THE SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE BIRDS DIARY
Bird sightings from previous months this year!
JANUARY 2021
Click on the links below for more details!
There is a high probability that a single roosting swan spp on the sand bar mid-estuary from New Passage on the 15th was indeed this species. (Chris Stone, Paul Bowerman)
OPS: Two, a male and female/ 1st winter were noted on the 6th, a female/ 1st winter on the 10th, 13th, 16th, 25th and 28th. (Pete Hazelwood, Matt Plenty, Matt Scott)
DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE
One noted at Oldbury Power Station on the 18th was the first of the year. (Andrew Middleton)
One reported present at Oldbury Power Station on the 1st (Andy Scrace); One seen in flight 1km east of the Lock Keeper PH, Willsbridge on the 17th with two present at the same site on the 26th. (Chris Mott)
FULMAR
The first storm driven individual of the year was noted from Severn Beach on the 21st. (Paul Bowerman)
A 1st winter was both seen and photographed at 08:45 on the 6th as it flew upriver along the near bank at Shepperdine. (Pete Hazelwood) It represents the 11th record of this species to occur in S. Glos since the first in the winter of 1840.
Glaucous Gull | Gordon Hodgson
COOPERS LAKE, YATE: At least five, two males and three 'redheads' on the 1st; Two 'redheads' present on the 8th; Five, two males, two females and an immature male on the 12th; Eight present on the 15th: At least four female types on the 25th; Five, two males - three females on the 26th. KINGSGATE PARK, YATE: A male and two 'redheads' counted first thing on the 17th. (Gordon Youdale, Mark Coller) BRIMSHAM PARK LAKE, YATE: Five, a male and four redheads noted on the 31st.
OTHERS: Three, a male and two 'redheads' were seen in flight before alighting on the R. Avon 1 kilometre east of The Lock Keeper at Keynsham on the 4th; A pair were seen on the R. Avon in the Willsbridge area on the 11th; Three, a male and two 'redheads' were seen in flight before alighting on the R. Avon 1 kilometre east of The Lock Keeper at Keynsham on the 4th. (Chris Mott) A pair were seen on the R. Avon in the Willsbridge area on the 11th. (Nigel Kempson)
GOOSE SPP.
Six, giving the impression of Pink-feet, were seen briefly in flight over in the Kingsgate Park, Yate area on the 29th. (Mark Coller)
One noted from Lower Woods, Wickwar on the 17th. (Simon Cubbage, Stephen Jones)
Hawfinch | Simon Cubbage
AUST WARTH: Three were noted on the 1st (Aravind Ramesh. Paul Bowerman), one on the 2nd. (Karle Burford) MARSHFIELD: One seen well in flight in the Castle Farm area on the 3rd; One in the Dunsdown Lane area on the 9th and 28th. (John Barnett) CHIPPING SODBURY COMMON: One noted on the Common on the 3rd. (Mark Coller) OLDBURY POWER STATION: One around Lagoon III on the 11th. (Andrew Middleton) NORTHWICK WARTH: One noted from the top end on the 29th. (Paul Bowerman)
Jack Snipe | Aravind Ramesh
Three females were noted on a small pond on a private site at Old Sodbury on the 11th. (David Teague)
A winter adult was reported from Severn Beach on the 22nd. (Phil Quinn)
A winter adult was found on Northwick Warth/ New Passage on the 23rd and was still present on the 24th. (Greg Dawes) It represent the first ever January record for S. Glos and the first for nearly 25 years! Just ten have been noted in the recording area since the first at Severn Beach in February 1940.
Pink-footed Goose | Paul Bowerman
AUST WARTH: One was reported in the afternoon on the 1st, two on the 2nd, one on the 9th. (Severnside Birds, Avon Birds) OLDBURY POWER STATION: One flushed from Lagoon III on the 13th. (Pete Hazelwood)
SKYLARK
An impressive flock of over six hundred (600) were present in an area with no public access on Rushmead Farm, Marshfield on the 25th. (John Barnett)
A winter female was present in the Aust Warth area on the 1st - 2nd. (Aravind Ramesh, Paul Bowerman, Karle Burford)
Snow Bunting | Paul Bowerman
A winter adult was found alongside Siston Brook at Willsbridge Mill LNR, Willsbridge around 13:00 on the 25th. (Brian Mulgrew) It represents the first ever record of this species for January in S. Glos!
FEBRUARY 2021
A single bird, the first of the year, was noted at Oldbury Power Station on the 28th. (Jan Hanley-Platt)
BAR-TAILED GODWIT
One, the first of the year, was noted at New Passage on at least the 9th - 16th. (Severnside Birds)
Bar-tailed Godwit | Paul Bowerman
OLDBURY POWER STATION: A female/ 1st winter was still present around the Jetty area on the 2nd, 7th, 10th and 25th. (Matt Plenty, Matt Scott) A male was reported on the 9th. (Andrew Middleton) Two, a 1st-winter male on the jetty and a female on the 11th, 13th and 20th. (Alan Gilbert, Pete Hazelwood)
Black Redstart | Alan Gilbert
BRAMBLING
One, the first of the year, was seen with c.200 Chaffinch from Dunsdown Lane, Marshfield on the 7th (John Barnett); A female was mixing with c.300 Chaffinch and Linnet between Mayshill and Iron Acton on the 13th. (Mike Jackson)
One counted in flight during a VisMig watch at New Passage/ Northwick Warth on the 28th
A 1st winter was seen from Shepperdine between 15:30 and 16:00 before being lost to view towards Tidenham on the 21st. (Neil Smart)
GOLDENEYE
A winter male was seen from both Severn Beach and New Passage on the 1st. (Ed Drewitt, Paul Bowerman) The first in the recording area for two years!
Goldeneye | Paul Bowerman
STANSHAWS (COOPERS) LAKE, YATE; Seven, two males and five females still present on the 2nd; Nine, two males, an immature male and six females on the 20th. BRIMSHAM PARK LAKE, YATE: Eight, two male, an immature male and five female present on the 5th. KINGSGATE PARK, YATE: Four, two males and two female present on the 15th; Three females present on the 24th; Five, one male and four females on the 26th. (Mark Coller)
Goosander | Mark Coller
A juvenile, probably male, was both seen and photographed over Lower Woods LNR, Wickwar on the 17th (Paul Sadley) with the same or another reported from the same area on the 24th.
Goshawk | Paul Sadley
GREEN SANDPIPER
One, the first of the year, was disturbed from a manure heap along Conygre Covert, Thornbury on the 17th. (Dendy Platt)
Four were reported from Inglestone Common, Wickwar on the 6th. (Michael Johnstone) One was flushed from Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station on the 2nd with the same or another noted on the 15th. (Andrew Middleton)
KITTIWAKE
Nine, the first of the year, were seen from Severn Beach late morning on the 18th. (Paul Bowerman)
LINNET
An impressive flock of c.900 birds were counted between Frampton Cotterell and Iron Acton on the 18th. (Ollie Fournier)
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER
A spring male was flushed from Northwick Warth on the 25th before departing high east! (Phil Quinn) However it relocated to Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 26th where it was seen on the 1st Sentry Box Pool and subsequently on Northwick Warth. (Paul Bowerman, Lisa Presland) It represents the earliest date for this species in S. Glos and the first ever February record! The previous earliest date was March 12th 2015 at Severn Beach.
Little Ringed Plover | Paul Bowerman
A corpse was found between Chittening Warth and Severn Beach on the 7th.
Four, two males and two females were present at Lower Woods, Wickwar (ST: 745 875 - Littley Wood) on the 13th. (Mike Prior)
Mandarin | Mike Prior
A winter adult was noted in the evening roost at Oldbury Power Station on the 1st; A 1st winter was seen over high tide at Oldbury Power Station on the 23rd. (Pete Hazelwood)
One reported from Riding Barn Hill, Wick on the 7th (Nigel Jones); One from Rushmead Farm, Marshfield on the 9th (John Barnett); One from Overscourt Woodland, Siston on the 22nd; One over Mangotsfield towards Rodway Common on the 23rd (Nick Tippett); One over Kingswood Rugby Club ground on the 25th (Chris Mott); One moving north over Wickwar on the 28th. (Paul Sadley)
Red Kite | Paul Sadley
Two were both seen and heard around 17:15 over Butt Lane, Thornbury on the 10th. (Paul Lee)
A 'very grey' individual, possibly of the form 'tristis', was seen briefly in a private garden at Yate on the 5th. (Gordon Youdale) Another 'very pale' individual, possibly of the form 'tristis', was noted at Leap Valley, Downend on the 6th. (Barry Dursley) Another strong candidate of this form was seen briefly in a private Garden at Yate on the 11th. (Mark Coller)
Chiffchaff spp. | Barry Dursley
The yellow tones in the upper breast and under tail coverts in this 'very pale' individual
does not preclude Siberian Chiffchaff.
An adult of unknown origins (though probably from the Knepp Castle Estate re-introduction programme) was seen on the roof of buildings and in fields between Morrisons and TileFlair, Cribbs Causeway on the 26th. (Steve George, Darren Banfield) It relocated to Itchington and was seen on the 27th - 28th. (Heather England)
White Stork | Heather England
WOODCOCK
At least eight were present in Horton Bushes, Horton on the 21st. (Mark Coller, Darren Pearce)
An adult, the first of the year, was seen on West Littleton Down, West Littleton on the 19th. (John Barnett)
MARCH 2021
An intermediate morph (or juvenile) was seen at Shepperdine on the 13th before departing inland. (Pete Hazelwood) This occurrence represents the earliest date for this species in S. Glos! The previous earliest date was March 14th 2004 at Severn Beach.
AUK spp
One, probably Guillemot, from Severn Beach on the 11th. (Paul Bowerman)
One on Pilning WR, Northwick Warth on the 14th with two present in the New Passage/ Pilning WR area on the 17th; Singles noted at Shepperdine and in the New Passage/ Pilning WR area on the 18th; Five noted on the shoreline from New Passage on the 22nd, two on the 23rd, four on the 24th, three on the 25th; Six on Littleton Warth and four on Northwick Warth on the 30th - 31st.
Avocet | Paul Bowerman
One, of unknown origins, was seen on Littleton Warth and at the mouth of Pillhead Gout, Oldbury-on-Severn on the 30th - 31st. (Rupert Higgins)
OLDBURY POWER STATION: A female continued around The Jetty on the 2nd with the same or another around the Waterworks on the 3rd; A 1st winter male on the fence between Lagoon II and the buildings on the 8th and again on the 20th. MARSHFIELD: The third ever, a female/ 1st winter, was seen well in and around Orchid Lane on the 17th! (John Barnett)
Black Redstart | Mark Coller
Three were reported from Overscourt Woodland, Siston Common on the 5th (per Martin Smith); One both seen and heard in flight north over Northwick Warth mid-morning on the 31st. (Ed Drewitt)
COMMON REDSTART
Birds (the first of the year) were seen on Chipping Sodbury Common and on Orchid Lane, Marshfield on the 30th. A record equalling earliest date. (Darren Pearce)
COMMON SCOTER
Three (including two drakes) seen from Severn Beach on the 12th were the first of the year! (Paul Bowerman) Nocturnal Migration of some over Chipping Sodbury Common around 22:00 on the 25th. (Mark Coller)
GANNET
A record count and a conservative estimate of in excess of three-hundred (300+) was enjoyed from Severn Beach on the 11th. (Paul Bowerman)
KINGSGATE PARK, YATE: Two, a female and immature male on the 2nd; Two a male and female on the 5th; Two females on the 14th; One male on the 18th; Three, an immature male and two females on the 25th and 27th. STANSHAWS LAKE, YATE: Five, a male, an immature male and three females present on the 3rd; One female on the 9th; One male and two females on the 15th; Four, one male and three females on the 16th; A male and female on the 19th. YATE: Five were seen in flight over the town heading towards Stanshaws Lake on the 4th. BRIMSHAM PARK, YATE: Five present early morning on the 5th; A male and two females present on the 17th. OTHERS: Two 'brownheads' were discovered on Kendleshire GC near Henfield on the 13th with one still present on the 14th - 16th. Birds may have been present for several weeks; A single 'redhead' in flight from Oldbury Power Station on the 17th; Four west over The Common at Yate at 17:10 on the 18th; Two 'redheads' on the Tidal Reservoir, Oldbury Power Station on the 30th.
Goosander | Mark Coller and Barry Dursley
One, possibly this species, distantly from Chipping Sodbury Common over Lower Woods on the 25th. (Mark Coller) One, probably this species, flying along the rhine between The Lake and the road at Oldbury Power Station on the 26th. (Pete Hazelwood)
GREEN SANDPIPER
One was seen on Rockhampton Rhine, near Henridge Hill in the Rockhampton area on the 10th. (Matt Scott)
One encountered at Oldbury Power Station on the 15th (OPS Birding); One on Chipping Sodbury Common on the 21st (Mark Coller); Two spotted on Pilning WR on the 23rd. (Paul Bowerman, Aravind Ramesh)
One was both seen and heard briefly in the Shire Valley, Marshfield on the 5th. (John Barnett)
LITTLE GULL
Two, a winter and a summer adult (and the first of the year), were both seen from Severn Beach on the 11th. (Paul Bowerman)
One noted early morning on the 12th from Severn Beach lingered throughout the day. (Aravind Ramesh) It represents the first occurrence in March; One, the same (from the 12th) or another, was seen distantly from Severn Beach on the 13th. (et.al)
Leach's Petrel | Aravind Ramesh
A spring adult was watched at close range (3 metres) late afternoon from the sea wall at Severn Beach on the 11th. (Nigel Sluman, Paul Bowerman) It's the first record for March and the first one since 2008.
A pair were flushed from a small rhine near Rockhampton in the evening on the 19th. (Matt Scott)
A spring male was seen in flight north-east at Littleton on Severn and subsequently past Oldbury Sailing Club around 09:40 on the 1st. (Matt Plenty, Andy Middleton)
Marsh Harrier | Matt Plenty
An adult was noted at Severn Beach on the 12th and 13th. (Paul Bowerman, Matt Hobbs) A summer adult on the shore at Pillhead Gout, Oldbury on Severn on the 22nd. (OPS Birding)
NORTHERN WHEATEAR
One, a male and the first of the year, was reported from Whale Wharf, Littleton-on-Severn on the 10th.
One over the Shire Valley, Marshfield on the 2nd; Two on the 9th - at Warmley and the Shire Valley, Marshfield; One between Wickwar and Tytherington on the 14th; One over the Tormarton Road just north of Marshfield and the same or another over West Littleton Down on the 15th; One near Tytherington on the 16th; One on Rushmead Farm, Marshfield on the 17th; One over Warmley at 17:00 on the 19th; At least five on the 21st; One over Rushmead Lane, Marshfield, one over Kingswood, the same or another over Wick, one over Downend, one at Willsbridge, one over Page Park; One from Rushmead Lane, Marshfield and the same or another from Down Road, Marshfield on the 22nd; One near Tytherington on the 23rd; One over Lagoon II at OPS and two from North Common, Warmley on the 24th; One from Rushmead Lane on the 28th; Two over Chipping Sodbury Common and Warmley and one from Broad Lane, Yate on the 30th; One over Coalpit Heath on the 31st.
Red Kite | TBOSG
One was both seen and photographed in a private garden on Albert Road, Severn Beach on the 27th. (Claire Miskelly)
Ring-necked Parakeet | Claire Miskelly
SAND MARTIN
Several were seen on the 4th at Cribbs Causeway, Bradley Stoke and Oldbury Power Station. (Rob Emery, Ben Ofield, Rupert Higgins, Pete Hazelwood) This occurrence represents the earliest ever date for this species in S. Glos! The previous earliest date was March 7th 2014 from Severn Beach.
SANDWICH TERN
A flock of fifteen, the first of the year, were seen first from New Passage and then Oldbury Power Station as they flew up river at around 09:20 on the 30th. (Ed Drewitt, OPS Birding)
AUST WARTH: One reported in flight over the Warth late afternoon on the 13th.
One mixing with a movement of Common Chiffchaff at Kingsgate Park, Yate on the 12th. (Mark Coller)
Siberian Chiffchaff | Mark Coller
SWALLOW
One, the first of the year, over Londonderry Farm, Willsbridge on the 21st. (Chris Hall)
Two, a winter plumaged and a partial summer plumaged, on Northwick Warth on the 30th. (Phil Quinn)
The re-introduced (GB63) individual still present in the Itchington/ Tytherington area up to at least the 24th. (Heather England)
White Stork | Heather England
G405 - A juvenile female, from the Isle of Wight re-introduction programme, was satellite tracked flying through S. Glos air space on March 8th 2021, an 84 mile round trip from East Somerset!
Satellite tagged G405 tracking in March 2021
WIGEON
A first record for the Marshfield patch in the form of an adult drake Wigeon on West Littleton Pond on the 10th - 11th. (John Barnett)
Drake Wigeon | Martyn Hayes
WILLOW WARBLER
One, the first of the year, reported from Northwick Warth/ Pilning WR on the 24th.