2008 Sightings

May 13th
The only report received so far today was of a Wheatear on Northwick Warth.

May 12th
Another hot day (26°C) with few sightings. Sightings from Severn Beach involved just 6 Grey Plover, 4 Knot, 25 Dunlin and 4 Ringed Plover. Just 15 Oystercatchers and a Ringed Plover were reported from New Passage and sightings from Northwick Warth this evening included a Greenshank, 2 Lapwings, at least 70 Shelduck and a late Merlin.

May 11th
A hot day (27°C) with a North East breeze and less than expected being found. A 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, 22 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Common Gulls, just 6 Ringed Plover and 8 Dunlin, an Oystercatcher, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Sedge Warblers were reported from Severn Beach. Just 3 Whimbrel, 3 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 18 Oystercatchers and 2 Teal were reported from New Passage.

May 10th
A misty dawn following an impressive thunderstorm last night, turning hot and sunny in the afternoon. Sightings from Severn Beach included a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull, a Sandwich Tern, 5 “Commic” Terns, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Greenshank, 2 summer plumaged Knot, 2 Whimbrel, 35 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, a Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail. Another 2 Sandwich Terns, 15 Oystercatchers, 93 Shelduck, a drake Teal and a Yellow Wagtail were reported from Northwick Warth. A Common Sandpiper was seen in the pill at New Passage. Five Reed Warblers and 2 Reed Buntings were singing at Aust Warth. A mist netting session at Severn Beach resulted in a number of warblers being caught including 6 Whitethroats, 4 Blackcaps and 2 Sedge Warblers.

Sedge Warbler, Severn Beach 10.5.8

Whitethroat, Severn Beach 10.5.8

May 9th
A change in the wind direction and strength resulted in a quieter day. A Great Crested Grebe, 2 Whimbrel, a Sanderling, 6 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin were seen from Severn Beach and a Kingfisher was seen nearby at the Orchard Pools. A Wheatear was seen on the beach at New Passage. A Whimbrel, 4 Black-headed Gulls and a Spotted Flycatcher were seen on Northwick Warth this evening.

May 8th
Another fine day with a stronger East wind. Sightings from Severn Beach this morning included a dark form Arctic Skua heading North East at 09.25, a Little Tern, 12 “Commic” Terns, 3 first summer Little Gulls, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Common Scoter, 9 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Whimbrel, 5 Sanderling, 15 Grey Plover, 3 Common Sandpipers, 24 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover, a Turnstone and 2 Wheatears. Two Yellow Wagtails and 2 Lesser Whitethroats were reported from Chittening Warth. Another 3 Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 54 Shelduck and a Wheatear were seen on Northwick Warth. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard reeling this morning.

Grey Plovers & Bar-tailed Godwits, Severn Beach 8.5.8

May 7th
Another warm day (25°C) with a light mist over the river and a North East breeze. The best find of the morning was a male Hen Harrier flying up river off Severn Beach at 9.05. Other sightings from here today included a Little Tern, 12 Black Terns, 4 Arctic Terns, 12 Common Terns, 160 “Commic” Terns, 20 Black-headed Gulls, 11 Whimbrel, a Grey Plover, a mixed flock of 20 Dunlin and Ringed Plover, 2 Peregrines, 2 Canada Geese and 2 Tree Pipits. Another 3 Whimbrel and 12 Black-headed Gulls were seen from New Passage. A Wheatear, a Yellow Wagtail, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Whimbrel and 30 Shelduck were present on Northwick Warth.
Below is a very distant record shot of the Harrier taken at over 1 km range. It was closer when first seen but by the time I had juggled with my binoculars, telescope, mobile phone and eventually my camera this will have to do until next time.

Hen Harrier, Severn Beach 7.5.8

May 6th
A warm day (22°C) with an East wind produced a few migrants over the water. Sightings from Severn Beach included 2 Mediterranean Gulls (2nd summer& 1st summer together), 2 Little Gulls (1st summers feeding off the shore for an hour this morning), 2 pale form Arctic Skuas flying low and East over the beach this evening, 13 “Commic” Terns, 22 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Common Scoter, 2 Gadwall, 24 Shelduck, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 7 Whimbrel, 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 10 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Redpoll. A visit to Northwick Warth this morning produced the usual 6 Whimbrel, 20 Oystercatchers, 2 Wheatears and 2 Lesser Whitethroats. Another 2 Lesser Whitethroats were reported from Chittening Warth. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard this morning.

May 5th
Sightings from Severn Beach today included 3 Black Terns, a Common Tern, 2 dark morph Arctic Skuas, 22 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Whimbrel, a Sanderling, a Common Sandpiper, 30 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plover, a Hobby, a Peregrine, a Yellow Wagtail, 3 Wheatears and a Redpoll. A Greylag flew South past Chittening Warth. Another 2 Wheatears and 5 Whimbrel were reported from Northwick Warth. There was a steady passage of Swallows and Swifts throughout the day.

Common Sandpiper, Severn Beach 5.5.8

Sanderling, Severn Beach 5.5.8

May 4th
A warm day with lightning and occasional heavy showers. Three Black Terns, 6 Common Terns, 33 “Commic” Terns, 13 Black-headed Gulls, 8 Whimbrel, 12 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin and a Wheatear were seen at Severn Beach this morning and an Arctic Skua, 11 Common Terns and 30 “Commic” Terns were seen there this evening. Sightings from Northwick Warth involved, 10 Whimbrel, 5 Curlew, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Grey Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 5 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 3 Teal, 3 Wheatears, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Yellow Wagtail, a Whinchat and a Spotted Flycatcher. A Wood Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and a Peregrine were reported from Aust Warth. A Garden Warbler was found at Chittening Warth. A Common Sandpiper was seen at Hoar Gout.

May 3rd
A quiet morning followed by some migrants late afternoon as the day got warmer. Sightings from Northwick Warth this morning involved just 3 Whimbrel, 2 Teal, 30 Shelduck, 3 Wheatears, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Sedge Warblers, a Yellow Wagtail and 3 Swifts. Sightings from Severn Beach involved 14 Grey Plover, 30 Knot (nearly all summer plumaged), 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Whimbrel, 30 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 2 Gadwall, 40 Shelduck, 20 Common Terns, 8 Arctic Terns, a Peregrine, 6 Wheatears, a Whinchat, a Yellow Wagtail, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, a Cuckoo and by the evening a steady passage of Swifts and Swallows heading North East.

Grey Plover, Severn Beach 3.5.8

May 2nd
Sightings from Severn Beach involved just 5 Wimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 40 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, 8 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Wheatears and 2 Lesser Whitethroats. Another 6 Whimbrel, a Canada Goose, 8 Wheatears, 2 Sedge Warblers and 3 Lesser Whitethroats were reported from Northwick Warth. Two Little Ringed Plovers were seen today.

May 1st
Another day of heavy showers and quiet start to the month. Just 2 Whimbrel, 9 Oystercatchers, 52 Shelduck and 3 Wheatears were reported from New Passage. Sightings from Severn Beach involved another Whimbrel, 25 Dunlin and 15 Ringed Plover from the shore and a Canada Goose, a Tufted Duck and 4 Gadwall from the Orchard Pools.