THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
NEWS FOR 2007
THE BIRDS OF SOUTH
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
NEWS FOR 2007
As with all reports of
rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective
rarities committees
December:
The remains of a predated bird, giblets, feathers and part of a wing were found
at Severn Beach on December 31st. They were compared to specimens at Bristol
Museum and confirmed as a 1st winter Grey Phalarope.
A Goshawk was reported over Rocks East Woodland southeast of Marshfield on
December 30th.
On December 29th at Severn Beach a Leach's Petrel was lingering from 10:30
to 11:25 and a Storm Petrel was seen at 14:10.
Leach's Petrel -
Severn Beach, December 2007:
© Paul Bowerman.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen around 11:15 at New Passage on December
26th.
Two Jack Snipe were reported from Filton Pool and Airfield and a Snow Bunting
was seen near Riverside Park at Severn Beach on December 20th.
Snow Bunting at Severn Beach by Paul on December 20th:
© Paul Bowerman.
A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen near West Littleton Down and a Jack Snipe was seen at Aust Warth on December 16th.
Three Jack Snipe were seen at Lagoon II at OPS and a possible Hen Harrier was
noted again by dog walkers along the shore there on December 15th.
An Adult Caspian Gull was seen at Shortwood landfill Site on December 14th, the
fourth for S. Gloss.
A Red-throated Diver (the sixth for Severnside and twelfth for S. Gloss) flew
north past Severn Beach at 08:35 on December 14th and a Water Pipit was also at
Severn Beach.
This excellent 'action' & 'atmospheric' sequence of the Short-eared Owls at Aust
Warth were 'obtained' by Rob on December 12th: © Rob Laughton.
An impressive 45 Ravens were seen at Shirehill Farm (Broadmead Valley) near
Marshfield in the afternoon on December 9th.
At Severn Beach a Diver spp. was seen at 09:00 on December 9th. It flew along
the sea wall and over the Second Severn Crossing.
This stunning Short-eared Owl was captured by 'The Boiler' at Aust Warth on
December 7th: © Gary Thoburn.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen again at New Passage on December 1st.
November:
A possible ringtail Hen Harrier was reported from OPS on November 28th.
A
Two Water Pipits were seen on the salt marsh at Severn Beach this morning; November 24th with one still present on November 25th.
A ringtail Hen Harrier was reported behind the cemetery off the Tormarton Road at Marshfield at dusk on November 23rd.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage on November 22nd.
A Water Pipit was seen again at Severn Beach on November 18th.
On November 17th a Little Auk was reported off Severn Beach at 10:25 and was last seen at around 11:00.
A ringtail Hen Harrier was reported ranging between lagoon II and the orchard in the afternoon on November 16th.
On November 12th there was a Jack Snipe at Aust Warth and a male Black Redstart at Severn View Services on the 'Moto' building at 15:30.
A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was seen at Severn Beach on November 11th.
An adult Mediterranean Gull and Water Pipit were seen at Severn Beach on November 10th.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at Severn Beach on November 9th.
An adult light morph Pomarine Skua with full 'spoons' lingered off New Passage at 13:15 on November 8th.
A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen at Severn Beach on November 7th.
A Water Pipit and Jack Snipe were both seen at Severn Beach on November 4th.
A possible White Stork was in the Pucklechurch area on November 4th.
On November 4th a Jack Snipe was seen on the salt marsh at Severn Beach.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was roosting on the shingle island at Severn Beach on November 3rd.
Short-eared Owl - Aust Warth - November 2007:
© Paul Bowerman.
October:
Short-eared Owl - Aust Warth - October 2007: © Paul Bowerman.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage on October 27th.
A female/ 1st winter Black Redstart flew from the water works to the buildings by the jetty at Oldbury Power Station at around 11:00 on October 23rd.
A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen for around half an hour from 13:00 at Aust Warth on October 22nd.
A Water Pipit was seen at New Passage on October 20th.
Hobby - Northwick Warth, October 2007: © Paul Bowerman.
A Jack Snipe was seen at Northwick Warth on October 15th and 19th.
A Jack Snipe was seen at Northwick Warth on October 7th.
A Snow Bunting was noted in flight and calling over Northwick Warth on October 4th.
The regular adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage on the 3rd.
A moulting adult male Lapland Bunting was seen at Northwick Warth on the salt marsh in the evening on October 3rd.
Lapland Bunting - Northwick Warth, October 2007: © Paul Bowerman.
September:
A Jack Snipe was seen at Northwick Warth on September 29th.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was noted at Severn Beach on September 24th and 27th.
A Grasshopper Warbler was seen around Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on September 15th.
Two Tree Sparrows were seen at Northwick Warth on September 13th.
An adult Mediterranean Gull continued to show in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth areas on September 5th and 6th and was joined by a 1st winter on September 8th.
Mediterranean Gull - New Passage, September 2007: © Paul Bowerman.
August:
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage/ Northwick Warth from August 30th - 31st.
A Grasshopper Warbler was seen around 09:30 at Lark Lane near Marshfield and another was noted at Severn Beach on August 27th.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage/ Northwick Warth on August 24th.
A Red Kite was seen over the Hanham/ St. George boarder on August 23rd at around 17:15.
A Honey Buzzard was reported flying east over Aust Village on August 11th.
On August 9th an adult and moulting 2nd winter Mediterranean Gulls were noted on the shore at Oldbury Power Station in the evening.
On August 5th two Quail were reported to the east of Tormarton Lane, one just north of the farm opposite the east end of Rushmead Lane one just to the south.
A moulting adult Mediterranean Gull was present in the evening at Oldbury Power Station on the shore on August 2nd.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage/ Northwick Warth from August 2nd - 8th.
Adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gulls were present at New Passage on August 1st.
Mediterranean Gull - Left Northwick Warth and right New Passage, August 2007: © Paul Bowerman.
July:
A juvenile
Mediterranean Gull was noted at New Passage on July 29th.
A moulting adult
Mediterranean Gull was present in the evening on Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station on July 29th.
An adult
Mediterranean Gull was seen in flight heading down river off New Passage on July 28th.
A Quail was heard calling near Marshfield between 14:00 and 15:00 on July 19th in weedy fields on the east side of Tormarton Road at ST: 786 749.
A 1st summer
Mediterranean Gull was seen at Aust Warth on July 15th at 14:00.
A summer adult
Mediterranean Gull was seen at Oldbury Power Station on July 14th on Lagoon III.
On July 11th two Quail were heard calling near Marshfield off Downs Road at ST: 792 744 with at least one still present on July 12th.
An adult
Mediterranean Gull was noted at New Passage on July 11th.
A 1st summer
Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage on July 9th.
At least two Storm Petrels were lingering off Severn Beach in the morning on July 7th with one still present at 14:15.
Storm Petrel - Severn Beach, July 2007:
© Paul Bowerman.
Around six Storm Petrels were seen off Severn Beach by 10:20 on July 6th with five lingering until at least 18:00.
At least two Storm Petrels were seen off Severn Beach close inshore in the morning on July 5th.
A 1st summer Mediterranean Gull was seen at Severn Beach on July 5th.
Mediterranean Gull - Oldbury Power Station, July 2007: © Pete Hazelwood.
A Storm Petrel was seen off Severn Beach on the morning of July 4th with two there in the evening.
June:
A Red Kite was seen in flight over the M5 near Tytherington on June 16th.
A Red Kite was seen on June 15th on the south side of Marshfield at around 07:50, it was noted drifting low from the south-west being mobbed by hirundine before turning back south-west then south and was lost to view towards Ringswell.
A male Mandarin was seen on the main pond at Kingsgate Park (ST: 714 817) on June 8th between 08:00 and 08:10, it appeared very wary associating with the resident Mallards before flying.
A Mandarin was seen on the small pond on Westerleigh Common on or about June 8th.
On June 3rd a sub adult dark morph Pomarine Skua was seen off Severn Beach at 09:35 and it or another was noted later in the day flying north.
A Turtle Dove was seen in flight at ST: 773 738 near Marshfield on June 2nd.
On June 1st a Red Kite was circling above fields between M5 J14 and Leyhill Prison at 14:00.
May:
A 'reeling' male Grasshopper Warbler was present at Overscourt Wood, Siston Lane from May 30th until at least June 3rd.
Grasshopper Warbler - Overscourt Wood, Siston Common, June 3rd 2007: © Rob Laughton.
A Honey Buzzard was reported on May 24th at 15:20 flying low in a northerly direction near the Severn View Motorway Services and then out across the Severn Estuary towards the Forest of Dean.
A Red Kite was noted by security staff at Oldbury Power Station between May 21st and 25th.
On May 19th a pale morph Pomarine Skua was seen off Severn Beach in the morning.
Pomarine Skua - Severn Beach, May 2007: Left (2) © Paul Bowerman - Right (2) Gary Thoburn.
On May 13th a presumed adult European Bee-eater was reported at around 18:00 in flight at Severn Beach. It was heard calling several times moving along the sea wall heading north-east. This occurrence constitutes the first record of this species for S. Gloucestershire.
On May 10th a pale morph Pomarine Skua was seen from Severn Beach late morning and possibly the same bird flew north-east past Severn Beach at 09:20 on May 11th.
Nine Pomarine Skua's including one dark morph were seen for most of the day off Severn Beach on May 8th.
On May 6th a pale morph adult Pomarine Skua with full spoons was seen off Severn Beach mid morning before departing south-west.
A 1st summer Mediterranean Gull was seen at Severn Beach on May 6th.
A Harrier probably Montagu's was seen on May 1st from a moving car east of the A46 around 400 metres south of Dyrham Park at around 17:00 being mobbed by corvids.
'... I'm afraid it was one of those frustrating birding moments. I was driving on my own in rush hour traffic northwards along the A46. Something being mobbed by corvids caught my eye on the right hand side, so as much as I was able (the traffic was pretty constant and I had to make sure I didn't crash into the car in front) I glanced over several times. I was immediately aware that the bird was a Harrier spp. and not a Marsh Harrier. It seemed pretty slim and had that characteristic pose in flight with the wings upswept with head down. I tried to see if I could catch whether is was a male, but couldn't discern any contrast or grey/black colouration. I am assuming that it was therefore a female/immature, with the likelihood of it being a female...'
Jenny Vickers - May 2007.
April:
On April 28th a Red Kite was reported in the morning circling on the south side of the M4 a half a mile before junction 18.
On April 28th a Red Kite was seen at Oldbury Power Station at 15:00 drifting over Lagoon II heading upriver.
On April 28th at 08:30 a male Ring Ouzel was found at Oldbury Power Station on the flood bank of Lagoon II by the shore, it flew to the shore path by Lagoon I and then on towards Shepperdine where it was relocated in the hedge between Lagoons I & II - at 09:40 another male was flushed from the bank of Lagoon III, it was relocated on the lawn by the footpath from the entrance to the shore. A different bird than the one at 08:30 it was over half a mile away from first and appeared to have a ‘less adult’ plumage; The throat not as white and wings not as silvery, it was still present at 18:40.
Ring Ouzel - Oldbury Power Station, April 2007: © P. Hazelwood.
On April 27th a Red Kite was reported from New Passage.
Red Kite - Aust Warth, April 2007 © Richard Ford.
On April 26th an adult male Golden Oriole was heard calling from allotments and nearby gardens at Bellevue Road in Kingswood. It was heard calling ten to twelve times at around 16:30 (noted as a very loud 'bell-like' call) before heading off to the east.
On the 25th April a Wood Warbler was reported at Oldbury Power Station singing in trees in the north-east corner of Lagoon I (by ruins of old building) at 07:15.
A Grasshopper Warbler was noted at Severn Beach on April 21st - 22nd.
A 1st summer Mediterranean Gull was seen at Severn Beach on April 21st.
On the 21st April a Wood Warbler was seen well at Oldbury Power Station, it was singing for around 20 minutes until around 09:25 in the trees by the entrance, then along the bridleway towards the shore.
There were three Mediterranean Gulls; an adult, a 2nd summer and a 1st summer at Severn Beach on April 17th.
On April 16th a male Ring Ouzel was seen at Northwick Warth.
Ring Ouzel - Aust Warth, April 2007: Left and centre: © Paul Bowerman. Right: © Gary Thoburn.
A Grasshopper Warbler was reported 'reeling' on April 15th from Oldbury Power Station at Lagoon II.
On April 15th a male Ring Ouzel was found at Oldbury Power Station between Lagoons I and II and was present until at least 10:00.
On April 14th a female Ring Ouzel was found in 'sheep fields' at Aust Warth and was still present on April 18th.
On April 14th an adult Red Kite drifted over Aust Warth heading inland at around 10:30. Also on April 14th another Red Kite was reported at 10:30 over fields just inland of Oldbury Power Station car park, then drifted north. This report represents the first record at the site.
On April 14th a female Marsh Harrier was seen in the morning flying up river past New Passage and subsequently past Aust Warth heading north.
A Jack Snipe was seen at Northwick Warth on April 14th.
On April 13th an Osprey flew low over Northwick Wharf and was lost to view heading north towards the old Severn Bridge at around 17:00.
On April 13th there were two male Ring Ouzels at Aust Warth in 'sheep fields' early morning before flying north.
A Tree Sparrow was seen at New Passage near the Severn Way footpath entrance at around 10:30 on April 12th.
A male Ring Ouzel was seen at New Passage at 07:15 on April 12th, it then flew towards the disused rifle range at Northwick Warth.
A male Ring Ouzel was reported in the 'sheep fields' at Aust Warth around lunchtime on April 11th.
A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was reported in the trees by The Scop at Almondsbury on April 8th at around 09:40.
A Red Kite was seen on April 6th at Marshfield at ST: 782 741 over the Tormarton Road at 09:00 and the same or another was seen over Wick on the same day.
On April 6th a Tree Sparrow was seen at Northwick Warth. It was the first on Severnside for four years and the first in S. Gloucestershire since October 2005.
On April 5th a pair of Mandarin were reported from Tortworth Lake.
On April 1st an Osprey flew north over Wick Quarry at 15:05 viewable from Raven Rock at c.100 ft.
March:
A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was seen at Aust Warth on March 30th.
On March 28th an Osprey was seen in flight at Hambrook heading north over the A 4174 at 12:20.
On March 21st a Water Pipit was seen at Severn Beach.
A 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage on March 17th.
On March 16th a Firecrest was seen in a garden at Severn Beach at 07:05 and again in the hedgerow leading to the railway station at 07:10.
On March 11th a Siberian Chiffchaff was found with Common Chiffchaff in the hedgerow at Northwick Warth near the second sentry box. First noted at around 10:30 it was still present between 15:00 and 16:00 and may have been present until March 13th.
A probable Scandinavian Chiffchaff was observed and photographed in the hedgerow at Northwick Warth near the second sentry box on March 11th.
Probable Scandinavian Chiffchaff - Northwick Warth, March 2007: © Paul Bowerman.
On March 9th a Richard's Pipit was reported in the morning as 'showing well' for just three or four minutes between 08:45 and 08:48 with Skylarks near the flash at Northwick Warth. It was last seen and heard calling, flying north towards Aust Warth.
February:
There were two Jack Snipe around Grebe Pond at Northwick Warth on February 24th.
A female Red-breasted Merganser was seen in flight heading south off New Passage on February 15th.
Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were noted at Southworthy Farm behind New Passage on February 5th.
There was a Jack Snipe around Grebe Pond at Northwick Warth on February 4th - 5th.
On February 4th a 1st winter Yellow-browed Warbler was found along the cycle track one hundred and fifty metres north of Abbey Wood Station on the MOD site in Filton.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at New Passage on February 2nd.
January:
On January 25th a Jack Snipe was seen around Grebe Pond, Northwick Warth with two there on January 26th - 27th.
A Jack Snipe was seen on the salt marsh at Severn Beach on January 25th.
A Water Pipit was noted at Severn Beach on January 25th.
On January 25th the second record of Pale-bellied Brent Goose for S. Gloucestershire was found at New Passage and was still present on the 26th January.
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - New Passage, January 2007: © Paul Bowerman.
On January 24th an adult Red Kite was noted at 10:00 in flight north over Old Passage/ Aust Warth. Also there was a Jack Snipe.
An adult Red Kite was seen in flight at ST: 639 828 near the Grange Hotel at Winterbourne on January 23rd, it was last seen heading NNW towards Almondsbury at 14:25.
Nine, five drakes and four female Mandarin were reported from Falfield on January 21st.
A possibly Shag was noted at Oldbury Power Station on January 20th. It was seen fishing on Lagoon I (which, because of heavy rain was flooded). It then flew on to the estuary giving only rear views in flight but did show what appeared to be a thin bill. It was then seen to fly strongly upriver at about 10:00.
A Jack Snipe was seen at Aust Warth on January 19th.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at Severn Beach on January 5th.
A winter adult Red Kite was reported over fields opposite Tanner's Walk at Marshfield at 14:30 on January 4th.
A Jack Snipe was flushed from Aust Warth on January 4th.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was noted at New Passage on January 1st and 2nd.
On January 1st a Red Kite was reported in flight just north of Thornbury at midday.