SEVERNSIDE BIRDS





























page views
wp00000000.png
2023 SIGHTINGS




December is one of the quietest months with only 168 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), Eastern Yellow Wagtail (1993), Cattle Egret (2022), Green-winged Teal (2013), Egyptian Goose (2013, 2019), Glaucous Gull, Waxwing (2010) and in the winters of 1940 & 1941, Cirl Bunting.  




wpfa7911bf_0f.jpg  wpd5db657e_0f.jpg  wp733de9a1_0f.jpg  wpdbfe4f4c_0f.jpg

wp6b7aa310_0f.jpg  wp7db8726c_0f.jpg wp9438c570_0f.jpg  wp0b1b80b6_0f.jpg

wp2c5219a9_0f.jpg  wp51edf8c8_0f.jpg wp4267fd98_0f.jpg

Combined Species Total so far in 2023 = 188

my total so far = 177









6th December
Sunshine and cloud and a light South East breeze. Two White-fronted Geese were seen flying North East at 10.15 this morning from Aust Cliff/services. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 260 Lapwings, 35 Redshank, 23 Curlew, 200 Dunlin, 3 Grey Herons, 55 Greylag Geese, 18 Canada Geese, 3 Mute Swans, 37 Shelduck, 310 Wigeon, 160 Teal, 45+ Shoveler, 15+ Gadwall and a Rock Pipit. Another 60 Curlew, 40 Redshank, 6 Oystercatchers, 80 Dunlin, 2 Turnstones, 50 Wigeon, 10 Shelduck, 6 Gadwall, a singing Cetti’s Warbler and a Rock Pipit were reported from Severn Beach.

5th December
A cool, grey day with a light North wind. Early morning reports from Aust Cliff/services included 6 Goosander heading up river, 3 Lapwing, 12 Fieldfares, 9 Siskins, single Peregrine and Brambling. A Knot, 180 Lapwings, 60 Redshank, 51 Curlew, 46 Turnstones, just 8 Dunlin, 3 Grey Herons, 53 Greylag Geese, 120 Canada Geese, a Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Pintail, 65 Shelduck, 60 Shoveler, 25 Gadwall, 350 Wigeon, 375 Teal, 100 Mallard, single Kestrel, Grey Wagtail and Rock Pipit were reported from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Combined reports from Severn Beach involved 200 Dunlin, 32 Curlew, 30 Oystercatchers, 12 Redshank, 7 Turnstones, 24 Shelduck, 40 Wigeon, 5 Gadwall (at the Orchard Pools), 2 Water Rails, single Kittiwake, Kingfisher, Stonechat and Grey Wagtail.

4th December
A miserable and very wet day. A very brief and wet high tide visit to the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area produced just 13 Curlew, 40 Lapwings, 50 Dunlin, 2 Grey Herons, 55 Greylag Geese, 62 Canada Geese, 11 Shelduck, 170 Wigeon, 6 Gadwall, 130 Teal and 2 Tufted Duck.

3rd December
A warmer (7°C) but cloudy and wet day. The only reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included 69 Black-tailed Godwits, 1000+ Dunlin, 120 Lapwing, 12 Curlew, 20 Oystercatchers, 80 Redshank, 5 Grey Herons, 56 Greylag Geese, 150 Canada Geese, 21 Shelduck, 260 Wigeon, 230 Teal, 45+ Shoveler, 16 Gadwall, single Kestrel and Stonechat. Another 200 Dunlin, 15 Redshank, 11 Shelduck, 55 Wigeon, 40 Teal, a Gadwall, single Grey Wagtail and Rock Pipit were reported from a morning visit to Severn Beach.

2nd December
Another -2°C day with persistent icy fog and most of the freshwater pools covered with ice. Morning reports from Severn Beach included a Short-eared Owl, 15 Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Ringed Plover, 200 Dunlin, 25 Oystercatchers, 9 Redshank, single Snipe, Lapwing and Grey Heron, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Shelduck, 86 Wigeon, 48 Teal, 4 Stonechats, 3 Rock Pipits and a Cetti’s Warbler. Another 150 Black-tailed Godwits, 100 Dunlin, 2 Turnstones, 10 Lapwing, 7 Snipe, 10 Curlew, 23 Redshank, a Grey Heron, 24 Coots, 52 Greylag Geese, 103 Canada Geese, a Mute Swan, 5 Shelduck, 150 Wigeon, 110 Teal, 55 Shoveler, 35 Gadwall, a pair of Pintail, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Stonechats, single Peregrine and Sparrowhawk were reported in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area in poor visibility. Early morning reports from Aust Cliff/services in dense fog involved 23 Dunlin, single Redshank and Snipe, 3 Teal, 3 Chiffchaff, single Pheasant, Grey Wagtail and Rock Pipit.

wp30fcbe83.jpg
                                                                                    Stonechat, Pilning Wetland 2.12.23

1st December
An icy -2°C start to the day. A male Marsh Harrier, 230 Black-tailed Godwits, 1000 Dunlin, 140 Lapwings, 30 Oystercatchers, 20 Curlew, 60 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 55 Greylag Geese, 260 Canada Geese, 42 Shelduck, 550 Teal, 200 Wigeon, 50+ Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, a Tufted Duck and a Stonechat were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. At least 200 Dunlin, 10 Redshank, 12 Curlew, 20 Shelduck, 60 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 2 Ravens, 4 Siskins and a Peregrine were seen at Severn Beach.

Please support Severnsidebirds with a donation towards hosting costs. All donations, however small, are gratefully received and will ensure the website continues to be available.

If there are no updates/new sightings on this page then click HERE to visit the Back Up Sightings page.
JANUARY
Click on the calendar pictures for previous month’s sightings and pictures......
FEBRUARY
Fatbirder's Top 1000 Birding Websites
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER