31st - Seven Brents (including the 2 pale-bellied) were at Clevedon today, along with a Ruff, c30 Redshank, 25 Lapwing, 12 Oystercatchers and a Peregrine. At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve there were 12 Little Grebes, 2 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 13 Tufted Ducks, 9 Pochard, 2 Teal, c30 Wigeon, 59 Coot and 2 Mistle Thrush. A heavy oiled Black-head Gull is also there, sorry to say it looks doomed.
30th - The Two Pale-bellied Brents were joined by two more Dark-bellied birds today, but the Black Redstart was not seen. Also on the coast at Clevedon were a Green Sandpiper, a Grey Plover, c50 Shelduck 4 Teal and c10 Wigeon.
29th - The two Pale-bellied Brents and the Black Redstart were seen in the area around Blackstone rocks this morning. Elsewhere on the coast there was little too excite with 7 Little Egrets, 39 Lapwing, 5 Turnstones, 8 Oystercatchers, 3 Stonechats, a Peregrine, c80 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, c50 Shelduck and 5 Buzzards. Overhead migration was light with a single Brambling and a few Siskins and Redpolls of note. At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve there were 65 Coot (a new reserve record), 8 Pochard, 24 Tufted Ducks, 13 Little Grebes, a Water Rail, c45 Wigeon, c60 Teal, 38 Curlew, 10 Stonechats, a female Redstart (a very late date), 7 Reed Buntings, 5 Mistle Thrush and 48 Meadow Pipits. Three Clouded Yellows and a Red Admiral were on the wing in the unseasonally warm weather at Clevedon.
27th - Two Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at the Clevedon-Yeo today, an excellent find and make it two years in a row that they have been seen at the Clevedon-Yeo. A Black Redstart was again seen near the Golfcourse in the Wains Hill area. Also on the coast there were 55 Wigeon, 2 Merlins, 11 Ringed Plover, a Grey Plover, 60 Dunlin, a Snipe, c90 Curlew, 52 Redshank, 7 Turnstones, 4 Stonechats, 2 Ravens and a Kingfisher. Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve had the usual ducks and 3 Shoveler and a Barn Owl. Good conditions for migration today with many birds flying over with the highlight being a Wood Lark.
25th - At the Clevedon Yeo today there were 45 Shelduck, 80 Wigeon, 12+ Teal, 2 Little Egret (where have they all gone?), 30+ Oystercatchers, a Grey Plover, 70 Lapwing, 110 Dunlin, 2 Common Snipe, 40 Curlew , 190 Redshank, a Greenshank, 28+ Turnstone, 2 Stonechats and a Wheatear.
24th -Today at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve there were 55 Redshank, c60 Teal, a Barn Owl, 13 Little Grebes, 5 Pochard, 26 Tufties and 4 Gadwall. Two Med Gulls (an adult and a 1st winter) were at Portishead Boating Lake.
23rd - A Black Redstart was a nice find on the sea wall at Clevedon today, a couple of Wheatears were also seen.
22nd - Seawatching from Ladye Bay produced a male Hen Harrier (heading north) and a Brent Goose. At the Clevedon-Yeo there were about 20 Wigeon , 20 Teal 20, c8 Little Egrets, a Merlin, 42 Oystercatchers, 10 Ringed Plover, a Golden Plover, 35+ Lapwing, 40+ Dunlin, 80+ Curlew 80, 80 Redshank 80, a Greenshank, 35 Turnstones, 2 GBB Gulls, a Stonechat and 3/4 Wheatears. At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve there were 18 Little Grebes, 5 Gadwall, 21 Tufted Ducks, 14 Pochard and a Little Egret. Weston Moor had a Stonechat and 22 Snipe.
21st - An intruiging sighting this afternoon during a sea-watch from Ladye Bay, a single (very experienced) observer had what could have been two Red-tailed Tropic Birds fly by!! Full account below;
"As usual the first hint of a south westerly breeze had me
staring off Ladye bay Clevedon. After about an hour, during which I had seen 3
distant gulls I picked up a white gull like bird at some distance that looked
odd. While the body and wings looked white it seemed to have a very long red
tail. I immediately considered tropicbird but realised that this would lead to
madness so decided it must be a herring type gull with fishing line or tape
caught around the feet. It was then I realised that a second bird was following
it looking exactly the same. I started to try and remember tropic bird features
and searched for dark carpel bars which were absent. I watched both birds till
they vanished around the corner towards Portishead and then started making the
calls! Staying till dusk they did not appear to come out so I am really
hoping that someone else can find them. I know that red-tailed tropic bird is
the worst to claim in Europe but cannot think of an alternative species. "
20th - At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve there were 18 Little Grebes, 200 Teal, 14 Gadwall, 65 Gadwall, 9 Pochard, 33 Coot, 20 Redshank, a Spotted Redshank, 9 Snipe, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Stonechats, 3 Wheatears, 2 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff and 7 Reed Buntings.
19th - At the Clevedon Yeo today there were 120+ Shelduck, 70+ Wigeon, 60+ Teal, a Peregrine, 8 Little Egrets, a Ringed Plover, a Golden Plover, 60+ Lapwing, c40 Dunlin, 180 Redshank, a Greenshank and 2 Stonechats.
16th - A Brent Goose was seen at Blackstone Rocks, Clevedon today, the first one of the year.
15th - The
BOC migration watch produced plenty of birds, but little in the way of variety,
winter Thrushes were virtually absent as were Brambling and Siskin. No
Hirundines were seen. Full details below, thanks to Bob Fleetwood, Richard
Belson, Richard Hunt and Jim Payne for joining me for four hours of Chaffinch
watching! A Barn Owl was seen in the Gordano Valley on the way to the
migration watch this morning. At the Clevedon-Yeo there were 140+
Shelduck, 80 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 6 Little Egret, 110 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, a Green
Sandpiper, at least 80 Meadow Pipits, 3 Stonechats and a Cetti's Warbler.
| 07:10 to 07:30 | 07:30 to 08:00 | 08:00 to 08:30 | 08:30 to 09:00 | 09:00 to 09:30 | 09:30 to 10:00 | 10:00 to 10:30 | 10:30 to 11:00 | Total | |
| Chaffinch | 279 | 285 | 564 | 585 | 305 | 232 | 219 | 2469 | |
| Redwing | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Song Thrush | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| Fieldfare | 35 | 35 | |||||||
| Goldfinch | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | ||||
| Skylark | 2 | 5 | 8 | 15 | |||||
| Starling | 157 | 178 | 214 | 174 | 166 | 162 | 31 | 1082 | |
| Wood Pigeon | 1 | 3 | 17 | 2 | 23 | ||||
| Pied Wagtail | 1 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 26 | |
| Meadow Pipit | 3 | 16 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 51 | ||
| Greenfinch | 19 | 66 | 49 | 18 | 37 | 21 | 210 | ||
| Linnet | 18 | 18 | |||||||
| Jay | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||
| Grey Wagtail | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Great Spot Woodpecker | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Peregrine | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 1 | 486 | 489 | 865 | 845 | 542 | 445 | 278 | 3936 |
13th - At the Clevedon Yeo there were 70 Redshank, c90 Shelduck, 18 Turnstone, 7 Snipe, 55 Wigeon and 35 Lapwing. An afternoon visit to Portbury Wharf Nature reserve found a Sparrowhawk, a Stonechat, 18 Little Grebes, 17 Tufted Ducks, 8 Gadwall, 7 Pochard and 57 Coot.
12th - The first Water Rail of the winter was seen at Clevedon today (Wains Hill marsh) along with 45 Shelduck, 70+ Wigeon, 60+ Teal, 6 Little Egrets, 24 Oystercatcher, a Ringed Plover, 70 Lapwing, 180 Dunlin, 4 Snipe, c60 Curlew, 150 Redshank, a Greenshank, 13 Turnstone, a Stonechat, 2 Wheatears, a Cetti's Warbler (seem scarce this year) and 40+ Linnet.
9th - At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve today there were c170 Teal, 20 Redshank, a Sparrowhawk, 30 Tufted Ducks, 18 Little Grebes, 6 Pochard, 6 Gadwall, a Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcaps and c30 Long Tailed Tits. At the Clevedon-Yeo there was a Whinchat, 4 Stonechat, 1 juv Little Stint (in with the dunlin), 1 juv Peregrine, c90 Curlew, c145 Dunlin and 11 Ringed Plover