September is one of the most exciting months to visit Severnside. The total of 175 species seen at least once in this month, is the third highest in the year. It is the time when most of the summer visitors will depart and a good selection of early winter visitors will arrive towards the end of the month. The weather will be very changeable, rain and gale force winds are to be expected, but calm warm days will also occur. Any West or South West gales will produce the usual seabirds but the more exotic have occurred; Sooty Shearwater (1974), Balearic Shearwater (1988), Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull. Other rarities that have appeared in September include; Red-crested Pochard (2 in 1996), Honey Buzzard (1996), Dotterel (1974), White-rumped Sandpiper (1985), Pectoral Sandpiper (1998), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (1989), Terek Sandpiper (1986), Red-rumped Swallow (1977). Local rarities include Osprey, Hawfinch (1998), Willow Tit (1992), Nightingale (1999) and Ring Ouzel (2001).
September 2003
September 30th
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper continued to show well on Northwick Warth. Other birds seen here included two Wheatears, 5 Snipe and a Black-tailed Godwit. Nearby at New Passage the adult Mediterranean Gull and Yellow-legged Gull were still present with a Greenshank. At Severn Beach there were still 300 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plovers with a Little Stint and 10 Grey Plover in the wader roost. A Black Redstart was reported here on rocks.
September 29th
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper remained loyal to it’s usual spot on Northwick Warth and continued to attract visitors all day. Other birds seen here today included the adult Mediterranean Gull, 4 Wheatears, 3 Snipe and a flock of 200 Meadow Pipits. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen near here in the pill at New Passage. Further down the estuary at Severn Beach the Dunlin flock increased to 350 birds with 2 Little Stints and 12 Ringed Plover. A Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen on Northwick Warth this afternoon.
September 28th
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still present at Northwick Warth on the short grass and salt marsh from the north sentry box. Other birds seen here included an adult Mediterranean Gull, 8 Snipe, single Greenshank and Bar-tailed Godwit. Other migrants included 2 Wheatears, 2 Stonechats, 5 Redpolls, a Rock Pipit and 3 Sand Martins. At Severn Beach there were 300 Dunlin and 2 Little Stints at the high tide roost and 2 more Stonechats were seen at the Orchard Pools and another was in the reed bed below Aust Cliff. Two Little Owls were calling from near the railway platform at dusk. Clouded Yellow butterflies were seen at Severn Beach and New Passage this afternoon.
September 27th
A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found this morning on Northwick Warth and showed well until late afternoon. This was the third Severnside record of this rare American arctic wader. Other birds seen over the very high tide on Northwick Warth included 3 Mediterranean Gulls (two adults, one second winter), 200 Curlew, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Redshank, a Greenshank, 2 Snipe, 3 Wheatears, 2 Ravens, a Lesser Redpoll and the first Merlin of the autumn. The wader roost at Severn Beach was similar to yesterday, with a Little Stint, at least 200 Dunlin and 6 Ringed Plover. Another Wheatear was seen here and a reasonable number of Blackcaps. The Ruddy Shelduck was seen again early afternoon on the incinerator pool near Avonmouth Sewage works.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Northwick Warth 27.9.3
September 26th
The Severn Beach wader roost increased to 250 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plover and a Little Stint. An adult Yellow-legged Gull and Stonechat were also seen here. The adult Mediterranean Gull reappeared at New Passage along with single Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit and Kingfisher.
September 25th
The wader roost at Severn Beach contained a Little Stint, 160 Dunlin and 12 Ringed Plover. A Stonechat was also seen here. At New Passage there were single Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank and Kingfisher. A Green Sandpiper was in Stupp Pill at Chittening Warth.
September 24th
A night with a clear sky resulted in the quietest day for several months. A flock of 50 Dunlin were seen at Northwick Warth this morning, at least 40 Dunlin and 11 Ringed Plovers were at Severn Beach this evening where a Little Owl was heard calling from near the railway station. Little else could be found despite searching.
September 23rd
An early morning visit to Severn Beach in bright sunshine with a cold north west wind, produced a Little Stint and 75 Dunlin. Other waders seen here included 200 Curlew, 40 Oystercatchers, 3 Turnstones and just a single Ringed Plover. Two Wheatears were seen at Severn Beach and another was on Northwick Warth. A Kingfisher, Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit were seen at New Passage. This Little Stint was still present this evening t Severn Beach with 4 Golden Plover and 220 Dunlin.
September 22nd
The Mediterranean Gull remained at New Passage with a Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 20 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plovers, single Kingfisher, Hobby and Wheatear. There was another Green Sandpiper at Chittening Warth with an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Pintail. The Ruddy Shelduck was seen again on the incinerator pool at Avonmouth Sewage treatment works.
September 21st
Another fine settled morning produced notable falls of migrants at both the Orchard Pools, Severn Beach and at New Passage. Dozens of Blackcaps were present with, Chiffchaffs and Song Thrushes. The Mediterranean Gull and 2 Spotted Flycatchers were still at New Passage. A Hobby was seen early morning at Severn Beach with 300 House Martins. This afternoon there was mixed flock of 70 Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, 6 Wheatears and a Whinchat here. A Greenshank was feeding along the tide line on Northwick Warth late afternoon. The Ruddy Shelduck was relocated early afternoon on the square incinerator pool near Avonmouth Sewage treatment works.
September 20th
A Ruddy Shelduck landed briefly on the Grebe Pond at Northwick Warth this morning where a Kingfisher and a Golden Plover were also seen. At New Passage there were still 2 Spotted Flycatchers in the pines, the adult Mediterranean Gull and a Black-tailed Godwit were near the pill. There was a definite feel of autumn with fly over migrants including Reed Buntings, Jackdaws, Pied Wagtails, Grey Wagtails and a few Siskins. A walk along the railway scrub at Severn Beach produced at least 10 Blackcaps and an influx of Robins, Dunnocks and a Raven.
Ruddy Shelduck, Northwick Warth 20.9.3
September 19th
A Ruddy Shelduck was seen twice in flight at Northwick Warth this morning. Other birds seen here today included a Green Sandpiper and 2 each of Hobby, Whinchat, Wheatear and Snipe. An adult Yellow-legged Gull joined the Mediterranean Gull in the pill at New Passage. Two Spotted Flycatchers were present in the pines here. At Severn Beach a Peregrine disturbed the wader roost that comprised of 75 Dunlin, 50 Ringed Plover and 6 Knot.
September 18th
The Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank and Kingfisher were still present at New Passage this morning. Two Wheatears were seen on Northwick Warth, one on Aust Warth and another 4 at Severn Beach. Other birds seen at Severn Beach included 40 Dunlin, 35 Ringed Plover, 6 Knot, a Green Sandpiper and a Spotted Flycatcher.
September 17th
A quiet day today in fine dry weather. At Severn Beach there were 55 Dunlin and 40 Ringed Plover. Nearby there were 2 Knot on Chittening Warth. The usual Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank, Kingfisher and a Spotted Flycatcher were seen at New Passage. There were 2 Snipe and 2 Wheatears at Northwick Warth.
September 16th
The adult Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper remained at New Passage with 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a Kingfisher. The wader roost at Severn Beach comprised of 25 Ringed Plover and 30 Dunlin and a Stonechat was seen near the “pipes”.
September 15th
The first Stonechat of the autumn was seen at New Passage along with the “resident” Mediterranean Gull. A Greenshank was in the pill here with a Green Sandpiper. At least 3 Lesser Whitethroats were seen along Northwick Warth. At Severn Beach the wader roost comprised of just 20 Ringed Plover and 15 Dunlin. Another 3 Lesser Whitethroats were seen here with at least 25 Blackcaps. A Kingfisher was sen at the Orchard Pools, Severn Beach.
September 14th
A large flock of 88 Black-tailed Godwits were present at Severn Beach on the incoming tide along with 6 Knot, 50 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plover, 4 Wigeon, a Whinchat and a Wheatear. Seven Black-tailed Godwits were seen in the roosting Curlew flock on Northwick Warth. Other birds here included single Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear and Spotted Flycatcher. At New Passage a Kingfisher was in the pill and another Spotted Flycatcher was seen in the pines.
September 13th
There were less birds than yesterday but a few notable migrants were still found in warm settled weather. At Severn Beach single Redstart, Whinchat and 2 Common Terns were seen. On Northwick Warth there were 2 Wheatears, single Whinchat and Spotted Flycatcher. The adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Greenshank, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and a Hobby were seen at New Passage. Although Little Grebes are now resident on pools on Severnside, a juvenile swimming on the River Severn at New Passage was a rare sight. A Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen on the rifle range at Northwick Warth.
Spotted Flycatcher, Northwick Warth 13.9.3 Mediterranean Gull, New Passage 13.9.3
September 12th
An early morning walk down the sea wall at Severn Beach produced just one Wheatear. A walk up the sea wall at Northwick Warth was far more productive with 6 Whinchats, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, a moulting male Redstart, 2 each of Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat and Tree Pipit. At Aust Warth there were another 2 Whinchat, a Reed Warbler and a Common Sandpiper. The adult Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank another Common Sandpiper were present late afternoon at New Passage.
September 11th
The Greenshank, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Sandpiper and Kingfisher remained in the pill at New Passage, a Wheatear was seen here on the sea wall. Two Spotted Flycatchers were seen in “the Glen” here. Migrants on Northwick Warth included a Wheatear, 2 Whinchats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 100 plus Meadow Pipits. A Hobby was seen chasing the local Swallows at Old Passage. The wader roost at Severn Beach doubled in size this morning to 4 Ringed Plovers This evening six Dunlin flew off from Chittening Warth with a large Curlew flock after being shot at by morons with 12 bores! At least two of the Curlew were injured.
September 10th
The usual adult Mediterranean Gull, Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank were on Northwick Warth today along with single Snipe, Hobby, Knot, 3 Wheatears, 2Lesser Whitethroats and 50 Meadow Pipits. Two Spotted Flycatchers and 3 Wigeon remained at the Orchard Pools, Severn Beach. A Peregrine was seen at Chittening Warth. The evening wader roost at Severn Beach consisted of just 2 Ringed Plover.
September 9th
A good selection of birds were seen today. In the Northwick Warth / New Passage area notable sightings included adult Mediterranean Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull, single Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, 2 Redstarts, 8 Whinchats, 6 Wheatears, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Kingfisher. There were 2 Spotted Flycatchers and 3 Wigeon at the Orchard Pools, Severn Beach. A Green Sandpiper was seen at Chittening Warth.
September 8th
The Black-tailed Godwit remained at Northwick Warth with 2 Knot, 5 Yellow Wagtails and 4 Wheatears. Another Wheatear was on Aust Warth. Single Spotted Flycatcher and Lesser Whitethroat were seen at the Severn Beach and 3 Whinchats were present at Chittening Warth. The evening wader roost at Severn Beach was quite small with 30 Ringed Plover and 25 Dunlin present. The adult Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank and a Kingfisher were seen at New Passage in the evening. Two Clouded Yellow butterflies remained at New Passage.
September 7th
An early morning walk at Severn Beach in fine sunny weather was very productive. An obvious“ fall” of migrants had occurred overnight with the second Wryneck in a week being the star bird. It was seen on the cinder track by “the pipes” and sunning itself on brambles, before disappearing into bushes. Migrants included Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Buntings, 4 Whinchat, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, many Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Robins. A Peregrine and a Black-tailed Godwit were seen off the beach. A few more migrants were seen on Northwick Warth; 2 each of Lesser Whitethroat, Snipe and Wheatear. A Little Egret was in the pill at New Passage.
September 6th
At Severn Beach, a Grasshopper Warbler was seen this morning, in the long grass between the seawall and the railway. Other birds here included a Sedge Warbler and Blackcaps. Further up the coast at New Passage, the first Pied Flycatcher of the year was found. Additional migrants here included single Common Sandpiper, Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat and Lesser Whitethroat. There were 4 Wheatears, single Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit and Yellow Wagtail on Northwick Warth. Another 3 Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank and 4 Whinchats were seen at Aust Warth. The afternoon high tide at Severn Beach produced 100 Dunlin, 50 Ringed Plover, a juvenile Knot, Peregrine, a Manx Shearwater and 3 drake Common Scoters in a moderate south west wind. A Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen at New Passage.
Three Whinchats, Aust Warth 6.9.3
September 5th
The adult Mediterranean Gull remained at New Passage this afternoon. Other birds seen here or nearby on Northwick Warth included Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Kingfisher, Yellow Wagtail and Lesser Whitethroat. The mixed Dunlin and Ringed Plover flock at Severn Beach ncreased to 100 birds. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen at the Orchard Pools and a Whinchat was present near Chittening Warth.
September 4th
The first Turtle Dove of the year was found at New Passage this morning with Collared Doves. It was last seen flying inland towards the Rifle Range entrance. Other birds here included 2 Spotted Flycatchers, single Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Yellow Wagtail and Kingfisher. The adult Mediterranean Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were seen here late afternoon. At Severn Beach, a colour ringed Little Egret was seen (Green ring on left leg, yellow ring on the right). There were only 6 Ringed Plovers, 3 Dunlin and an adult Grey Plover in the wader roost here. Two Clouded Yellow butterflies were seen at New Passage this morning.
September 3rd
The Black-tailed Godwit remained on Northwick Warth with a Snipe, 2 Whinchat and 2 Wheaters. Nearby there were 2 Yellow Wagtails, single Greenshank, Kingfisher and Spotted Flycatcher at New Passage this morning, the adult Mediterranean Gull reappeared here in the afternoon. The usual mixed flock of 300 Dunlin and Ringed Plover were still at Severn Beach with a single Knot. Other migrants here included 2 Wheatears, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 3 Spotted Flycatchers.
September 2nd
There were 2 Redstarts on Northwick Warth (moulting male & a female) with a Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Wheatears. At New Passage a Little Egret and Greenshank were in the Pill with the adult Mediterranean Gull and 5 Knot in the area. At the Orchard Pools, Severn Beach, there were 3 Spotted Flycatchers and a Tree Pipit. Six Lesser Whitethroats were seen today and a Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen at New Passage.
Greenshank, New Passage 2.9.3
September 1st
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage along with a Greenshank and a fly over Hobby. On Northwick Warth sightings included a moulting male Redstart and 6 Wheatears and a Snipe. The wader roost at Severn Beach remained the same with a mixed flock of 300 Dunlin and Ringed Plover, 4 Wheatears and a Whinchat were the only notable migrants seen here today.
