2022 SIGHTINGS
Another year with most of the recording area hotspots being closed or difficult to access including Aust Warth, Northwick Warth salt marsh and the area south of Severn Beach including Chittening Warth. One new bird was added to the Severnside list in the form of 3 Pallid Swifts that lingered above the road and fields at Aust Cliff having been found earlier over Aust Warth. It was pleasing to add these as there had been 2 previous very late autumn Swift Sp. that may have been Pallid Swift but the sightings were too brief to be certain.
An equal record 186 species were reported that included some excellent birds and once again Avocets, Little Ringed Plovers and Lapwings attempted to breed with the latter two being successful.
Highlights included Red-throated, Black-throated and Great Northern Diver, Bewick’s Swans, White-fronted Geese, Garganey, Goosanders, Red-breasted Merganser, Eiders, Goldeneye, Kentish Plover, spring Pectoral Sandpiper, Grey Phalarope, Purple Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers, Glossy Ibis, 6 Spoonbills, 3 Cattle Egret, multiple Great White Egrets, Storm Petrels, Leach’s Petrels, Ospreys, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harriers, Goshawk, multiple Red Kites, Red-rumped Swallow, Pied Flycatchers, Black Redstart, Firecrest, Yellow-browed Warbler, Marsh Tit, Tree Sparrows, Woodlark, Hawfinches, Crossbills and Lapland Bunting.
Disappointments included the lack of any Pomarine Skua, Woodcock, Cuckoo, Wood Warbler, Ring Ouzel or Snow Bunting.
Click on the Calendar pictures below for detailed daily sightings and pictures for each month....
