THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
NEWS FOR 2006
THE BIRDS OF SOUTH
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
NEWS FOR 2006
As with all reports of
rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective
rarities committees
December:
A splendid Christmas present for Paul when he saw and photographed this
Great Northern Diver at mid-day on December 25th at New Passage.
Great Northern Diver -
New Passage, December 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
A 1st winter/ female Firecrest was found on the target mound at Northwick Warth on
December 18th.
Firecrest - Northwick Warth, December 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
A Black Redstart was seen at Oldbury Power Station on December 10th.
A Jack Snipe was seen along the shore at
Oldbury Power Station on December 9th.
On December 8th two Leach's Petrel were noted off New Passage with one off
Severn Beach; subsequently killed by a Great Black-backed Gull.
The same or another Purple Sandpiper was seen on December
8th at New Passage.
On December 7th a pale
morph Pomarine Skua was lingering off Severn Beach between 08:00 and 10:10.
On December 7th a Purple Sandpiper was noted at
Severn Beach.
Purple Sandpiper - New Passage, December 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
Two Storm Petrels were reported off
Severn Beach on December 7th at around 14:00.
On December 7th at least twenty Leach's Petrel were reported off Severn
Beach.
On December 6th five Leach's Petrel were seen off New Passage, eight off
Severn Beach at 09:15 with at least fourteen off Severn Beach at 10:40.
Leach's Petrel -
Severn Beach, December 2006:
© Left to right, Paul Bowerman, Gary Thoburn,
Rob Laughton, Oliver Smart and James Packer.
A Great Northern Diver was reported on December 6th off Severn Beach at around 10:00.
On the 5th December at Severn Beach there were at least five Leach's Petrel at 09:45, four at 11:15 and three at 12:50, 13:45 and 15:00.
Up to seven Leach's Petrel were lingering near the second Severn Crossing on December 4th. The total peaked at twenty-one with at least ten at 09:05 off Severn Beach, two off New Passage at 10:40, at least twenty-one off Severn Beach at 11:43, at least ten off New Passage at 11:45 and one lingering off Severn Beach from 15:00 until 15:40.
A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage on December 4th.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at Severn Beach on December 3rd.
Two Leach's Petrel were seen off Severn Beach at 14:40 on December 3rd.
A colour ringed Avocet was noted at Northwick Warth on December 2nd at around 11:00. It was ringed in France with a large Yellow ring with 2 black stripes on the left tibia, 3 colour rings on right tibia, Green over Red over White.
Avocet - Northwick Warth, December 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
November:
Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were noted at New Passage on November 29th.
There were two, an adult and 1st winter Mediterranean Gulls at New Passage on November 28th.
A Jack Snipe was reported from Northwick Warth on November 24th.
Twelve (seven males and five females) Mandarin were present at Heneage Court Pools on November 18th.
A winter adult Mediterranean Gull was on Lagoon III on November 11th.
On November 10th a female Goosander was found amongst Wigeon and Teal at New Passage before it flew off down the estuary.
Goosander - New Passage, November 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
On November 5th a probable Richard's Pipit was heard calling three times flying south over Northwick Warth at around 09:25.
A Jack Snipe was present at Northwick Warth on November 5th.
A Water Pipit was seen at Severn Beach on November 4th.
On November 4th a Jack Snipe was seen at Severn Beach.
October:
A Mandarin was reported on Lagoon I at Oldbury Power Station on October 31st.
A female Red-breasted Merganser was seen off Severn Beach on October 30th.
A Little Auk seen briefly off Severn Beach at 07:45 on October 22nd.
A Jack Snipe was seen at Severn Beach on October 21st.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was present at New Passage on October 12th, 15th, 30th and 31st.
On October 12th an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at Severn Beach.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at Northwick Warth on October 8th and 14th.
On October 7th a Greenland Wheatear was noted along the shore near Lagoon I at Oldbury Power Station.
On October 7th a Grey Phalarope was reported at Severn Beach three hundred metres south of the second Severn Crossing off the seawall at 18:30.
September:
Four 1st winter Scaup were seen at Severn Beach on September 23rd.
A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was reported at Northwick Warth in the morning on September 23rd favouring the grazed salt marsh. It was still present on the 24th and again in the same area at around 10:00 on the 25th where it was, remarkably, joined by a second bird at around 18:25. A single bird was still present on the 26th.
Pectoral Sandpiper - Northwick Warth, September 2006: © Left Paul Bowerman, right Gary Thoburn.
A juvenile Kentish Plover was found at Severn Beach at 19:10 on September 22nd.
Kentish Plover - Severn Beach, September 2006: © John Martin.
A 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull was seen at Severn Beach on September 16th.
A Red Kite
was reported over the Boyd Balley at Wick on September 10th.
A female Nightjar was found at Northwick Warth refuse site on September 9th.
A Grasshopper Warbler was noted on September 5th at Severn Beach.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage on September 4th, 6th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 16th, 21st and 30th.
A 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull was seen at Severn Beach on September 1st and 22nd.
August:
A second calendar year male Hen Harrier was reported briefly in the morning on August 26th near the picnic area at the top of Tog Hill but could not be relocated.
Two eclipse drake Garganey were seen at New Passage on August 23rd amongst Common Teal.
Three, one male and two females were seen at Heneage Court Pool on August 22nd.
Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were noted at Northwick Warth on August 17th.
On August 13th an adult and 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls were present at Northwick Warth.
Mediterranean Gull - Northwick Warth, August 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
On August 9th a Garganey was reported from Oldbury Power Station.
A Quail was hear calling in the Marshfield area on August 7th.
A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was present at New Passage on August 4th, 10th 20th and 21st.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was noted at New Passage on August 2nd, 16th & 24th.
On August 1st a probable Alpine Swift was reported over Mangotsfield and heading south with a group of around twenty Common Swift at 10:45.
An adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gull were seen at New Passage on August the 1st, 3rd, 14th & 15th.
July:
A juvenile and an adult Mediterranean Gull were present at New Passage on July 31st.
A moulting adult Mediterranean Gull was seen on Lagoon III at OPS on July 28th.
Mediterranean Gull - New Passage, July 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
Two moulting adult Mediterranean Gulls were at New Passage on July 26th and 27th with one present on July 28th.
A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage on July 21st and 29th.
A Grasshopper Warbler was noted on Severnside between July 19th - 22nd.
Grasshopper Warbler - Severnside, July 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was at New Passage on July 18th and 19th.
Two adult Mediterranean Gulls (one full summer, one moulting) were on Lagoon III at OPS and a female/ immature Black Redstart was also present at Oldbury Power Station on July 17th. (And again on July 20th).
An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Northwick Warth on July 17th.
A summer adult Mediterranean Gull was present over Frampton Cotterell July 16th.
A Quail was flushed at Orchard Pools near Severn Beach in the morning on July 16th.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was at New Passage and a juvenile was at Severn Beach on July 15th.
Mediterranean Gull - Severn Beach, July 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
A summer adult Mediterranean Gull was seen on Lagoon III at OPS on July 14th.
On July 9th two Storm Petrels were watched off Severn Beach. And a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull was also at Severn Beach on July 9th.
Storm Petrel -
Severn Beach, July 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was at New Passage on July 8th.
A summer adult Mediterranean Gull was on Lagoon III at OPS on July 1st and again one July 8th.
June:
Up to six calling male Quail were heard near Marshfield on the evening of the 30th June at ST: 781 749.
A Cetti's Warbler was reported on June 25th at Severn Beach.
On June 22nd a Storm Petrel was seen flying around the sea defences at Severn Beach at 19:55.
A Red Kite was seen on June 14th near Marshfield in the early afternoon right on the S. Gloucestershire/ Wiltshire boarder and again near Tormarton on June 15th.
On June 13th a Red Kite one was noted over the A38 near Thornbury.
A Barnacle Goose was still present around Severn Beach June 9th.
A Barnacle Goose was reported from the Severn Beach area on June 8th.
A Red Kite flew over Northwick Warth at 10:45 on June 5th and was watched slowly drifting east over the rifle range.
Red Kite - Northwick Warth, June 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
May:
A Storm Petrel was seen on the evening tide off Severn Beach on May 26th.
On May 24th three Storm Petrels were seen off Severn Beach at around 07:00 with a further three on the evening tide.
A Turtle Dove was in a garden at Rangeworthy on May 22nd. (Present until May 26th).
At least one Storm Petrel was seen in flight past Severn Beach on May 20th.
Storm Petrel -
Severn Beach, May 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
At least two possibly three Storm Petrels were seen after strong overnight winds off Severn Beach on May 19th.
Possibly two Cetti's Warblers were heard singing on May 14th at Oldbury Power Station.
A Diver, probably Red-throated flew south-west past Severn Beach on May 11th.
A female Red-breasted Merganser was seen off Severn Beach on May 10th.
A male Garganey was found on Grebe Pond, Northwick Warth on May 8th.
Garganey - Grebe Pond, Northwick Warth, May 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
A Grasshopper Warbler was reported at Orchard Pools near Severn Beach on May 4th.
An adult Wood Warbler was noted at Severn Beach on May 3rd.
Two adult Pomarine Skua's flew north-east past Severn Beach at 10:05 on May 1st.
Pomarine Skua - Severn Beach, May 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
April:
A Red Kite was seen on April 25th near Cold Ashton at the junction of the A46/A420 at around 14:00.
A male Ring Ouzel was present at Severn Beach on April 23rd.
An adult Spoonbill, was tracked down the River Severn on April 23rd. It was seen briefly at Oldbury Power Station then flew down river at 16:25. It was subsequently seen at Littleton Warth, Northwick Warth and finally over Severn Beach late in the afternoon.
An adult Wryneck was reported on April 23rd in gardens at Valley Road on North Common in Warmley. It was present until at least 13:00 on April 25th in and around Valley Road and Samuel Wright Close.
Wryneck - Warmley, April 2006: © Left, Paul Bowerman, right, Rob Laughton.
A male Garganey was found on Lagoon I on April 23rd at Oldbury Power Station.
Garganey - Oldbury Power Station, Lagoon I, April 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
An adult Egyptian Goose was photographed at Heneage Court Pools near Falfield on April 23rd.
Egyptian Goose - Heneage Court Pools, Falfield, April 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
A presumed male Wood Warbler was seen and heard in song near Iron Acton on April 22nd.
A Turtle Dove was noted at Oldbury Power Station on April 22nd.
Two Goosander flew down river past New Passage on April 22nd.
An adult Red Kite was reported from the Marshfield area at about 15:10 on April 22nd.
On April 22nd a Marsh Harrier, an adult female was lingering at Oldbury Power Station around mid-day.
Marsh Harrier - Oldbury Power Station, April 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
A Long-eared Owl was found roosting in a hedge at Northwick Warth on April 21st.
A female Ring Ouzel was seen at Severn Beach at around 12:15 on April 21st.
An adult Stone Curlew was found at Northwick Warth and seen from the Severn Way footpath on April 20th. It was present from around 19:30 until dusk.
Stone Curlew - Northwick Warth, April 2006: © Gary Thoburn.
An Osprey was seen briefly in flight on April 18th at Bradley Stoke over the Hilton Hotel at Aztec West.
On the 17th April a Cetti's Warbler was heard at Oldbury Power Station and was subsequently noted on April 22nd and 29th.
A 'silent' Grasshopper Warbler was seen and photographed at Northwick Warth on April 17th.
G
rasshopper Warbler - Northwick Warth, April 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
A male Mandarin was seen at Heneage Court Pools near Falfield on April 5th.
A Cetti's Warbler was noted at Oldbury Power Station April 5th.
A female Ring Ouzel was noted on the hill behind Severn View Services on the M5 at 13:30 on April 3rd.
A Cetti's Warbler was seen in the Severn Beach/ New Passage/ Northwick Warth areas on April 1st, 2nd & 3rd.
An adult Dartford Warbler was reported in the afternoon on April 1st in brambles from the Severn Way Footpath south of Severn Beach.
March:
A Cetti's Warbler noted on March 31st at Severn Beach.
On March 30th a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull was noted at Severn Beach.
A Jack Snipe was noted at Shepperdine on March 26th.
An adult male (possibly two) Hawfinch was present at Willsbridge Mill on at least the 26th March.
Hawfinch - Willsbridge Mill, March 2006: © Mark Trott.
A male Ring Ouzel was found at Aust Warth on March 25th in sheep fields with around ten Fieldfare.
Ring Ouzel - Aust Warth, March 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
On March 21st a Jack Snipe was seen at Aust Warth.
A Cetti's Warbler noted on March 19th, 20th and 22nd at Severn Beach.
A summer adult Mediterranean Gull was seen in the evening roost on the Tidal Reservoir at Oldbury Power Station on March 17th.
An Avocet was seen around 11:00 approximately 400 metres north of Oldbury Power Station on March 13th.
Avocet - Oldbury Power Station, March 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
Two, a male and female were seen at Orchard Pools near Severn Beach in the morning on March 12th.
Mandarin - Orchard Pools, Severn Beach March 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
Five Hawfinch were present at Brimsham Park on March 11th.
Four Mandain were present at Heneage Court Pools on March 5th.
An Egyptian Goose was seen at Oldbury Power Station on March 4th. It was seen in flight upstream landing on the north shore at 13:00 having been on the south shore near Oldbury Yacht Club earlier in the day.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was noted in the
Northwick Warth area on March 3rd.
Mediterranean Gull - New Passage, March 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
Several pairs of Mandarin were present on Heneage Court Pools near Falfield on at least March 3rd.
A Water Pipit and a Scandinavian Rock Pipit were present at Severn Beach on March 3rd.
Two Jack Snipe were seen at Aust Warth on March 1st and 3rd.
February:
Eleven Mandarin were seen at Heneage Court Pools on February 20th.
A juvenile/ immature Red Kite was noted flying north over Frampton Cotterell in the afternoon on February 19th.
Nine Mandarin (six males and three females) were present on Heneage Court Pools near Falfield on February 18th and a drake Goosander flew past Severn Beach also on February 18th.
On the 12th February fifteen Mandarin (nine males and six females) were seen on Heneage Court Pools near Falfield.
Mandarin - Left, Heneage Court Pools, Falfield, February 2006: © Paul Bowerman.
Two Jack Snipe were seen at Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on February 11th.
There were twelve Hawfinch seen at Brimsham Park in Yate on February 7th.
Hawfinch - Brimsham Park, Yate, February 2006: From left to right: © Paul Bowerman, John Martin, Rob Laughton and Paul Bowyer.
On February 4th an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at Severn Beach.
January:
On January 31st three Hawfinch were reported from Brimsham Park in Yate at 13:15. Present from January 31st until at least March 11th.
On January 29th a female Smew was seen off Aust Warth late morning and quickly floated down river and was seen later off New Passage.
A Jack Snipe was flushed at Orchard Pools near Severn Beach on January 15th.
A Cetti's Warbler was located on January 11th at Severn Beach.
A female Goosander was seen off New Passage on January 6th.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at Severn Beach on January 5th.
A Water Pipit was seen at Severn Beach on January 2nd.