MARCH 2007

31st - An adult Red Kite made for a great end of the month as it was seen drifting slowly up the Gordano Valley just after 2pm this afternoon. At Portury Wharf there was a Swallow, 7 Sand Martins, a Little Owl, a Peregrine, a Cetti's Warbler and the Goldeneye.

29th - Three or four Wheatears were at the Clevedon-Yeo along with 8 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 3/4 Little Egrets, a Peregrine, 4+ Oystercatchers, 6+ Lapwing, c20 Curlew, a Spotted Redshank, 80+ Redshank, 33 Turnstones, 4 Sand Martins and at least 4 Chiffchafs. Thanks to Martin Parsons for the pic. At Portbury Wharf there was the first Willow Warbler of the year, 4 Wheatears, 14 Redshanks, a Merlin, a Barn Owl, 13 Tufted Ducks, the Goldeneye, a Swallow, a Bar-headed Goose and 7 Little Grebes. Four Ravens were seen at Walton Bay.

27th - Seven Wheatears were seen at the Clevedon-Yeo today along with an influx of Chiffchaffs at Wains Hill. Three Bar-headed Geese were at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve (where do they come from?), also noted were several small groups of Mipits on the move. Two White Wagtails were seen at Walton Moor.

26th - The first 2 Swallows of the year were seen at Portbury Wharf today along with 3 Sand Martins. Also here was the Ring-necked Duck and Goldeneye, a dark bellied Brent Goose, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, a Bar-headed Goose, 4 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 3 Snipe, 23 Redshank, 3 Dunlin and plenty of Mipits and Chiffchaffs.

24th - The Ring-necked Duck and Goldeneye are stll at Portbury Wharf along with 7 Chiffchaffs, a few Redwings and Fieldfares and 2 Mistle Thrushes.

23rd - Some evidence of migration over Wains Hill with 82 Meadows Pipits and 3 Chaffinch flying over. A Siskin was also seen nearby.

21st - At last a Wheatear with one seen at the Clevedon-Yeo. At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve there was the usual regulars with the Ring-necked Duck, a Goldeneye and a Cetti's Warbler.

18th - Still little sign of any migrants today at the Clevedon Yeo with 245 Shelduck, 40+ Teal, 40 Wigeon, 2 Little Egrets (a further 19 were inland), 27 Oystercatchers, a Grey Plover, 6 Lapwing, 55+ Knot, 50+ Dunlin, 42 Curlew, a Spotted Redshank, 185 Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, 24 Turnstones and 2 GBB Gulls. At Portbury Wharf the Ring-necked Ducks and Goldeneye were still present. 15 Kittiwakes were seen during a morning seawatch from Ladye Bay.

17th - 17 Little Egrets were seen inland at the Clevedon-Yeo near Channel View Farm. At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve early this morning there was the Ring-necked Duck, the female Goldeneye, 21 Shelduck, 9 Tufted Ducks, 5 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 9 Curlew, 2 Little Grebes, a Green Woodpecker, 3 Reed Buntings and a Barn Owl. A Med Gull was seen off Portishead.

16th - A Purple Sandpiper was again at the Clevedon Yeo along with a single Sand Martin and a Raven. The Ring-necked Duck, Goldeneye were at Portbury Wharf along with a possible sighting of a Ring Billed Gull.

14th - No sign of the Little Gull at Portbury Wharf today, the Ring-necked Duck is still there, although the Goldeneye has gone missing, a Cettis Warbler and Barn Owl were also here. At Walton Bay there were 3 Stonechats and 3 Blackcaps. Two Ravens were near Wains Hill, Clevedon.

13th - At the Clevedon Yeo today there were 14 Little Egrets, c35 Wigeon, 11 Teal, 62 Shelduck, 48 Curlew, c70 Dunlin, c45 Redshank, a Spotted Redshank and c20 Skylark. The Ring-necked Duck and Little Gull remained at Portbury Wharf along with a Goldeneye, 5 Gadwall, 16+ Tufted Duck & 9 Little Grebes.

11th - A first winter Little Gull was an unusual find at Portbury Wharf, also here were the Ring-necked Duck, a Goldeneye, c17 Tufted Ducks, a Bar-headed Goose, several Little Grebes, 7/8 Stonechats, a Cettis Warbler and a couple of singing Chiffchaff's. At the Clevedon Yeo there were 20 Little Egrets, 40 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 6 Goosanders, several Buzzards, two Peregrines, a Merlin (took a Redwing), 15 Oystercatchers , a Golden Plover, 8+ Lapwing, c20 Knot, c200 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 30+ Curlew, a Spotted Redshank, 215 Redshank, 35+ Turnstones, 3 Rock Pipits, several small groups of Sand Martins (2+4+4) a Stonechat and a Chiffchaff. Oh and still no Wheatear!

10th - Still no Wheatear! At the Clevedon Yeo there were 25 Turnstones, 4 Grey Plover, 46 Knot, 25 Curlew, 2 Oystercatchers, 5 Dunlin, 25 Curlew, 12 Redshank, 4 Little Egrets, 27 Wigeon, a Common Gull and a Redwing.

9th - A Purple Sandpiper was a rare sighting at the Clevedon-Yeo today, also here were 42 Shelduck, 5 Wigeon, 7 Teal, a Little Egret, 10 Knot, 5 Grey Plover, 220 Dunlin, 20 Curlew, a few Oystercatchers, a Raven, 2 Stonechats and 20+ Skylarks. The Ring-necked duck and Goldeneye are still at Portbury Whard Nature Reserve.

8th - At the Clevedon Yeo today there were 45 Wigeon, only 4 Teal, 3 Little Egrets, 24 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Plover, 10 Lapwing, 160 Knot, 30+ Dunlin, 2 Jack Snipe, 65 Curlew, a Spotted Redshank, 210 Redshank, 35+ Turnstones and a Raven. I predict a Wheatear this weekend!

7th - A count of 6 Purple Sandpipers was made at Battery Point today, the highest number recorded so far during the 2006/7 winter period. At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve the Ring Necked Duck remained with the long staying female Goldeneye, 105 Teal, a few Wigeon, 44 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Stonechats and a Chiffchaff. Also here were 3 Brimstone butterflies, a sure sign that spring is on the way!

5th - The Ring Necked Duck remained at Portbury Wharf along with the Goldeneye, 3 Stonechats and a new (?migrant) Cettis Warbler.

4th - Most of today was dull, wet, windy and miserable, however an early morning visit to the Clevedon Yeo just about got away with it. Here there were 17 Canada Goose, 60+ Shelduck, 50+ Wigeon, 25 Teal, 2 Little Egrets, a Water Rail, 24 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 15 Grey Plover, 14 Lapwing, 70-80 Knot, a Little Stint, 600+ Dunlin, a Jack Snipe, 3 Snipe, 42 Curlew, 120+ Redshank, 48 Turnstones, 5 White Wagtails, a Stonechat and a Raven over Wains Hill.

2nd - The areas resident Ring Necked Duck was finally persuaded to move from Avonmouth to Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve today. also there were a Goldeneye, 11 Tufted Ducks, 2 Stonechats, 2 Snipe and 4 Ravens.

1st - At the Clevedon-Yeo today there were 70 Shelduck, 110 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 2 Little Egrets, a Peregrine with prey, 12 Oystercatchers, 5 Grey Plovers, 18 Lapwing, a Knot, 240 Dunlin, a Snipe, 30 Curlew, 110 Redshank, 18 Turnstones and 2 GBB Gulls.