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28th - At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve there were 2 Brent Geese, 15 Shelduck, 55 Wigeon, 14 Pochard, 15 Tufted Ducks, 3 Gbb Gulls, 6 Little Grebes, 200 Dunlin, 85 Lapwing, 27 Redshank, a Golden Plover and 10 Ringed Plover.

27th - Today at Clevedon there were 60 Lapwing, 52 Redshank, 60 Shelduck, 30 Wigeon, c500 Dunlin, 3 Oystercatchers, 27 Curlew, 10 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstones, a Little Egret and 2 Stonechats.

26th - A Boxing Day bash at Clevedon produced 90+ Shelduck, 15+ Teal, 18+ Wigeon, 4 Little Egrets, a Merlin (female), a Water Rail, 8 Oystercatchers, 2 Golden Plover, 29 Grey Plover, 520 Lapwing, 550+ Dunlin, 6+ Snip, 2 Jack Snipe, c80 Curlew, a Spotted Redshank, 90+ Redshank, 16 Turnstones, and 2+ Rock Pipits.

24th - A cold and grey day at Clevedon. On the coast here there were 4 Little Egrets, c120 Curlew, 3o Turnstones, c750 Dunlin, 25 Grey Plover, a Jack Snipe, 5 Snipe, c100 Redshank, c450 Lapwing, 15 Oystercatchers, c60 Shelduck, 65 Wigeon, 9 Reed Buntings, a Grey Wagtail, a Stonechat, a Kingfisher and hundreds of Redwings and Fieldfares in the hedgerows.

23rd - Finally after 3 days the fog lifted. At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve there were 62 Coot, 16 Gadwall, 9 Tufted Ducks, 11 Little Grebes, 8 Curlew, 24 Redshank, 60 Dunlin, c150 Redwings, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Ravens, 3 Stonechats and a Blackcap. At Battery Point the 4 Purple Sandpipers were seen along with a Stonechat, 7 Shelduck and an Oystercatcher.

21st - Sightings at Portbury Wharf Nature reserve included 87 Coot, 11 Little Grebes, 9 Tufted Ducks, 12 Gadwall, 9 Pochard, a Water Rail, c120 Redwing, 3 Stonechats and 3 Reed Buntings.

17th - A 1st winter Great Northern Diver was a great find a Clevedon Boating Lake this morning, it was feeding actively and gave excellent views. The Yellow Browed Warbler was again seen in a Clevedon garden. At the Clevedon-Yeo there were 80+ Shelduck, 8 Wigeon!, 2 Teal!, 5 Little Egrets, a Water Rail in Wain's Hill Marsh, 60+ Lapwing, 550+ Dunlin, 6 Snipe, 80+ Curlew, c90 Redshank, one (possibly 2) Spotted Redshank and 6 Turnstones. At Weston Moor there were 49 Snipe, a Stonechat and a Little Grebe.

'At high tide this afternoon, after a short flight over the lake, it flew down on to the adjacent estuary. As it landed, a fishing rod came flying over our heads from one of the parapets on Church Hill and it became clear that the bird had flown into a fishing line, and had pulled the rod out of its stand, over the wall and into the water. It then swam further into the channel wrapped in line, with the rod trailing behind. Some deft casting managed to catch the line, and the rod was brought ashore, but as the bird was being reeled in, the line snapped. The bird then drifted downchannel past Wain's Hill - it's wings could be seen to be clear of line, but it's not known if the bird was completely free.' Lets hope it freed itself. Video of Diver here - Great Northern Diver Video (6.5mb)

16th - At least one Shag still at Clevedon and in the Wains Hill area there were 75 Lapwing, 25 Redshank, a Little Egret, a GBB Gill and a male Blackcap. Four Purple Sandpipers were seen at Battery Point Portishead today and a Great Skua was seen from here mid-afternoon. A Yellow Browed Warbler was seen in a Clevedon garden.

12th - Two Shags were seen at the Boating Lake at Clevedon today, the first on the patch for several years. At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve there were 135 Teal, c40 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 14 Pochard, 9 Tufted Ducks, a Shoveler, 92 Coot (another record), 6 Little Grebes, 115 Lapwing, 40 Dunlin and 5 Stonechats.

11th - It was quiet at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve this afternoon with a Barn Owl, 12 Tufted Ducks, 7 Little Grebes, 85 Coot (a new reserve record) and a Green Woodpecker of note.

10th - At the Clevedon-Yeo today there was a Brent Goose, 20 Shelduck, 80 Wigeon, 25 Teal, 12 Oystercatchers, a Ringed Plover, a probable Golden Plover heard calling, 23 Grey Plover, 90 Lapwing, 4 Knot, 420 Dunlin, a Common Snipe, c50 Curlew, 140+ Redshank, 22 Turnstones, 2 GBB Gulls, 2 Ravens and a Cetti's Warbler calling at Blake's Pools.

9th - An unexpected sighting today of a Whinchat at the Clevedon-Yeo (previous latest Avon record 12th November 1967)! Also here were the usual waders and a Water Pipit at the mouth of the Yeo.

8th - A complete change in the weather this morning with calm still conditions. A brief visit to Battery Point produced 3 Purple Sandpipers, the two long staying Common Scoters, 8 Dunlin and a few Rock Pipits. Short movie clip here - Purple Sandpiper film (8.9mb) - Use right click and 'save target as' to download. At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve there were 420 Teal, 80 Wigeon, 6 Shoveler, 14 Pochard, 15 Tufted Ducks, 72 Coot, 8 Little Grebes, 39 Snipe, a Spotted Redshank in with 85 Redshank, 75 Lapwing, 110 Curlew, 8 Reed Buntings, a Water Rail and 4 Stonechats. From this weeks Clevedon & Portishead Mercury's 'those were the days section' 8th December 1906 - Mr Lewis Hutton, of Bristol, has received for preservation a fine male specimen of the Fork-tailed Petrel (aka Leach's), which was shot at Portishead this week.

6th - Two more Leach's Petrels were seen from Battery Point, Portishead today along with an Auk sp (prob Razorbill), 2 Common Scoters and 4 Kittiwakes. At the Clevedon Yeo there were 2 Brent Goose, 160 Shelduck, 90+ Wigeon, 20 Teal, 21 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plover, 21 Grey Plover, 75 Lapwing, 3 Knot, 450 Dunlin, 5 Snipe, 120 Curlew, 85 Redshank, 22 Turnstones, 3+ Common Gulls, a Kittiwake and a Raven.

5th - Two definite Leach's Petrels were seen from Ladye Bay, Clevedon today as well as 2 Great Northern Divers, a Great Skua, an Arctic Skua and c60 Kittiwakes. At Battery Point there was a Great Skua and the 2 long staying Common Scoters. A Water Rail was seen at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve.Two other Leach's were seen inside the Royal Portbury Dock. I had to make do with seeing my Leach's at Severnside during an extended lunch hour from work, the shame of having to twitch on the 'enemies' patch (just kidding Seversiders!).

4th - Still no Leach's! A Black Redstart was found at the Royal Hotel, Portishead. At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve there were 11 Tufted Ducks, 9 Pochard, 11 Little Grebe, 75 Lapwing, c400 Dunlin, 40 Redshank, 6 Gadwall and 2 Stonechats and did I mention there were no Leach's?

3rd - Despite the stormy S/SW winds seawatching from Ladye Bay was disappointing with just 50-60 Kittiwakes of note this morning. Clapton Moor was also quiet with 2 Stonechats, 7 Herons, a Reed Bunting and a Goldcrest worthy of note.

1st - A possible Spotted Redshank was at Clevedon Pill, also here were 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Stonechats, 26 Curlew, 24 Lapwing, 31 Redhsank, 3 Dunlin, 15 Oystercatchers and 5 Turnstones.