NOVEMBER 2007

29th - At the Clevedon Yeo today there were 51 Canada Goose (28 at Dowlais and 23 at Yeo Bank), 100+ Wigeon, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Peregrines, 15+ Oystercatchers, 34 Grey Plover, 80+ Lapwing, 1800 Dunlin, 5+ Snipe, a Spotted Redshank, 130 Redshank, 44 Turnstone (including 10 near town bandstand) and 4 Stonechats.

27th - Three Purple Sandpipers now at Battery Point. A Parakeet sp was seen at Blakes Pools Clevedon and on the coast here there were c400 Dunlin and 12 Snipe. The perfect bite pools had calling Tawny Owl and some Redpoll.

25th - No sign of the Ring-necked Duck at Portbury Wharf this morning, there were however 5 Tufted Ducks, 13 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 6 Pochard, 2 Teal, a Wigeon, a single Snipe and a Cettis Warbler called well. My first visit to my BTO atlas tetrad (Weston Big Wood/Black Rock Quarry, Portishead) only produced common bits and bobs but good views of 2 Treecreepers and a Nuthatch made the treck worthwhile. At the Clevedon Yeo there were 90 Wigeon, 35 Teal, 3 Little Egrets, a Merlin (female), a Peregrine (male), 42 Oystercatchers, 16 Grey Plover, 90 Lapwing, c1350 Dunlin, 2+ Common Snipe, 120 Curlew, 145 Redshank, 26 Turnstones, a GBB Gull and a Raven.

24th - Little change at Portbury Wharf today with the long staying Ring-necked Ducks, a Water Pipit and an adult Med Gull. Of interest outside of the reporting area was a photo I was sent today of an escaped White-backed Vulture seen over Nailsea a week or so ago, thanks to Dawn Worner for the pic.

17th - c50 Kittiwakes and a drake Goldeneye were seen from Ladye Bay today. Whilst the Ring-necked Duck and Scaup remained at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve.

16th - A very cold start to the day. The drake Mandarin was reported back at the Perfect Bite Pools today and a female Goosander and a Merlin were at the Clevedon Yeo.

15th - At the (quite cold!) Clevedon Yeo today there were 130 Wigeon, 6 Little Egrets, a Peregrine, 20 Oystercatchers, 18 Grey Plover, c40 Lapwing, 550 Dunlin, a Jack Snipe, 3 Common Snipe, 60+ Curlew, 160 Redshank, c20 Turnstone, a GBB Gull, 20+ Skylark, 3+ Rock Pipits and 2 Ravens. The Ring-necked Duck is still at Portbury Waharf Nature Reserve along with 14 Siskins and 2 Bramblings heading north.

14th - The first Purple Sandpiper of the winter was reported from Battery Point, Portishead today. As always a high tide visit is essential in order to catch up with these birds. At Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve an influx of small birds was noted mostly Chaffinches, Greenfinches (scarce here recently), Goldfinches, Linnets, Reed Buntings (15+) and a few Redpolls and Goldcrests. Still quite a lot of Redwings and Fieldfares feeding on the berries. The Ring-necked Duck and a Water Rail were also present.

11th - Over high tide at Clevedon there were several Little Egrets, c40 Oystercatchers, 140 Redshank, c500 Dunlin, 38 Grey Plover, 16 Turnstones, a Green Sandpiper, a Med Gull, a Raven and 2 Peregines.

10th - A female type Scaup was a nice find at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve today along with the Ring-necked Duck and a Water Pipit. In the spartina grass on the foreshore there were c50 Skylarks, c25 Rock Pipits, c15 Mipits, c20 Reed Buntings, c70 Linnet and 15-20 Snipe.

8th - On a low tide visit to Clevedon there were 110 Wigeon, 7 Little Egrets, 32 Oystercatchers, 100+ Lapwing, c100 Redshank, 10+ Turnstone, a GBB Gull and 2 Ravens.

6th - Along with the Ring-necked Duck at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve there were 9 Little Grebes, 60 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall, 13 Tufted Duck, 50 Coot, 1 Sparrowhawk (caught a Redwing), 2 Snipe, 100 Redwing, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Reed Bunting and 4 Bullfinch. Their also appears to have been an influx of Redwings into this area.

4th - The drake Ring-necked duck is still at Portbury Wharf Nature reserve today along with c17 Tufted Ducks, 4 Gadwall, 2 Teal, c10 Little Grebes, 3 Snipe, 9 Lapwing, 2 Cettis Warblers, c70 Redwing and a Bullfinch. The Mandarin is still at the Perfect Bite pools, Clevedon. A brief visit this afternoon to Battery Point, Portishead failed to locate any Purple Sandpipers, they normally turn up around now.

3rd - The Mandarin was still at the Perfect Bite this morning. On the coast at Clevedon there were260+ Redshank, a Spotted Redshank, 4 Knot, 86 Curlew, 22 Grey Plover , 2 Stonechats and a Short-eared Owl were reported. Three Brambling, a Redpoll, a Siskin and c50 Redwing flew over Wains Hill.

1st - The Ring-necked duck remained at Portbury Wharf where there were also the usual other ducks also a Wood Lark was heard flying north (where is it going?). At least 4 Cettis Warblers are on the reserve. At the Clevedon-Yeo there were 110 Shelduck, 60 Wigeon, 11 Little Egrets, a Merlin (with small prey), 12 Oystercatchers, 18 Grey Plover, c40 Lapwing, 160 Dunlin, 18 Snipe(all at Yeo mouth), c30 Curlew, 210 Redshank, a Spotted Redshank (heard only), a Green Sandpiper, 35 Turnstones, a Wheatear (late) and a Cetti's Warbler.