page views

July is the equal quietest month on Severnside with only 146 species having been recorded. It does have a more optimistic feeling to it than June, with the appearance of returning waders and in recent years the regular appearance of Little Egret, Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls (usually towards the end of the month). Unusual species seen have included dispersing Crossbill, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Goshawk and a Stone Curlew (1999). A good July gale has yet to happen but could produce some real seabird goodies....

July 2007

July 31st
The early autumn migrants at New Passage included a Little Egret, a Grey Plover, 90 Dunlin, 55 Turnstones, 41 Curlew, 22 Oystercatchers, 6 Common Sandpipers, 22 Redshank, 2 Shoveler, 4 Yellow Wagtails, single Lesser Whitethroat, Kingfisher, Raven and Hobby. A visit to Severn Beach produced 2 Wheatears, another Yellow Wagtail, 15 Dunlin and a Whimbrel.

July 30th
Reports from New Passage included 60 Dunlin, 27 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, 10 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Wagtails, a Kingfisher and a juvenile Redstart. Two Whimbrel, 80 Curlew, 10 Dunlin and a Peregrine were seen at Severn Beach.

July 29th
Sightings from New Passage included the first juvenile Mediterranean Gull of the year, 52 Dunlin, 21 Redshank, 25 Turnstones, 10 Oystercatchers, 3 Common Sandpipers and a Ringed Plover. Another 17 Dunlin were seen at Severn Beach.

July 28th
A brief visit to New Passage produced an adult Mediterranean Gull that flew down river, a Common Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit, 32 Dunlin, 23 Turnstones, 17 Redshank, 12 Oystercatchers and 2 Grey Wagtails. A Mediterranean Gull was seen at Chittening Warth.

July 27th
Sightings from New Passage included 2 Sanderling, 6 Common Sandpipers, 23 Redshank, 16 Dunlin, 15 Turnstones and 20 Oystercatchers. A Little Owl and Lesser Whitethroat were seen on Northwick Warth. Just one Dunlin was present at Severn Beach on the evening high tide.

July 26th
The only reports on a wet and windy day were 25 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover at Severn Beach.

July 25th
Reports from New Passage today involved 2 Common Sandpipers, 22 Redshank, 5 Dunlin, 2 Turnstones, 15 Oystercatchers, 22 Curlew, 200 Black-headed Gulls and a Whinchat on tree stumps near the sluice.

                                
                                                                     Whinchat, New Passage 25.7.7                             

July 24th
A dry and sunny day, the first for some time. Sightings from New Passage included 3 Common Sandpipers, 14 Oystercatchers, 17 Redshank, 8 Turnstones, 7 Dunlin, 3 Whimbrel and 3 Grey Wagtails.

July 23rd
The only reports from New Passage in a North wind and rain were 3 Common Sandpipers, 14 Redshank, 12 Oystercatchers and a Turnstone.

July 22nd
A Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Redshank, 5 Turnstones, 6 Common Sandpipers, 8 Oystercatchers, single Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher were seen from New Passage. A Green Sandpiper was found on one of the many wet pools on Northwick Warth created by the unseasonal heavy rain.

July 21st
A drier day. Sightings from New Passage included 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Common Sandpipers, a Whimbrel, 17 Redshank, 5 Dunlin, 14 Oystercatchers, 140 Black-headed Gulls, a Common Gull and a Yellow Wagtail. A visit to Severn Beach produced 4 Turnstones, 3 Dunlin, a Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 80 Curlew and a Lesser Whitethroat.     

                           
                                                                                          Turnstones, Severn Beach 21.7.7

July 20th
Torrential rain prevented any decent birding today. A brief, low tide visit to New Passage this evening produced just 6 Redshank, several Shelduck broods and 100 Black-headed Gulls.

July 19th
The only report was from New Passage where a Black-tailed Godwit, 18 Redshank, a Common Sandpiper, 7 Dunlin, 8 Oystercatchers, 40 Curlew and 200 Black-headed Gulls were seen.

July 18th
Reports from New Passage included 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Common Sandpipers, 6 Turnstone, a Redshank, 13 Dunlin, 14 Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew and 150 Black-headed Gulls. At least 100 Curlew and 3 Whimbrel were seen from Severn Beach.

July 17th
A day of thunder storms and heavy showers. Sightings from New Passage included 3 Common Sandpipers, 15 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 2 Turnstones, 21 Oystercatchers and 90 Curlew. A Whimbrel was seen  from Severn Beach.

July 16th
A Greenshank, 3 Redshank, 5 Common Sandpipers, 2 Dunlin and 15 Oystercatchers were seen from New  Passage this morning. At least 60 Curlew were seen from Severn Beach. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained on the square pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works. A Small Red-eyed Damselfly was found at the Orchard Pools.

July 15th
Another “summer”day of torrential rain. Sightings between the down pours included a flock of 7 Common Sandpipers with 6 Redshank, 20 Curlew and 18 Oystercatchers at New Passage. A juvenile Whinchat and a Manx Shearwater corpse were found on Northwick Warth. A 1st summer Mediterranean Gull and another 2 Common Sandpipers were seen at Aust Warth. At least 100 Curlew were roosting at Chittening Warth this evening.

July 14th
Little change today with 4 Common Sandpipers, 8 Dunlin, 6 Redshank, 20 Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew, a Whimbrel, a Lapwing, 3 Shoveler, 2 Ravens and 160 Black-headed Gulls reported from New Passage.

July 13th
Sightings from New Passage included 4 Common Sandpipers, 7 Redshank, 17 Oystercatchers, 9 Curlew, 3 Shoveler, 3 Grey Wagtails and at least 100 Black-headed Gulls. The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

July 12th
The only report today was from New Passage where sightings included 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin, 10 Oystercatchers, single Redshank, Hobby and Kingfisher.

July 11th
An adult Mediterranean Gull, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Sandpipers, 6 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 9 Oystercatchers, 6 Curlew, a Kingfisher and 80 Black-headed Gulls were seen from New Passage. Another Black-tailed Godwit, single Whimbrel and Redshank, at least 90 Curlew, 8 Oystercatchers and 60 Black-headed Gulls were seen from Severn Beach. A Common Sandpiper and 5 Redshank were seen at Aust Warth.
The drake Ring-necked Duck, 2 Green Sandpipers and 2 Lapwings were seen at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

July 10th
The only reports today were from New Passage where an exhausted Fulmar was seen on the shore along with 40 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 12 Oystercatchers, 5 Curlew, 2 Teal and 20 Shelduck.

July 9th
Autumn appears to have started early with a good variety of birds today. A Great Skua was seen at Chittening Warth this morning. Sightings from New Passage included a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, a Greenshank, 4 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, single Dunlin and Lapwing, 70 Black-headed Gulls including 5 juveniles, 30 Shelduck, a Hobby, a Kingfisher and 3 Grey Wagtails. A Peregrine was seen at Severn Beach. The drake Ring-necked Duck and 5 Green Sandpipers were reported from Avonmouth Sewage Works.

July 8th
Few reports were received on dry and settled day. There were 2 Common Sandpipers, a Redshank, 17 Oystercatchers, 32 Shelduck, 50 Black-headed Gulls and a Grey Wagtail were seen at New Passage. Another 3 Common Sandpipers were seen at Chittening Warth.

July 7th
At least 2 Storm Petrels showed well this morning from the sea wall at Severn Beach where an adult Gannet flew North over the Severn Crossing. Other sightings from the Severn Beach included single Redshank, Ringed Plover and Hobby. A juvenile Wheatear, 22 Oystercatchers, a Lapwing, the usual Shelduck including 4 young were seen on Northwick Warth. Two Common Sandpipers were seen at New Passage. Another 5 Redshank were seen at Aust Warth. The drake Ring-necked Duck remained anchored to the square pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.         

                 
                                                                Redshank, Severn Beach 7.7.7

                             
                                                                                 Storm Petrel, Severn Beach 7.7.7
                                                 Yet another Storm Petrel. Perhaps this will be the last day they are here?

July 6th
A drier, sunny day with a moderate strength West wind. Storm Petrels were once again the main feature of the day with a minimum of 12 birds but perhaps many more. At least 6 were on view at Severn Beach at the same time as another 6 further down the coast, close to the southern end of Chittening Warth. The only other seabirds reported today were single Fulmar and Manx Shearwater off Severn Beach and 3 Common Terns at Chittening Warth. Other sightings from Severn Beach included 2 Peregrines trying to catch the Petrels, a Great Black-backed Gull and 10 Oystercatchers. There were 2 Ringed Plovers at Chittening Warth, 18 Oystercatchers, a Redshank, 32 Shelduck and 20 Black-headed Gulls at New Passage.

                               
                                                                    Storm Petrel, Severn Beach 6.7.7
                                            Still giving close views today. This was one of 3 still present 4 hours
                                                          after high tide over rock pools near the 2nd Severn Crossing.                                  
July 5th
The unsettled weather continues. Sightings from Severn Beach this morning produced at least 2 Storm Petrels, a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, 80 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Dunlin. A Little Egret, 17 Oystercatchers and 30 Shelduck were seen from New Passage.The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

                    
                                                                     Storm Petrel, Severn Beach 5.7.7

                    
                                                                  Storm Petrel, Severn Beach 5.7.7
                    
                                                                            Storm Petrel, Severn Beach 5.7.7
                                              This individual landed in the salt marsh and appeared to be exhausted but then
                                               flew off strongly back out on to the river and continued to  “patter” as usual.

July 4th
A sea watch from Severn Beach this morning in a strong South West wind produced a Storm Petrel, 36 Manx Shearwaters, 2 sub-adult Gannets, a juvenile Black-headed Gull and a Peregrine. Sightings from New Passage included 30 Curlew, 18 Oystercatchers, 25 Shelduck and another juvenile Black-headed Gull.The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Avonmouth Sewage Works. An evening sea watch from Severn Beach produced 2 Storm Petrels together in the “Burger Bar Bay”.

                                                            
                                                                       Gannet, Severn Beach 4.7.7
July 3rd
There was no improvement in the weather with thunderstorms and torrential rain. The only reports from Severn Beach involved 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 40 Black-headed Gulls including a juvenile. Sightings from New Passage included 2 Common Sandpipers, 14 Oystercatchers, 44 Curlew and 30 Shelduck.The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

July 2nd
The unsettled weather produced 150 Manx Shearwaters, single dark morph Arctic Skua, adult Gannet, Fulmar and adult Kittiwake from Severn Beach where the only other reports involved 30 Shelduck, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 15 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Curlew and 5 Dunlin. There were 5 Redshank, 20 Oystercatchers, 51 Curlew, 44 Shelduck and 3 Gadwall off New Passage.The drake Ring-necked Duck was still on the Square Pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.

July 1st
The wet and windy weather continued. Sea watching from Severn Beach produced just single Little Tern and Common Tern but not the hoped for Yellow-nosed Albatross that was released 20 or so miles further down the coast on Brean Down yesterday afternoon The only other reports from Severn Beach involved 36 Shelduck, 12 Oystercatchers and 5 Gadwall. More details of the Albatross can be seen by clicking here. Little was reported from New Passage other than 22 Oystercatchers, 38 Curlew, 44 Shelduck and 22 Black-headed Gulls. A Raven was seen over Chittening Warth.The drake Ring-necked Duck and female Goldeneye were still on the square roadside pool at Avonmouth Sewage Works.