January to December 2009
Total of 141 species recorded at the
site in 2009 (see 2009 Site
Species List for details).
With my personal total for the site in 2009 at 127 species.
30/12/09 – An influx of thrushes noted today with 36 Blackbird (including 11 feeding together) and 16 Song Thrush counted.
27/12/09 – AM reported a female/juvenile Black Redstart around the Water Works in the morning.
26/12/09 – 1 Golden Plover with c300 Lapwing in maize stubble field towards yacht club.
24/12/09 –
Hard-frozen ground and lagoons, but a bright day. There were 5 Golden Plover in same field as last
winter, by the main
AM reported: 17+ Bewick’s Swan upriver, 1 Yellowhammer at the yacht club, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Snipe, 2 Stonechat, 3 Shoveler and 39 Redshank.
19/12/09 – A Little Owl stood on top of a hedge towards the yacht club was the first seen here since April (heard a few times though). An influx of Song Thrush this week with 17 seen today. Also 2 Stonechat.
WK counted 388 Curlew.
16/12/09 – WK reported: 79 Teal, 154 Wigeon, 29 Redshank and a very good count of 406 Curlew.
[A Herring Gull with dark blue darvic and orange lettering seen on Saturday was ringed by the Severn Estuary Gull Group on 22/11/2008 at Stoke Orchard landfill site, Gloucestershire.]
13/12/09 – The number of duck have increased to c300 Wigeon and c200 Teal.
A Little Egret at Park Farm, Thornbury.
A very light coloured
Buzzard that has been around for a while.
12/12/09 – A Little Owl and Water Rail calling from Lagoon 3. c200 Jackdaw and c200 Rook in roost at Jobsgreen Farm. 2 Tufted Duck with Mallard on shore. An adult Herring Gull had a black darvic ring on left leg with orange letters (something like ‘EDI’, but couldn’t read them with certainty). Also: 3 Stonechat and 1 Rock Pipit.
AM counted: 487 Lapwing, 51 Redshank, 97 Curlew, 135 Wigeon, 86 Teal, 140 Mallard and 1 Snipe. WK counted: 79 Wigeon, 116 Teal, 14 Shelduck.
7/12/09 – c300 Dunlin and 13 Canada Goose by the yacht club. Also: 7 Ringed Plover (lagoon 3), 2 Snipe, 1 Rock Pipit and 2 Stonechat.
The bird surveyors at the site have seen the following recently: 1 Pomarine Skua (24/11/09), 1 Merlin, 1 Woodcock and also a Black Redstart on a dung heap to NE of Shepperdine.
DS reported a Mallard x Pintail hybrid on the shore and a Wood Duck hybrid a couple of weeks ago.
6/12/09 – An adult Mediterranean Gull on Lagoon 3. Also a Rock Pipit and a Stonechat by the jetty.
There were 4 Little Egret in a flooded field at Park Farm just outside Thornbury.
WK reported: 1 Raven, c520 Black-headed Gull and c100 Teal.
5/12/09 – A Short-eared Owl was along the shore by Lagoon 3 at 8.45am. It flew low out over the estuary looking like it would go to far side, when it was mobbed by gulls and came back and then flew over the hedge and into Lagoon 3, where it probably went to roost. A pair of Mute Swan on the lake included the female with an orange darvic ring ‘H97’ on left leg. This bird was last noted here in April 2007 and bred here in 2006. It was ringed as a cygnet on 16/3/03 at River Avon, Strensham Lock, Worcestershire, and also seen: 29/3/04 – R. Severn, Bewdley, Worcs.; 7/8/04 – 20/5/05 Sharpness canal and WWT Slimbridge area.
Also seen today: 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Stonechat and a Wren inside the hide !
A Security Guard reported a Barn Owl early this morning which flew across the road by
Sunday 22/11/09 – AM reported: 1 Jack Snipe flushed from salt-marsh, 3 Snipe on Lagoon 2, a male Yellowhammer on way to yacht club, 40 Stock Dove, 236 Mallard, 143 Wigeon, 80 Teal, 200 Lapwing, 34 Canada Goose, 2 Stonechat, 75 Curlew, 112 Dunlin, 69 Redshank, 350 Black-headed Gull and 1 Mute Swan.
Saturday 21/11/09
– The Kingfisher was along the
main
Friday 20/11/09 – WK reported: c100 Wigeon, 114 Teal, c100 Curlew, c140 Redwing, 3 Jay, c50 Goldfinch, 4 Stonechat, 23 Meadow Pipit and 11 Blackbird on Lagoon 2.
Saturday 14/11/09
– A Little Grebe on the lake
behind the hide, actively diving before disappearing into the reeds. 3 Mistle Thrush went over to SW, with
100+ Redwing and c50 Fieldfare. A good flock of 10 Black-tailed Godwit at Shepperdine then
on Lagoon 1. Totals of c300 Lapwing,
c200 Dunlin and 45 Redshank. 4 Skylark
at the yacht club included an aberrant one with white primaries and white on
tail, as seen last winter. Also: 4 Stonechat,
15 Canada Goose, 4 Shelduck. [I also found a geocache, which was left out on the path
along the main
Thursday 12/11/09 – WK reported: 27 Wigeon, 8 Redshank, 24 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Green Woodpecker, 11 Fieldfare and 28 Meadow Pipit.
Sunday 8/11/09
– The Kingfisher was along the
main
Redwings and
Fieldfares on road by orchard.
Saturday 7/11/09
– The first cold day of autumn (0.5 degrees C) brought an influx of c30 Blackbird, including 15 together along
the main
The High Tide roost on Lagoon 3 held 6 Ringed Plover and c130 Lapwing. Also: 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Reed Bunting, c400 Starling (in 2 large flocks), c50 Meadow Pipit (c30 on Lagoon 1), 5 Fieldfare and c40 Redwing.
Friday 6/11/09 – WK reported: c60 Redwing over and another 33 in the Orchard.
Saturday 31/10/09 – WK reported: 2 Stonechat, c150 Pied Wagtail, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 104 Lapwing.
Friday 30/10/09 – WK reported: c100 Mallard, 30 Teal, 73 Lapwing, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Dunlin, 93 Pied Waqtail and 1 Rock Pipit.
Thursday 29/10/09 – The Black Redstart was in the same place – but it is a male (got a nearer view of it). Also the male Blackcap in same place.
Wednesday 28/10/09
– 46 Canada Goose flew
downriver in two skeins. About a mile inland of OPS were 2 Little Egret on a
Monday 26/10/09 – A Black Redstart was mobile between Lagoon 2 and the cooling towers (favouring fly-catching high up on the right-hand tower). A male Blackcap along the bridleway to the shore was most probably a winter migrant. c20 Chaffinch and 4 Skylark went over. Waders: c200 Lapwing, c20 Redshank and 6 Ringed Plover. Butterflies: 2 Clouded Yellow and 2 Painted Lady.
Saturday 24/10/09
– A wet and grey day. A Green
Sandpiper flew around lagoon 3, and looked like it went down. 2 Yellowhammer flew into the hedge by
Lagoon 1, and a Rock Pipit by the
outfall there. A Little Egret on the
main
Tuesday 20/10/09 – RA reported: 2 Little Egret at Shepperdine.
Sunday 18/10/09
– A Kingfisher was along the
main
Photos by RL from 14/10/09 . . .
Male Kestrel Dragonfly that took 2 hours to
emerge from the pond by Lagoon 2 – Common Hawker, I think.
Saturday 17/10/09 – The following heading over to NE: 20 Fieldfare, 120+ Redwing, 21+ Skylark, 2+ Reed Bunting, c300 Starling, 2 Bullfinch, c15 Greenfinch, c15 Chaffinch, 44 Woodpigeon, 18 Jackdaw, 1 Pied Wagtail.
There were 2 Grey
Wagtail on the main
AM reported: 1 Kingfisher and the Mandarin Duck at Shepperdine.
Friday 16/10/09
– WK reported 313 Curlew.
Monday 12/10/09 – WK reported 3 Little Egret and 46 Turnstone.
Sunday 11/10/09 – A Rock Pipit on Lagoon 3, a Swallow (Lagoon 2) and 2 Song Thrush over.
Rock Pipit on Lagoon 3
outfall pipe.
Saturday 10/10/09 – A glorious sunny autumnal morning. The male Mandarin Duck is coming into adult plumage, and was with the 100+ Mallard flock on the shore. At the yacht club were 4 Stonechat (with another reported by AM on Lagoon 3) and 31 Canada Goose. There were c140 Lapwing roosting on lagoon 3 and 1 Knot, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 40+ Redshank and 6 Dunlin along the shore. A Mistle Thrush was in fields to south of Lagoon 2 and a Little Egret roosted there. 13+ Skylark were in flight, mainly upriver and c50 Meadow Pipit were around (including c20 on top of cooling towers). MP also reported Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Starling moving downriver. A singing Chiffchaff was among 3 seen, and a Blackcap gave a ripple of sub-song.
Butterflies: 1 Clouded Yellow (AM), 3 Tortoishell, 2 Painted Lady, 1 Red Admiral and 3 more unidentified.
Mandarin Duck on shore
by Water Works.(Compare this photo to the one of the same bird on 8/8/09 !!)
Thursday 8/10/09 – Photos from RL . . .
Sparrowhawk Lapwing
on Lagoon 3
Buzzard
Sunday 4/10/09 – 3 House Martin still and a Little Egret.
Saturday 3/10/09 – A few House Martin and Swallow around the towers. MP reported a Pintail on Lagoon 3.
Friday 2/10/09
– WK reported: 1 Whinchat, 53 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail and 10 Meadow
Pipit.
Mediterranean Gull, Lagoon 3, 1/10/09
(Photo by MP)
Thursday 1/10/09 – MP reported: an adult Mediterranean Gull and the Mandarin Duck on Lagoon 3.
RL reported: 2 Stonechat and 100+ Goldfinch on Lagoon 2.
Green Woodpecker in Meadow by Lagoon 2 pond. (Photo by RL) Stonechat, Lagoon2. (Photo by RL)
Hobby over the Nature
Trail, 17/9/09 (Photo and report by RL)
Sunday 27/9/09 – The only birds of note were a Little Egret and 2 Grey Wagtail.
Saturday 26/9/09 – The male Mandarin Duck is on lagoon 3, where water is being pumped in. It is starting to moult into breeding plumage. Newly cut hedges held c15 House Sparrow and 12 Dunnock (!). There were 47 Redshank on the shore but the only other waders were 3 Dunlin, 10 Lapwing and 2 Oystercatcher. A Grey Wagtail was seen several times and a Skylark went over.
A Stonechat was reported at the yacht club.
Saturday 19/9/09
– A Brent Goose (Dark-bellied)
was along the shore towards the yacht club at High Tide. Around Lagoon 3 were:
1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1
AM reported (for duck-count day): 54 Teal, 79 Wigeon, 35 Turnstone (roosting on green ‘ledges’ buoy), 11 Shelduck, 42 Lapwing, 5 Wheatear, 19 Curlew, 97 Mallard, 9 Cormorant, 13 Ringed Plover, 36 Dunlin, 2 Little Egret and 9 Buzzard (6 soaring over No3, whilst 3 were perched on a pylon underneath. These included a very pale one with white head and creamy undertail without any barring.)
Dark-bellied Brent Goose, on the river.
Friday 18/9/09 – The Mandarin Duck was back with the Mallard flock on the shore again this evening. The Greenshank was on Lagoon 1 with c200 Curlew, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Snipe and 18 Lapwing. Also: another c200 Curlew at the yacht club, 3 Wheatear, 24 Canada Goose (Shepperdine), 100+ House Martin and a Little Owl calling.
Thursday 17/9/09 – RL reported a Hobby over the Nature Trail.
Wednesday 16/9/09 – Lagoon 1 is looking brilliant at the moment, with lots of mud showing, and for once it delivered ! On Lagoon 1 this evening were: 1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 1 Greenshank, 5 Snipe, 1 Turnstone, 4 Dunlin, 14 Lapwing, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Curlew, 3 Heron, c20 Wigeon and c50 Teal. The best list of species I can ever remember there ! A male Gadwall was on the lake. There were c500 Black-headed Gull on Lagoon 3 and another c500 on the estuary, along with 20+ Common Gull. Also a Wheatear on the shore.
Spotted Redshank with Greenshank on Lagoon 1. Gadwall on the lake.
Sunday 13/9/09
– A Greenshank was on the
shore at Shepperdine, with 9 Black-tailed
Godwit, c50 Dunlin and c10 Ringed Plover. Lagoon 1 had 4 Snipe, 56 Teal and 11 Lapwing. A Little Egret was on the main
Snipe, Lagoon 1, 13/9/09.
Saturday 12/9/09
– Some good birds seen on a lovely sunny morning. A Spotted Flycatcher was on dead branches along the main
AM reported: 1 Greenshank on lagoon 1, 23 Lapwing and 53 Redshank.
MP also reported 2 Wheatear and c500 House Martin around the towers early morning.
Black-tailed Godwit and Wheatear (photos by MP), 12/9/09.
Sunday 6/9/09 – AM reported: 1 Knot, 1 Little Egret, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 157 Dunlin, 54 Ringed Plover, 78 Teal, 50 House Martin and 20 Meadow Pipit.
Saturday 5/9/09 – A Greenshank flew from the yacht club, close past me upriver; it circled lagoon 3 and then went high over the power station. Two Little Egret were roosting in a field. A Sedge Warbler was in the reeds on lagoon 2. There were 8 Black-tailed Godwit on lagoon 1 and 7 Meadow Pipit were the first of the autumn.
Friday 4/9/09
– WK reported: 1 Whimbrel, 233
Black-headed Gull, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 85 Teal (lagoon 1) and 1
Thursday 3/9/09 – An early morning visit didn’t produce any seabirds in the wind. But on the high tide a Sanderling was with c25 Dunlin and c30 Ringed Plover.
Also a Treecreeper
with a tit flock in trees at the far end of the main
Wednesday 2/9/09 – MP/AM reported: 175 Dunlin, 68 Ringed Plover, 6 Turnstone, 1 Knot, 1 Little Egret, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, 5 Wheatear, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat and 4 Blackcap.
Monday 31/8/09 – 4 Knot and a Little Egret at Shepperdine. 10 Black-tailed Godwit on Lagoon 1 at High Tide. A Lesser Whitethroat was pecking at Blackberries on Lagoon 2.
AM reported this morning: 2 Whimbrel, 24 Redshank (Oldbury Gout), 4 Wheatear (Yacht Club), 1 Garden Warbler and a few Sand Martin with a House Martin in Swallow flocks. Also a Common Gull with a broken wing on the island in the lake.
Knot, Shepperdine, 31/8/09.
Sunday 30/8/09 – A juvenile Little Grebe was on Lagoon 1 this afternoon, with 10 Black-tailed Godwit. Along the shore were: 1 Whimbrel, 2 Knot, 86 Ringed Plover, 165 Dunlin and 146 Mallard. A Yellow Wagtail was with c40 Pied Wagtail by the small pond between Lagoons 1 and 2.
Saturday 29/8/09 – Plenty of small birds in the bushes, including: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap and c15 Chiffchaff. Lots of Swallow around still, plus Sand Martin and House Martin. Also, 5 Black-tailed Godwit on the shore and a Skylark.
MP also reported: a Ruff downriver, 19 Dunlin, 41 Ringed Plover, 6 Snipe (Lagoon 1), 2 Wheatear and 1 Whimbrel.
MB reported a Kingfisher
along the main
Friday 28/8/09
– WK reported: 2 Kingfisher
again on the main
Thursday 27/8/09 – MP/AM reported: 2 Arctic Skua (dark phase) flew downriver close to the power station at 11.35am, 1 Little Egret, 134 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, 180 Dunlin, 170 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear and 2 Kingfisher along the main rhine.
Wednesday 26/8/09 – 12 Black-tailed Godwit and a Wheatear along the shore this evening. Didn’t see the Wood Sandpiper, but c50 Teal, 1 Wigeon and 1 Shoveler on Lagoon 1.
Sunday 23/8/09 – The Wood Sandpiper remains on Lagoon 1, and a Green Sandpiper flushed from there. A Common Sandpiper on the shore completed the set ! The Mandarin Duck put in a surprise reappearance with the Mallards at Shepperdine. Also: 8 Black-tailed Godwit, c90 Dunlin and c70 Ringed Plover.
Wood Sandpiper, Lagoon 1, 23/8/09.
Saturday 22/8/09 – The juvenile Wood Sandpiper was present on Lagoon 1 for its 5th day. (Can be elusive, but is not flighty.) A large number of warblers in the hedges along Lagoon 2, including: 3+ Garden Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler (juv in reeds), 1+ Lesser Whitethroat, 3+ Whitethroat, 1+ Willow Warbler (singing) and c10 Chiffchaff (2 singing). A Greylag Goose (partial farmyard-type - white head and primaries) was with 58 Canada Goose which flew upriver at High Tide. A total of c100 Dunlin and c75 Ringed Plover. Also, 5+ Yellow Wagtail, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Snipe on Lagoon 1.
AM also reported: 1 Wheatear, 16 Yellow Wagtail, 86 Teal and 1 Reed Warbler.
Wood Sandpiper, Lagoon 1, 22/8/09.
Friday 21/8/09 – WK reported 60+ House Martin.
Thursday 20/8/09 – Wood Sandpiper reported again on lagoon 1.
Wednesday 19/8/09 – AM reported: The juvenile Wood Sandpiper still on lagoon 1 and showing well at times. Also: 121 Ringed Plover, 66 Dunlin, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Little Egret, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 4 Shoveler and a juvenile Peregrine chasing small waders in mid-river, at high tide.
Wood Sandpiper, Lagoon 1, 19/8/09. (Photo by MP)
Tuesday 18/8/09 – MP reported: A juvenile Wood Sandpiper on lagoon 1 in the morning (only 4th record at the site).
AM also reported: 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 22 Ringed Plover, 27 Dunlin, 95 Teal and 4 Raven.
Sunday 16/8/09 – AM reported: 1 Sanderling, 1 Black-tailed Godwit , 74 Dunlin, 51 Ringed Plover, 3 Shoveler and 2 Wigeon in afternoon.
Saturday 15/8/09 – 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Ringed Plover and 14 Dunlin.
[Also an archaeologist with some Roman pottery from an encampment along the shore.]
Friday 14/8/09 – The male Common Scoter was still on the tidal reservoir at 8pm. On the shore were 8 Black-tailed Godwit and a Knot. Lagoon 1 had 75 Teal and 5 Shoveler.
AM reported: An adult male Common Scoter on the Tidal Reservoir at 8.40am, 5 Whimbrel, 4 Black-Tailed Godwit, 9 Dunlin, 6 Lapwing, 80 Goldfinch feeding on Thistle seeds and 8+ Blackcap feeding on Elderberries.
Common Scoter on tidal reservoir, 14/8/09.
Tuesday 11/8/09 – WK reported a ‘ringtailed’ Hen Harrier over Lagoon 2 at 3.45pm.
Sunday 9/8/09 – The Mandarin Duck was again on the lake this morning and again relocated to the shore, where it stayed until 9am at least. A Hobby was also seen again, this time inland of Shepperdine. Lagoon 1 held 6 Shoveler, 55 Teal and 3 Black-tailed Godwit. A Lesser Whitethroat was in the small wood towards the yacht club, and 23 Redshank were on the shore there. Also a Wheatear on the shore and 2 migrant Goldcrest (not seen at site since March). The female Peregrine was protecting a kill on the tower with her wings, and the male was calling from 5 yards away; presumably asking for a share ! [Belated report from a security guard of a Peregrine taking a Pigeon in February at 4:30am – that’s at night, seen in the lights from the power station.]
Wheatear, on shore,
9/8/09. Hobby – it has just landed and
it’s wings are forked underneath as not yet folded.
(Photo taken at a distance of about half a mile !)
Saturday 8/8/09 – A glorious sunny and still morning, with some good birds. A juvenile, or eclipse, male Mandarin Duck was on the lake, and then flew to the shore where it stayed with the 80+ Mallard flock until 11am when it flew upriver. (The 8th record at the site.) There were a lot of birds along the bridleway by the main rhine, including: 3 Garden Warbler (thanks AM), 6 Blackcap (3 juvs), 2 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (female + juv) and many Chiffchaff (2 still singing). A Hobby dashed through lagoon 2 and then soared high over the towers. A Yellow Wagtail went over several times.
AM also reported 3 Common Sandpiper.
That’s 121 species seen at the site this year (with my own total
on 113).
Mandarin Duck on
Friday 7/8/09 – In the evening roost on lagoon 3: 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1160 Black-headed Gull and 63 Common Gull. Another c400 Black-headed Gull at the yacht club and also there: 5 Common Sandpiper (+ another at OPS), 18 Canada Goose, 6 Redshank, 3 Ringed Plover and 3 Dunlin. A Whimbrel flew downriver and a flock of 16 Shelduck flew upriver at a height of c300m – seemed to be migrating, possibly after moulting. Also, 5 Lapwing.
Thursday6/8/09
– AM reported: 800 Black-headed
Gull, 8 Common Sandpiper, 3 Wheatear, 31 Teal, c55 Redshank, 32 Curlew, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 23 Dunlin,
3 Lapwing and 200+ House Martin around
Wednesday 5/8/09 – An adult Mediterranean Gull in the evening roost on Lagoon 3 with c600 Black-headed Gull, 53 Common Gull, 4 Great Black-backed Gull, 7 Ringed Plover and 6 Dunlin. 5 Whimbrel and c40 Curlew flew downriver. There were 2 Common Sandpiper at Shepperdine and 8 Canada Goose on Lagoon 1. A Little Egret in flight. 10 House Martin and c100 Swallow over Lagoon 2.
Mediterranean Gull, Lagoon 3, 5/8/09.
Tuesday 4/8/09 - MP reported: 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Sand Martin, 69 Mallard, 5 Teal and 120 Curlew.
Monday 3/8/09 – MP reported: 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Peregrine (including a juvenile), 250 Curlew, 5 Oystercatcher, 30 Dunlin, 4 Ring Plover, 4 Kestrel (including 2+ juveniles) and 2 Teal.
Sunday 2/8/09 – An adult Little Stint at Shepperdine with 21 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Teal again and 7 Canada Goose.
Little Stint, Shepperdine, 2/8/09.
Saturday 1/8/09 – A few waders at Shepperdine at High Tide: 1 Knot, 8 Turnstone, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher and 15 Curlew. There were also 2 juvenile Teal there. A Little Egret and a Sand Martin were at Lagoon 1.
[The Canada Goose family have finally flown from the
Knot, Shepperdine, 1/8/09.
Saturday 25/7/09 – 2 adult Common Tern over the tidal reservoir and then downriver early morning.
MP reported: an adult Mediterranean
Gull and 19 Common Gull. Also,
the following at
Thursday 23/7/09 – MP reported: 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull on Lagoon 3 again (but no Med. Gulls).
Wednesday 22/7/09
– MP reported: 1 adult Yellow-legged
Gull on Lagoon 3. (Matt – thanks for reports and photos.)
Yellow-legged Gull, Lagoon 3, 22/7/09.
Tuesday 21/7/09 – MP reported: 4 Mediterranean Gull (2nd summer and 3 adults), 350 Black-headed Gull (including 9 juveniles), 3 adult Common Gull, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 9 Herring Gull in the evening roost on lagoon 3.
2nd Summer (preening in middle of photo) and adult Mediterranean Gulls, Lagoon 3, 21/7/09.
Monday 20/7/09 – MP reported: 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 2 adult Mediterranean Gull, 22 Herring Gull, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Great Black-backed Gull (4 ad, 1 x 3rd summer, 1 juv), 3 adult Common Gull and 347 Black-headed Gull on lagoon 3.
Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, Lagoon 3, 20/7/09.
Sunday 19/7/09
– 13
AM reported: 6 (adult) Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 6 Curlew and an adult Mediterranean Gull.
Saturday 18/7/09 – An adult Yellow-legged Gull in the roost on Lagoon 3 this evening. Also a juvenile and adult Sedge Warbler in the reeds on Lagoon 2 and a juvenile Willow Warbler.
Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Lagoon 3, 18/7/09.
Sunday 12/7/09 – The High Tide roost this morning, on Lagoon 3 held: 1 Mediterranean Gull (2nd Summer), 1 probable Yellow-legged Gull (3rd year), 460 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Gull, c20 Herring/LBB Gull and 1 Dunlin. Also a Common Sandpiper on the shore. The 4 juvenile Canada Goose are now fully grown and should be leaving very shortly.
AM reported: 103 Mallard, and Shelduck broods of 6 & 10 ducklings at the yacht club. Also another Common Sandpiper there.
Mediterranean Gull and probable Yellow-legged Gull, Lagoon 3, 12/7/09.
3-mast tall-ship sailing by upriver, 12/7/09.
Friday 10/7/09 – A Common Sandpiper, 18 Curlew and 1 Oystercatcher on the shore. 2 Common Gull with 500+ Black-headed Gull in the HT evening roost on Lagoon 3. c180 Swallow over Lagoon 2.
Wednesday 8/7/09 – MP reported a female Tufted Duck with 6 ducklings on the lake.
Sunday 5/7/09 – c150 Black-headed Gull and c20 Herring Gull on lagoon 3 at high tide, and 5 Oystercatcher at Shepperdine.
MB reported a Common Sandpiper.
Saturday 4/7/09 – AM reported Shelduck pairs with 11 and 6 ducklings and a sizable flock of 114 Curlew roosting at the yacht club.
Wednesday 1/7/09 – A pair of Green Woodpecker with 4 juveniles all together on the grass by the entrance. Also at least 2 juvenile Sedge Warbler in family group on Lagoon 2 (and 2 other adults still singing elsewhere). An impressive gathering of c500 Swallow over the reeds on Lagoon 2 at dusk – seemed to be going to roost there – appears to be a very good year for these locally, with very many juveniles.
[A late report by MB of 2 Cuckoo chasing each other around Lagoon 2, “a couple of weeks ago”.]
Sunday 21/6/09 – AM reported 2 Lapwing acting protectively in fields by OPS.
Sunday 14/6/09 – 11 juvenile Shelduck with 2 adults on the shore.
Saturday 13/6/09 – A Kingfisher flew along the main rhine (VERY unusual at this time of year, here) and 3 Sand Martin heading low downriver. On the lake there were 3 juvenile Moorhen with adults and the 4 juvenile Canada Goose with adults still. Four types of orchids in flower: Bee, Pyramidal, Southern Marsh and probably some sort of cross that looked like Lapland Orchid.
Southern Marsh Orchid
(left)(unspotted leaves) and Lapland Orchid-type cross (probably Southern Marsh
x Common Spotted –
Crab Spider on
Sunday 7/6/09 – AM reported: A Little Egret on lagoon 3, 8+ House Martin, 7 Tufted Duck and 15 Canada Goose on the lake.
Friday 29/5/09
– A lovely sunny morning, . . . except for the
Painted Lady and Silver-Y moth, 29/5/09.
Cuckoo, Lagoon 2, 29/5/09.
Tuesday 26/5/09 – MP reported the Cuckoo at lagoon 2 again.
Monday 25/5/09
– A Cuckoo calling along the
main
Saturday 23/5/09 – The Peregrine pair were together on the tower and then the male flew along the shore and unsuccessfully attacked some Swallows ! Then went back to the tower and followed the female out over the estuary, where she gained height and stooped on a lone Feral Pigeon. She missed first and second times, but made the kill at the third attempt. Spectacular show!
2 Mute Swan (adult + juvenile) flew upriver.
Peregrines on tower and view of Severn Bridges on a very clear day, 23/5/09.
MP reported on Lagoon 2: c10 singing Reed Warbler plus at least 12 foraging birds seen; another 2 Reed Warbler singing by dragonfly pond; 3 Sedge Warbler singing; probably 2 pairs of Reed Bunting (female carrying food and dropped down into reeds); 2 Lesser Whitethroat; 5 Fox cubs playing and an adult. Also, a pair of Shelduck with 7 young and a Grey Wagtail on the bridleway.
Juvenile Grey Wagtail and Fox cub (photos by MP), 23/5/09.
Friday 22/5/09 –
18
Saturday 16/5/09 – 2 Sandwich Tern flying slowly downriver into SW wind at 7.25am.
Friday 15/5/09 – A Little Egret and a Fox in evening.
Monday 11/5/09 – AM reported 19 Ringed Plover.
Sunday 10/5/09 – a Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Whimbrel and a Little Egret all flying upriver.
Saturday 9/5/09 – 2 Wheatear on the shore and a remarkable 13 Sedge Warbler singing (over double my previous highest count on-site !), mainly at south end of lagoon 2. Also: 1 Dunlin and 4+ House Sparrow in bushes at south end, lagoon 2.
Wheatear, 9/5/09.
Friday 8/5/09
– In this evening’s westerly wind, c60 Swallow and 3 Swift
headed NE. A Wheatear was on the
seawall by Lagoon 3. Also, 3 Ringed
Plover. The Canada Goose pair
still have 4 gosling, and the brood of Mallard
are still along the main
Correction - The Wryneck reported in a Thornbury garden was seen on 26/4/09.
Monday 4/5/09 – 4 Swift through are the first of the year. There were 5+ House Sparrow calling from bushes at south end of Lagoon 2 with 3 male and 2 female seen (unusual on-site). Along the shore; 8 Whimbrel, 2 Ringed Plover at Shepperdine and 2 Oystercatcher.
[A Hobby was seen to catch a hirundine over Thornbury.]
Whimbrel, 4/5/09.
Sunday 3/5/09 – 6 Sedge Warbler singing this morning (inc. 4 on lagoon 2), with c15 Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat and 9 Reed Warbler. There were 10 Whimbrel in a field next to lagoon 3. The Canada Goose pair only have 4 gosling and were joined by another adult (and another 3 over). c30 Swallow, 4 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin into wind, to north.
Update for 2/5/09 - MP reported a Red Kite over Cow Hill (a mile to SW of Lagoon 3), at 12:50pm.
Canada Goose goslings and Whitethroat, 3/5/09.
Saturday 2/5/09 – The Canada Goose pair have 5 goslings on the lake. There were 5 Sedge Warbler singing (interestingly, the only other time I have recorded this number was 3rd May 2008). A Mute Swan on the river. Still 4 Lesser Whitethroat singing and c10 Whitethroat.
Wednesday 29/4/09
– 8 Whimbrel, 8 Mallard ducklings on the main
Saturday 25/4/09
– A flock of 18 Bar-tailed Godwit
and 7 Whimbrel flew upriver without
stopping at c7:30am. Then at 8am a ‘Commic’
Tern flew downriver, followed by c20 Dunlin
and a Ringed Plover. Later on at
lagoon 3 were 7 Bar-tailed Godwit,
11 Dunlin and the Ringed Plover. Then at the yacht club a
further 8 Bar-tailed Godwit, a Black-tailed Godwit (thanks AM) and c10
Dunlin. Singing warblers included: 6
Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler and 4
Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlin, Lagoon 3, 25/4/09.
Wednesday 22/4/09 – A Lesser Redpoll feeding on oak flowers along the bridleway to the shore, where a Common Sandpiper was. There were 3 Lesser Whitethroat singing, c30 Swallow passing through and 2 ‘White’ Wagtail with c25 Pied Wagtail on Lagoon 1. Also a pair of Teal and a Lapwing there.
Sunday 19/4/09 – A smart male Yellow Wagtail on lagoon 1 (my 100th species at OPS in 2009) with c30 Pied Wagtail this evening, and also 2 Lapwing and a Teal there.
MP reported an adult female Hen Harrier which flew over Lagoon 1 and headed NE at 4.20pm, and 2 ‘White’ Wagtail on Lagoon 1.
Friday 17/4/09 – 5 Common Sandpiper at the Water Works outfall this morning and a Sedge Warbler singing from the island in the lake. Also a Streamer moth on the hide.
Streamer Moth, 17/4/09.
Thursday 16/4/09
– AM reported: 2 Common Sandpiper
at Oldbury Gout, 4 House Martin, 12 Swallow, 6
Wednesday 15/4/09 – 3 Common Sandpiper at the Water Works outfall this evening, and c15 Pied Wagtail went to roost in the reeds on Lagoon 2. Also: c10 Swallow, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 4 Reed Warbler, the male Wigeon, and 10 Tufted Duck on the lake.
MP reported: Swallows, 4 House Martin and 1 Sand Martin heading NE into wind, c100 Goldfinch to N, 2 Redpoll to N, 10+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 9 Tufted Duck.
WK reported: 2 Raven, 2 Peregrine, 23 Swallow, 15 House Martin, 5 Whitethroat and 2 Wigeon.
Monday 13/4/09 – A very foggy morning on The Severn, with just 5 House Martin and 3 Sand Martin emerging from it. When it cleared, a Short-eared Owl appeared at the Yacht Club and sat on driftwood for 10 minutes before it disappeared. (I presume it went to roost in the long grass between the seawall and the shore by the yacht club.) Also 1 Dunlin and c20 Redshank at the Yacht Club, and the Lesser Whitethroat still singing by lagoon 1 outfall.
Short-eared Owl, Yacht Club. 13/4/09.
Sunday 12/4/09 – A disappointing morning with no new migrants. The Lesser Whitethroat was on lagoons1/2, a male Wigeon is still hanging around and a Little Owl was heard.
I decided to give it another go this evening, and it turned into a bit of a classic when I spotted 2 Spoonbill flying low up the middle of the river at 7.15pm. They started heading towards the near shore, and landed at Shepperdine. (They were Juveniles, with black wing-tips.) Just had enough time to put up my telescope, attach the camera and take two photos (about 1 minute !) before they headed upriver again. Another bit of excitement at 7.30 when a flock of c75 large waders were flying high upriver in a V-formation. They turned out to be Curlew, and another 85 roosted on lagoon 3.
2 Spoonbill, Shepperdine (photo taken at distance of about half of a mile !), 12/4/09.
Saturday 11/4/09
– Spring migrants singing this morning: 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat,
2 Reed Warbler and 5
AM reported a Wheatear and Brimstone and Small White butterfly.
That’s 100
species recorded at the site in 2009.
Friday 10/4/09 – The first Reed Warbler of the year in the reeds on lagoon 2 (earliest recorded here by 3 days), and there were 10 Blackcap singing. Flying together round the towers were 3 Peregrine, including one with a missing secondary on the left wing. On the lake, the Canada Goose is still on a nest and there were 5 Tufted Duck (3 males).
MP reported the first Whitethroat
and Lesser Whitethroat (earliest
recorded here by 6 days) of the year on lagoon 2 this morning. Also 21 Swallow, 4
Wednesday 8/4/09 – AM reported 2 Tree Sparrow around Lagoon 3. MP reported a Wheatear and a Little Ringed Plover on lagoon 1.
Peregrine and Wheatear
(Photos by MP), 8/4/09.
Monday 6/4/09 – AM reported a male Ring Ouzel from trees on south side of Lagoon 3, and a Little Ringed Plover on that lagoon.
Saturday 4/4/09
– 3
Water being pumped into Lagoon 3, where there was a male Gadwall.
AM reported 3 Swallow and 2 Sand Martin.
Thursday 2/4/09 – MP reported: 15 Sand Martin and a Swallow over the lake.
Sunday 29/3/09 – 2 Little Ringed Plover on lagoon 1 this evening and 2 Swallow through heading NE. A pair of Canada Goose are nesting on the island in the lake.
Saturday 28/3/09 – 3 Blackcap singing and a probable Rock Pipit.
Saturday 21/3/09 – A Blackcap in full song with an interested female nearby, and 14+ Chiffchaff singing heralded in the Spring sunshine. A Siskin over to NE, and a male Yellowhammer in flight from the meadow to lagoon 3. On the lake were: 2 Mute Swan, 5 Tufted Duck and 2 Canada Goose (with another 12 in fields).
MP reported: 4 Redpoll in alders at SW corner of Lagoon 3 (retrospectively, these are considered Common Redpoll - a new species for OPS !). Also, 3 Peregrine; a male caught a Redshank and did a food pass to a female, which took the kill to the edge of the tidal res., with male following. Then another male joined them.
AM reported: another Redpoll in the orchard, and 4 Greylag Goose over lagoon 3.
Common Redpoll, lagoon 3 (photos by MP), 21/3/09.
Sunday 15/3/09 – 4+ Chiffchaff singing in the sun this morning. The Peregrine pair were together around the towers. 2 Mute Swan and 11 Canada Goose floated upriver on the incoming tide. Also: 7 Oystercatcher, c65 Wigeon and c25 Teal.
AM reported 4 Snipe on lagoon 2.
Grey Heron, 15/3/09.
(Late update: the LR Plover is in fact
Saturday 14/3/09 – Some early Spring migration today in the sun (with NW wind). There were 2 Chiffchaff in hedges by the road (both silent). At 8:15am a skein of c70 Brent Goose headed high upriver. (61 recorded in ABR.) There were no small waders again along the shore, so one that flew into Lagoon 3 caught my eye; it was a very early Little Ringed Plover – calling continuously (my, and the sites, earliest ever). It flew off upriver at 10:05am having stayed 10 minutes.
Little Ringed Plover, Lagoon 3, 14/3/09.
Sunday 8/3/09 – A Little Egret was the only bird of note.
MP reported 48 Shelduck roosting on Lagoon 3.
AM reported c100 Teal and c80 Wigeon.
Saturday 7/3/09 – A quiet morning with no small waders seen. The first Blackthorn flowers seen (3+ weeks later than 2008), and the Daffodils flowering in the orchard. A male House Sparrow nest-prospecting a hole in the roof of the visitor centre (unusual on-site) and 2 pair of Tufted Duck on the lake. Also: 1 Stonechat, 1+ Raven, 3 Oystercatcher and 7 Shoveler.
Sunday 1/3/09 – A lovely Spring-like morning. An adult Mediterranean Gull on lagoon 3 (which AM noticed had a red ring on left leg with white characters ‘797’ ?) and a Mistle Thrush in fields by lagoon 2. Also, 2 Mute Swan flying upriver and still c30 Redwing and c20 Fieldfare in the orchard. Plus the first Bumblebee of the year. AM also counted c80 Wigeon.
Saturday 28/2/09 – A Little Owl was sat in old Willows to SW of lagoon 3; a Ringed Plover and 13 Oystercatcher on the shore; 16 Shoveler on lagoon 1; 2 Mute Swan flying low downriver.
MW reported on Sunday 22/2/09: An extraordinary account of 6 Peregrine circling together over the estuary – 2 at first, then joined by 2 from upriver, and then joined by the pair coming off the towers at the power station! With lots of calling heard – a three-way boundary meeting I would guess.
Sunday 22/2/09 – A Tawny Owl was seen emerging from its hole in an old tree at dusk (same place as one seen last year). There were 2 Mediterranean Gull in the roost on lagoon 3, and c300 Common Gull and c500 Black-headed Gull roosting on the tidal reservoir. Also, c400 Dunlin at the yacht club.
Mediterranean Gull, Lagoon 3, 22/2/09.
Saturday 21/2/09 – The resident birds were singing in the sun this morning, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed. An unusual winter Bar-tailed Godwit was on the shore. At Shepperdine there was a Gadwall and a Pintail (both males) with 17 Shoveler. A Grey Wagtail flew over the estuary, heading North. The number of Shelduck has increased to 52. Also: 2 Stonechat, 1 Tufted Duck, 11 Canada Goose, c180 Wigeon and 10 Oystercatcher.
Bar-tailed Godwit, Shepperdine,21/2/09.
Tuesday 17/2/09 AM reported: 30 Greenfinch (any are unusual, so this is a very large count and there were 5 here on Sunday also – evidence of passage), c120 Wigeon, c25 Teal, c60 Linnet, c40 Goldfinch.
Sunday 15/2/09 – A good variety of species with 60 seen this morning. A Golden Plover was with the c700 Lapwing and c100 Dunlin. c15 Skylark went over in four flocks, to NE; displaced birds returning now the snow has melted ? 5 Tufted Duck have returned to the lake (4 yesterday). Also: 1 Mistle Thrush, 16 Shoveler, 1 Stonechat, 1 Water Rail, c50 Turnstone and 2+ Raven.
Saturday 14/2/09 – AM reported: 4 Tufted Duck, 33 Canada Goose, 134 Wigeon, 60 Mallard, 39 Teal, 750 Lapwing, 100 Dunlin, 22 Redshank.
Sunday 8/2/09 – A Rock Pipit, 3 Yellowhammer and a Stonechat on the shore.
Yellowhammer, 8/2/09.
Friday 6/2/09 – The snow had virtually melted here this afternoon, although still deep in nearby fields. 4 Goosander (redheads) flew upriver at 3.30pm. 10+ Golden Plover were with c200 Lapwing and c200 Dunlin in the fields towards the yacht club. Also a very well camouflaged Little Egret in the snow a mile inland !
Thursday 5/2/09 – A layer of 2 inches of snow today, made the mixed flock on Lagoon 2 stand-out: 18+ Skylark, 3+ Reed Bunting, c20 Chaffinch and c20 Linnet. A Treecreeper was along the bridleway to the shore. Also: 19 Oystercatcher, 52 Canada Goose, 1 Ringed Plover and 5 Buzzard.
Winter snow-scapes; Lagoon 1 & the shore by lagoon 3 (looking NE), 5/2/09.
Lagoon 3 & the
shore (looking SW)
Saturday 31/1/09 – A Coot has returned to the lake ! (Last seen here 23/7/08, before an algal bloom.) Flocks of c600 Lapwing and c300 Dunlin in the flooded stubble field towards the yacht club, also 3 Yellowhammer and 38 Canada Goose there. A large count of c25 Oystercatcher by the yacht club. Also, 2 Mute Swan there, a Stonechat on lagoon 2 and 12 Snipe flushed from lagoon 1.
Sunday 25/1/09 – Generally not a lot moving through at the moment. But 2 Rock Pipit on the shore, and the Mistle Thrush and Grey Plover again.
PD reported: A Shrew in the hide, 3 Water Rail, c200 Lapwing, c200 Dunlin, c80 Canada Goose and a Little Egret.
MB reported a few Ringed Plover and seeing a Water Rail in the small reedbed on Lagoon 2 in the week.
Saturday 24/1/09 – A Mistle Thrush eating Mistletoe berries towards the yacht club and 65 Canada Goose in a field there.
HL + Dursley Bird Group reported: Grey Wagtail and Stonechat.
Sunday 18/1/09 – The Grey Plover again with c400 Lapwing in the flooded maize field by the yacht club, before all being flushed by a Peregrine.
Saturday 17/1/09 – 2 Little Egret in-flight, 2 Mute Swan on the lake and a Grey Plover were the highlights. An increase in the duck at Shepperdine.
AM reported: A female Merlin flushed from roost in long grass on lagoon 2, and 10 Snipe there. Also: c500 Teal, c500 Wigeon and 28 Shoveler, 760 Lapwing, 85 Mallard, 17 Oystercatcher, 67 Canada Goose, 75 Curlew, 3 Yellowhammer and 2 Raven.
Sunday 11/1/09 – A pair of Gadwall were with the c160 Wigeon at Shepperdine (I didn’t see any here last year !). The male Peregrine was hanging high in the SW wind before stooping at full speed to Shepperdine, where it then aggressively attacked the c300 Dunlin – superb ! A huge flock of c1,000 Redwing and c500 Fieldfare in the thawing fields at Shepperdine, and another c300 Fieldfare in the orchard.
Also: 11 Oystercatcher and 2 Stonechat.
Pair of Gadwall, Shepperdine, 11/1/09.
Saturday 10/1/09 – 2 Yellowhammer by the metal gate again. The Peregrine pair flying together around the pylons and both calling loudly.
News from Friday 2/1/09 – An Avocet reported by a walker, with Curlew by yacht club.
AM’s Low Tide Count: 165 Wigeon, 210 Mallard, just 6 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 500 Dunlin, 46 Curlew, 13 Redshank, 50 Lapwing, 2 Raven, 200 Song Thrush and 200 Blackbird.
Sunday 4/1/09 – A nice find of a Corn Bunting on top of a bush at Lagoon 1, but it didn’t hang around long and flew off south. (And who can blame it ? On a very cold morning, with the temperature reaching -5 degrees C overnight.) A Little Egret on the main rhyne. There has been a movement of large Gulls upriver over the last week, and c100 did same today, with another c350 loafing around the tidal reservoir. Also there, 4 Tufted Duck and 14 Shoveler.
MP also saw a Water Rail cross the path by the reeds on lagoon 2.
AM reported: 31 Redshank, 138 Mallard, 3 Stonechat, 100 Song Thrush, 50 Redwing, 70 Fieldfare and 2 Mistle Thrush.
Saturday 3/1/09 – A Little Egret in flight past Lagoon 3; a Yellowhammer towards the yacht club; and the Mistle Thrush again. There were c200 Common Gull in the evening roost on the tidal reservoir, and c300 Rook and c200 Jackdaw roosting in the tall trees by Jobsgreen Farm.
Friday 2/1/09 – A Knot and 2 Ringed Plover were with the c800 Dunlin on the shore. A Mistle Thrush was at the back of Lagoon 1. The Peregrine pair were sat on the pylon to south of the entrance.
Reported by a walker: An Avocet by the yacht club.
Shoveler, 2/1/09.
Thursday 1/1/09 – Another cold day, and 23 Golden Plover were with Lapwing in a freshly muck-spread field off the main rhyne. (Thanks MB.)
AM also reported: 8 Shoveler, 500 Dunlin, 200 Wigeon, 20 Song Thrush, 50 Blackbird and 50 Fieldfare.
Golden Plover, 1/1/09.
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