MAY 2005

 

29th - It was very quiet at the Yeo with only 3 Little Egret, 3 Whimbrel and a Wheatear to report.  A male Bullfinch was at Plantation lakes.

 

26th - At the Clevedon Yeo this morning there was a Cuckoo, 5 Wheatears, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Little Egrets, 7 Ringed Plover, 28 Dunlin, 4 Whimbrel and 2 Turnstones.  Portbury Wharf this evening had 1/2 Water Rails, Bar-headed Goose, 7 Little Grebes, Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Curlew and 2 Redshank.

 

24th - A Hobby was seen over Clapton-in-Gordano early this morning.  At Clevedon a Tawny Owl chick was seen near the Marine Lake where a leucistic Spotted Flycatcher was also seen.  On the new pools at Portbury Wharf this evening there were 10 Little Grebes, 2 Tufted Duck, 25 Shelduck, Redshank, Dunlin, Bar-Headed Goose, 5 Canada Geese, 4 Whitethroats and a Cuckoo.

 

23rd - Today at Clevedon there were 10 Mute Swans, Little Egret, 4 Canada Goose with brood of 5, 9 Oystercatcher, 8 Ringed Plover, 8 Lapwing, 52 Dunlin, 18+ Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Curlew, 8 Redshank, Greenshank, 6 Turnstone, 3 Swift, 3 Wheatear, c30 Swallows, c10 House Martins, 2 Sand Martins, Sedge Warbler singing, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff.
 

22nd - A early morning high tide visit to the Clevedon Yeo produced 6 Little Egrets, 55 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, Turnstone (sum. Plumage), 10 Whimbrel, Curlew, 2 Redshank, 6 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatchers and a very late female Wigeon.  At Portbury Wharf there was a Black-tailed Godwit, 60+ Dunlin, 30+ Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderling, Whimbrel, a Wheatear and a male Yellowhammer.

 

  

19th - At the Clevedon Yeo there were 3 Greenshanks, Whinchat, 11 Whimbrel, 3 Turnstones and 5 Little Egrets.

 

17th - It was generally quiet at Weston Moor today with only c10 Sand Martins, c120 House Martins, 11 Lapwings, 3 Buzzards, 3 Blackcaps and 4 Reed Warblers of note.

 

16th - At Portbury Wharf today there was a Greenshank, 5 Little Grebes, 2 broods of Coot, 2 Great-black backed Gulls, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Lapwing, 15 Sand Martins and c160 House Martins.

 

15th - Evidence of a 'fall' of migrants overnight with 6 Spotted Flycatchers, Wood Warbler and a male Redstart all seen in the Wains Hill area of Clevedon.  Six Buzzards were seen from Weston Moor along with a couple of Reed Buntings.  A Common Sandpiper and a Raven were the highlights of a visit of Portbury Wharf.

 

14th - Eleven Manx Shearwaters were seen going up the channel from Ladye Bay at lunchtime today along with lots of Swifts and House Martins. At Portbury Wharf there was a Cuckoo and 3 Little Grebes.

 

11th - Four Arctic Terns were seen from Ladye Bay this evening.  In the Gordano valley there was a Little Owl and Little Grebe this morning, at Portbury Wharf it was very quiet with a Great Black-backed Gull of note, no waders were seen.

 

10th - At Portbury Wharf today there were 3 Little Grebe, 33 Shelduck, 12 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps and c200 Swallows.  The Gordano Valley held 2 Stonechats and several Reed and Sedge Warblers this evening,

 

9th - The Red Kite seen yesterday in the Gordano Valley could not be found today.  It was quiet at the Clevedon Yeo with only 42+ Whimbrel,
280 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstone, 3 Wheatear and 25+ Swallows.  The Ring-necked Duck has returned to Portbury Wharf along with 22 Shelduck, 7 Canada Geese, Bar-headed Goose, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebes and 2 Lesser Whitethroats.

 

8th - A juvenile Red Kite in the Gordano Valley was the highlight of the day yesterday, when four of us attempted to set a new Avon day list record.  The other noteable birds included were Tree Pipit, Wigeon, Short-eared Owl (Cl-Y), Black-necked Grebe, Goldeneye (Chew), Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, Red Legged and Grey Partridge (Marshfield), Dipper (Willbridge Mill), Little Ringed Plover (Severnside) and finishing off with Barn and Tawny Owl.  A new Avon record of 111 species was set by Paul Chapman, Jim Payne, Howard Taffs and Jason Williams.

 

7th - A juvenile Marsh Harrier was seen at the Clevedon Yeo this morning.  A seawatch produced a possible Velvet Scoter from Ladye Bay at 07:00hrs this morning, the same area also had 8 Arctic Terns and a Bonxie this evening.  At Portbury Wharf there were 2 Tufted Ducks, 4 Little Grebes, 2 Lapwing, 2 Lesser Whitethoats and 8 Linnet.

 

5th - At the Clevedon Yeo this morning there were 115 Whimbrel, 1 Grey Plover, 28 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Ringed Plover and 2 Wheatears.  A probable Marsh Harrier was seen in the Gordano Valley by a local birder as he sped along the M5!.  An evening seawatch from Battery Point produced a dark phase Arctic Skua, 3 Turnstone and a Whimbrel.

 

3rd - Seawatching from Ladye bay produced a large Shearwater which has now been positively i.d as a Cory's Shearwater which is a great find.  Also seen were 2 Arctic Skuas, 3 Gannets and 3 Fulmars. At Portbury Wharf there were 33 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Wheatear and a Common Sandpiper.

 

1st - At Portbury Wharf today there was a Peregrine, 2 Whinchats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 8 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, Sanderling, a pair of Gadwall, 15 Whimbrel and 2 Yellow Wagtails.  Two Black Terns, a Little Tern and 10 'commic' terns were seen from Ladye Bay late morning.