2025 Sightings

2025 SIGHTINGS

December is one of the quietest months with only 170 species recorded during the month. It can be a good month for wildfowl with the chance of Red-breasted Merganser and Goosander if inland waters freeze or some fly by Bewick’s Swans. A good selection of seabirds have occurred in December gales including Black-throated and Great Northern Divers, Leach’s Petrel, Little Auk, Grey Phalarope and Pomarine Skua. Other rarities have included a stunning male Desert Wheatear (2013), at least 2 Penduline Tits (2025), Eastern Yellow Wagtail (1993), Cattle Egret (2022,2025), Green-winged Teal (2013), Egyptian Goose (2013, 2019), Glaucous Gull, Waxwing (2010) and Cirl Bunting in the winters of 1940 & 1941.

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

18th December
A very wet day with the wind from the South. An early morning low tide visit to the Severn Beach shore produced 30 Curlew, 30 Oystercatcher, a Little Egret, 9 Shelduck, 4 Wigeon, 2 Stonechat, single Barn Owl and Cetti’s Warbler. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included 35 Dunlin, 400 Black-tailed Godwits, 170+ Redshank, 40 Oystercatcher, 90+ Curlew, 150 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, single Cattle Egret (33rd record/59th individual) and Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 60 Greylag Geese, 130 Canada Geese, 3 Mute Swan, 4 Shelduck, 17 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 280+ Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 14 Tufted Duck, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 12 Redwing, single Raven, Stonechat Kingfisher and Kestrel.

Cattle Egret, Pilning Wetland 18.12.25

17th December
A wet day with Southerly breeze. Reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included a record 10 Egyptian Geese, 23 Curlew, 70 Oystercatcher, 150 Lapwing, 60 Greylag Geese, 150 Canada Geese, 3 Mute Swans, 6 Shelduck, 16 Shoveler, 28 Gadwall, 150+ Wigeon, 160+ Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, single Great Black-backed Gull and Kestrel. At least 8 Curlew, a Grey Heron, 20 Shelduck, single Water Rail, Peregrine and Stonechat were reported from Severn Beach.

Egyptian Geese, Northwick Warth 17.12.25

16th December
A cool day with a mix of sunshine and cloud in a light North West wind. The highlight was the discovery of 2 (probably 3) Penduline Tits at Aust Wetland where other reports included 5 Snipe, 20 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 8 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, a Teal, 2 Pheasant, 2 Kestrel, 4 Chiffchaff, a female Blackcap, 4 Stonechat, 10 Redwing, 17 Fieldfare, 25+ Pied Wagtails, a Yellowhammer and at least one Barn Owl at dusk. Nearby, a Curlew, 3 Water Rails, 16 Wigeon, a Kestrel, 3 Cetti’s Warbler and a Stonechat were reported from Aust Warth. Reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included 200+ Lapwing, 140 Oystercatchers, 90 Curlew, a Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 70 Greylag Geese, 90 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Shelduck, 18 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 210 Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, single Water Rail and Raven, 2 Kestrel and 2 Cetti’s Warblers. There was very little coverage at Severn Beach but 5 Canada Geese, 9 Shelduck, 6 Oystercatcher, 6 Curlew, a Raven and 2 Stonechats were seen.

15th December
A wet day. Reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included 22 Turnstones, 48 Curlew, 10 Redshank, 300 Dunlin, 240 Lapwing, a Grey Heron, 60 Greylag Geese, 170 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 19 Shelduck, 255+ Wigeon, 9 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 90+ Teal and a Great Black-backed Gull, The only reports from Severn Beach involved the usual Curlews, Oystercatchers, a few Ringed Plover, 2 Mute Swans, Shelducks and Wigeon.

14th December
A sunny start, then overcast with a moderate to Southerly wind. At least 19 Turnstones, 76 Curlew, 150+ Redshank, 230 Lapwing, 49 Greylag Geese, 80 Canada Geese, 13 Shelduck, 20 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 255 Wigeon, 90+ Teal, a Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Peregrine, 2 Stonechat, single Kestrel and Rock Pipit were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Reports from the Severn Beach shore included a Turnstone, a few Ringed Plover, 3 Redshank, the usual Curlew and Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Heron, 22 Shelduck and 20+ Wigeon.

13th December
A cooler but sunny day. Combined reports from Severn Beach included 3 Turnstone, 50+ Curlew, 90 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 37 Shelduck, 35 Wigeon, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 4 Water Rails, 2 Redpoll, 2 Cetti’s Warblers, 2 Stonechat, single Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Chiffchaff and Rock Pipit. At least 70 Lapwing, 89 Curlew, 68 Redshank, 8 Dunlin, single Snipe and Grey Heron, 48 Greylag Geese, 66 Canada Geese, 14 Shelduck, 8 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 170+ Wigeon, a Pintail, 62 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Kestrel, single Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Grey Wagtail and Rock Pipit were reported from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area.

12th December
A wet start then bright sunshine later in a South West breeze. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included single Jack Snipe and Common Sandpiper (both at Cake Pill), 200+ Black-tailed Godwits, 240 Lapwing, 130 Curlew, 120 Redshank, 70 Dunlin, 5 Snipe, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 54 Greylag Geese, 67 Canada Geese, 7 Shelduck, 330+ Wigeon, 20 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 120+ Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Stonechat, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, single Whinchat (Cake Pill), Water Rail, Raven and Kestrel. At least 5 Ringed Plover, 140 Oystercatcher, 19 Curlew, 20 Turnstone, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 36 Shelduck, 26 Wigeon, 3 Stonechats, single Water Rail, Cetti’s Warbler, Marsh Harrier and Kestrel were reported from the Severn Beach shore.

11th December
A mild, mainly cloudy day with a light Southerly wind. Reports from the Severn Beach/Chittening Warth area included 70 Black-tailed Godwits, 4,000+ Dunlin, 250 Turnstones, 18 Curlew, 140 Lapwing, 31 Oystercatcher, 3 Grey Heron, 33 Shelduck, 4 Wigeon, 2 Stonechat, single Water Rail, Peregrine, male Blackcap and Cetti’s Warbler. An impressive 390 Redshank, 300 Dunlin, 140 Curlew, 160 Lapwing, 30+ Turnstones, 8 Oystercatcher, a Little Egret, 9 Canada Geese, 22 Shelduck, 320+ Wigeon, 18 Shoveler, 30 Gadwall, 120+ Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, single Kestrel, Water Rail, Chiffchaff and Cetti’s Warbler were reported from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area.

Redshank, New Passage 11.12.25

10th December
A mainly sunny day with a South West wind. Reports from the Pilning Wetland/North Warth area included a Common Sandpiper (Cake Pill), 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 800 Dunlin, 120 Curlew, 130 Oystercatcher, 120 Lapwings, 10 Redshank, a Little Egret, 18 Canada Geese, 30 Shelduck, 384+ Wigeon, 130 Teal, 26 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, a Pochard (off Cake Pill), 4 Tufted Duck and a Raven. Five Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 20 Shelduck, 11 Wigeon, 2 Ravens and a Rock Pipit were seen at Severn Beach.

9th December
A wet morning with a gusty Southerly wind turning more Westerly in the afternoon. At least 15 Black-tailed Godwits, 500 Dunlin, 160 Redshank, 90 Curlew, 110 Oystercatchers, 3 Canada Geese, 29 Shelduck, 300+ Wigeon, 70 Teal, 20 Shoveler and 8 Gadwall were seen in the very windswept Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Reports from the Severn Beach shore included 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Turnstone, a Ringed Plover, 7 Oystercatcher, 8 Curlew, 25 Shelduck, 27 Wigeon and 3 Rock Pipits.

8th December
A mainly cloudy day with rain showers in a Southerly wind. At least 24 Ringed Plover, 250 Black-tailed Godwits, 1,800 Dunlin, 190 Curlew, 60+ Redshank, 70 Oystercatchers, 90 Lapwing, a Grey Heron, 11 Canada Geese, 29 Shelduck, 290+ Wigeon, 40 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 220+ Teal, 11 Tufted Duck, 2 Stonechats, single very late Whinchat, Water Rail, Cetti’s Warbler and Kingfisher were reported from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area. A Snipe, 25 Dunlin, a few Curlew and Oystercatchers, 13 Shelduck, 9 Wigeon and a Rock Pipit were seen from the Severn Beach shore. Single Curlew, Little Egret, Kestrel and Coal Tit were seen at Aust Cliff/services.

7th December
Another dismal day with rain and a strong South West wind. A new record count of at least 2,000 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Knot, 170+ Oystercatchers, 80 Curlew, 20 Dunlin, 4 Snipe, 120 Lapwing, 20 Redshank, a Grey Heron, just one Canada Goose, 15 Shelduck, 370+ Wigeon, 300 Teal, 40 Shoveler, 17 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Stonechat, single Water Rail, Cetti’s Warbler and Kestrel were reported from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area. At least 10 Turnstones, 30 Redshank, 3 Curlew, 3 Oystercatchers, a Snipe, 2 Grey Heron, 27 Shelduck, 13 Wigeon, single hen Pheasant and Water Rail, 2 Cetti’s Warbler and 3 Stonechats were were reported from the Severn Beach shore.

6th December
Another gloomy day with some heavy rain showers in a gusty South West wind. At least 110 Curlew, 30 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 110 Lapwings, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 92 Greylag Geese, 110 Canada Geese, 9 Shelduck, 350+ Wigeon, 150+ Teal, 18 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, single Merlin and Grey Wagtail were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Sightings from Severn Beach included a few Turnstone, 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Curlew, 6 Canada Geese, 6 Shelduck, 8 Wigeon, 2 Ravens and 2 Stonechats.

5th December
A gloomy day and very wet from early afternoon in a gusty South East wind. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included a Black-tailed Godwit, 250 Dunlin, 110 Oystercatchers, 25 Curlew, 150 Redshank, 140 Lapwing, a Little Egret and 2 Grey Heron, 83 Greylag Geese, 110 Canada Geese, 20+ Shelduck, 28 Shoveler, 295+ Wigeon, 28 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, a Kestrel and 2 Raven. A Ringed Plover, 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Turnstone, 7 Curlew, 7 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Heron, 15 Shelduck, 15 Wigeon and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls were reported from the Severn Beach shore.

4th December
A cool, dry day following heavy overnight rain. At least 50 Turnstones, 20 Dunlin, 12 Curlew, 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Canada Geese, 26 Shelduck, 14 Wigeon, a Kestrel and 2 Stonechats were seen from the Severn Beach shore. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Jack Snipe (near Cake Pill), 110 Oystercatchers, 80+ Curlew, 250 Lapwings, 20 Dunlin, 30+ Redshank, 4 Snipe, 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 83 Greylag Geese, 140 Canada Geese, 30+ Shelduck, 40 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 200+ Wigeon, 150+ Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Kestrel, 5 Stonechats, single Water Rail, Whinchat (1st December record), Raven and Grey Wagtail. A Common Sandpiper, 4 Redshank, single Kingfisher and Kestrel, 2 Peregrine, 2 Water Pipit and a Rock Pipit were reported from Aust Warth.

Whinchat, Northwick Warth 4.12.25

3rd December
A sunny, dry and cool day. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 220 Lapwing, 2 Dunlin, 35 Redshank, 70 Oystercatcher, 52 Curlew, single Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 67 Greylag Geese, 130 Canada Geese, 32 Shelduck, 27 Shoveler, 17 Gadwall, 80+ Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, 200+ Wigeon, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, single Water Rail, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Grey Wagtail. At least 3 Ringed Plover, 8 Curlew, 18 Oystercatchers, 3 Grey Heron, 24 Shelduck, 12 Wigeon, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Water Rail, 2 Cetti’s Warblers, 2 Stonechats and a Sparrowhawk were reported from the Severn Beach shore. A Common Sandpiper and at least 2 Water Pipits were reported from Aust Warth. At least 11 Snipe, 8 Shoveler, 3 Wigeon, 42 Mallard, single Teal, Kestrel, Peregrine and Blackcap, 26 Redwing, 6 Fieldfare and 3 Stonechats were seen at Aust Wetland.

2nd December
A sunny morning followed by a gloomy and wet afternoon. Reports from Severn Beach included a flock of 35 Golden Plover flying South West, 200 Black-tailed Godwit, 120 Turnstone, 7 Curlew, a Grey Heron, 33 Shelduck, 4 Wigeon and a garden feeding female Blackcap. A Jack Snipe, 51 Snipe, 150 Redshank, 450 Dunlin, 70 Curlew, 250 Lapwings, 90 Oystercatchers, a Grey Heron, 80 Greylag Geese, 160 Canada Geese, 17 Shelduck, 30 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 200+ Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, 4 Stonechats, 2 Kestrel, single Peregrine, Marsh Harrier, Grey Wagtail, Cetti’s Warbler and Chiffchaff were reported from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area .

Marsh Harrier, Pilning Wetland 2.12.25

1st December
A wet day with a moderate strength South/South West wind. At least 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 190 Redshank, 800 Dunlin, 70 Curlew, 60 Oystercatchers, 95 Lapwing, a Little Egret, 70+ Greylag Geese, 180 Canada Geese, 18 Shelduck, 300+ Wigeon, 18 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 110 Teal, 2 Stonechat and a Kingfisher were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area.