DECEMBER 2004
30th - The new pools at Portbury Wharf held several birds of interest today, the star being a Water Pipit on one of the scrapes, also there was a female Goldeneye, 3 Shoveler, 4 Curlew and c50 Lapwing. Two Little Grebes amd 10 Tufted Duck were on the CEGB pool. Two Goosander were on the Blind Yeo at Clevedon. At the Clevedon Yeo there were 2 Peregrines, 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Egrets and a male Shoveler.
29th - At Clevedon this morning there were 5 Little Egrets, 16 Mute Swans, 120+ Shelduck, 150+ Wigeon, 60+ Teal , 65+ Mallard, 34 Oystercatcher (good winter count), 9 Ringed Plover, 150 Lapwing, 600+ Dunlin, 8 Black-t Godwit, 125 Curlew, 130 Redshank, Spotted Redshank, 3 Green Sandpipers (one group at Yeo Bank Farm), 26 Turnstone , and 2 Rock Pipits.
27th - A clear cold morning at Clevedon with the usual birds seen. Highlights were 4 Goosander ( 2 males ) on the Blind Yeo, the first time they have been seen this winter. On the coast there were 3 Short-eared Owls, 270 Dunlin, 16 Turnstone, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 29 Grey Plover, 5 Snipe, Little Egret, c150 Wigeon, 7 Shoveler and 7 Stonechats. Redwings and Fieldfares seem to be everywhere at the moment.
18th - 17 Bristol Ornithological club members and 3 patch watchers joined me on a trip to the Clevedon Yeo this morning. Thankfully the weather was fine and clear, despite some dodgy forecasts. Birds of prey were the stars of the show with a Short-eared Owl (possibly 2), Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and 2 Peregrines all showing. The peregrines were watched for a couple of minutes as they tried to catch a Dunlin, which eventually made it's escape. Also seen were 36 Grey Plover, 17 Turnstone, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, c200 Dunlin, c100 Curlew, 6 Oystercatchers, Common Sandpiper and 12 Knot. Two Little Egrets and a pair of Stonechat's were also in the area. 13 Shoveler and 3 Brent Geese were also seen. At Plantation lakes there were a pair of Bullfinch's. The Ringed Teal is still on the Blind Yeo and a Wigeon was also there. Thanks to all who attended.
16th - At Clevedon today there were 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Shoveler, c200 Dunlin, 20 Grey Plover a Spotted Redshank and a Peregrine.
15th - A sub adult Yellow-legged Gull was at the mouth of the Yeo today.
13th - 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Snipe, 5 Jack Snipe, c500 Dunlin and a Merlin were seen at Clevedon today.
12th - At Clevedon there was a Brent Goose, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 1000+ Dunlin, 3 Short-eared Owls and 5 Knot.
10th - At Clevedon today there was one Short-eared Owl, 1 Brent Goose, c350 Wigeon, c500 Dunlin, c30 Lapwing and a Spotted Redshank.
7th - It was quiet at Clevedon today with only a Short-eared Owl, Brent Goose and 8 Black-tailed Godwits to report. The Ringed Teal is still on the Blind Yeo.
5th - On the coast at Clevedon today there was a Brent Goose, 9 Black-Tailed Godwits, 10 Turnstones, 6 Grey Plover, 40-50 Redshank and c500 Dunlin. A Kingfisher was at Plantation Lakes. On the Blind Yeo there were 2 Gadwall, 4 Little Grebes and the Ringed Teal (see pic.) was still present. In the farm yard near the Hand Stadium there was a Chiffchaff and a Grey Wagtail, but alas no sign of any Tree Sparrows. On Portishead boating lake there were 4 Pochard and c15 Linnet were on the foreshore.
4th -- At Clevedon this morning there were a good selection and number of birds, despite the less than high tide. Seen were 250 Shelduck, 50 Teal, 150 Wigeon, 12 Shoveler, 150 Lapwing, 300 Dunlin, 40 Grey Plover, 150 Curlew, 35 Redshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 25 Turnstone, 3 Oystercatchers, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Short-eared Owls, Merlin and 4 Stonechats. Thanks to Jim Payne for the photo's.
2nd - Today at Clevedon
there were 3 Little Egrets, 210 Wigeon, 110+ Shelduck, Peregrine,
Merlin (female), 17+ Oystercatchers, Golden Plover, 28 Grey Plovers, 90+
Lapwing, 420 Dunlin (still very poor numbers), at least 6 Jack Snipe,
4+Common Snipe 4+, Curlew a few, 155+ Redshank (unusually 90+ feeding in
Blake's Pool just before the tide came in) and 24 Turnstone.