AOG

local websites

Berrow birds (Andy Slade/Paul Gay)	Severnside birds (Paul Bowerman)
Blagdon Lake birds (Nigel Milbourne)	Slimbridge WWT birds (Martin McGill/James Lees)
Clevedon birds (Jason Williams)	Somerset Ornithological Society
Chew Valley Lake birds (Rich Andrews)	South Glos birds (Martyn Hayes)
Gloucester birds (Mike King)	Weston & Brean Down birds (Paul Bowyer)
Oldbury Power Station birds (Pete Hazelwood)	Yate birds & beyond (Darren Pearce)

birding photography
http://garyts-birdpix.fotopic.net/ (Gary Thoburn)	http://www.somersetbirder.co.uk/ (James Packer)
http://www.freewebs.com/levels-birder/ (Jeff Hazell)	http://www.pixelbirds.co.uk/ (Gareth Jones)
http://www.chrisjphotography.com/home.php (Chris Jones)

Click on the hyperlink to use the online map, simply enter the name of the place: Really Useful Map
DAILY SIGHTINGS - SEPTEMBER 2010 TIDE TABLE

Red-backed Shrike © James Packer http://www.somersetbirder.co.uk/ Such a cracking bird and photo deserve top billing so we've posted it up here so it doesn't disappear 'on the scroll' as the days go by. The bird first turned up at the Stolford-Hinkley Pt seawall stretch on 31 August and was still present to 2 September. Many thanks for the photo James.

TUESDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER

Slimbridge WWT:		The Red-necked Phalarope was still present and the Curlew Sandpiper flock was 25 birds today (per slimbridgebirds).

Gaunts Earthcott;		A Red Kite over the village 2pm, heading towards Yate (W King).

Royal Portbury Dock:		On this morning's high tide: 80 Ringed Plover, 5 Curlew Sandpiper, 200 Dunlin, 38 Curlew, 70 Redshank, 22 Turnstone (S Hale). Moulting adult and 4 Juveniles.

Chew Valley Lake:		An Osprey and 32 Black Tern seen over the lake. The Black-necked Grebe was noted off Herriott's and 3 Whinchat seen at Moreton lane (combined reports, S Davies, per BWG)).

Bath:		A Nuthatch at Widcombe Hill 7.15am this morning (D French).


MONDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER
Summary:		A dry and overcast morning with a fresh easterly breeze, strong at times. Rain late afternoon. Fewer Black Terns at Chew today but a Black-necked Grebe appeared at Stratford, possibly the bird seen at Blagdon on 4th. A Garganey was found in with the Teal at Blagdon. 20 Chiffchaff counted at Portbury Wharf NR at mid-day before the observer fell into a coma.

Slimbridge WWT:		The Red-necked Phalarope still showing well and Curlew Sandpipers now 16 birds (per slimbridgebirds).

Severnside:		per severnsidebirds: We also received an intriguing report of a flock 30 Fieldfare flying (and calling) over the AstraZeneca works near Hallen, just off the Severnside patch but only a gnat's whisker away. The earliest ever Avon date is 29 August 1994.
Aust Warth:		At the Cake Pill stretch, just 8 Teal, a ♂ Sparrowhawk, a Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Blackcap and 7 Chiffchaff of note.
Severn Beach:		1 Little Grebe and a Kingfisher at the Orchard pools.
Hoar Gout:		3 Little Grebe and 50+ Teal on the Vosa pool.

Royal Portbury Dock:		A deserted shoreline at mid-day but 2 Wheatears on the rocks (S Hale).

Portbury Wharf:		A Shoveler present at Chapel Pill (new in), 3 Wigeon on the pools and 20+ Chiffchaff and 4 Willow Warbler around the bushes (S Hale).

Chew Valley Lake:		Fewer Black Terns today. a Black-necked Grebe (Stratford), the Ferruginous Duck (Stratford), the Garganey and Ruff (BK hide), 18 Black Tern, 5 Common Tern, 1 Arctic Tern and c.150 Sand Martin (combined reports, S Davies, BWG).

Blagdon Lake:		Noteworthy were: a Garganey (new in), 3 Dunlin, a Snipe, the Spotted Redshank, 15 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper and a Swift (per BL birds).


SUNDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER

club members:		could everyone please log on sometime this evening.....we're trying to get below 100 on the FatBirder ring for the 1st time!

Slimbridge WWT:		Main highlights today: the Wood Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope still in residence. 2 really good migrant counts in the rain: 40 Blackcap and 120 Chiffchaff.

Oldbury Power Station:		2 Wigeon, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egret, 2 Raven plus large mixed flocks of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and various Tits etc. Hirundines: c.500+ House Martins near the main Reactor towers and c.200 more House Martin near Lagoon 1 (A Middleton). Clearly the rain has brought down many birds.

Severnside:		a couple of new birds today, per severnsidebirds:
New Passage-Northwick		20 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 2 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 5 Oystercatcher, 1 Spotted Redshank, 90 Redshank, 70 Turnstone, 1 Black Tern, a Swift, single Kingfisher, 30 Swallow, 250 House Martin, 20 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap and 85 Linnet.
Severn Beach:		juvenile Curlew Sandpiper 5.9.10 © Paul Bowerman 1 Little Egret, 30 Ringed Plover, 1 Knot, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 20 Dunlin, 200 Curlew 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 30 Turnstone, 400 Black-headed Gull and a Wheatear. Many thanks for the photo Paul.

Portbury Wharf:		70 House Martin over the pools, grounded by rain. At the bushes, 4 Blackcap and 9 Chiffchaff (S Hale).

Gordano Valley:		Sedge Warbler 5.9.10 © Lyndon Roberts Results from this morning's session at the GVRS: 70 birds were ringed and there were 14 recaptures. Migrants ringed were: 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 30 Blackcap, 24 Chiffchaff and 6 Willow Warbler. Pick of the residents ringed were a Goldcrest, a Marsh Tit and a Treecreeper. Adult Sedge Warblers do not moult until they reach their winter quarters so most of the birds that we see may look rougher than a robber's dog. Many thanks for the photo and information Lyndon.

Clevedon coast:		4 Mute Swan, 102 Canada Goose, 3 Shelduck, 135 Mallard, 8 Little Egret, 10+ Ringed Plover, 40+ Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, single Whimbrel, 45 Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 8 Common Sandpiper, 26 Turnstone, 5 Wheatear and 2 Chiffchaff (HE Rose). Unusually, no Curlew at all.

Barrow Gurney:		morning count: 2 Wigeon, the ♀ Garganey, 1 Snipe, 12 Common Sandpiper, 3 Common Term 14 Black Tern, 1 Swift, a Wheatear and several hundred hirundines (mostly Swallows) milling around. afternoon check: fewer hirundines but a 4th Common Tern present (S Davies). 1 bird lingering on No.2 tank. The Black Terns are particularly welcome. We had a dismal spring passage this year (only 2-3 birds) and last year's autumn passage was nothing to write home about either.

Blagdon Lake:		Wader highlights were: 14 Greenshank, the juvenile Spotted Redshank and the Wood sandpiper (per BL birds). No sign of the Black-necked Grebe

Chew Valley Lake:		73 Black Terns over the lake mid-day plus 19 Common and 2 Arctic Terns and 100's of hirundines.


SATURDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER

Slimbridge WWT:		Wader highlights were: 2 Avocets, the Wood Sandpiper and the Red-necked Phalarope (per slimbridgebirds).

Oldbury Power Station:		An excellent morning for small birds: 250 House Martin, 1 Tree Pipit, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 20 Blackcap, 35 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler, 15 Long-tailed Tit and a Treecreeper (per opsbirding).

Severnside:		per severnsidebirds
New Passage-Northwick:		Main sightings: 30 Wigeon, 250 Teal, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 70 Redshank, 80 Turnstone,, Mickey the Mediterranean Gull, 1 Kingfisher, singles of Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Sand Martin, 40 Swallow, 150 House Martin, 2 Tree Pipit, 25 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat and 6 Blackcap. No news on the Wryneck.
Severn Beach:		6 Little Egret, 1 Knot, 200 Curlew, 2 Wheatear and 15 Blackcap of note. Ringed Plover and Dunlin seem to be avoiding this strecth so far.

Worle (W-s-M):		A Goshawk seen drifting to north over town 5.30pm (per westonbirds)

Sand Pt/Bay-Middle Hope:		Just 3 Ringed Plover, 3 Knot, 21 Dunlin, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel, 200+ House Martin, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Redstart, 3 Whinchat and 2 Tree Pipit (per westonbirds).

Blagdon Lake:		Today's wader count was; 1 Spotted Redshank, 15 Greenshank, 6 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper. other birds of note: 18 Wigeon (á) and 6 Great Black-backed Gull. A Black-necked Grebe was found pm (per BL birds). Paltry Greenshank numbers, hardly worth getting out of bed for.

Barrow Gurney:		♀ Garganey 4.9.10 © Sean Davies 1 Garganey (new), a Little Egret and 15 Common Sandpiper so far this morning (S Davies). Many thanks for the photo Sean.

Chew Valley Lake:		3 Garganey, 13 Pintail, the Ferruginous Duck, 11 Little Egret, a Marsh Harrier, single Hobby, 1 Peregrine, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 1 juvenile Arctic Tern, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, a Ruff, 6 Snipe, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Greenshank, 4 Green Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, single Kingfisher and 3 Spotted Flycatcher (per cvlbirding).

Weston STW:		3 Wigeon, 4 Shoveler and 2 Pochard on the pools. A Ruff and Mediterranean Gull still on the river Axe (per westonbirds).

Brean Down:		100 House Martin, 2 Redstart, 1 Whinchat, 8 Wheatear, 3 Spotted Flycatcher (per westonbirds).

Steart:		A Wryneck and an Aquatic Warbler reported here by Birdguides

Bridgwater 3/9/10:		Another Wryneck reported on the Taunton canal at Maunsell Lock near Fordgate (per SOS).


FRIDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER

Slimbridge WWT:		The Red-necked Phalarope was still on site and a juvenile Wood Sandpiper was a new arrival (per slimbridgebirds). There were fewer small bird migrants today.

Oldbury Power Station:		4 Shelduck, 4 Wigeon, 100 Mallard, singles of Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Hobby, 1 Green Woodpecker, 200+ Swallows/House Martin, 3 Whitethroat, 5 Long-tailed Tit and 20+ Goldfinch (W King). Swallows and House Martins were reported to be streaming through here all day apparently.

Severnside:		per severnsidebirds:
New Passage-Northwick:		The Wryneck was seen again at 10.30-11am, still present on the 'Lion King' mound at the old rifle range. Other birds nearby, a Hobby, 20 Yellow Wagtail, a Whinchat, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroat and 4 Blackcap. The flash remains Phalarope free. At the shoreline: 7 Canada Goose, 200 Teal, 30 Wigeon, 2 Little Egret, 7 Ringed Plover, 3 Sanderling, 24 Dunlin, 70+ Redshank, 30 Turnstone and the usual Mediterranean Gull.
Severn Beach:		At the coastal scrub: 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 20 Blackcap of note
Chittening Warth:		At the Seabank section: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 10 Blackcap and a Reed Warbler brood still being fed. On the Stup Pill stretch: 1 Snipe, a Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 100 Swallow, 25 House Martin, 3 Rock Pipit, 1 Whinchat, 1 Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler and 2 Reed Bunting (M Dadds).

Portbury Wharf:		2 Cetti's Warbler calling around the pools this morning, the first here for a while (S Hale).

Banwell:		3.9.10 © John Thorogood One of the resident Coal Tits photographed at the garden feeders this morning. Many thanks John.

Bath:		A flock of 42 Blue Tit at The Avenue, Claverton Down this morning (D French).

Steep Holm 11/8/10:		Water Rail chick 11.8.10 © Stephen Judd There was some scrub clearance being undertaken on the island when this Water Rail chick was found, plus parents. The area was very untypical for Water Rail with the nearest reeds and fresh water over on the mainland. The birds returned to the nest after the disturbance subsided. Many thanks for the photo and report Steve.


THURSDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER

Severnside:		per severnsidebirds:
Aust Warth:		Soul-sapping at Cake Pill, just 4 Redshank and a Common Sandpiper of note. No migrants noted on the stretch down to the Northwick flash.
New-Passage-Northwick: è		Early morning ringing session at the Grebe pond: In the nets: 1 Blackbird, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaff. Overhead: 1 Tree Pipit, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Green Sandpiper and a few Meadow Pipits. Unfortunately for the ringers..... The Wryneck was seen again 9.20am this morning near the rifle butts area (M Dadds). Other sightings: 3 Canada Goose, 25 Wigeon, 120 Teal, 1 Little Egret, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 70 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 45 Turnstone, the Mediterranean Gull, a Kingfisher, 2 Tree Pipit, 20 Yellow Wagtail, 10 Pied Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, single Sedge Warbler, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler and 6 Blackcap.
Severn Beach:		1 Little Egret, 15 Oystercatcher, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 1 Greenshank and 2 Turnstone. This section has had a particularly lean spell recently, especially the waders.

RPD-Portbury Wharf shore:		1 Little Egret, 350 mixed Ringed Plover/Dunlin, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 53 Curlew and 5 Great Black-backed Gull (CJ Stone).

Portbury Wharf:		Not much this morning but a late flurry late afternoon: a ♂ Redstart, 1 Whitethroat, 10+ Chiffchaff and 4 Greenfinch (first for a while) (S Hale).

Clevedon coast:		2.9.10 © John Thorogood One of 5 Knot feeding at the Channel View stretch today. Many thanks John.

Weston STW:		4 Shoveler and a Pochard here (per westonbirds).

Brean Down:		3 Sand Martin, 60 Swallow, 4 Tree Pipit, 21 Wheatear (12 at fort), 4 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 10 Blackcap, 4 Willow Warbler, 15 Chiffchaff, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 60 Goldfinch (per westonbirds).

Blagdon Lake:		The 'greens' count today was: 22 Greenshank and 6 Green Sandpipers. The Spotted Redshank was heard but not seen (per BL birds).


WEDNESDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER

Slimbridge WWT:		highlights per slimbridgebirds:
Waders:		Spotted Redshank on south lake 31.8.10 © Rich Ford The juvenile Red-necked Phalarope still present and 14 Curlew Sandpiper. Many thanks for the photo Rich.
Migrants:		Best bird was a juvenile Aquatic Warbler present in a restricted area. Other small birds: 1 ♂ Redstart, 2 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear and 25 Sedge Warblers.

Almondsbury:		At Lower Knole farm: 1 Snipe, 4 Reed Warbler and a flock of 60+ Golfinch (M Dadds).

Severnside:		per severnsidebirds:
Aust Warth:		2 Little Egret, 7 Dunlin, 50 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Whinchat.
New Passage-Northwick:		140 Teal, 25 Wigeon, single Sparrowhawk, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 70 Redshank, 60 Turnstone, the Mediterranean Gull, a Kingfisher, 23 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wheatear, a Mistle Thrush and 2 Whitethroat.
Severn Beach:		4 Little Egret, 21 Ringed Plover and 8 Dunlin.
Hoar Gout (VOSA pool):		2 Gadwall, 35 Teal, 20 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Lapwing and a Water Vole (M Dadds).

Portbury Wharf:		1 Sparrowhawk on the seawall and a Kingfisher around the pools this morning. No sign of any migration at all (but see Brean) (S Hale).

Sand Pt-Middle Hope:		1 Grey Heron in from the sea, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Whinchat, 14 Wheatear, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Whitethroat. Swallows and Sand Martins also noted passing plus a few Blackcaps and Chiffchaff (per westonbirds).

Lulsgate airport:		A Hobby causing panic amongst the Swallows here this afternoon ( A Hockey).

Brean Down:		1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Tree Pipit, 6 Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, 1 Redstart, 7 Wheatear, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 40 Blackcap, 15 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Chaffinch in from sea (per westonbirds)

Weston STW:		4 Shoveler, 2 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and the Ruff on the nearby river Axe (per westonbirds).

Blagdon Lake:		Wader count today: 5 Snipe, the Spotted Redshank, 17 Greenshank, 13 Green Sandpiper but no signs of the Knot or Curlew Sandpipers (per BL birds).

Chew Valley Lake:		Mostly at the Stratford area: 3 Wigeon, the Ferruginous Duck, 1 Pintail, 10 Little Egret, 2 Hobby, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Greenshank, 6 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 10 Common Tern, 1 Kingfisher and a Spotted Flycatcher (per BWG)


Bristol Ornithological Club 2010
Sightings Page September