach in the evening.

A single Grey Partridge was seen in 'Bunting Fields' from West Littleton Road this afternoon and at least ten Brambling were feeding in trees at Rushmead Copse. On Severnside the first Redstart and Yellow Wagtail of 2009 put in a very welcome appearance.

At least one Hawfinch was still present at St. Anne's Churchyard, Longwell Green late on this afternoon and a male Merlin was noted at Aust Warth this evening. Several Brambling were still present in the Rushmead Farm area at Marshfield.

Between flurries of snow around thirty-five to forty Brambling continue to show in fields around Rushmead Farm and Copse at Marshfield and the two Short-eared Owls were again seen at Aust Warth from around 16:50.

Northwick Warth produced a Jack Snipe, a Barn Owl was noted early morning crossing the coast road at Severn Beach and late afternoon Aust Warth gave up two Short-eared Owls showing very well from 17:00. At least four Brambling were lingering at Rushmead Farm and Copse at Marshfield.

A male and female Mandarin were present on Heneage Court Pools near Falfield this afternoon. Seen by Dick Reader who notes that it's the first sighting from this site this year and coincidently the first S. Glos sighting this year.

At St. Anne's Churchyard, Longwell Green mid-afternoon, two Hawfinch were calling from Yews and at Willsbridge Mill this afternoon a Dipper was heard about 50 metres up from the Visitors Centre. On Severnside; A male Merlin, Jack Snipe and White Wagtail were all on Northwick Warth, a Water Pipit and at least one Scandinavian Rock Pipit were seen on the salt marsh at Severn Beach.

Two Hawfinch were still present at Kingsgate Park, Yate this morning. Two Firecrests were reported again in the lane leading to Orchard Pools and two Short-eared Owls were seen over Aust Warth at 16:30.

An adult summer Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage and a Jack Snipe was reported from Orchard Pools. At Marshfield there are still several Brambling and a 'flyover' Red Kite drifted north over Rushmead Farm this afternoon.

S. Glos's earliest ever Little Ringed Plover was logged this morning at Oldbury Power Station at 09:55 before departing upriver at 10:05. S. Glos's first Wheatear of the year pitched up at Marshfield where there was also Merlin, Grey Partridge and c. 25 Brambling. On Severnside both Firecrests remained in the lane leading to Orchard Pools and the years first Sand Martins arrived. A female/ immature Merlin was seen early this morning on Northwick Warth a Water Pipit was noted on the shore at Severn Beach and two Short-eared Owls showed over the salt marsh at Aust Warth from 17:50.

At least three Hawfinch were seen in St. Anne's Churchyard at Longwell Green this afternoon. Brambling were still present in the Rushmead Farm area at Marshfield and on Severnside; Three Firecrests (and S. Glos's highest count) were showing very well in the lane leading to the Orchard Pools from 14:00 - 14:20 and at least four Jack Snipe were also present around the pools. Both male and female Merlin were present at New Passage and three more Jack Snipe were on Northwick Warth.

Four Hawfinch were present at Kingsgate Park, Yate at lunchtime. Hawfinch were also showing very well mid-afternoon at St. Anne's Churchyard, Longwell Green with five birds at the church entrance and a further three heard near the car park. At Orchard Pools two Firecrest were still present along with Jack Snipe and on Northwick Warth a couple more Jack Snipe were logged.

A Firecrest was still present in bushes opposite the gates on the lane to Orchard Pools at 08:00 this morning plus two Jack Snipe and Woodcock. At least two Hawfinches were lingering in Kingsgate Park, Yate also this morning and a partial summer adult Mediterranean Gull was seen from Severn Beach Shore this afternoon.

Two Firecrest were present along Ableton Lane before the entrance to Orchard Pools at around 09:30 but they were generally difficult to 'pin down' and two Jack Snipe were flushed from around the pools. A Grey Partridge was flushed from Northfield Lane, Marshfield and several Brambling are still lingering in the Rushmead farm area. Several (possibly six) Hawfinch were heard calling with snatches of song at St. Anne's Churchyard, Longwell Green this afternoon.

At least two Firecrests were present near Orchard Pools at 15:30. They were in the large Leylandii on the left hand side of Ableton Lane before the entrance to the pools. Two Jack Snipe were seen in the New Passage area.

At Northwick Warth there were two Jack Snipe, at Orchard Pools there were two more Jack Snipe, a Water Pipit was seen at Severn Beach and a female type Black Redstart was reported on Aust Warth at 14:00. At least five Brambling including a breeding plumage male at Rushmead Farm. Two Dippers were showing well from the Queens Head Pub car park Willsbridge.

At Severn Beach a near adult Mediterranean Gull and an adult Yellow Legged Gull (the first of the year) were both present today and at least one Firecrest remained at Orchard Pools. Three Jack Snipe were flushed from Northwick Warth.

A male Merlin was seen at Northwick Warth early this morning. A colour ringed adult Mediterranean Gull was present on Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station this morning. At Marshfield at least twenty Brambling are still present in the Rushmead Farm area.

Four Hawfinch were still present at St Anne's Churchyard at midday and a Dipper on the Siston Brook near the Queens Head Pub car park in Willsbridge. On Severnside, nine Jack Snipe were seen on the marshland next to Grebe Pond, Northwick Warth and another was noted on Severn Beach shore.

In St. Anne's Churchyard, Longwell Green this morning (09:45), eleven Hawfinch flew into the large Yew tree closest to the church in groups of seven, one and three. This represents the second highest count of Hawfinch in S. Glos! Another two Hawfinch were present at Kingsgate Park, Yate also this morning. (ST: 716 819)

A male Hawfinch was seen in trees at the bottom corner of Manorbrook School Field and Streamside Walk, Thornbury again this morning (ST: 643 910) and at Yate at least two Hawfinch were seen at Kingsgate Park. (ST: 716 819)

A male Hawfinch was seen in trees at the bottom corner of Manorbrook School Field and Streamside Walk, Thornbury this morning (ST: 643 910), and five more were noted at Lunchtime at St. Anne's Churchyard, Longwell Green peaking at seven from 14:30 onwards.

Six Hawfinch were still present at St. Anne's Churchyard, Longwell Green at 11:00. A female/ 1st winter Black Redstart was watched for 45 minutes at Culverslade Industrial Estate near Marshfield and two Brambling were seen Briefly at Culverslade Dump Clump.

Starting on Severnside; A male Merlin was seen on Northwick Warth, seven Jack Snipe were logged around Grebe Pond and two Short-eared Owls were performing over the salt marsh on Aust Warth. At Longwell Green at least one Hawfinch was showing at around 08:30 with two more seen around lunchtime. At Yate three or four Hawfinch were still present at Kingsgate Park, Yate. (ST: 716 819)

At least six Hawfinch were available from 08:45 at St. Anne's Churchyard, Longwell Green and then on and off all day. Three Short-eared Owls were showing well over the salt marsh at Aust Warth this afternoon.

Three Hawfinch were showing at St. Anne's Churchyard, Longwell Green this afternoon. Three Short-eared Owls were present over the salt marsh at Aust Warth at 16:35. At least six Brambling were still present at Rushmead Farm, Marshfield.

A Black Redstart was seen briefly at Severn Beach on Shaft Beach, 100 metres below the Second Severn Crossing also Merlin and Jack Snipe was noted on Northwick Warth. At Marshfield another Merlin was seen around Rushmead Lane and at least 1000 Skylark are still present. At least five still present at 15:00 at St. Anne's Churchyard. Also a pair of Goosander on R. Avon 300metres up river from the Chequers Pub in Hanham.

At 10:00 this morning the Hawfinch flock at St Anne's Churchyard off California Road in Longwell Green had risen to five birds and by 14:30 peaked at nine! This figure represents the second highest count for S. Glos so far only bested by twelve individuals seen on February 7th 2006 at Brimsham Park in Yate. A Firecrest was still present at Orchard Pools near Severn Beach.

Following one Hawfinch at St Anne's Churchyard off California Road in Longwell Green at 14:30 a second bird joined the first at 14:50 before both flew off. Shortly afterwards three were noted in flight in the same area.

One of the two Firecrests was still on show at Orchard Pools near Severn Beach this morning and three Jack Snipe were seen on Northwick Warth. A Dipper was seen in Shire Valley on Broadmead Brook at Marshfield.

Two Firecrest were present at Orchard Pools near Severn Beach this morning and a Jack Snipe was flushed from Aust Warth. At Marshfield Brambling were noted at West Littleton Road/ A420 and Rushmead Farm. At Bodkin Hazel Wood just south of Petty France five Hawfinch flew into the top of trees for a minute before flying off over the road towards Badminton. They flew in from the Hawkesbury Upton direction.

A Goshawk was disturbed this morning in Cloud Wood at the east end of Doncombe Valley south of Marshfield. It called several times as it flew off. This occurrence represents just the eleventh record for S. Glos. It also equals the earliest date with one occurring on the same day in 2005 also in the Marshfield area. Additionally there are still plenty of Brambling scattered around the area.

On Severnside a Mealy Redpoll was present at Orchard Pools. This occurrence represents just the fourth record for S. Glos the previous three were all in 2004 at Thornbury and Severn Beach. An adult Mediterranean Gull was in flooded fields at Southworthy Farm near New Passage and a Short-eared Owl was on show over the salt marsh at Aust Warth from 15:15. At Marshfield up to ten Brambling were present at Rushmead Farm, a probable Hawfinch flew over Ringswell Common south of the village and a Barn Owl was quartering fields in Doncombe Valley.

A female Merlin was flushed from its roost in long grass around Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station. Two Brambling in a garden at Frampton Cotterell. A Jack Snipe was reported from Northwick Warth and two Short-eared Owls from Aust Warth from 13:30.

Up to 25 Brambling were seen at Rushmead Farm near Marshfield this morning. A Jack Snipe was seen around the small pond on Westerleigh Common at lunch time. A male Merlin was present at New Passage and two Short-eared Owls were showing at Aust Warth.

There was still at least one male Brambling at Rushmead farm near Marshfield this morning plus a Merlin terrorising the finch flocks. A Firecrest was on show at the north-west end of Orchard Pools near Severn Beach at 14:15 and a Merlin was seen on Aust Warth.

A Water Pipit was seen on the salt marsh south of Severn Beach plus Merlin. A Firecrest was seen around Orchard Pools another Merlin was present at Aust Warth and two Short-eared Owls were there at 16:00.

Still several Brambling were logged at Marshfield on Rushmead Farm and Withymead Playing Fields. An Avocet was seen roosting with waders on Aust Warth and then active at Northwick Warth and New Passage, also from Aust Warth there were two Short-eared Owls and a male Merlin this afternoon.

Several Brambling were logged at Marshfield on Rushmead Farm and Withymead Playing Fields. Whilst on Severnside; Two Water Pipits were seen at Severn Beach, an adult Mediterranean Gull was photographed at New Passage, a Woodcock was flushed from a garden at New Passage, an Avocet was noted in flight down river off Northwick Warth where there was also a Jack Snipe. And at least two Short-eared Owls were seen at Aust Warth this afternoon. In a repeat of early 2008 a Long-eared Owl was seen at dusk briefly on a line of fence posts before heading inland.

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