Birding at Oldbury Power Station
19/4/25 – 6 Bar-tailed Godwit on the estuary, and a Whimbrel still. Plus 4 Lesser Whitethroat singing (2 x yacht club, 2 x Lagoon 2), and the first 5+ Mallard ducklings on the lake.
18/4/25 – The Oystercatcher pair were making a scrape for a nest on the demolition site behind the jetty. The estuary was very quiet over HT, but a Whimbrel on the shore and a Tree Pipit heard on Lagoon 3. And my first 2 Lesser Whitethroat of the year on Lagoon 2. (#113 species for me at OPS this year and #117 for all-comers.)
Whimbrel and Reed Warbler.
17/4/25 – 2 Whimbrel upriver, calling, then later at Shepperdine, a Yellow Wagtail over, and singing warblers: 11 Reed Warbler, 10 Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler, 4 Sedge Warbler and Matt Plenty had the first 3 Lesser Whitethroat. (#112 species for me at OPS this year and #117 for all-comers.)
15/4/25 – The first Yellow Wagtail and a Tree Pipit (both over), a Grasshopper Warbler by yacht club (video of sound) , 6 Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler and 4 Reed Warbler. (#111 species for me at OPS this year.)
13/4/25 – Andy Middleton reported the first Whimbrel of the year at the yacht club, and the Oystercatcher pair on the demolition area where they bred last year. (#115 species for all-comers at OPS this year.)
13/4/25 – Matt Plenty reported a Grasshopper Warbler on Lagoon 3.
12/4/25 – The first 2 singing Sedge Warbler (one each on Lagoons 2 & 3), 5 Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler and 4 Reed Warbler. On the demolition site behind the jetty were: a late female Black Redstart, a male Wheatear (with another at yacht club) and a male Stonechat. (#110 species for me at OPS this year.)
Sedge Warbler and Blackbird Egg.
11/4/25 – Andy Middleton reported: a Wheatear at the squeaky gate, a Reed Warbler and a Willow Warbler. And by the entrance was the Mistle Thrush below.
10/4/25 – The first Whitethroat and Grasshopper Warbler singing in hedges by the yacht club at dawn, and 4 Reed Warbler (one on Lagoon 3, 3 on Lagoon 2). Heather England reported 2 Wheatear at yacht club. (#109 species for me at OPS this year.)
I quite often find Moles dead on the paths - possibly killed by Weasels and abandoned when disturbed. The bench by Lagoon 3 is back ! And looking good as new.
Heather England's photos below of: Whitethroat, Wheatear, Common Sandpiper and Green-veined White butterfly.
8/4/25 – Some good birds this morning; a Cattle Egret flew upriver at 7:35am, an Avocet flew in from downriver and fed on the shore by Lagoon 3 (video) and 2 Reed Warbler sang (one each on Lagoons 2 & 3). (#107 species for me at OPS this year.)
7/4/25 – Singing warblers: 11 Willow Warbler, 10 Blackcap and 20+ Chiffchaff. A 2nd-summer Mediterranean Gull upriver with Black-headed Gulls, and a pair of Great Black-backed Gull mating on a mudbank.
6/4/25 – vismig (12:30-14:30) to NE: 105 Sand Martin (inc. tight flock of 50 at 2pm), 39 Swallow, 12 House Martin, 50+ Meadow Pipit, 50+ Linnet, 18 Goldfinch, 1 Red Kite and a Sparrowhawk tracked for a mile along shore at medium height and then went N across estuary. 8 singing Willow Warbler around lagoons and a flighty Tree Pipit in scrub at S end of Lagoon 3. (#104 species for me at OPS this year and #108 for all-comers.)
5/4/25 – Matt Plenty reported a male Redstart on Lagoon 2 this afternoon. This morning: 5 singing Willow Warbler and 3 Gadwall (pair + male on lake). (#107 species at OPS this year for all-comers.)
4/4/25 – Vismig (10am to 1pm) to NE into wind and murk: a flock of 11 Grey Plover, 18 Dunlin, 1 Greylag, 50+ Meadow Pipit, 50+ Linnet, 70+ Goldfinch, 21 Swallow, c10 Sand Martin and the first 6 House Martin of the year. Also, a Grey Wagtail singing in the waterworks. (#103 species for me at OPS this year.)
3/4/25 – At yacht club: 2 Little Ringed Plover feeding over the Pill, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit (one here, other flew in with BH Gulls and landed on Shepperdine shore - both in winter plumage), 3 Grey Plover, 3 Dunlin, 11 Oystercatcher and 20 Meadow Pipit feeding. Vismig to NE into cold wind: 225 Woodpigeon, 200 Meadow Pipit, 25 Linnet, 15 Goldfinch, 20 Black-headed Gull, 2 Swallow, 1 Sand Martin, the first Redpoll of the year and a Redwing at dawn. (#102 species for me at OPS this year and #105 for all-comers.)
The Little Ringed Plovers on the saltmarsh, then went for a fly-about before returning.
Bar-tailed Godwit with Black-headed Gull.
2/4/25 – 4 Wheatear on saltmarsh SW of Oldbury Pill (inc. first female), and 4 Shoveler (m + 2f on estuary and fem on lake). Plus a pair of Gadwall on the lake.
1/4/25 – Over a high High Tide, a flock of 27 Little Gull to NE (with 4 Black-headed Gull and a Black-tailed Godwit which joined them from the shore) - video. My 100th species at OPS this year. Also 11 Sand Martin and a Swallow into the ENE breeze, and 4 Willow Warbler singing. 64 species seen by me today. Andy Middleton later reported: a Red Kite, 53 Redshank, 17 Teal and 4 Wigeon.
All the Little Gull were in Winter plumage, except for one in 1st-w (leading bird in first photo below, bottom-right).
The female Shoveler still on the lake. Black-tailed Godwit on shore.
31/3/25 – In first hour after sunrise: a Great Crested Grebe on the tidal res. (close in off Lagoon 3), 2 Mediterranean Gull in lovely summer plumage went upriver with some Black-headed Gulls and a Little Ringed Plover feeding over the Pill from the yacht club. Plus, 45 Chiffchaff singing around whole patch and the female Shoveler still on the lake. Mike Davis reported a Wheatear S of the Pill in afternoon. 62 species seen by me today (best this year and second best March total ever). (#99 species for me at OPS this year (2 better than last year by end March, which was worst since 2014) and #102 for all-comers (same as last year). And my Patchwork Challenge score is 106 - worst since 2015!
Wood Anemonies looking lovely in the orchard, with Lesser Celendine and Blackthorn flowers in background. And Wheatear by MD.
29/3/25 – HT at Oldbury Pill/ Pillhead Gout: 132 Curlew, 64 Redshank, 16 Oystercatcher and the Common Sandpiper still. Matt Plenty reported 2 Willow Warbler singing and a fem. Shoveler on the lake, and the Water Rail there again. (It rumages about under the tree on the right, when stood with the road behind you.) Also 4 Blackcap singing and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly.
28/3/25 – A Water Rail on the bank of the lake - video. And a Swallow through.
27/3/25 – 2 Mute Swan on the lake, with 2 Canada Goose. Nothing else new in; Willow Warbler and 2 Blackcap singing. Also 4 Skylark singing (yacht club common, Shepperdine and 2 in fields).
26/3/25 – A female Black Redstart on waterworks fence this afternoon. Reuben Veal reported a Sand Martin (on Birdtrack).
25/3/25 – 2 young Otter back in lake.
24/3/25 – At Shepperdine this afternoon, the first Swallow feeding and Willow Warbler singing. Andy Middleton reported 23 Redwing at Shepperdine this morning. (#97 species for me at OPS this year and #100 for all-comers.)
21/3/25 – Andy Middleton reported a Marsh Harrier over Pillhead Gout, heading south.
20/3/25 – The first 2 Blackcap of the year, singing, at river end of Lagoons 1 & 2 - video. Also a very high count of c130 Turnstone on shore at Shepperdine, before roosting on green ledges buoy. And 4 Ringed Plover there, and a Mute Swan in middle of estuary. (#95 species for me at OPS this year.) Lois Pryce reported a Marsh Frog calling in the pond by Lagoon 2 (new species for OPS!), and butteflies: 8 Brimstone, 1 Peacock (newly emerged) and a Small Tortoiseshell.
19/3/25 – The first 2 Sand Martin of the year went upriver this afternoon. Also a Red Kite high to NE, 6 Buzzard circling together, 23 Chiffchaff and 2 Fieldfare. Plus butterflies: 2 Brimstone and 2 Comma. (#94 species for me at OPS this year, and #97 for all-comers.)
Heather England photographed this Kingfisher on Oldbury Pill.
18/3/25 – A Red Kite low over Oldbury village at dawn, the first 2 Wheatear (males in yacht club area), and vismig to NE: 100 Meadow Pipit, 80 Woodpigeon, 2 Pied Wagtail. (#93 species for me at OPS this year, and #96 for all-comers.)
Wheatear and Stonechat. The yachters were mucking about on the boats.
17/3/25 – Andy Middleton reported : a Sanderling and the Common Sandpiper again, in Oldbury Pill, plus 80 Snipe around. (#91 species for me at OPS this year, and #94 for all-comers.)
16/3/25 – Chris Teague photographed the earliest Painted Lady for S. Gloucs.! And Heather England reported the Common Sandpiper again.
14/3/25 – A juv/female Crossbill was feeding in a pine tree along the track to the S of Lagoon 3, but flew when I reached for my camera. (#91 species for me at OPS this year.)
13/3/25 – Pillhead Gout this cold morning: c300 Curlew, 14 Oystercatcher and a Grey Plover. Also, 55 Fieldfare and 40 Redwing feeding in field there (and 65 more of latter around site).
11/3/25 – A Red-legged Partridge flushed from path on Lagoon 2. (The last one at OPS was found in March 2021.) And some vismig to NE: 22 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 10 Chaffinch, 8 Meadow Pipit, 2 Goldfinch and 1 Pied Wagtail. (#90 species for me at OPS this year, and #92 for all-comers.)
10/3/25 – Andy Middleton reported the male Black Redstart, 4 Coot and 84 Wigeon.
8/3/25 – 12 Chiffchaff still, 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull upriver and, interestingly, a female Great-spotted Woodpecker drumming - video. Daffodils looking nice in the orchard. Heather England photo'd a Common Sandpiper and a Skylark at the yacht club (photos below - thanks!). Also 6 fresh Brimstone and 1 Peacock butterflies.
7/3/25 – Cowslips flowering on Lagoon 3 (and see notice below).
6/3/25 – 13 Chiffchaff (11 singing) this morning; the male Black Redstart just inland of the jetty; and 2 Mute Swan flew downriver, and then returned back upriver.
5/3/25 – The male Black Redstart vocal around the jetty, 3 Chiffchaff and on the lake:a Water Rail seen behind the reeds and 3 Tufted Duck (2m, 1f).
This Pussy Willow was full of bees already.
4/3/25 – 2 Chiffchaff singing.
3/3/25 – A Treecreeper was singing in the wood near entrance (video of sound), there were 5 Little Grebe on the lake (inc. 2 pairs) and 4 Stonechat (2 pairs) at yacht club.
2/3/25 – Andy Middleton reported the Coot pair nest-building.
1/3/25 – Reported on Birdtrack: 4 Buzzard, 4 Collared Dove, 3 Greylag Goose, 2 Siskin, 2 Stonechat, 1 Tufted Duck and a Water Rail.
28/2/25 – A Comma butterfly in the sun this afternoon, and the first Tufted Duck of the year on the lake (a drake). Also, a Kingfisher reported again. (#89 species for me at OPS this year, and #91 for all-comers.)
27/2/25 – A Chiffchaff in the hedge over the Pill is probably a migrant.
26/2/25 – A male Black Redstart mobile around the jetty this afternoon.
25/2/25 – Pair of Shoveler at Shepperdine. And Andy Middleton reported 4 Little Grebe on the lake and 100 Redwing.
24/2/25 – The Barn Owl was in the fields inland of the yacht club at 6:05pm and 105 Pied Wagtail going to roost in the reedbed on Lagoon 3. Also, a Kingfisher reported in the Pill at The Anchor Inn this morning. (#88 species for me at OPS this year, and #90 for all-comers.)
22/2/25 – A pair of Little Owl on a gnarled old tree near Westend Farm. (The first pair I have seen here since 2006!) Also an adult Mediterranean Gull with c500 Black-headed Gull and c500 Common Gull flying between fields and estuary. The lake is lively, with 3 Little Grebe (a pair chasing a 'trilling' male) and 3 Coot (pair chasing sole one). And the Damsons have already started flowering. Clare Dark reported a Barn Owl late evening, along the tarmac'd track to the yacht club. (#87 species for me at OPS this year, and #89 for all-comers.)
20/2/25 – A remarkable increase in temperature to 12 degs C at dawn, but no new birds. This afternoon, Matt Plenty reported: a Siskin over, 1 Ringed Plover and 7 Stonechat.
19/2/25 – 6 Stonechat (2 pairs + 2m) and 105 Redwing (Lagoon 1).
18/2/25 – The first 3 Siskin of the year (all singles, over), a male Gadwall on the lake, a female Black Redstart at the water works and c60 Lapwing flying over to NE, on a cold morning (zero degs C). (#86 species for me at OPS this year, and #87 for all-comers.)
17/2/25 – Heather England reported the adult male Marsh Harrier again and 4 Stonechat. And 3 Mute Swan flew to SW (first for year!). Matt Plenty found a Green-winged Teal at Littleton (photo by MP below), and another pair of Stonechat there.
(The first new species for a month ! #85 species for me at OPS this year, and #86 for all-comers.) 
15/2/25 – 3 Golden Plover in field on way to yacht club with c50 Curlew. At yacht club: 146 Lapwing, 38 Redshank, c500 Dunlin and a Greylag with 24 Canada Goose. Also 'wisps' of 31 & 15 Snipe flying about.
14/2/25 – Andy Middleton reported: 72 Snipe, 210 Curlew, 900 Dunlin, 100 Lapwing, 21 Redshank, 52 Teal, 125 Wigeon, 210 Common Gull and 4 Fieldfare.
13/2/25 – A Golden Plover with c100 Lapwing flying around.
12/2/25 – 2 Otter seen on the lake again, by Rob Jenner, and the male Marsh Harrier.
11/2/25 – 2 Otter on lake at 9am; caught fish and ate it on bank - Video.
10/2/25 – The adult male Marsh Harrier on Lagoon 3 this afternoon, and the Mistle Thrush singing from Lagoon 1 again.
6/2/25 – Heather England reported the 2 Little Grebe on the lake and the male Black Redstart on the jetty. Otter with fish in mouth on lake.
Lovely photos of Little Grebes by HE and the Black Redstart by Nigel Jones (taken on 30th from Lagoon 2 towards waterworks).
5/2/25 – 2 Coot now on the lake.
4/2/25 – An adult male Marsh Harrier toured the site for an hour this morning (Shepperdine and Lagoons 2 & 3). And the Mistle Thrush singing from Lagoon 1 again.
3/2/25 – 44 Snipe pushed off seaweed by tide on shore by Lagoon 3, and a Golden Plover flying around with 60 Lapwing.
31/1/25 – Mother and young Otter in the lake at 2pm ! Watched for 10 minutes. Video1 and Video2.
30/1/25 – Louise Bailey reported a male Black Redstart on the jetty this morning.
29/1/25 – Andy Middleton had 2 male Black Redstart (either side of the jetty), 4 Stonechat, 34 Teal and 46 Wigeon, this afternoon. And the Coot and Little Grebe are back on the lake.
27/1/25 – My annual photo of the Snowdrops in the wood by the lake, giving the first hope of spring.
22/1/25 – A Golden Plover and 20 Snipe on the shore by Lagoon 3, and a Treecreeper in hedge there.
21/1/25 – A Mistle Thrush singing from Lagoon 1 this morning.
20/1/25 – A Treecreeper by the meadow and a Chiffchaff in the wood by the lake.
17/1/25 – The HT roost was relatively calm: 2 Ringed Plover (first for year), 1000 Dunlin, 150 Lapwing, 35 Redshank, 21 Oystercatcher and 20 Turnstone. And lots of courtship display already: 2 male Coal Tit singing at each other, Great Tit singing, Kestrel and Raven in vocal display flights, and the Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been going a bit crazy this week with lots of drumming and chasing (I think there are 3 pairs around) - video of drumming on street light !. (#84 species for me at OPS this year, and #85 for all-comers.)
16/1/25 – 6 Pintail (2m, 4f) on the estuary at the yacht club in the morning fog, and the pair of Stonechat still at the yacht club. And 2+ Otter on the lake at dawn.
14/1/25 – A Little Owl calling ("Whelk") for a couple of minutes at dawn, from inland of Pillhead Gout. (The last one at OPS was in Sept. 2023.) The HT roost was repeatedly chased by 2 Cocker Spaniels (again - see 4th). So all in the air were: 2 Grey Plover, c700 Dunlin, c250 Curlew, c120 Lapwing and 15 Turnstone. A juvenile Marsh Harrier was over Lagoon 3 (and also seen by Andy Middleton at Shepperdine and yacht club) - different bird to the one on 9th. AM's WeBS count: 21 Mallard, 22 Teal, 136 Wigeon, 134 Lapwing, 1500 Dunlin, 46 Snipe, 94 Canada Goose, 26 Redshank, 1 Water Rail and 4 Stonechat. (#82 species for me at OPS this year, and #83 for all-comers.)
12/1/25 – A pair of Common Scoter on the Tidal Res. this afternoon (stayed until dusk). Some video of them getting alarmed and diving as a Grey Heron approached too low ! (#80 species for me at OPS this year, and #81 for all-comers.)
10/1/25 – A cold and rather quiet bird-wise afternoon made it difficult to persist. But it was worth it, as I found my first over-wintering Common Sandpiper at OPS, in Oldbury Pill. (They have over-wintered before, but the last was in 2001 !) Then 10 Golden Plover were feeding with c50 Lapwing inland of the seawall towards Pillhead Gout. The lake was 99% frozen, with the Coot and 2 Moorhen in the small unfrozen corner by the outlet rhine. (#79 species for me at OPS this year, and #80 for all-comers.)
9/1/25 – A frosty (-2 degs C) morning. A 2nd-yr male Marsh Harrier on Lagoon 3 (photo below), a female Black Redstart on S side of towers, halfway up, in sun (photo below) and a Greylag with 85 Canada Goose roosting overnight on the Tidal res. (then flew to Littleton). The harrier flushed 35 Meadow Pipit and 2 Snipe. And a pair of Stonechat in the reeds by the lake (which was 80% frozen). (#77 species for me at OPS this year, and #78 for all-comers.)
7/1/25 – A Black Redstart very briefly among the pipes on SW side of SW-most building and 88 Canada Goose feeding in field. (#76 species for me at OPS this year, and #77 for all-comers.)
6/1/25 – 3 Shoveler downriver (2m, 1f). And the 3 Otter on the lake again at dawn. (#75 species for me at OPS this year, and #76 for all-comers.)
4/1/25 – A lot of birds seen from the yacht club at HT (all in the air, as for the 2nd HT running, inconsiderate dog owners let their dogs run loose all over the saltmarsh): a Black-tailed Godwit, c700 Dunlin, c30 Oystercatcher (Littleton), c50 Wigeon, 18 Shelduck, 30 Redshank, 120 Curlew and 120 Lapwing. And 6 Skylark on the saltmarsh. Also, Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail, Collared Dove and Goldcrest added to year-list. Plus Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler added to my year-list. (#74 species for me at OPS this year, and #75 for all-comers.)
Little Grebe asleep with a pair of Teal, and the Stonechat pair (L & Centre) with a Meadow Pipit.
3/1/25 – Matt Plenty reported 3 Cetti's Warbler (seen!). Also, Cormorant, Little Egret, Stock Dove and Linnet added to year-list. Woodcock and Chiffchaff reported on Birdtrack. (#67 species for me at OPS this year, and #70 for all-comers.)
2/1/25 – 63 species seen this morning: a Treecreeper, 1 Coal Tit, 11 Bullfinch (inc. flock of 8), all the common raptors (2 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard). a Greylag with 91 Canada Goose, a pair of Gadwall at Shepperdine, a pair of Stonechat (waterworks), 2 Jay, a Water Rail (heard), 8 Snipe, a Skylark, 3 Rock Pipit, a Raven, 20+ Oystercatcher and a Mistle Thrush. (No Goldcrest, Little Egret or Black Redstart.) An amazing encounter with 3 Otter in the lake (female and 2 cubs) at dawn. The 2 youngsters were on the road side of the lake, with one actually seen on the bank. Then the female saw me and came shooting over straight for me. When it got to just 5 yards away it came full height out of the water and started soft-barking at me to warn me off - quite scary, as 4 foot long. At same time the young were making a mewing call. The female had a small fish in its mouth and went over to one of the young and I presume fed it. I then retreated. Incredible !
A review of 2024 can be found here.
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