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..........

15th July
An unsettled day with strong South West wind and frequent torrential rain showers. Single Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Whimbrel and Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 4+ Little Ringed Plovers, 5+ Common Sandpipers, 2 Redshank, 11 Dunlin, 6 Curlew, 50+ Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, 3 Grey Herons, 15 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Ravens and a Grey Wagtail were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area.

Greenshank, Pilning Wetland 15.7.25

14th July
A warm day with a cooling fresh South West wind. A juvenile Wood Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank, 28 Redshank, 7 Little Ringed Plovers, 9 Lapwings, 14 Curlew, 90 Oystercatchers, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 11 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 30+ Shelduck, 3 Gadwall, single Teal, Kestrel and Lesser Whitethroat were reported from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. At least 35 Curlew and 18 Shelduck were seen from Severn Beach.

Wood Sandpiper, Pilning Wetland 14.7.25

Common Sandpiper, New Passage 14.7.25

13th July
Another roasting 33°C day with a huge swarm of Ladybirds. Sightings from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area involved a Black-tailed Godwit, 8+ Little Ringed Plovers, 13+ Lapwing, 14 Oystercatcher, 30 Curlew, 4 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 16 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 30+ Shelduck (2 adults), a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, 430 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Kestrels, 4 Sand Martins, single Grey Wagtail and Swift.

12th July
Another 32+°C day. Reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included a Whimbrel, 4+ Little Ringed Plovers, 50+ Curlew, 4 Redshank, 17+ Lapwing, 20 Oystercatchers, 13 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons, 12 Canada Geese, 32+ Shelduck (at least 30 ducklings), 2 Mute Swans, 250+ Black-headed Gulls and 3 Kestrel. At least 70 Curlew, 12 Oystercatchers, 4 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 14 Shelduck, 400+ Black-headed Gulls feeding on a plague of Ladybirds, single singing Cetti’s Warbler and Coal Tit were reported from the Severn Beach shore.

Whimbrel, New Passage 12.7.25

11th July
An even hotter 33°C day with a light East breeze. A Black-tailed Godwit, at least 6 Little Ringed Plover (at least one new chick), 17 Redshank, 19 Oystercatchers, 90+ Curlew, 15 Lapwings, 7 Little Egrets, 7 Grey Herons, 11 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 30 Shelduck (28 ducklings), 4 Gadwall, a Tufted Duck, 8 Sand Martins, 2 Yellow Wagtails, single Kestrel and Raven were seen in the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area. Combined reports from the Severn Beach area included 12 Oystercatchers, 110 Curlew, 7 Little Egrets, a Great White Egret, 18 Shelduck and a Little Grebe.

Black-tailed Godwit, Pilning Wetland 11.7.25

Shelduck ducklings, New Passage 11.7.25

10th July
A 29°C day with a South West breeze. Morning and evening high tide visits to the Severn Beach shore produced single Bar-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel, 16 Oystercatchers, 27 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, 18+ Shelduck, many Black-headed Gulls, single adult Great Black-backed Gull, male Marsh Harrier, Swift and singing Lesser Whitethroat. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included 5+ Little Ringed Plover (including 2+ flightless juveniles), 8 Lapwings, 20 Redshank, a Dunlin, 20+ Curlew, 9 Oystercatchers, 4+ Little Egrets, 12 Grey Herons, 5 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 26 Shelduck (24 ducklings), an adult Mediterranean Gull, 150 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Kestrel and a Yellow Wagtail.

9th July
A hot (25°C) and sunny day, the first of an expected heat wave. Combined reports from the Pilning Wetland/Northwick Warth area included 6+ Little Ringed Plovers, 25 Redshank, 11+ Lapwing, an Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 10 Little Egrets, 6 Grey Herons, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Canada Geese, a Yellow Wagtail, 3 Sand Martins and 2 Kestrels. A few Oystercatchers and Curlew, 5 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Heron, 26+ Shelduck (16 ducklings), and a Great Black-backed Gull were seen on a low tide visit to the Severn Beach shore. A Kestrel was seen at Aust Warth.

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.

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.