February is generally another quiet month with only a total of 157 species recorded. Gales in this month have produced Storm and Leach’s Petrel, Pomarine Skua and all records of Puffin. Other rarities seen include Spoonbill (2004), Bittern (2011&2012), Avocets, Ring-billed Gull (1987), Great Grey Shrike (1999,2000,2004), Shorelark (2004) and Cirl Bunting (1943).
February 2015
28th February
A quiet end to the month with just 120 Shelduck, 4 Tufted Duck, 80 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 6 Canada Geese, 150 Dunlin, 110 Curlew, 30 Lapwing, a Little Egret, single Merlin and Peregrine, 8 Stock Doves, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff were reported from the New Passage area. A Barn Owl was seen at the Western Approaches business park at Severn Beach late afternoon.
27th February
Reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area involved 136 Shelduck, 8 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck, a Shoveler, 2 Little Egrets, a Water Rail, 40 Oystercatchers, 22 Lapwing, 200 Dunlin, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Curlew, 70 Redshank, 3 Stock Doves, 60 Pied Wagtails, single Water Pipit, Grey Wagtail and Chiffchaff.
26th February
An impressive 160 Shelduck were seen from New Passage late afternoon where a Little Egret and 70 Wigeon were also present.
25th February
Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area involved 9 Canada Geese, 123 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, a Little Grebe, 16 Oystercatchers, 90 Dunlin, 65 Curlew, 29 Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Redshank, a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail.
24th February
No reports were received today.
23rd February
A day of strong wind/rain/hail/sleet and snow. A brief visit to New Passage produced 110 Shelduck, the usual Wigeon/Teal flock, 50 Turnstones, 500+ Dunlin, 130+ Oystercatchers and 40 Redshank. A single flock of 26 Kittiwakes, 50 Turnstones, 11 Ringed Plover, 100 Dunlin and 6 Rock Pipits were seen from the shore at Severn Beach and a male Blackcap remained in the village.
22nd February
Combined reports from Northwick Warth included a Merlin, that was seen to make spectacular chase of a Dunlin over the the high tide and successfully capture it over the water, 2 hunting adult Peregrines, 600+ Wigeon/Teal, a female Pintail, 8 Canada Geese, 95 Shelduck, 200 Curlew, 160 Oystercatchers, 500+ Dunlin, 45 Redshank and a Stonechat. Another Stonechat was seen at Aust Warth. A male Blackcap was seen feeding in a Severn Beach garden.
Merlin, Northwick Warth 22.2.15 © Mark Coller
21st February
An even higher (14.65m) spring tide this morning produced our first February record of Green-winged Teal at Aust Warth where other sightings included a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, 3 Snipe and 2 Stonechats. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth area involved a Little Egret, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 105 Oystercatchers, 500 Dunlin, 130 Redshank, 90 Lapwing, 4 Shoveler, single Water Pipit and Blackcap. A Jack Snipe, 65 Turnstones, 20 Redshank, 250 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, 20 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, single Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, Rock Pipit and Siskin were seen at Severn Beach.
Short-eared Owl, Aust Warth 21.2.15 © Brian Thompson
20th February
A massive 14.5 metre high spring tide conicided with dense fog this morning but still produced a Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, a Jack Snipe and 2 Stonechats at Aust Warth. Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area included 120+ Shelduck, 500+ Wigeon, 100 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 27 Canada Geese, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 60 Oystercatchers, 600 Dunlin, 22 Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Curlew, 40 Redshank and a Stonechat. Another Stonechat was seen at Severn Beach.
19th February
No reports were received today.
18th February
At least 1200 Dunlin, 22 Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Oystercatchers, 200 Lapwing, 2 Little Egrets, 74 Shelduck and the usual Wigeon/Teal flock were reported from New Passage. Two Ravens were seen at Aust Warth. Another 18 Shelduck, 32 Oystercatchers and a Jack Snipe were present at Chittening Warth and nearby 4 Tufted Duck, a Little Egret and 2 Water Rails were were reported at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach.
17th February
No reports were received today.
16th February
At least 550 Wigeon/Teal, 54 Shelduck, 22 Canada Geese, single Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Little Egret, 22 Coot, 68 Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Lapwing, 15 Dunlin, 38 Curlew, 15 Redshank and a Stonechat were reported from the Northwick Warth area. A Water Rail, 4 Tufted Duck and a Little Egret were reported at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach.
15th February
Much of the same today with 3 Canada Geese, 430 Wigeon, 110 Teal, a Pintail, 8 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 50 Shelduck, 2 Little Egrets, 65 Black-tailed Godwits, 150 Lapwing, 40 Redshank, 30 Dunlin, 45 Pied Wagtails and a Water Pipit being reported from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area.
14th February
Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland area included 65 Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Dunlin, 300 Lapwing, 90 Curlew, a Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, 17 Canada Geese, 60 Shelduck, 350 Wigeon, 120 Teal, 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Gadwall, 2 drake Pintail, a Water Pipit, 60 Pied Wagtails, a male Stonechat, 3 Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk.
13th February
No reports were received today.
12th February
Sightings from New Passage involved 4 Little Egrets, 300+ Lapwing, 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, just 2 Shelduck, 230 Wigeon, 120 Teal and a male Stonechat. At least 24 Shelduck, 40 Oystercatchers, 200 Dunlin, 10 Redshank and 40 Turnstones were reported at Severn Beach. Another 15 Shelduck, 30 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 300 Dunlin, 20 Curlew, 2 Water Rails and a Peregrine were reported from Aust Warth.
11th February
Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage/Northwick Warth area included a Water Pipit, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 220 Lapwing, 160 Dunlin, 60 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 7 Canada Geese, 15 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 5 Tufted Duck, at least 3 Water Rails and a male Stonechat. Another Water Rail and Stonechat were reported at Severn Beach.
10th February
Reports from the New Passage area included 15 Canada Geese, 20 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 10 Tufted Duck, a Little Egret, 75 Lapwing, 70 Dunlin and 65 Curlew. Another 500 Lapwing and 3 Snipe were seen at Aust Warth. A Water Rail, 3 Shoveler and 3 Tufted Duck were reported at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach.
9th February
Another morning of dense fog clearing by midday to bright sunshine. Much of the same was seen and heard at the Pilning Wetland/New Passage/Northwick Warth area including 34 Black-tailed Godwits, 600+ Dunlin, 130 Oystercatchers, 80 Lapwing, 90 Curlew, 8 Snipe, 3 Little Egrets, 19 Canada Geese, 4 Tufted Duck, 5 Gadwall, 18 Shelduck, 230 Teal, 500+ Wigeon, 23 Coot, a Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Ravens, 3 Buzzards and a male Stonechat. At least 300 Dunlin and 13 Ringed Plover were seen at Severn Beach.
8th February
A foggy day with poor visibility until mid afternoon and low tide. Reports from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included 12 Canada Geese, 220 Teal, 500 Wigeon, 13 Shelduck, a Little Egret, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, just 30 Dunlin, 7 Snipe, 80 Lapwing, 70 Curlew, 100+ Oystercatchers, 3 Water Rails, a Cetti’s Warbler and 2 adult Peregrines. A Short-eared Owl, 2 Jack Snipe, 2 Stonechats, single Raven and Peregrine were reported at Aust Warth. At least 700 Jackdaws were seen to go to roost at Hoar Gout/VOSA Pool near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
7th February
A -1°C frosty dawn followed by a cloudy grey day. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth/New Passage area involved the first Great Crested Grebe on the river for 2 years, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Little Grebes, 20+ Coot, 7 Canada Geese, 18 Shelduck, 180 Wigeon, 80 Teal, a drake Pochard (with the Wigeon), 14 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, 13 Tufted Duck, 2 Water Rails, a calling Cetti’s Warbler (Wetland reed bed), 14 Snipe, 60 Lapwing, 80 Dunlin, 50 Oystercatchers, 70 Curlew, 40 Redshank, 2 flyover Siskins, single Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and male Stonechat. Another 300+ Dunlin, 20 Turnstones and male Stonechat were seen at Severn Beach.
Snipe, Pilning Wetland 7.2.15
only the 2nd occasion we have trapped and ringed one here
6th February
Sightings from Pilning Wetland this evening included 70 Lapwing, 90 Curlew, 20+ Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Water Rails, 4 Canada Geese, 6 Shoveler, 12 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 20 Coot, single Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Stonechat.
5th February
No reports were received today.
4th February
Sightings from New Passage involved just 120+ Oystercatchers, 40 Redshank, 200+ Wigeon, 50 Teal and 50 Shelduck.
3rd February
Just 60 Shelduck, 40 Redshank and 70 Oystercatchers were reported from a cold wind swept New Passage. An impressive 1000+ Jackdaws were seen going to roost at dusk at Hoar Gout near Avonmouth Sewage Works.
2nd February
Combined reports from the New Passage/Northwick Warth area involved 2000+ Dunlin, 32 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Knot, 80 Lapwing, 100 Curlew, 60 Oystercatchers, 50 Lapwing, 350+ Wigeon, 70 Teal, 5 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck, 6 Shoveler, 60 Shelduck, a Little Grebe, 3 Water Rails, 20+ Coot, 6 Moorhens, 2 Siskins, single Stonechat, male Sparrowhawk and Grey Wagtail. The male Blackcap remained in a Severn Beach garden.
1st February
The only reports were from Severn Beach of 3 Little Egrets at the Orchard Pools and a male Blackcap and 2 Reed Buntings feeding on a garden bird table with the usual Tit flock.
