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The Birds Of South Gloucestershire          Black Redstart - pheonicurus ochruros

 

Black Redstart is a small passerine that was formerly classed as a member of the Thrush family (Turdidae) but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher Muscicapidae. Its a widespread breeder in south and central Europe but very localised in the UK. It is resident in the milder parts of its range but northern birds winter in southern Europe or north Africa. The species belongs to the Eurasian group which also includes Daurian, Hodgson's and White-winged Redstart. The present species' ancestors diverged about three million years ago onwards and spread throughout much of Eurasia. It is not closely related to Common Redstart. It is separated by different behavioural and ecological requirements and has not evolved fertilization barriers therefore the two European species can interbreed and produce apparently fertile, viable hybrids.

 

There have been around a hundred and twenty Black Redstarts reported from S. Gloucestershire;

 

2012: (c.3)

At Oldbury Power Station an immature/ female was reported at Worthy Farm, 400 metres east of Lagoon II on January 12th and the same or another was noted in flight heading towards Oldbury Power Station on January 16th; One, a female,  was seen in Reed Mace around Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on May 4th;

 

2011: (4)

One was seen on the sea wall opposite the shops at Severn Beach on January 6th and 11th and around Pipits Court Flats on January 8th - 31st. It was noted in February on the 7th; One was seen at New Passage on November 7th where it relocated to 'Burger Bar Bay' Severn Beach on November 8th - 9th; A female was found at lunch time on November 22nd on industrial buildings viewable from Yate Common; One was reported from Severn Beach on December 14th.

 

 

Black Redstart at Severn Beach. January 2011. Andy Jordan.

 

2010: (6)

One was seen around mid-day at Severn View Services on the M4 near Aust on March 23rd and was still present on March 24th; A female was noted at Oldbury Power Station near the Water Works on March 25th and 27th; A 1st summer male was present on April 21st at Oldbury Power Station and was heard singing on the south-west side of the main buildings. It was possibly seen and heard briefly again on May 2nd; A female/ immature was noted on the sea wall at New Passage on November 19th; One was seen on the Shepperdine side of Oldbury Power Station at 14:30 on November 27th and again on the cooling tower at Oldbury Power Station on December 10th - 12th; At Severn Beach a male was present on the steps opposite Downs Bakery on December 14th - 15th and again on December 27th - 29th.

 

 

Black Redstart at New Passage. November 2010. Steve Hale.

 

 

Fresh autumn male Black Redstart near Oldbury Power Station. November 2010. Wilf King.

 

2009: (9)

One was seen briefly at Severn Beach on Shaft Beach, 100 metres below the Second Severn Crossing on February 5th; A female/ 1st winter was seen well for 45 minutes at Culverslade Industrial Estate near Marshfield on February 15th - 16th; A female type was noted at Aust Warth at 14:00 on March 4th; One was noted in an Alveston garden on October 20th; A male was seen at Oldbury Power Station on October 26th between Lagoon II and the cooling towers and was still present on October 29th; A female/ 1st winter was noted in a Mangotsfield garden on November 15th; One was seen in gardens on Riverside Park, Severn Beach at 15:30 on November 20th; One was noted on a manure heap to the north-east of Shepperdine in sometime November; A female/ 1st winter was noted on the perimeter fence at Oldbury Power Station on December 27th.

 

 

Black Redstart at Marshfield. February 2009. Don Smith and Alveston October 2009. R Walker.

 

2008: (6)

A female was noted around the water works at Oldbury Power Station on April 11th; A male was present on farm buildings at Sands Farm, Dyrham on April 12th; A male was seen by the water works at Oldbury Power Station on April 17th; A summer male was heard singing from Culverslade Chicken Farm buildings in the evening at around 20:30 from the Tormarton Road at Marshfield on June 1st; An immature male was seen at Oldbury Power Station Water Works late afternoon on November 16th and was still present on November 21st - 22nd; A female was seen on the foreshore at Oldbury Power Station on November 29th; One was seen on the jetty at Oldbury Power Station on December 9th.

 

 

Female Black Redstart at Oldbury Power Station. April 2008. Matt Plenty and 1st winter male Black Redstart at Oldbury Power Station. November 2008. Pete Hazelwood.

 

2007: (2)

A female or 1st winter flew from the water works to the buildings by the jetty at Oldbury Power Station at around 11:00 on October 23rd; On November 12th a male was seen at Severn View Services on the 'Moto' building at 15:30.

 

2006: (2)

A female/ immature was seen at Oldbury Power Station on July 17th & 20th; A male was seen at Oldbury Power Station on December 10th.

 

2004: (2)

A 1st winter male was reported at Severn Beach throughout January and February; A male was present at Severn Beach in March and song was heard until April 4th.

 

 

Black Redstart - 1st winter male at Severn Beach. January and February 2004. Paul Bowerman and Gary Thoburn.

 

2003: (7)

A female/ immature was noted at Severn Beach on March 25th; A 1st winter male was seen at Aust on November 6th; A 1st winter male and a female were present at New Passage on November 16th and 20th; A female/ immature was at Severn Beach on November 23rd, 26th and 27th; A female/ immature was seen at New Passage from December 11th - 30th; A female/immature was seen at Severn Beach on December from 4th - 31st.

 

 

Black Redstart at Severn Beach. December 2003. Paul Bowerman.

 

2002: (5)

A female was seen at Little Stoke on January 2nd; A immature male was seen at New Passage from October 19th - 22nd; A female/ 1st winter was seen at New Passage on October 21st and 22nd; A female/ 1st winter was seen at Severn Beach on November 4th; A female/ 1st winter was seen at the ICI Chemical Works Severnside on December 3rd.

 

2001: (10)

A male and female were seen regularly at Oldbury Power Station and a second female was present on January 2nd; A 1st winter male and a female were present at Severn Beach throughout January; A 1st winter male was present at Severn Beach throughout February; A male was heard in song at Severn Beach on March 1st, 2nd, 14th and 26th; A female was at Severn Beach on March 26th - 28th; Two females were seen at Severn Beach on April 3rd.

 

2000: (4)

A female was seen at New Passage on February 26th; A male was seen at Severn Beach on November 30th and December 1st; Two females were seen at Oldbury Power Station on December 14th with one present until December 29th.

 

1999: (1)

A 1st summer male was heard in song at Oldbury Power Station on May 7th.

 

1998: (4)

One was reported at Aust in November; One was noted at Tytherington in November; One was seen at Abbywood, Filton in November; One was reported from Severn Beach on December 6th - 7th.

 

1997: (6)

A male was present at Seven Beach throughout January and February; A male was seen at Oldbury Power Station on January 1st; A male was seen at Severn Beach on January14th; Two were noted at New Passage on October 25th; A male was reported near Oldbury on November 30th.

 

1996: (6)

One was reported throughout January and February at Oldbury Power Station; One was seen at Aust on March 24th; One was seen at Littleton Warth on March 24th; One was seen at Marshfield on April 5th; A female was noted at Latteridge on November 8th; One was reported from Frenchay on December 27th.

 

1995: (2)

One was reported from Hallen throughout January; One was seen at Oldbury Power Station on November 14th.

 

1994: (3)

A female seen carrying food was reported from Oldbury Power Station on May 22nd but was not seen subsequently; One was seen at New Passage on November 6th; One was noted at Oldbury Power Station on December 16th.

 

1993: (c.7)

One or two were noted at Littleton and Aust sometime in March; Two were seen at New Passage on October 19th; One was seen in a garden at Bradley Stoke on October 30th; One was reported from Alveston from December 11th - 25th; One was present at Filton on December 16th.

 

1992: (4)

One was reported from Aust on November 18th; Individuals were also noted at Oldbury Power Station, Littleton and Hallen but no dates are available.

 

1991: (1)

A female was seen at Severn Beach on December 13th and 15th.

 

1990: (1)

One was seen at Dyrham Park on October 18th.

 

1989: (3)

A male was seen at Hallen from January 18th to February 3rd and was joined by a female on January 23rd; A female was at New Passage on November 18th.

 

1988: (3)

A female was seen at Severn Beach on October 22nd - 23rd; A female was seen at New Passage on November 5th - 6th; A female was seen at Winterbourne Down on December 14th.

 

1984: (1)

One was noted at Frenchay sometime up to either April 10th or from October 26th onwards.

 

1983: (c.2)

One or two noted up to April 2nd and from October 25th at Oldbury Power Station and Hallen.

 

1982: (c.2)

One or two were seen on Severnside from October 31st to December 31st.

 

1980: (1)

One was seen at Northwick Warth sometime up to February 24th and from October 13th.

 

1979: (1)

One was seen at Northwick Warth sometime between January 3rd and March 31st.

 

1978: (1)

One reported from Severnside sometime between January 2nd and February 18th and again from October 23rd to December 15th.

 

1977: (1)

One was seen at Severn Beach from December 5th - 26th.

 

1975: (1)

Reported from Hallen sometime between January and August 12th and from October 21st to December 9th.

 

1974: (c.4)

Reported from New Passage, Severn Beach, Hallen and Filton from March 8th to April 17th and again from August 8th through December.

 

1972: (1)

One was seen at Almondsbury on March 18th.

 

1966: (1)

One was noted at New Passage on April 29th.

 

1962: (1)

A female/ immature was seen on the bypass between Filton and Patchway on January 10th.

 

1958: (1)

A male was seen at Severn Beach on May 4th.

 

1952: (1)

An adult male was noted at Aust Cliffs on February 2nd.

 

1948: (1)

An adult male reported from Warmley on March 14th.

 

1941: (1)

A female/ immature was seen in the pleasure grounds at Severn Beach on November 9th.

 

1938: (1)

One was seen at Sea Wall Farm, Severn Beach on December 9th.

 

1937: (1)

A Redstart observed at close quarters along the Severn Beach railway embankment on March 28th was undoubtedly this species. This occurrence constitutes the first report of this species for S. Gloucestershire.

 

©TBOSG November 2005 - All rights reserved