2025 Sightings

2025 SIGHTINGS

November is still a month worth looking for birds. It has a respectable total of 194 species recorded during the month with a few surprise birds. Remarkable records include; Britain’s first Black-bellied Storm Petrel and Britain’s 5th Pacific Diver just 2 days apart in 2009. Other national and local rarities include American Golden Plover (2013), Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver (1984,2015,2020,2023), Black Guillemot (2015), Ring-necked Duck (2000), Smew (2010), Green-winged Teal (2014), Red-crested Pochard (2024), White-rumped Sandpiper (1998), Long-tailed Skua (1994), Caspian Gull (2003,2024), White Stork (2024), Glossy Ibis (2015), Woodlark, Shorelark, Snow Bunting, Lapland Bunting, Cory’s Shearwater (2000), Whooper Swan (1983,2009,2013), Richard’s Pipit (1993,2018), Dartford Warbler (2005,2015), Bearded Tit (2023), Penduline Tit (2025) and Waxwing (2005). A Merlin or two can usually be seen perched on posts anywhere between New Passage and Aust Warth. Short-eared Owls can often be seen hunting at dusk over the salt marsh at Aust Warth. Seabirds seen in South West gales include Leach’s Petrel, Pomarine Skua and Little Auk.

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

10th November
A very wet day with a Southerly wind. The Penduline Tit was still present at the North end of Northwick Warth. Other reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included single Little Stint and Jack Snipe, 17 Black-tailed Godwits, 21 Snipe, 220 Lapwing, 30+ Redshank, 35 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, 200 Canada Geese, 9 Shelduck, 190 Wigeon, 180 Teal, 26 Shoveler, 29 Gadwall, 2 Raven, 2 Stonechat, single Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Grey Wagtail. Reports from Aust Warth included 2 Snipe, a Little Egret, 3 Stonechat, 2 Redpoll, 30 Wigeon, 2 Kestrel and a Peregrine. An early morning visit to the Severn Beach shore produced 12 Curlew, 3 Oystercatcher, a Grey Heron, 13 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 14 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 2 Water Rail, 2 Stonechat, single Cetti’s Warbler, Kestrel and Rock Pipit.

Penduline Tit, Cake Pill pool, Northwick Warth 10.11.25

Penduline Tit, Cake Pill pool, Northwick Warth 10.11.25

9th November
A mainly cloudy day with some rain showers in a Southerly breeze. The highlight was the first Severnside record of Penduline Tit, a predicted and long overdue addition to the list. It was found on the pool south of Cake Pill on Northwick Warth. Other reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included a Little Stint, Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, 300 Dunlin, 80 Redshank, 160 Lapwing, 14 Turnstones, 4 Snipe, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, a Greylag Goose, 130 Canada Geese, a Mute Swan, 22 Shelduck, 28 Shoveler, 150+ Wigeon, 10 Gadwall, 180 Teal, 2 Water Rail, 2 Raven, 2 Stonechats, single Cetti’s Warbler, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Kestrel and Peregrine. Reports from the Severn Beach shore involved 2 Snipe, a few Curlew, a Little Egret, 5 Grey Herons, 39 Shelduck, 20 Wigeon, 30 Teal, a Water Rail, 5 singing Cetti’s Warblers, 4 Stonechats, single Rock Pipit and flyover Brambling. At least 10 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, a Grey Heron, 10 Canada Geese, 21 Shelduck, 14 Wigeon, 26 Teal, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Water Rail, single Little Egret, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff, Stonechat and 3 Cetti’s Warblers were reported from Chittening Warth. Early morning reports from Aust Cliff/services involved 9 Grey Plover, 11 Lapwing, a Pheasant, 7000+ Woodpigeons, 2 Peregrine, 4 Brambling, 4 Bullfinch, 9 Crossbills, 2 Siskins and nearby a Kestrel, 2 Peregrine, single Cetti’s Warbler and Stonechat were reported from at Aust Warth reed bed.

Penduline Tit, Cake Pill pool, Northwick Warth 9.11.25

8th November
A sunny day with a gentle South West breeze. At least one Little Stint, 20 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Golden Plover, 6 Snipe, 190 Lapwings, 80 Dunlin, 110 Oystercatcher, 130 Curlew, 100 Redshank, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 8 Greylag Geese, 38 Canada Geese, 45 Shelduck, 150 Wigeon, 120 Teal, 9 Gadwall, 27 Shoveler, single Chiffchaff, Stonechat and Kingfisher were reported from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Combined reports from the Severn Beach shore included a few Ringed Plover and Oystercatchers, 30+ Curlew, 12 Lapwing, 2 Turnstone, 3 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 27 Shelduck, 50+ Wigeon, 2 Water Rail, 3 Cetti’s Warblers, 5 Stonechat, 2 Rock Pipit and a Kestrel. A late afternoon visit to Aust Warth produced 8 Canada Geese, a Water Rail, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrel, a Merlin and 3 Stonechat. A Peregrine was seen over Chittening Warth.

Little Stint, Pilning Wetland 8.11.25

7th November
A cloudy day with a South East breeze. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included single Little Stint and Jack Snipe, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 16 Golden Plover, 155 Lapwing, 39 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 160 Oystercatchers, 119 Curlew, 70+ Redshank, 70 Turnstone, 3 Grey Heron, 68 Canada Geese, 48 Shelduck, 25 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 230+ Wigeon, 80 Teal, 2 Peregrine, single Siskin and Kingfisher. Two dark-bellied Brent Geese, 23 Shelduck, 33 Wigeon, 4 Curlew, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 2+ Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat and a Redpoll were reported from the Severn Beach shore. Morning overhead migrants reported from Aust Cliff/services involved 42 Golden Plover, 3 Knot, 150 Dunlin, 36 Redwings, 1300+ Chaffinches, 11 Brambling, 2 Redpoll and 48 Siskins.

Brent Geese, Severn Beach 7.11.25

6th November
Another mild and gloomy day with a South East breeze. Reports from the Severn Beach shore included 18 Ringed Plover, 80 Turnstones, 18 Curlew, 11 Oystercatcher, 6 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 4 Canada Geese, 18 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 30 Wigeon, 3 squealing Water Rails, 4 Stonechats, 4+ Rock Pipits, 2 Redwing, single Black Redstart, Redstart and Peregrine. Single Little Stint, Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Redshank, 14 Dunlin, 12 Snipe, 160 Lapwing, 30 Oystercatcher, 12 Curlew, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 26 Canada Geese, a Mute Swan, 7 Shelduck, 12 Gadwall, 220 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, a Water Rail, 2 Chiffchaff, single Kestrel, Cetti’s Warbler, Grey Wagtail, Siskin and Firecrest were reported from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. A Goosander, 14 Dunlin, 17 Lapwing, 38000 Woodpigeons, 6 Redwing, 11 Fieldfare, a Rock Pipit, 2 Brambling, 6 Redpoll, 5 Siskin and 3 Crossbills were reported from Aust Cliff/services.

Firecrest, New Passage 6.11.25 © Aravind Ramesh

5th November
Unseasonably warm (17°C), gloomy, occasionally wet with a South East wind. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included 80 Lapwings, 90 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 200+ Canada Geese, single Mute Swan and Shelduck, 22 Shoveler, 140+ Wigeon, 110+ Teal, 11 Gadwall, a Water Rail, the first November record of Whinchat, 2 Stonechats, single Cetti’s Warbler and Brambling. At least 7 Turnstones, 12 Curlew, a Grey Heron, 4 Canada Geese, 20 Shelduck, 40 Wigeon, 2 Black Redstarts and the first November record of Common Redstart, 5 Stonechats, 5+ Rock Pipits, a Cetti’s Warbler, 11 Redwings, 2 Siskins and a Green Woodpecker were reported from Severn Beach. Sightings from Aust Wetland involved 5 Snipe, 34 Mallard, 80 Teal, 2 Kestrel, 2 Green Woodpeckers and 2 Stonechat.

Common Redstart, Severn Beach 5.11.25

4th November
A gloomy day with rain and a moderate strength Southerly breeze. Sightings from the Severn Beach shore included 15 Turnstones, 8 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Egret, 5 Canada Geese, 11 Shelduck, 55 Wigeon, 7 Teal, a Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Stonechats, 2+ Rock Pipit and 1+ Black Redstart. At least 50 Lapwings, 50 Curlew, 80 Oystercatchers, 130 Redshank, a Little Egret, 4 Grey Herons, 150 Canada Geese, a Mute Swan, 14 Shelduck, 34 Shoveler, 290+ Wigeon, 110 Teal, 7 Gadwall, a Pintail, 2 Redpoll, single Grey Wagtail, Raven and Stonechat were reported from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area.

Black Redstart, Severn Beach 4.11.25

3rd November
An even cloudier day with some rain showers and a South West wind. The first Black Redstart of the year was found this afternoon at Severn Beach where other reports included at least 40 Turnstones, 16 Ringed Plover, 9 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 56 Shelduck, 30+ Wigeon and 2 Rock Pipits. Reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included 179 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Redshank, 100+ Oystercatchers, 19 Curlew, 2 Greylag Geese, 180 Canada Geese, 6 Shelduck, 14 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, 110 Wigeon, 180 Teal, 2 Ravens, single Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.

2nd November
Another day of cloud, sunshine, rain showers and a moderate South West wind. A Leach’s Petrel was a surprise find at Severn Beach late afternoon where other reports from today included 11 Curlew, 3 Little Egrets, single Grey Heron and Water Rail, 15 Canada Geese, 43 Shelduck, 15 Wigeon, 2 Cetti’s Warblers, single Stonechat, Rock Pipit, Brambling and Redpoll. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included a late Common Sandpiper, 5 Grey Plover, 55 Black-tailed Godwits, 26 Dunlin, 4 Turnstones, 2 Snipe, 45 Oystercatcher, 70 Curlew, 75 Lapwing, 70 Redshank, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, 22 Greylag Geese, 200+ Canada Geese, 3 Shelduck, 180+ Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 20+ Shoveler, 18 Gadwall, 2 Kestrels, 2 Cetti’s Warblers, 2 Siskins, 2 Stonechats and a Water Pipit (Northwick Warth salt marsh). Migrants over Aust Cliff/services this morning included 26000+ Woodpigeons, 28 Redwing, 300+ Chaffinches, 3 Brambling, a Redpoll and 6 Siskins plus single grounded Chiffchaff and Blackcap were also present. Click HERE to see a short mobile phone video of the Leach’s Petrel.

Greylag Geese, New Passage 1.11.25

1st November
Some sunny periods with a few afternoon rain showers and a moderate strength South West wind. A Jack Snipe, 6 Lapwings, 27 Oystercatchers, 27 Curlew, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 57 Greylag Geese, 300+ Canada Geese, a Shelduck, 220+ Wigeon, 56 Shoveler, 320+ Teal, 13 Gadwall, single Tufted Duck, Great Black-backed Gull, Merlin, Peregrine, Kestrel and Water Pipit were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Reports from the Severn Beach shore included a few Turnstones, Curlew and Oystercatchers, 3 Little Egret, 7 Shelduck, 12 Wigeon, 2 Stonechat and a Rock Pipit.