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2012 SIGHTINGS

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February is generally another quiet month with only a total of 153 species recorded. Gales in this month have produced Storm and Leach’s Petrel, Pomarine Skua and all four records of Puffin. Other rarities seen include Spoonbill (2004), Avocets, Ring-billed Gull (1987), Great Grey Shrike (1999,2000,2004), Shorelark (2004) and Cirl Bunting (1943).

                       SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND: SLIMBRIDGE FESTIVAL OF BIRDS

                                    4th & 5th  FEBRUARY,  CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS


February 4th early morning....
Another very cold night. An early report of  a Mediterranean Gull on the Square Pool at Avonmouth Sewage works. Hopefully more decent birds will be found as the tide comes in this afternoon.

February 3rd
A bitterly cold and bright day following a -8°C night. Two Bitterns were a surprise find on the Square Pool at Avonmouth Sewage Works where a 1st winter Little Gull, 140 Teal, 40 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 14 Shoveler, a Little Grebe and Cetti’s Warbler were also present. A Water Rail was found at Stupp Pill on Chittening Warth. A visit to Northwick Warth produced 600 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 20 Shelduck, 20 Golden Plover, 15 Redshank, 40 Lapwing, 80 Curlew, 150 Dunlin, a Snipe, 18 Skylarks, a Raven and a Water Pipit. Another 300 Dunlin, 20 Redshank, 30 Shelduck, 18 Gadwall and a Peregrine were seen at Severn Beach. A Merlin and a Short-eared Owl were seen again at Aust Warth late afternoon.

      
                                                                             Bittern, Avonmouth Sewage Works 3.2.12 © Allan Chard

      
                                                                                 Little Gull, Avonmouth Sewage Works 3.2.12

      
                                                                                   Little Gull, Avonmouth Sewage Works 3.2.12

February 2nd
A -5°C dawn. Just 150 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 30 Shelduck, single Raven and Sparrowhawk were reported from New Passage this morning. An influx of 130 Teal and a Redshank were seen on the ice free square pool at Avonmouth Sewage Works. Two Short-eared Owls were eventually seen as darkness fell at Aust Warth this evening.

           
                                                                              Sunset from Aust Warth 1.2.12  © Clive Mowforth

February 1st
Another bitterly cold day with a biting north east wind. A brief visit to New Passage in eye watering conditions produced just the usual Wigeon, Teal and Shelduck. A female Merlin was seen at Aust Warth this morning and a Short-eared Owl eventually appeared here just as it became dark. A Water Rail and 6 Gadwall were seen at the Orchard Pools in Severn Beach. A 1st winter Little Gull, 16 Gadwall, 52 Teal, 9 Shoveler, 21 Tufted Duck and 2 Pochard were reported on the square roadside pool at Avonmouth Sewage Works.

JANUARY

Click on the Calendar picture for detailed daily sightings and pictures for the previous month.