2025 Sightings

2025 SIGHTINGS

July is one of the quietest months on Severnside with only 164 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 Mediterranean Gulls and Great White Egrets. Unusual species seen have included Cory’s Shearwater (2023), Glossy Ibis (2019), Cattle Egret (2017,2020), Spoonbill (2022), Temminck’s Stint (2017), Black-winged Stilt (2021), dispersing Crossbill, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Goshawk and a Stone Curlew (1999). A spell of strong SW or W wind usually produces a few Storm Petrels and Manx Shearwaters.

Click on the calendar pictures below for previous month’s sightings..........

8th July
A warm and sunniest day of the year so far. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included a Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpipers, 5+ Little Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin, 24 Redshank, 12 Lapwing, 60+ Curlew, 12 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 4 Canada Geese, 4 Mute swans, 2 Shelduck and the crèche of 30+ ducklings, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 380+ Black-headed Gulls, single Kestrel and Grey Wagtail. At least 12 Curlew, 23 Oystercatchers, 7 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 20+ Canada Geese, 48 Shelduck (including 2 groups of 16 and 2 ducklings), 4 Coot and a Little Grebe were seen from the sea wall at Severn Beach.

7th July
A cloudy start then warm and sunny with a North West breeze. An adult Mediterranean Gull, 5+ Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlin, 25 Redshank, 11 Lapwing, 3 Curlew, 11 Oystercatchers, 5 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egret, 4 Canada Geese, 4 Mute Swans, a pair of Shelduck with 20+ ducklings, 100+ Black-headed Gulls and a Kestrel were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area.

6th July
A mixture of cloud and sunshine with occasional rain showers. At least 8 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Lapwing, 13 Redshank, single Curlew and Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Canada Geese, 4 Mute Swans, 38+ Shelduck (a pair with a crèche of at least 36 ducklings), single Kestrel and Grey Wagtail were seen in the New Passage/Pilning Wetland area. Two Curlew, a few Oystercatchers, a Little Egret and 22 Shelduck were seen from the Severn Beach shore.

Shelduck and ducklings, New Passage 6.7.25

5th July
A breezy and mainly cloudy day. Combined reports from the Severn Beach shore included 10 Curlew, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 4 Shelduck, single Hobby and Kestrel. At least 7 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 4 Canada Geese, 4 Mute Swans and 6 Shelduck were reported from the nearly “dry” Pilning Wetland/New Passage area.

Little Ringed Plovers, Pilning Wetland 5.7.25

4th July
A dry and sunny day with a gusty cooling South West wind. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area involved 9+ Little Ringed Plover, 12 Lapwing, 6 Redshank, a Grey Heron, 3 Canada Geese, 4 Mute Swans and 220 Black-headed Gulls. Two Curlew, 4 Little Egrets, 15 Shelduck and a Little Grebe were reported from the Severn Beach shore.

3rd July
A warm and sunny day with a West breeze. A Black-tailed Godwit, 12+ Little Ringed Plover, 10 Redshank, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Canada Geese, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 250 Black-headed Gulls and a Grey Wagtail were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Another 7 Little Egrets, a few Curlew, Oystercatchers and 100+ Black-headed Gulls were seen on a low tide visit to Severn Beach this morning.

2nd July
A cloudy start turning sunny late morning in a cooler North West breeze. A Marsh Harrier and Kestrel were reported from the Severn Beach salt marsh. At least 3 Kestrels (2 juveniles), 5 Stock Dove, single Sparrowhawk and Grey Heron were seen at Aust Wetland.

1st July
A very warm 24°C day in a West breeze. The only reports received from Pilning Wetland included the usual Little Ringed Plovers and Lapwing. A Lapwing, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Sparrowhawks, 5 Kestrel, 14 Stock Doves and 2 Swifts were reported from Aust Wetland.