Following two of the quietest months of the year, August can be an interesting month with a total of 166 species having been recorded during this month. The numbers and variety of waders increase, as do the numbers of migrating warblers, Whinchat and Wheatears. Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls are expected. Rarities in August have included Slavonian Grebe (1996), Red Crested Pochard (1998), Goshawk, Osprey, Sabine’s Gull, Kentish Plover, White-rumped Sandpiper (1995, 2001), Wryneck (1976,1984 and 2003) and Red-backed Shrike (2003).
August 31st
The quiet spell continues with 180 Dunlin, 120 Ringed Plover, 30 Turnstones, 2 Knot and 7 Gadwall at Severn Beach. Sightings from New Passage included 35 Turnstones, 29 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, a Sanderling, 56 Teal, 36 Shelduck, a Shoveler and the surprise sighting of a moulting adult Common Tern roosting with the gulls.
August 30th
There were 80 Ringed Plovers, 70 Dunlin, 7 Knot, 15 Oystercatchers and 2 Ravens at Severn Beach. Sightings from the New Passage area included 3 Common Sandpipers, 25 Redshank, 50 Turnstones, a Green Sandpiper, 52 Teal, 5 Yellow Wagtails, single Lesser Whitethroat and Kingfisher. Four Clouded Yellows were seen again at Severn Beach.
August 29th
A mixed flock of 400 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers were seen on Severn Beach with one Knot. Twelve Canada Geese flew South over here. Sightings from the New Passage area included a Little Egret, 3 Common Sandpipers, 50 Turnstones, 16 Redshank, 11 Oystercatchers, 4 Ravens, 3 Grey Wagtails and 2 Lesser Whitethroats. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth and 2 Clouded Yellows were also seen today.
August 28th
A day with a moderate North West winds and few birds. There were just 180 Ringed Plovers, 150 Dunlin and a Knot at Severn Beach. Sightings from the New Passage area included 50 Turnstones, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Grey Wagtails and 2 Lesser Whitethroats.
August 27th
The usual mixed flock of 500 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers remained at Severn Beach with at least 10 Knot and a Common Sandpiper. A few migrants were seen in the Hawthorn and Elderberry scrub South of Severn Beach including 2 Redstarts, a Sedge Warbler and 5 Whitethroats. A Little Egret, 20 Redshank, 80 Turnstones, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Raven and a Grey Wagtail were seen in the New Passage area.
August 26th
A morning visit to Severn Beach produced a mixed flock of at least 400 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, 20 Knot, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Redstarts, 10 Whitethroats, 2 Whinchats and a fly over Tree Pipit. There were 200 Curlew, 80 Turnstones, 18 Oystercatchers and 3 Common Sandpipers at Chittening Warth. Sightings from the New Passage area included 28 Redshank, 60 Turnstones, 100 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, single Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail. At least 4 Clouded Yellows were seen at Severn Beach.
Redstart, Severn Beach 26.8.6
August 25th
The morning wader roost at Severn Beach contained 300 Dunlin, 250 Ringed Plovers, 21 Knot, 80 Turnstones and 2 Greenshank. Sightings from the New Passage area included 2 Common Sandpipers, 28 Redshank, 51 Teal, 2 Yellow Wagtails, single Grey Wagtail and Lesser Whitethroat. Single Clouded Yellows were seen at New Passage and Severn Beach.
August 24th
The adult Mediterranean Gull reappeared late morning at New Passage where other sightings included 4 Common Terns, a Common Gull, 28 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 70 Turnstones, 45 Teal and a Kingfisher. Nearby, there were 5 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails, single Green Sandpiper, Raven and Whinchat on Northwick Warth. Visits to the Severn Beach wader roost today produced 300 Ringed Plovers, 250 Dunlin, 18 Knot, 15 Oystercatchers and 2 Little Ringed Plovers.
August 23rd
Two eclipse drake Garganey were found today at New Pasage with 40 Teal. Other sightings here included 28 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Grey Wagtails, single Yellow Wagtail and Kingfisher. There were 4 Sedge Warblers and several Sand Martins on Northwick Warth. Sightings from Severn Beach this morning included 22 Knot, 300 Dunlin, 300 Ringed Plovers and 80 Turnstones. A Whimbrel and Peregrine were additional sightings this evening.
August 22nd
The mixed flock of 900 Dunlin and Ringed Plover were seen again at Severn Beach this morning. Other sightings here today included 21 Knot, 80 Turnstones and 12 Oystercatchers. There were 21 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, 41 Teal and a Kingfisher at New Passage. A good selection of warblers were found on Northwick Warth including 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 7 Whitethroats and 2 Sedge Warblers. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was found on scrub South of Severn Beach.
August 21st
The Severn Beach wader roost increased to a mixed flock of 900 Dunlin and Ringed Plover, 80 Turnstones, 15 Knot, 2 Sanderling and 15 Oystercatchers. Sightings from the New Passage area included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, an adult Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 25 Redshank, a Black-tailed Godwit, 41 Teal, a Wigeon, a Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Wheatears, 2 Common Redstarts and a Spotted Flycatcher. A Grey Seal showed very well close to the shore at New Passage again this evening.
August 20th
A visit to New Passage this morning produced a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 12 Redshank, 5 Common Sandpipers, 34 Teal, 20 Shelduck and 2 Grey Wagtails. Nearby, on Northwick Warth there were 2 Yellow Wagtails, 30 Pied Wagtails, single Wheatear, Common Redstart and Lesser Whitethroat. The large mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover remained at Severn Beach with 80 Turnstones, 16 Knot, 2 Sanderling and a Bar-tailed Godwit.
August 19th
A reasonable selection and number of birds were seen today. Sightings from the Northwick Warth area included 18 Redshank, 4 Common Sandpipers, 36 Teal, 3 Common Redstarts, a Whinchat, 2 Wheatears, a Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtails, 40 Pied Wagtails, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Sedge Warblers, single Reed Warbler, Kingfisher and Raven. A dark phase Arctic Skua flew upriver past Severn Beach where the wader numbers increased to 400 Ringed Plovers, 400 Dunlin, 13 Knot, 20 Oystercatchers, 80 Turnstones, 5 Sanderling and 7 Common Sandpipers. Another 3 Whinchats and a Wheatear were also seen here. A male Lesser Emperor dragonfly was seen again at the Orchard Pools and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was found in a Severn Beach garden.
Sedge Warbler, Northwick Warth 19.8.6
August 18th
There were some impressive thunderstorms and torrential rain for most of the morning. Sightings from New Passage and Northwick Warth included a Green Sandpiper, 26 Redshank, 150 Curlew, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Wheatears, 25 Pied Wagtails, 2 Ravens, 4 Sedge Warblers, single Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. The mixed flock of at least 600 Dunlin and Ringed Plover remained on the shore at Severn Beach where 6 Sanderling, 2 Knot, 35 Turnstones were also seen. The scrub along the railway South of Severn Beach produced at least 15 Common Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and a Reed Warbler. Another 2 Wheatears, 2 Common Whitethroats and 3 Reed Warblers were reported from Chittening Warth. A Clouded Yellow was seen at Severn Beach.
Ravens, Northwick Warth 18.8.6
August 17th
A day of heavy rain showers produced a reasonable variety of birds. Sightings from the Northwick Warth area included 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Little Egrets, 20 Redshank, 40 Turnstones, 8 Oystercatchers, 3 Common Sandpipers, single Greenshank, Whimbrel and “Commic” Tern, 32 Teal, 5 Wheatears, a Yellow Wagtail, 30 Pied Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Kingfishers and a Lesser Whitethroat. The wader numbers at Severn Beach increased to 350 Dunlin, 260 Ringed Plovers, 38 Turnstones, 18 Oystercatchers, 3 Knot and a Sanderling. Other interesting sightings included a Clouded Yellow, Hummingbird Hawk-moth and a Banded Demoiselle.
August 16th
The adult Mediterranean Gull remained off New Passage where other sightings included 21 Teal, 24 Redshank, 46 Turnstones, 3 Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtails, 30 Pied Wagtails, 4 Wheatears, a Whinchat and 2 Sedge Warblers. A Little Ringed Plover landed on the shore at Severn Beach amongst 160 Dunlin, 190 Ringed Plover, 2 Knot, 2 Greenshanks and 14 Oystercatchers. Other notable sightings here involved 2 migrant Lesser Whitethroats and a Clouded Yellow butterfly.
August 15th
The adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gulls were seen again from New Passage along with 48 Turnstones, 20 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 9 Oystercatchers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 19 Teal, a Common Gull and 3 Grey Wagtails. At least 200 Dunlin, 200 Ringed Plovers, single Sanderling, Knot and Greenshank were seen at Severn Beach.
August 14th
A visit to Severn Beach produced 200 Dunlin, 100 Ringed Plover, 9 Oystercatchers, a juvenile Knot and a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull. Sightings from New Passage included an adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 47 Turnstones, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Oystercatchers, 2 adult Great Black-backed Gulls, 12 Teal, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Lesser Whitethroat.
August 13th
After a week of North or North West wind the birds remain much the same. An adult and a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls were found on Northwick Warth with 250 Black-headed Gulls, 60 Curlew, 4 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, single Whimbrel, Lapwing and Snipe, 4 Teal, 30 Shelduck, 25 Pied Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Swift. There were 180 Dunlin, 80 Ringed Plovers and 2 Sanderling on the shore at Severn Beach.
Black-headed Gull and Mediterranean Gull, Northwick Warth 13.8.6
August 12th
A Greenshank flew over Severn Beach this morning where 150 Dunlin, 70 Ringed Plovers, single Sanderling and Turnstone were also seen. There were 14 Redshank, 52 Turnsones, 10 Oystercatchers, 50 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Teal and an adult Great Black-backed Gull at New Passage. A Small Red-eyed Damselfly remained on the Orchard Pools, Severn Beach.
August 11th
A visit to Severn Beach produced 250 Dunlin, 90 Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstones, 150 Curlew, 10 Oystercatchers, a Sanderling and a summer plumaged Knot. There were 35 Turnstones, 17 Redshank, 11 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Whimbrel, a Sanderling, 7 Teal, 2 Kingfishers and 4 Grey Wagtails at New Passage.
August 10th
Sightings from New Passage included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 61 Turnstones, 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Redshank, 7 Oystercatchers, 3 Teal, 2 Grey Wagtails, single Kingfisher and Wheatear. There were 180 Dunlin, 85 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling and a Sand Martin at Severn Beach.
August 9th
The wader numbers remained much the same at Severn Beach with 200 Dunlin, 60 Ringed Plovers, 2 Turnstones and 2 Whimbrel being seen. A Wheatear was found here this evening. Another 59 Turnstones,18 Redshank, 7 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Wagtails and 4 Teal were seen from New Passage. Three Common Sandpipers were seen at Aust Warth. Four male Small Red-eyed Damselflies were seen again on the Western Approaches Pools at Severn Beach and a pale helice form of Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen at New Passage
August 8th
There were 200 Dunlin, 70 Ringed Plover, 3 Sanderling, 140 Curlew and 12 Oystercatchers on the shore at Severn Beach. Sightings from New Passage included 4 Common Sandpipers, 54 Turnstones, 30 Dunlin, 18 Redshank, 40 Pied Wagtails, 11 Teal, single Common Gull, Peregrine, Grey Wagtail and Raven. Two Clouded Yellows were seen at Severn Beach.
August 7th
Sightings from the Severn Beach shore today included 140 Dunlin, 70 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling, 6 Turnstones and 4 Oystercatchers. A Greenshank was seen this morning and evening at the Orchard Pools. There were 34 Turnstones, 17 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Teal and 2 Grey Wagtails at New Passage. Another 4 Common Sandpipers and a Whimbrel were found at Aust Warth. The Lesser Emperor and a Small Red-eyed Damselfly were seen again on the Orchard pools at Severn Beach. A Grey Seal gave excellent views while it was catching fish close to shore at New Passage this evening.
Grey Seal, New Passage 7.8.6
Greenshank, Orchard Pools 7.8.6
August 6th
A Greenshank, 13 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Oystercatchers, 40 Curlew, 40 Shelduck, a Teal, 400 Black-headed Gulls, a Common Gull and a Peregrine were seen from New Passage. There were 100 Dunlin and 60 Ringed Plovers on the shore at Severn Beach. The Lesser Emperor and a Small Red-eyed Damselfly were seen again on pools at Severn Beach.
August 5th
A 1st summer Caspian Gull and a 3rd summer Yellow-legged Gull were seen at Severn Beach where other sightings included 27 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, a Golden Plover, 110 Curlew and 8 Oystercatchers. Sightings from New Passage included a Tufted Duck on the river, 17 Redshank, 20 Turnstones, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Grey Wagtail, a flyover Tree Pipit and an early returning Merlin. The first Wheatear of the autumn was seen on Northwick Warth and 6 Common Sandpipers were found in Cake Pill, Aust Warth. There was some excitement this afternoon at Severn Beach for dragonfly enthusiasts with a male Lesser Emperor and a Small Red-eyed Damselfly being found on the Orchard Pools and at least 4 other Small Red-eyed Damselflies being seen on the “Western Approaches“ pools. Both of these vagrant species were the first records for Severnside.
Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Orchard Pools 5.8.6
August 4th
The juvenile Mediterranean Gull remained at New Passage where a Little Egret, 17 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Dunlin, single Whimbrel, Teal and Grey Wagtail. Another 3 Whimbrel, single Common Sandpiper and Clouded Yellow were seen at Aust Warth. There were 17 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshank, 8 Oystercatchers and another Clouded Yellow butterfly at Severn Beach.
August 3rd
A visit to Severn Beach produced 5 Sanderling, 30 Dunlin, 19 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 9 Oystercatchers, 140 Curlew, single adult Grey Plover, adult Knot and a Whimbrel. Sightings from New Passage included an adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 40 Turnstones, 22 Dunlin, 10 Redshank, 42 Curlew, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings, a Common Sandpiper and a Clouded Yellow butterfly.
August 2nd
A visit to New Passage produced an adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Sandpipers, 40 Curlew, 24 Turnstones, 21 Dunlin, 11 Redshank, 3 Oystercatchers, a Ringed Plover and 29 Pied Wagtails. Another 6 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin and a Whimbrel were seen at Aust Warth.
August 1st
The adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gulls remained at New Passage along with 5 Common Sandpipers, 19 Turnstones, 18 Dunlin, 8 Redshank, 4 Lapwings, an Oystercatcher and an escaped green Budgerigar. Severn Beach remained quiet with single Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Oystercatcher. Another 9 Common Sandpipers, a Whimbrel and a Peregrine were seen at Cake Pill, Aust Warth.
