2026 Sightings

2026 SIGHTINGS

November is still a month worth looking for birds. It has a respectable total of 199 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.

2nd November
A day with sunny spells in a moderate strength North East wind. An adult Mediterranean Gull, 60 Turnstone, 70 Curlew, 10 Oystercatcher, 4 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 130 Shelduck, 30 Wigeon, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, single Water Rail, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Peregrine, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, single Blackcap, Rock Pipit and Redpoll, 4 Stonechat and 3 Siskin were reported from the Severn Beach shore.
Reports from Pilning Wetland/New Passage included 8 Bar-tailed Godwit, 240 Turnstone, 750+ Black-tailed Godwit, 60 Redshank, 20 Dunlin, 40 Curlew, 120 Lapwing, 35 Oystercatcher, 90+ Greylag Geese, 480 Canada Geese, 4 Shelduck, 300+ Wigeon, 120 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 26 Gadwall, 6 Pintail, 5 Tufted Duck, single Great Black-backed Gull and Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Kestrel, 4 Stonechat and 5 Fieldfare.

Wigeon, New Passage 2.11.26

Egyptian Geese, Northwick Warth 1.11.26

1st November
A misty start to the day, then a mixture of sunshine and cloud in a cool North East breeze. At least 40 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 29 Curlew, 3 Little Egret, a Great White Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 9 Canada Geese, 110 Shelduck, 30 Wigeon, 6 Teal, single Great Black-backed Gull and Rock Pipit were seen from the Severn Beach shore.
Reports from the Pilning Wetland/New Passage area included a Grey Plover, 9 Bar-tailed Godwit, 400+ Black-tailed Godwit, 105 Redshank, 150 Turnstone, 50 Knot, 110 Lapwing, 200+ Dunlin, 30 Oystercatcher, 20+ Snipe, a Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 97 Greylag Geese, 340 Canada Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Mute Swan (adult & 1st winter), 26 Shelduck, 190 Wigeon, 7 Pintail, 14 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 110 Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, single Water Rail, hunting female Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Cetti’s Warbler, Rock Pipit, Siskin, Stonechat and 2 Kestrel.
Reports from the Aust Cliff/services area involved 51 Grey Plover, 3 Greylag Geese, a Mute Swan, 154 Stock Dove, 1000+ Woodpigeon, 2 Peregrine, 296 Redwing, 51 Fieldfare, 8 Redpoll, 20 Siskin and a Stonechat.