DECEMBER 2009
27th - Near Blackstone rocks Clevedon there were c50 Lapwing and a Golden Plover. From the M5 near Clevedon c800 more Lapwing were in the air. Weston Moor was rubbish. On the coast at Portishead Boating Lake there were 2 Curlew, a Oystercatcher and a couple of Rock Pipits.
25th - One soul was obviously spurned by his family and went birding today! At Portbury Wharf there were 5 Mute Swans, 15 Canada Geese, 8 Shoveler, 8 Pochard and 9 Tufted Duck on the remaining ice-free patch. At Chapel Pill estuary, 35 Wigeon, c160 Teal plus a few Dunlin, Curlew and Redshank. A Jack Snipe and 8 Snipe were on the salt-marsh.
21st - The spell of cold weather continues. Portishead Boating lake was virtually frozen over and all the duck have gone. At Battery Point there were 4 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Rock Pipits. At the Clevedon-Yeo there were 25 Shelduck, 110 Wigeon, 85 Teal, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egrets, 8 Oystercatcher, 13 Ringed Plover, 31 Grey Plover, 80+ Lapwing, a Knot, 1200 Dunlin, 8 Snipe, 3 Jack Snipe, 40+ Curlew, 120 Redshank, 32 Turnstones, a GBB Gull, 2 Rock Pipits, and 2 Reed Buntings. Inside the Royal Portbury Dock there were 19 Shelduck, 11 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 9 Teal, 19 Mallard, 5 Ringed Plover, 26 Lapwing, 63 Dunlin, 32 Curlew, 58 Redshank, 300+ Black-headed Gulls and 16 Common Gulls. On the mostly frozen pools of Portbury Wharf there were 3 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 3 Mallard, 12 Shoveler, 12 Pochard, 14 Tufted Ducks, 11 Coot and a single Grey Wagtail on the bank. At the shoreline (mostly Chapel Pill): 22 Canada Geese, 61 Wigeon, 308 Teal, 74 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 20 Curlew and 40 Redshank.
19th - At the Royal Portbury Docks there were 18 Ringed Plover. At Portbury Wharf there were 5 Little Grebes, a Great Crested Grebe, 6 Gadwall, 5 Pochard and 10 Tufted Ducks. At Chapel Pill, c70 Wigeon, c200 Teal, 5 Shoveler, c600 Dunlin plus a few Curlew and Redshank. Two Stonechats were on the salt-marsh
17th - Today at Clevedon there were 35 Shelduck, 75 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 80 Teal, a Little Egret, a female Merlin, c8 Oystercatchers, 13 Ringed Plover, 16 Grey Plover, 160 Lapwing, 8 Knot, 1200 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 30+ Curlew, a Spotted Redshank, 220 Redshank, 20+ Turnstones, 600 Bk-headed Gulls, a GBB Gull, 2+ Rock Pipits, a Cetti's Warbler and 6 Linnet.
16th - On the boating lake at Portishead there were 2 Cormorants, 3 Pochard and a surprise 1st winter Great Crested Grebe. At Portbury Wharf there were 3 Mute Swans, the usual Great Crested Grebe, 3 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, 8 Pochard and 12 Tufted Ducks. Highlights at the estuary were: 130 Teal, 90 Dunlin and 11 Snipe, all at the Chapel Pill section. Along the seawall scrub were 1 Cetti's Warbler and 3 Reed Buntings.
13th - Quiet at Clevedon today with 8 Shelduck, only 10 Wigeon, 55 Teal, a Little Egret, a Buzzard, a male Peregrine, 140 Lapwing, 400 Dunlin, 17 Snipe, 60+ Curlew, a Spotted Redshank, 120 Redshank, 20+ Meadow Pipit and 4 Ravens. A small influx of Thrushes was noted with 3-4 Song Thrush and a couple of Mistle Thrush. At Portbury Wharf there was a Great Crested Grebe, 6 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 4 Pochard and 12 Tufted Ducks and 12+ Bullfinches
12th - Twenty four Little Egrets and c700 corvids were seen going to roost at Clevedon this evening. Nil of significance on the coast at Clevedon or in the Gordano Valley.
11th - A Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler was at Blakes Pools at dusk
10th - A Black Redstart was seen on the shoreline of Royal Portbury Dock today.
6th - Seawatching weather again today however only c100 Kittiwakes, probably the same number of Common Gulls and a Great Skua could be mustered up. On the coast at Clevedon there were 40 Shelduck, 50 Wigeon, 28 Teal, 3 Little Egrets, 23 Oystercatchers, 6 Ringed Plover, 19 Grey Plover, 275+ Lapwing, a Knot, 18 Snipe, a Jack Snipe, 2100 Dunlin, 90 Curlew, 270 Redshank, 36 Turnstones, 6 Common Gulls, 4+ Rock Pipits, 3 Fieldfare, a Raven, a Reed Bunting and leaving the best till last a juv/1st winter Snow Bunting on the sea wall fairly near the Yeo (?same bird from over a month ago). A trawl through the Gordano Valley was quite productive with 4 Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, a Green Woodpecker, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 50+ Teal, 2 Little Grebes, 50+ Goldfinches, 6 Redpoll, 12+ Bullfinch, 30+ Snipe, a pair of Stonechats, and three flocks of thrushes 200+ fieldfares with odd Redwings. (thanks to Pete Evand for the pics)
5th - Two Goldeneye were flushed from one of the pools at Plantation Lakes, Clevedon.
4th - Three Purple Sandpipers at Battery Point. A Grey Wagtail was a welcome garden visitor in Portishead.
3rd - At Clevedon today there were 7 Mute Swan, 42 Canada Goose, 32 Shelduck, 70+ Wigeon, 15+ Teal, 12 Little Egrets, a Peregrine, 24 Oystercatchers, 4 Ringed Plover, a Grey Plover, 240 Lapwing, 1100 Dunlin, a Snipe, 140 Curlew, 220 Redshank, c6 Turnstones, 350 Bk-headed Gulls, 5+ Skylarks and 6 Rock Pipits.