Birdwatching at Oldbury Power Station
5/8/20 – A Hobby hunting low over fields and hedges at Shepperdine, and sat in a tree a few times.
4/8/20 – 2 Common Tern downriver at 7:35am. 5 Lesser Whitethroat and a singing Willow Warbler are new in; 4 Wheatear (3xPillhead Gout, 1xYacht club). HT at Pillhead Gout: 3+ Ringed Plover, 2+ Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper and 3 Lapwing. A juv. Teal on the lake (and yesterday). 10+ Mistle Thrush still on Lagoon 1 and 1+ Yellow Wagtail.
3/8/20 – This afternoon, a young Buzzard not long out of the nest and not very competent at flying, and even worse at landing !
And a Hare along the bridleway to south of Lagoon 2.
AM reported: a Kingfisher and 21 Redshank at Oldbury Pill; 3 Wheatear (Pillhead Gout), 600 Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Gull,
2 Stonechat and a Common Sandpiper (Yacht Club); 30 Pied Wagtail and 2 Yellow Wagtail on Lagoon 1, c30 Turnstone (Green Buoy) and 4 Little Egret.
The meadow and the orchard are being cut at just the right time this year.
2/8/20 – A Brown Argus butterfly reported by MB on Lagoon 3.
1/8/20 – 4+ Yellow Wagtail with 40+ Pied Wagtail on Lagoon 1 with the cattle this morning, and Black-headed Gull '2N23' on the shore by Lagoon 3 (which was ringed at a nest in Slimbridge in 2010 - thanks JS).
131 species seen by me at OPS this year (134 for all-comers). The end of July averages for last 5 years are for 5 more species to have been seen. I had my best July ever at OPS for adding species to the year-list - 7 species added, compared with 1 to 4 usually. This is helped by the appalling Spring for species at OPS. By end of May I only had 119 species, compared with average over last 5 years of 133 by this time. That was partly due to the Covid restrictions, but also because of the month of extremely good weather, which allowed migrating birds to carry on flying without dropping down at OPS.
31/7/20 – This afternoon: a Common Tern on the Tidal Res. shore with Black-headed Gulls; a Yellow Wagtail on the saltmarsh by the jetty; 2+ Whimbrel on the estuary; 18 Redshank and c250 Black-headed Gull at the yacht club at HT; and c200 Starling feeding around the waterworks.
30/7/20 – Scanning the estuary with binoculars at 6:20am from near Lagoon 3, a flock of 22 quite large brownish birds are flying low towards me having just gone past the jetty. My first thought is Curlews coming out of roost, but these are flying a bit fast. I then start seeing white wing-flashes and think this is going to be the biggest flock of Gadwall I have seen fly past OPS. But their wings are strangely whirring. It is only as they are parallel with me and only 100m offshore that I see they are all Red-breasted Merganser ! With necks stretched out in front and long narrow bills. They are all 'redheads' with scruffy red-brown heads, and bodies a buff-brown/grey colour. (Possibly all juveniles.) I now panic a bit, and have a choice of going for my camera or telescope. Choosing the latter (as I want to make sure they are not Goosander), it takes 10-15 seconds to put up and I just see them flying directly away from me and they are so low and near that they are lost below the near bank of the estuary. Some were gliding with straight wings (like Cormorants in a flying flock), and I am hoping they have gone down at the mouth of Oldbury Pill, by the yacht club, as I don't see them again. I checked Oldbury Pill, but not there. They were only viewable for 1 minute in total. (This is the first July record and highest count for S.Gloucs. - thebirdsofsouthgloucestershire.) I disturbed a Kingfisher from Oldbury Pill sluice, and a Common Sandpiper there. Also: the Redstart still at Lagoon 1 outfall, 1+ Yellow Wagtail with the cows, and yet another odd July record; a Rock Pipit on the seawall.
28/7/20 – A Garden Warbler was with a mass of other small birds along the main rhine, including a Lesser Whitethroat, a juv. Willow Warbler, c10 Blackcap, 2 juv. Bullfinch, 2 Reed Warbler, 5+ Chiffchaff and tits. Still on Lagoon 1 were: the juv/fem Redstart, 3+ Yellow Wagtail with c20 Pied Wagtail and 14 Mistle Thrush. And 1 Whimbrel on the estuary early morning.
The Garden Warbler, and a patch of Field Scabious on Lagoon 3.
25/7/20 – A juv/fem Redstart again by Lagoon 1 outfall, 2 Yellow Wagtail there with c20 Pied Wagtail, and a Little Egret with 3 Grey Heron in HT roost. An adult Stonechat on the Shepperdine fence and 6 adult Dunlin there. AM counted 13 Mistle Thrush.
24/7/20 – 15 Mistle Thrush on Lagoon 1! (OPS record count, beating 13 from 2017.) And 3+ juv. Yellow Wagtail with the cows there, along with 20+ Pied Wagtail. And a nice yellow juv. Willow Warbler at south end of Lagoon 2. Approaching HT only produced 4 adult Dunlin and a Redshank.
22/7/20 – A Sand Martin perched on wires with Swallows.
21/7/20 – A Red-legged Partridge calling from near Lagoon 3 at 6am and 10 Greylag Goose (inc. 4 juvs with less bright orange bills) flew upriver at 7am. A juv/fem Wheatear on Lagoon 1 seawall, and 5 Mistle Thrush there. HT at Shepperdine produced: 1 Whimbrel, 11 Dunlin, 11 Turnstone and 1 Redshank.
This nice white form of Musk Mallow on Lagoon 3.
18/7/20 – A different juv/fem Wheatear at the yacht club this morning, and 3 Common Sandpiper. Surviving, well-grown broods of Shelduck number 9,6 & 5, plus 6 small ones. Plus 3 Lapwing on Oldbury cricket pitch (and later on Pill).
17/7/20 – This juvenile Stonechat by Lagoon 1 outlet pipe and the family of 4 Mistle Thrush still there. And 10 Oystercatcher at Shepperdine.
16/7/20 – An adult Stonechat in the weedy field just inland of yacht club. LP reported yesterday: a female Southern Hawker dragonfly "was oviposting on the bench pond (by Lagoon 2); she landed on a thick chunk of floating reed, and with her abdomen underwater and her wings vibrating strongly, she and her 'vessel' were pushed forward through the water! - a mixture of wings beating but also catching the wind."
A couple of interesting photos of a Fox and a Speckled Wood butterfly.
15/7/20 – A juv Wheatear at Pillhead Gout and c300 Black-headed Gull in HT roost there, inc. white ring '27H1' which was also here in August 2019 (and 2013 & 2014; ringed at Cerney Wick, Gloucs., in 2012). Plus an adult Common Gull and the Slimbridge 'headstart' Curlew number '23'.
14/7/20 – This morning, a Whinchat by Lagoon 2 outfall and a juv. Stonechat on shore fence of Lagoon 1. Also 8 Whitethroat along the fence and a family group of 3 Lesser Whitethroat in hedge between Lagoons 1 & 2.
13/7/20 – 5 Common Scoter (3 ad m, 2 fem/juv) flew low and fast down the middle of the river at 12:12pm as the tide was coming in. video. (Second biggest flock ever at OPS, after 8 in July 2018.) Also 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Dunlin and a lone Turnstone on the green buoy. And 4 Mistle Thrush still on Lagoon 1.
Nice photo of a Holly Blue by CL, from 10th July.
11/7/20 – A juv (or fem) Redstart mobile around the outfall area of Lagoon 1, and a Spotted Flycatcher there. Plus 3 Mistle Thrush there, and a Sand Martin over the lake. The first returning Turnstone reported on the green buoy by Thomas@gardenbirder1.
A couple of shots of the Redstart.
Mistle Thrush.
10/7/20 – A Muntjac Deer again, this time on path round Lagoon. Loads of birds this morning in the bushes on far side of the main rhine, in the sun. 10+ Blackcap (mainly juvs.), 10 Dunnock, plus lots of juv. Whitethroat and Chiffchaff, a couple of tit flocks, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Reed Bunting and 1 House Sparrow. Apair of Sedge Warbler were busy feeding three fledgelings on Lagoon 3. A 'headstarted' Curlew from Slimbridge was on the shore (but unable to read number on ring). 2 Siskin over to N. And it looks like there are going to be NO Tufted Duck young this year on the lake. So I have had a look back at the breeding records for this species at OPS, since the first brood in 1998:
|
Year |
No. pairs |
No. of broods |
No. hatched |
No. survived |
First duckling |
Last juvs noted |
|
2020 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
2019 |
6 |
4 |
46 |
0 |
10-Jun |
13-Aug |
|
2018 |
6 |
3 |
41 |
5+ |
20-Jun |
06-Aug |
|
2017 |
5 |
2 |
18 |
10 |
15-Jun |
22-Aug |
|
2016 |
3 |
2 |
16 |
6 |
01-Jul |
14-Aug |
|
2015 |
4 |
2 |
13 |
3 |
15-Jun |
17-Aug |
|
2014 |
5 |
3 |
23 |
10 |
25-Jun |
11-Aug |
|
2013 |
5 |
1 |
9 |
1 |
05-Jul |
27-Aug |
|
2012 |
4 |
2 |
11 |
3 |
05-Jul |
27-Aug |
|
2011 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
2010 |
4 |
2 |
14 |
8 |
03-Jul |
08-Sep |
|
2009 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
||
|
2008 |
4 |
1 |
12 |
0 |
||
|
2007 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
2006 |
4 |
4 |
22 |
1 |
01-Jul |
18-Aug |
|
2005 |
6? |
1 |
5 |
0 |
28-Jun |
03-Jul |
|
2004 |
4? |
3 |
16 |
1 or 0 |
03-Jul |
25-Jul |
|
2003 |
4? |
1 |
2 |
1 |
||
|
2002 |
3? |
1 |
4 |
2 |
||
|
2001 |
3? |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
2000 |
3? |
3 |
18 |
1 |
||
|
1999 |
1? |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
1998 |
1? |
1 |
5 |
2 |
||
|
Average: |
4.8 |
1.6 |
12.2 |
2.3 |
25-Jun |
13-Aug |
7/7/20 – A Tawny Owl seen early morning, flying across track to Lagoon 3, chased by mob of noisy Blackbirds. And a probable Sandwich Tern high over the towers heading upriver (but couldn't get 'scope on it before lost to view).
A Sparrowhawk sat on top of the towers, unusually. And a Muntjac Deer.
Marsh Woundwort is flowering nicely on the small saltmarsh by the jetty.
6/7/20 – AM's WeBS count: 11 Common Sandpiper (between Lagoon 3 and Pillhead Gout), 2 Lapwing (Shepperdine), 7 Redshank (Yacht Club), 54 Canada Goose, 60 Mallard, a Red Kite (drifted from Lagoon 3 to SW), 3 Mistle Thrush (Orchard), 4 Green Woodpecker (in Orchard, including 3 juvs.) and 166 Black-headed Gull (but only one juv.).
4/7/20 – A Lapwing feeding in a field at Shepperdine this morning.
A Swallow-tailed Moth along shore.
A couple of nice photos by CL of Ringlet and Red Admiral.
3/7/20 – A Bar-tailed Godwit in full summer plumage in morning HT roost at Pillhead Gout. It is the earliest OPS date for this species' return from breeding by over a month, beating 7th Aug 2010 ! Also a Common Sandpiper and 3 Redshank at the yacht club.
The photo on the right below shows the size of a Great Black-backed Gull compared with Canada Geese !
And some late news of a Red Kite photo'd by JM on 15th June over Lagoon 3, and seen other dates that week, inc. on 12th in the orchard and around Lagoon 2.
30/6/20 – An adult Kittiwake flying slowly downriver at 5:45am into a stiff breeze. And 1+ Whimbrel in amongst c15 Curlew in small flocks going downriver at first light.
Some unusually pink fresh Yarrow flowers.
29/6/20 – No luck in 3 hours seawatch to 3pm. But a surprise juvenile Stonechat on the fence at Shepperdine. Walking back to the car, had much better luck - this Purple Hairstreak butterfly sat on the path from Lagoon 3 (not Lag 2 - tweet incorrect!) to the road ! Also, the broods of 7 & 5 Shelduck still intact at Shepperdine.
26/6/20 – A noisy flock of 3+ Crossbill flew over to North at 11:50am. And 175+ Black-headed Gull in the HT roost at Pillhead Gout, but the only waders were 2 Oystercatcher and 2 Curlew.
The Knapweed in the meadow is starting to look spectacular, and 40 Canada Goose are moulting on the estuary.
25/6/20 – 2 Great White Egret flying upriver over the Tidal Res., early morning. (First multiple OPS record.) Video. Also, a pair of Tawny Owl calling to each other and 2 Mistle Thrush flew from Lagoon 1 trees towards Shepperdine.
23/6/20 – The 2 Little Grebe on the lake this morning. And at Pillhead Gout over High Tide: 60+ Black-headed Gull, 6 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher and 2 Raven let me get close to them.
22/6/20 – Plenty of life in the cow pats on Lagoon 1 ! Small Dung Beetle (Aphodiini quadrimaculatus, I think) and red and black predatory beetle (Paederus littoralis). Semaphore Flies in muddy puddles. And a nice patch of Water Figwort on Lagoon 3. Also, 4 Marbled White butterflies and a Mistle Thrush right at the top of a tall pylon?!
21/6/20 – Some lovely images of Essex Skipper (note black ends to antenae), and Marbled White butterflies. (Photos by CL.)
18/6/20 – 20 Black-headed Gull on the shore, inc. the first juv., and c20 Pied Wagtail on Lagoon 1. Broods of 6 and 7 Mallard on the lake.
13/6/20 – 5 Cetti's Warbler on Lagoon 3; a juv. calling 'chet' continuously, with an adult singing nearby. And another 2 juvs. calling together with an adult flitting about.
11/6/20 – Broods: 7 & 5 Shelduck, 4 & 1 Moorhen, 6 & 3 Mallard.
Superb display of Pyramidal Orchid on the estuary slope of Lagoon 2, and an unusual view of Bullfinch.
9/6/20 – 16 Blue Tit in 4 family groups reported by BOC, and 12 Song Thrush reported in June.
8/6/20 – AM reported a Little Grebe still on the lake. Staying on the moth theme, a lovely Scarlet Tiger Moth with bright red underwings was flying around the small reedbed just above the pond on Lagoon 2 for 10+ minutes this afternoon. (But it refused to come close enough to photo!) Also 26 Tortoishell, 4 Marbled White and 2 Large Skipper (photo below) butterflies around the site.
7/6/20 – @Lisegirl1 reported this Eyed Hawkmoth in the orchard. That is the 759th species recorded at OPS ! 244 Birds (inc. 17 introduced), 123 Animals (inc. Fish), 138 Insects (inc. Spiders and Worms) and 254 Plants. And we have only been listing the Insects and Flowers since 2018, so still lots to find.
5/6/20 – This morning, c180 Rook and c80 Carrion Crow on the muck-spread field near Lagoon 3. This is my highest ever summer count of Rooks. All higher counts were in winter (i.e. Dec to Feb). Also 2 Ringed Plover on the seawall by Lagoon 2.
Here are c250 of the corvids.
4/6/20 – The Cuckoo still calling on and off from Lagoon 3, a juv. Lesser Whitethroat at Lagoon 1 outfall and c120 Rook (inc. many noisy juvs. with black bills) plus c70 Carrion Crow on newly muck-spread field near Lagoon 2. On the lake, a Mute Swan and 3 broods of Moorhen(5, 3+ and 1+).
Loads of Southern Marsh Orchid (unspotted leaves, round lobes with small tooth, darker pink spots) and Common Spotted Orchid (spotted leaves, three fairly equal lobes, darker pink dashes and lines), plus hybrids of two, on Lagoon 2.
2/6/20 – MP reported: 13 Reed Warbler, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Green Woodpecker and 2 Ringed Plover.
1/6/20 – One adult Mute Swan with 5 small cygnets on the Tidal Res.. A Marbled White butterfly on Lagoon 1.
30/5/20 – 3 adult Little Grebe together on the lake (highest count since 4 in 2014) and 3 Mistle Thrush in Lagoon 1 trees, briefly, were probably a family group. The Cuckoo still calling from Lagoon 3. 64 spikes of Bee Orchid on Lagoon 1. (Just 7 Reed Warbler singing around the site, including just one from the main reedbed on Lagoon 2 - due to the dryness.)
29/5/20 – A Cuckoo reported by MS calling this afternoon. The first 10 Shelduck ducklings on the Tidal Res. and first noisy Linnet family on Lagoon 2. A pair of Little Grebe still being secretive on the lake. Plus 5 Bee Orchid and a Large Skipper butterfly.
A pair of Damsel Flies and a Tortoishell - MP counted 25+ (photos by CL - thanks.).
28/5/20 – A Grey Seal eating a flatfish near the shore off Lagoon 3 - video. On the lake: a Gadwall, 2 families of Moorhen (5 + 4 juvs) and 3 families of Mallard (11 new, 4 small and 2 well-grown juvs).
27/5/20 – The rather odd sight of a pair of Mute Swan with 5 small cygnets on the Tidal Res. - wonder where they came from ?! The Canada Goose family with 8 juvs. are still at yacht club. And the Cuckoo still calling.
26/5/20 – 10 Sanderling (found by AM - thanks !) on the shore by Lagoon 2 at HT. And a Barn Owl reported on the yacht club common last week and regularly before that in late evenings. Also a Little Grebe on the lake.
Lagoon 3 has a mass of Oxeye Daisies along the path (thanks to scrub being cut back by OPS grounds maint.) and Lagoon 1 has the white cattle on it.
A Dunnock that has just left the nest and was calling continuously.
22/5/20 – A Hobby, 7 Swallow and 2 Sand Martin struggling across estuary in strong W wind. AM reported a Lapwing at Pillhead Gout and RL reported a Hummingbird Hawkmoth by the pond next to Lagoon 2.
20/5/20 – A Cuckoo calling from Lagoon 3. (Last heard on 9th.)
18/5/20 – Adult feeding juv. Coal Tit in small wood on mound in SW corner of Lagoon 2. (Looking back at my records they first bred on-site in 2017 and have bred every year since. But they were also regularly seen in 2016 & 2015. In the 11 years before that, back to 2004, I only had 5 records of single birds !) Some video of a bird begging, giving high-pitched calls, but also an adult calling 'teea'.
17/5/20 – The first Moorhen chicks on the lake.
16/5/20 – The Little Grebe was doing its 'trilling' call on the lake and 3 Roe Deer still around. A Whimbrel with 2 Curlew at Shepperdine was only sign of any migration. AM reported 15 Ringed Plover at Shepperdine over HT.
15/5/20 – MP reported the Peregrine low on the nest ledge and a pair of Oystercatcher mating. MS confirmed the Whitethroat eggs (from photo on 9th) have hatched.
Photos by MS and MP - thanks !
14/5/20 – A pair of Little Grebe on the lake, with a Mute Swan. 30 Stock Dove feeding on newly ploughed (and probably seeded) field by yacht club. And a pair of Canada Goose with 8 gosling on the estuary.
13/5/20 – A Red Kite flew low (virtually over my head !) to NE along the shore at Shepperdine at 1pm.
And a female-type Marsh Harrier reported by BD, rose up from Lagoon 3 and flew inland. (And also reported on 11th.)
Very quiet over the High Tide on the estuary, just: 1 Mute Swan (upriver), 7 Black-headed Gull and 1 Oystercatcher (the only wader).
(NB. Another Red Kite was reported along the road between Thornbury and OPS 'in last 2 weeks'.)
LP has emailed to say she found these Water Rail feathers on what looked like a raptor kill along the bridleway to the shore ! (Most probably a Peregrine night-time kill on a very late migrant, on 11th.)
----- Coronavirus Lockdown ended -----
12/5/20 – 55 Stock Dove feeding in newly ploughed field by yacht club. The pair of Little Grebe on the lake, giving 'trilling' calls.
9/5/20 – The Cuckoo reported by MS singing in the evening. MS (@mattscottphotos) found and photographed nests of Whitethroat and Song Thrush, and also recorded the Cuckoo singing in the evening.
8/5/20 – A pair of Little Grebe nest building on the lake. The Canada Goose pair with 8 goslings were on the estuary today. The Cuckoo still singing and a Siskin over. 32 Stock Dove reported in ploughed field near yacht club. Also a nice male Wheatear, posed for a photo.
7/5/20 – The 2 Greenshank still on shore between Lagoon 3 and yacht club this morning, then flew to Pillhead Gout as tide came in. Also, 3 Common Sandpiper, 12 Grey Plover, 40 Dunlin, 18 Ringed Plover, 5 Whimbrel, 6 Yellow Wagtail over to NE and the Hare in ploughed field behind yacht club. A large Salmon was leaping in the estuary.
6/5/20 – 2 Greenshank on shore between Lagoon 3 and yacht club as tide coming in this evening, a Great Crested Grebe at HT on Tidal Res. and a Hare in ploughed field between Lagoon 3 and yacht club. Plus the Cuckoo still calling and a Mistle Thrush in the paddocks to S of Lagoon 2. And the female Peregrine was on the towers with a fresh kill (Crow sp.), with the male begging loudly right next to her. She was 'mantling', holding wings out and crouching over the kill to stop the male nicking it ! Video of it. Also reported at Pillhead Gout: 1 Whinchat, 8 Whimbrel, 100 Dunlin and 27 Ringed Plover.
Hare and Blue Azure Damselfly.
5/5/20 – The vismig continued this morning into a cold E wind: 13 Grey Plover highish upriver, c100 Dunlin, c30 Ringed Plover and 2 Whimbrel on shore; 35 House Martin (inc. flock of 25), c40 Swallow, c20 Sand Martin and c15 Swift low upriver. A pair of Canada Goose with 8 small gosling at Oldbury Pill sluice and the Cuckoo is still calling.
4/5/20 – Good visual migration late afternoon into E wind, while watching tide come in: 42 Grey Plover flew highish upriver (14 + 28); c180 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover and 3 Whimbrel on shore; and c70 Swallow and 50+ Sand Martin in continuous movement upriver, but only 2 House Martin. Also 35 Swift low upriver and 2 Yellow Wagtail to NE.
3/5/20 – A pair of Gadwall on the estuary then on the lake. In a newly ploughed field by yacht club, c90 Woodpigeon and c25 Stock Dove feeding.
2/5/20 – Best count this year of 9 Lesser Whitethroat (7 singing), and 2 singing Meadow Pipit are the first here since 2017. c100 Herring Gull and c40 Lesser Black-backed Gull, mainly immatures, loafing on the sandbanks. 3 Wheatear and 4 Whimbrel.
1/5/20 – A Willow Warbler still singing on Lagoon 2. MS found and photographed the nest of a Linnet.
29/4/20 – A pair of Grey Wagtail by the waterworks and a pair of Sparrowhawk displaying, with slow wing-beat flights. The Mallard nest was empty of eggs.
28/4/20 – In continuous rain this morning, a Cuckoo heard and seen at SW end of Lagoon 3, and a flock of 25 Bar-tailed Godwit flew high downriver, then turned and thought about landing on shore, before flying back up river. The Mallard is still on the nest.
27/4/20 – The female Mallard was back on the nest by the jetty ! 20+ Whimbrel at yacht club.
25/4/20 – An Arctic Skua low upriver - it had a lighter brown body and no black cap, so an immature I think. But same dark brown wings and long thin tail as adult. The Cuckoo calling on Lagoon 3 and then later on Lagoon 1/2 (may be two ?). 3 Whimbrel at the yacht club over HT. The trilling call of a Little Grebe heard on the lake. And a dog-walker showed me a Mallard nest in a most bizarre place - under the pipe on the seawall by the jetty ! It has 10 eggs in it. The female was on it yesterday, but no sign today. Also reported: the female Black Redstart on the jetty again, but may be sick, as seemed very confiding. And another 8 Whimbrel at Shepperdine.
24/4/20 – A Cuckoo calling on Lagoon 3, and a Tree Pipit there on ground and in bushes - tail bobbing when perched. At yacht club over HT: 11 Whimbrel, 2 Dunlin and 11 Bar-tailed Godwit. 15+ Reed Warbler, 10 Sedge Warbler, 8 Lesser Whitethroat and 7 Whitethroat singing around the site.
23/4/20 – A female Marsh Harrier flying upriver, then quartered Lagoon 3, where it stayed for half hour before flying off highish inland to East. At Shepperdine over HT: 22 Whimbrel, 8 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit. And a Little Grebe on the lake in breeding plumage. (The goslings and adult Canada Geese have all disappeared from the lake.)
Grey-patched and Orange-tailed Mining bees. (And a Small Heath butterfly seen.)
22/4/20 – A Cuckoo calling from Lagoon 1 and the first Swift over to NE. Plus, The Canada Goose pair have 7 goslings after the female sat on the nest for 30 days.
21/4/20 – The male Garganey still feeding on the lake this morning.
20/4/20 – A male Garganey reported on the lake. Also, at Shepperdine: 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 20 Ringed Plover, 52 Dunlin (inc. 10 and 7 up-river) and 2 Grey Plover.
19/4/20 – Good wader migration over the High Tide in NE wind this evening. At 5:40pm a flock containing 22 Whimbrel, 9 Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Curlew went highish upriver, then 5 minutes later a flock of 50 small waders flew over the near shore upriver, containing 20+ Ringed Plover and 20+ Dunlin and 1 probable Turnstone. And 10 minutes later a flock containing 3 Whimbrel, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit and 10 Curlew went highish upriver. Then at 6:15pm a Short-eared Owl was flushed from Lagoon 1 and flew around the fields to NE of here. And at 6:50pm it flew out over the estuary and went low right over to the far side. Earlier, a Red Kite was inland of the yacht club, seen from Lagoon 3.
Egg shells of a Blackbird (left) and Song Thrush (right) found recently on Lagoon 3.
And a Red Mason Bee on the outfall of Lagoon 1.
18/4/20 – A Common Sandpiper by the jetty and 33 Swallow to NE, in rain. A dark morph Arctic Skua went upriver low over Tidal Res. at 5pm. c20 Yellow Wagtail, 2+ 'White' Wagtail and c10 Pied Wagtail on a re-wetted Lagoon 1 after rain. And 50+ Swallow, 7 House Martin and 1 Sand Martin feeding up.
17/4/20 – A Whinchat, 4 Wheatear and 5 Whitethroat were reported this morning. Also 26 Wren and 16 Robin. 5 Arctic Tern and 2 Whimbrel reported upriver at 2:45pm. Also this afternoon, over HT: 2 Knot, 18 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin and 1 Grey Plover.
16/4/20 – A Tree Pipit flew low to NE, calling, at 7am. And a lovely pair of Garganey feeding on the lake until at least 8am. (Last record in 2017 on shore, and 2013 for lake.)Video of them. Also, 2 Whimbrel on shore.
15/4/20 – A Hobby hawking insects high up (earliest OPS record beating 21/4/2017)and a Yellow Wagtail to NE.
14/4/20 – 2 Barnacle Goose flying low upriver at 6:50 am. And one (probably 2) Coal Tit at far end of main rhine from road.
13/4/20 – A Whimbrel flew downriver, calling, and landed on the shore at Shepperdine.
12/4/20 – Cuckoo calling at south end of Lagoon 2 first thing, and reported yesterday by dog walkers - earliest OPS record, beating 13/4/2008). 10 Reed Warbler, 5 Sedge Warbler and 2 Whitethroat. A Greylag Goose flew from upriver and landed on Tidal Res. shore. 7 Mallard ducklings remaining on lake with the female and the male still in attendance. A doe + fawn Muntjac Deer feeding by the lake.
10/4/20 – A superb morning's birding. A dark morph Arctic Skua flew along the near shore, upriver at 8am, over the HT at the yacht club, giving an excellent view. Earliest OPS record, beating 17/4/2015. 3 Little Gull upriver at 8:50am (1 summer plumage and 2 winter adults). Video of them. A quite late female Black Redstart was by the jetty, calling 'whit'. A male Yellow Wagtail went low over to NE, calling (earliest at OPS, beating 11/4/2010). 60+ Meadow Pipit on far side of Pill from yacht club. 2 Bar-tailed Godwit upriver. 1 Reed Warbler (Lagoon 3), 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat and a Whitethroat (hedge on way to yacht club). 60 species seen this morning.
9/4/20 – 1 Reed Warbler (Lagoon 3), 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (singing by lake - earliest OPS record, beating 10/4/2009).
7/4/20 – 1 Reed Warbler (singing, Lagoon 3 - earliest OPS record, beating 10/4/2011 & 2017). Video, where you can hear it singing, especially after 30s. 2 Greylag Goose over to SW. On lake, 2 Coot and 10 Mallard ducklings with a female and, unusually, a male in attendance.
6/4/20 – Wind from SW this morning. 10+ Common Tern (9 & 1, and another c5 Tern sp. before them, seen late) and a Sandwich Tern upriver at 7:45 - 8:30am, a flock of 5 Little Egret downriver (plus 2 others) and 4 Willow Warbler singing. A Grasshopper Warbler reported singing in main reedbed on Lagoon 2, by small reedbed - earliest OPS record, beating 12/4/2016.
5/4/20 – Warm wind from south. 6 Sandwich Tern upriver at 8:20am, Video of 2 of the 6. (That's the 6th Spring in a row there has been a record here: 22/4/2019 2 downriver, 16/3/18 1 downriver, 30/3/17 6 downriver & 1/4/17 1 downriver, 28/3/16 1 downriver, 6/4/15 6 upriver.) 4 single Swallow and 2+ House Martin to NE. A Wheatear on Lagoon 3 and a Willow Warbler singing on Lagoon 1.
3/4/20 – The following reported: 29 Chiffchaff, 82 Curlew (most on Oldbury Sands at low tide), 42 Teal, 11 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler (Res. wall, Shepperdine), 17 Redshank, 4 Tufted Duck and a Wheatear by the Squeaky gate.
26/3/20 – An adult winter Little Gull, with lovely dark underwings and white wing-tips, upriver with a flock of 28 Black-headed Gull at 6:50am, in a NE wind. A pair of Shoveler on the estuary and a male House Sparrow chirping on Lagoon 3. 2 Fieldfare still.
----- Coronavirus Lockdown -----
23/3/20 – The Coot is back on the lake ! Also 2 pairs of Tufted Duck. A Mistle Thrush on grass by entrance, c80 Linnet on maize stubble field by main rhine, and 4 Peacock butterflies in the warm sun. And the female Canada Goose is sat on a nest on the island, as she will be for a month (incubation is 28-30 days). Here are the stats. on nests for last 15 years:
1st on nest 1st fledged juvs. Apparent Incubation No. of juvs.
05/04/2005 07/05/2005 37 3 (first breeding at OPS)
14/04/2006 06/05/2006 22 6
27/04/2008 30/05/2008 33 1+
29/03/2009 02/05/2009 34 5
27/03/2010 01/05/2010 35 6
26/03/2011 01/05/2011 36 3
24/03/2012 21/04/2012 28 3
31/03/2013 failed (successful 2nd clutch) 3
04/04/2014 02/05/2014 28 3
31/03/2015 04/05/2015 34 4
02/04/2016 04/05/2016 32 1
23/03/2017 21/04/2017 29 6
25/03/2018 failed
21/03/2019 20/04/2019 30 7
23/03/2020 22/04/2020 30 7
22/3/20 – Some vismig this cold and sunny morning: 100+ Meadow Pipit to NE (inc. flock of 74 through low at 9:10am), 3 Collared Dove flew along shore past Lagoon 3, 2 Stock Dove and 50+ Woodpigeon. Unfortunatley, I flushed the Peregrine pair from their Woodpigeon meal on the seawall by the waterworks. Looks like they had eaten most of it. And a Mute Swan in the middle of the estuary.
21/3/20 – DW reported: a summer plumaged 'Scandinavian' Rock Pipit by Lagoon 3 outflow, 20+ Sand Martin and 30+ Chiffchaff.
This morning, a male Wheatear still by Oldbury Pill sluice, 20+ Chiffchaff (15+ singing),
a pair of Tufted Duck on the Lagoon 1 flood (!) and 3 Peregrine over the towers - the adult pair and an immature;
the female adult was very vocal, but the pair showed little aggression to the young one. I guess it was last year's young, as a bit early for this year's.
20/3/20 – Late afternoon, a Swallow with c25 Sand Martin feeding over the flooded Lagoon 1.
(Swallow 4 days later than the earliest ever at OPS from last year.)
MP reported this afternoon, from Oldbury Pill: 10 Wheatear together, 83 Curlew, 1 Sand Martin and a singing Corn Bunting.
AM reported this morning: 42 Sand Martin (flooded Lagoon 1, in flocks of 15, 20 and 7), 33 Chiffchaff (inc. 15+ in the bushes on Lagooon 1),
a Blackcap singing along the Bridleway, 45 Woodpigeon (groups heading NE into wind) and 45 Wigeon.
Swallow and Sand Martin
Wheatear and Corn Bunting. (Photos by MP.)
18/3/20 – 15 Sand Martin feeding low on Lagoon 1 floods and 15+ Chiffchaff there, in brambles, feeding avidly. Plus c80 Meadow Pipit also downed by the drizzle, in the horse paddock to south of Lagoon 2. On the lake: 2 pairs of Tufted Duck, the male Gadwall again and the Canada Goose pair are nest-building.
17/3/20 – AM reported: 11 Chiffchaff, 8 Curlew feeding on Lagoon 1, 32 Teal, 57 Wigeon and a Stonechat.
16/3/20 – LP reported a Black Redstart on the waterworks fence and a Comma butterfly. Glorious sunshine this afternooon. The Corn Bunting was sat on a bush at the yacht club common. A Siskin over to North, and a near record OPS count of 17 Buzzard (record is 18). 2 Goshawk circling with 6 of the Buzzards on far side of estuary (i.e. Gloucs.). 9 Chiffchaff singing around the site, a Jay singing and doing amazing mimicry of : Buzzard, Magpie and Rook calls, and a pair of Gadwall at Shepperdine. And the 3 Roe Deer that have been around for some time are so used to me that they just sat as I went past, just 30 yards from them !
15/3/20 – 7 Stonechat together on shore towards yacht club.
14/3/20 – The first signs of vismig this morning: c35 Woodpigeon descended from very high when a shower hit and landed in trees,
a Sparrowhawk headed north across the estuary, 2 Meadow Pipit and a Skylark over.
The boat below is the only one that has ever attempted to go upriver between the Tidal Reservoir wall and the green 'Ledges' buoy !
It grounded on the rocks, but was lucky the tide was still coming in and refloated.
13/3/20 – 2 Coal Tit together in Lagoon 2 pines, a pair of Green Woodpecker on Lagoon 3,
a Little Grebe on the lake and 3 Water Rail still calling.
AM also reported: 4 Chiffchaff (3 singing), 17 Teal, 34 Wigeon, 65 Turnstone and 21 Wren.
Mute Swans on the flooded Lagoon 1 and Colt's-foot flowering on Lagoon 3.
11/3/20 – A probable Goshawk flushed c100 Woodpigeon from fields/hedges to SE of Shepperdine, and flew up the valley towards OPS, but intermittent (telescope) view through trees, distant and with heat-haze. Two pairs of Stonechat again by the jetty, and one of the males was SINGING - a first for me at OPS ! And 1+ Little Grebe still on the lake, trilling.
'Headstarted' Curlew no. '23' from Slimbridge at Shepperdine again (ring last read here in Dec 2019).
10/3/20 – AM's WeBS count: 1 Little Grebe, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Canada Goose, 29 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 105 Wigeon, 48 Teal, 66 Turnstone, c100 Dunlin, 7 Snipe, c90 Redshank, c100 Curlew, 1 Grey Plover and 2 Peregrine (on the towers).
9/3/20 – A pair of Little Grebe on the lake, giving trilling call. And 4+ Chiffchaff are new in (one singing by lake and 3+ at south end of Lagoon 2).
6/3/20 – In the Spring-like sun this afternoon, a female Black Redstart still, on the fence on south side of power station buildings, a Short-eared Owl flying around the yacht club common at 3:30pm, and the Corn Bunting started singing its key-jangling song there. Also, an adult winter Mediterranean Gull flew from Tidal res. downriver, and a near-record (which is 14 on 7/3/2017) 10 Stonechat between jetty and yacht club (2 pairs x jetty, 2m1f x shore and 2m1f at yacht club) and 60+ Redwing roosting and chirping in trees along main rhine.
3/3/20 – A female Black Redstart again on the Lagoon 2 fence between waterworks and pond. Also, 6+ Stonechat (2 pairs x Lagoon 2, 1m x waterworks, 1m x Lagoon 3) a Siskin over calling and 2 Mute Swan on flooded Lagoon 1. On the lake were: 5 Tufted Duck (3m, 2f), 1 male Gadwall and 2 Canada Goose. AM also reported good numbers along the main rhine bridleway, and in maize field there: 200 Redwing, 45 Linnet and 25 Chaffinch.
Another couple of photos of the Black Redstarts today, from AT - thanks !
1/3/20 – CL reported 2 female-type Black Redstart on fence by waterworks/Lagoon 2 at 11am.
Black Redstart and a cracking photo of a male Bullfinch by CL - thanks !
29/2/20 – MP reported: 9+ Kittiwake high upriver ahead of a hail shower, and the Peregrine pair flew over to other side of estuary.
Also, a Coal Tit this morning, 5 Water Rail heard (1xlake, 3xLag3, 1xLag2), c80 Turnstone on the shore/seawall before HT, 10 Oystercatcher and 12 Great Black-backed Gull (inc. a flock of 10 circling quite high upriver in high wind).
Teal and Wigeon looking good in sun between showers. (Photos by MP - thanks !)
25/2/20 – AM WeBS: 78 Teal, 196 Wigeon, 19 Mallard, 9 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Canada Goose, 30 Curlew, 80 Lapwing, 100 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 65 Turnstone (on seawall, rather than green buoy - easier to count), 61 Redshank, 8 Snipe, 2 Knot (first this year), 1 Grey Plover, 1 Water Rail, 2 Stonechat (Lagoon 3, still) and 10 Fieldfare. Also c460 Common Gull; c110 downriver out of overnight roost and a flock of c350 flying up from fields inland.
4 canoes from the Wye Valley washed up on the shore - all damaged except this one I dragged above tideline. They belong to a company at Symmonds Yat. (I've contacted them, and hopefullly they can recover them.)
22/2/20 – MP reported: c50 Turnstone and 3 Ringed Plover. And a hunting Barn Owl near junction of Foss Lane and Pickedmoor Lane on way back to Thornbury..
Kestrel and Lagoon 1 very flooded.
20/2/20 – A Chaffinch singing this morning on Lagoon 2. Also singing: 1 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 5 Song Thrush and 5 Wren. MP reported 77 Wigeon and 55 Teal.
18/2/20 – c55 Redwing today.
The river above the sluice at the yacht club burst its banks (well, it spilled over onto the Common) at the weekend. Looking at the River Level information, it had its highest recorded level on Sunday night, beating the record that went way back to 26th Oct 2019 !
17/2/20 – c25 Linnet, 22+ Chaffinch and a Mistle Thrush feeding in the very wet maize-stubble field along the main rhine. And still 2 Blackcap (male + female) in the Anchor Inn car park.
MP has uploaded a video of the Starling murmuration over Lagoon 3 from January.
A Skylark on the yacht club common - strangely, it was eating a small slug. And a very large branch of a Willow tree has come down, by the newly thrashed hedge along the main rhine.
The lake is as full as I've ever seen it.
14/2/20 – The Peregrine pair reported courting on Avonbirds..
13/2/20 – Some excellent birds, despite the wintery showers this morning. A Short-eared Owl flew along the bridleway to the shore and turned left along the shore towards Lagoon 3 at 8am. Then at 9:30am an adult male Marsh Harrier went slowly downriver past the yacht club and along the shore towards Littleton. But then at 10:20am it was quartering the reedbed on Lagoon 3, giving superb views until 11am when I left. (Video of it over Lagoon 3.) It flushed c25 Snipe from the reeds, and another 10+ seen along tideline. I also found a Corn Bunting along the tideline at High Tide, by the yacht club. It then perched in the hedge there. (Video of it preening.) It was with c25 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit and 2 Skylark.
9/2/20 – 6+ hours spent watching the estuary today (4 in morning, 2+ in eve), but no seabirds blown in by Storm Ciara.
But here's some more photos by JM. Female Black Redstart by the 'Seal Pit' (from 7th Feb), 2 of 3 Roe Deer in the orchard and a Meadow Pipit.
7/2/20 – A Short-eared Owl flew over the entrance road at 3:50pm, heading for Lagoon 3.
A Coal Tit, a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest in firs in NE corner of Lagoon 1.
On the lake: 2 Canada Goose, 3 Tufted Duck (2m, 1f), 1 Gadwall, 11 Moorhen and a Water Rail heard.
JM reported the Black Redstart in the waterworks by the 'Seal Pit' again.
6/2/20 – The female Black Redstart again on the fence of the waterworks by the 'Seal Pit'. And a Reed Bunting chose this morning to start singing on Lagoon 3, in freezing fog and -2 Degs C !
The Damson is flowering already.
3/2/20 – The female Black Redstart was on the fence of the waterworks, by Lagoon 2, then it flew to the 'Seal Pit'.
1/2/20 – BD (@BirderGinger) reported a Chiffchaff behind the (old) visitor's centre and 3 Raven.
30/1/20 – The female Black Redstart in the waterworks again. It favours the 'Seal Pit' by Lagoon 2, but I am only finding it when it is vocal - calling 'whit' repeatedly. (Today because a sewage lorry was up other end, and last time due to a perched Crow.) And 4 Stonechat still (2 x Lagoon 3, 2 x near jetty).
29/1/20 – A Goshawk 'scoped over ridge on far side of estuary (i.e. Gloucs.). An adult with gleaming white underparts and light grey above. Very distant, but perfect viewing conditions - bright sun from behind me and zero haze. It was soaring and doing some exaggerated slow-flapping display flight, for about 3 mins.. (Recalled SE Owl when slow-flapping.) 4 Buzzard and a pair of Peregrine seen along same ridge in same half hour for size comparison.
27/1/20 – A Short-eared Owl getting hassle from corvids, and went to roost in middle of Lagoon 3 at 3pm. And a Chiffchaff again at south end of Lagoon 2.
25/1/20 – HT at Pillhead Gout at dawn: 236 Curlew, 400+ Dunlin,
13 Oystercatcher (12 was max. count in 2019 !), 5 Ringed Plover and a Grey Plover.
And the very light coloured Buzzard (with white head) is still about from last year.
A note from JS on the Curlews: "At the last WeBS count there were 315 at Aylburton Warth and 80 at Guscar Rocks. I reckon there are no more than 650 on the river, down from about 1000 ten years ago."
24/1/20 – 4 Mistle Thrush in paddock to south of Lagoon 2.
23/1/20 – The female-type Black Redstart in the waterworks late pm, and c300 Jackdaw and c200 Rook in corvid roost in trees along road from entrance.
22/1/20 – The adult male Black Redstart was by the most SW building, and very vocal, calling 'whit'. And an adult Mediterranean Gull moulting into summer plumage on the evening roost on the Tidal Res., drifting upriver as tide came in, along with c2,000 Common Gull and 2,000+ Black-headed Gull. .
21/1/20 – A Treecreeper in freezing fog (-3 dec C) this morning. And 2 sightings of Red Kite reported this year - one along road to OPS and one over towers.
20/1/20 – Nice sunny afternoon. 2 Great Crested Grebe flew downriver and landed in middle of estuary off Lagoon 3. (One in winter plumage and the other in breeding, and some display seen.) That is the 80th species I've seen at OPS in 2020 ! The female Black Redstart was down the road looking through the blue gate at jetty. And 8 Stonechat (pair at yacht club, 2 pairs by small wood on way to there, and pair by jetty).
19/1/20 – A male Pintail in middle of estuary and 30+ Snipe - 7 on Lagoon 3 and 23+ flying out of saltmarsh as tide came in at Shepperdine.
18/1/20 – First day of Winter ! -1 Deg C this morning. 4 Song Thrush singing around the site.
AM reported: 6 Gadwall (4 on lake, 2 on river), 60 Turnstone, 6 Oystercatcher, 18 Great Tit (new OPS record !) and 18 Blue Tit.
MP/CL reported late afternoon: TWO Black Redstart fem-type on the jetty (CL) and adult male on towers (MP) (ad m last seen 22nd Dec 2019 !), c5,000 Starling in murmuration, Peregrine on a tower, pair of Stonechat, 2 Cetti's Warbler and 6+ Water Rail calling.
Excellent photos - thanks Craig and Matt!
17/1/20 – The obligatory photo of Snowdrops in the wood by the lake. Lovely to see.
16/1/20 – The Coot still on the lake and now 4 male Gadwall.
15/1/20 – A Black Redstart very briefly on fence by waterworks. And a Chiffchaff at south end of Lagoon 2.
14/1/20 – The Coot is back on the lake ! Also, a Grey Plover and 5 Ringed Plover in the HT roost at Pillhead Gout.
13/1/20 – AM's WeBS count: 4 Tufted Duck (3m, 1f on lake), 3m Gadwall, 174 Wigeon, 65 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 65 Teal, 300 Dunlin, 75 Curlew, 21 Snipe (19 at Shepperdine, 2 on Lagoon 3), 50 Turnstone, 74 Redshank, 102 Lapwing, 3 Grey Heron, 6 Stonechat, c200 Carrion Crow and 13 Blue Tit.
12/1/20 – Superb Starling murmuration this evening (4:15-4:35pm) over Lagoon 3 - a video showing about 5,000 of them flying into roost in the reedbed, and then you can hear them shifting in the reeds (there is a Water Rail in there). Another c2,000 had already gone into the reeds.
11/1/20 – 3 male Gadwall on the lake this morning, displaying to a female Mallard. (But Tufted Ducks have gone.)
10/1/20 – Good view of an adult female Marsh Harrier in the sun, flying downriver across the Tidal Res., and then going over the hedge onto Lagoon 3 (where lost to view and not refound). (Some video.) Also 2 Chiffchaff seen and calling in scrub at south end Lagoon 2. And the corpse of a Harbour Porpoise on Shepperdine Sands being eaten by Great Black-backed Gulls. Plus 2 male Tufted Duck on the lake, joined a pair of Wigeon and the male Gadwall.
Marsh Harrier silhouette (Crow below). And GBB Gulls at dead Harbour Porpoise.
9/1/20 – The female Black Redstart again showing well on the fence between waterworks and Lagoon 2. (Some video.)
The Black Redstart and some Candlesnuff Fungus (just 2cm tall) on a rotting tree stump.
8/1/20 – A female-type Black Redstart showing well on the fence and around the brown tiled building on NE side of power station (viewed from Lagoon 2).
6/1/20 – Good view of a Weasel hunting along the top of the seawall by the waterworks.
5/1/20 – At 12:30pm an Egyptian Goose flew in towards the lake from the direction of the road, and looked like it was going to come down but saw the power-lines and me and veered away to the South. Also, a Grey Wagtail by Lagoon 1 outfall and a Chiffchaff along bridleway to south of Lagoon 2. AM reported at Shepperdine: 34 Wigeon (5 on lake), 39 Teal, 43 Mallard, the male Gadwall on the lake, 44 Lapwing, 86 Dunlin, 37 Turnstone, 6 Curlew, 3 Stonechat and an OPS record count of 16 Great Tit !
4/1/20 – The female Black Redstart in the waterworks again, but difficult to see. (Some video of it.) A Black-tailed Godwit and a Rock Pipit at Shepperdine and 29 Snipe flushed from there.
3/1/20 – Saw the sun for the first time this year today ! A male Tufted Duck is on the lake (last here in October), but the Mute Swans have departed.
2/1/20 – 27 Skylark on the set-aside field inland from yacht club (+ 1 on saltmarsh). Another Blackcap, this one in the car park at The Anchor pub. And a House Sparrow by Oldbury Pill sluice.
1/1/20 – A female Black Redstart was very vocal ("whit") at the waterworks. A pair of Blackcap were eating mistletoe berries in the paddock to south of Lagoon 2, and a Mistle Thrush there. And a Merlin atttacked c300 Lapwing & c600 Dunlin in the HT roost at Pillhead Gout. A male Gadwall on the lake and 3 Stonechat (pair + male). 59 species seen today.
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