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The Birds Of South Gloucestershire          Grasshopper Warbler - locustella naevia

 

Grasshopper Warbler is an Old World warbler of the grass warbler genus Locustella, it breeds across much of temperate Europe and Asia and is migratory, wintering from northwest Africa to India. It is a small passerine which is found in short dense vegetation often close to water. The sexes are identical and they are a skulking species and can be very difficult to see except perhaps when the male is in song. The song which gives this species its name is a monotonous mechanical insect-like reeling often given at dusk.

 

Grasshopper Warbler is far from common in S. Gloucestershire;

 

2012: (6)

One was heard early morning at New Passage on April 17th; One was heard from the railway platform at Severn Beach in the morning on April 18th; One was 'reeling' on Northwick Warth on April 27th; One was heard 'reeling' at Oldbury Power Station at the north end of Lagoon II on April 28th; One was heard calling from a ditch just north of Oldbury Power Station at ST: 618967; One was heard 'reeling' at Frampton Cotterell on May 2nd;

 

2011:

One was present on Lower Knole Farm at Almondsbury in the morning on April 9th with three present there on April 12th; Two were noted in the Oldbury Power Station area on April 14th one near the Yacht Club and one from Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station; At least three were heard on April 15th with birds noted at Severn Beach, Lower Knole Farm, Almondsbury and Chipping Sodbury; On April 16th three were reported from Oldbury Power Station with another from Northwick Warth; One at Severn Beach on April 17th; One at Oldbury Power Station on April 18th with two on April 19th; Three were present at Oldbury Power Station on April 21st with others reported from Northwick Warth (also April 22nd & 25th) and Northfield Lane at Marshfield; Two were heard 'reeling' on Northwick Warth with another from the Lake at Oldbury Power Station on April 23rd; Two were present at Oldbury Power Station, one on Lagoon II the second on the Lake and a further two were noted on Northwick Warth on April 24th; One was noted at Lower Knole Farm, Almondsbury on April 29th; One was present on Northwick Warth on May 1st; One was present in the Northwick Warth area on May 2nd, 4th & 7th; One was present at Oldbury Power Station on May 3rd & 4th; One was reeling from the lake at Oldbury Power Station on June 26th; One was seen south of Severn Beach on August 22nd; One was seen at Aust Warth in the afternoon on September 25th.

 

Grasshopper Warbler bird days in S. Glos 2011
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
-	-	-	32	6	1	-	1	1	-	-	-	41

 

 

Grasshopper Warbler on Northwick Warth and Oldbury Power Station. April 2011. Paul Bowerman and Pete Hazelwood.

 

2010:

One was seen at Severn Beach on April 2nd in the morning; One was heard reeling from the south-west corner of Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station early morning on April 17th; One was heard on Shirehill Lane at Marshfield on April 18th and another was present at Severn Beach; Two on April 21st, one at Cribbs Causeway, Filton and one on Northwick Warth; Ten were reported on April 23rd with two on Northwick Warth, one at Aztec West, five at Lower Knole Farm, Almondsbury and two at Oldbury Power Station; One was present at Severn Beach on April 24th; One was heard at Overscourt Plantation near Siston on April 25th; One was seen at Ingst on April 30th; Two were noted in the middle of Lagoon II and small reed bed towards yacht club at Oldbury Power Station on May 1st, 3rd & 4th; One was present at Three Brooks NR Bradley Stoke on May 8th; Two were seen on May 15th, one at Littleton Warth the second at Oldbury Power Station; One was heard singing from Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station on May 24th; One was heard  near Wickwar around Lower Woods on June 10th, 16th & 24th at ST: 732 822; Two seen at Lower Knole Farm near Almondsbury on August 8th were considered juveniles; One was trapped on Northwick Warth, New Passage on August 30th.

 

Grasshopper Warbler bird days in S. Glos 2010
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
-	-	-	31	11	3	-	3	-	-	-	-	48

 

 

Grasshopper Warbler at Severn Beach. April 2010. Paul Bowerman.

 

 

Grasshopper Warbler at Northwick Warth. August 2010. Paul Bowerman.

 

2009:

One was reported from Northwick Warth on April 13th; Two were heard at Severn Beach on April 16th with one present on April 23rd; Two were heard from Aust Warth on April 28th; One was present on Aust Warth and another was seen at Overscourt Plantation at Siston on May 2nd the latter was also noted on May 27th; One was noted in scrub at Severn Beach on May 7th; One was heard 'reeling' for around five minutes at 22:00 just south of Marshfield church in the Doncombe Valley on July 10th; Six including at least four juveniles were reported from Lower Knole Farm, Almondsbury on August 22nd; One was trapped, ringed and released on Northwick Warth on August 29th.

 

 

Grasshopper Warbler on Aust Warth. May 2009. Paul Bowerman.

 

2008:

One was heard singing early morning on April 11th at Northwick Warth; One, possibly two were heard 'reeling' at Sands Farm, Dyrham on April 13th; One was heard 'reeling' from Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station and another was noted at Northwick Warth on April 23rd; On April 25th, one was heard 'reeling' at New Passage; One was seen and heard at Severn Beach on April 27th, 28th & 29th; One was heard 'reeling' from Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station on May 30th and again on June 1st; One was heard at Severn Beach on June 16th; Two were noted on Severnside on September 2nd; One was seen at Severn Beach the other was flushed from Northwick Warth.

 

 

Grasshopper Warbler at Severn Beach. April 2008. Paul Bowerman.

 

2007: (6)

One was reported 'reeling' on April 15th from Oldbury Power Station at Lagoon II; One was noted at Severn Beach on April 21st - 22nd; A 'reeling' male was present at Overscourt Wood, Siston Lane from May 30th until at least June 3rd; One was seen around 09:30 at Northfield Lane near Marshfield and another was noted at Severn Beach on August 27th; One was seen around Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on September 15th.

 

 

Grasshopper Warbler at Overscourt Wood on Siston Common. June 3rd 2007. Rob Laughton.

 

2006: (5)

A silent individual was seen and photographed at Northwick Warth on April 17th; One was reported at Orchard Pools near Severn Beach on May 4th; A presumed male was heard singing at The Niatts in late May and June; One was noted on Severnside between July 19th - 22nd; One was noted on September 5th at Severn Beach.

 

 

Grasshopper Warbler on Severnside. Left April, right, July 2006. Paul Bowerman.

 

2005: (Unknown)

An exceptional spring passage with individuals reported from several different localities including Inglestone Common and Severn Beach.

 

2004: (c.15)

An exceptional spring passage with individuals reported from several different localities but no specific sites were mentioned.

 

2003: (3)

One was noted at Aust between June 22nd - 24th; One was reported from Oldbury Power Station on July 4th; One was seen at Severn Beach on August 12th.

 

2002: (c.4)

A pair were present throughout the breeding season and breeding was confirmed at Orchard Pools near Severn Beach.

 

2000: (3)

One was seen at Oldbury Power Station on April 22nd; One was seen at Severn Beach on April 22nd; A singing male was noted at Oldbury Power Station between May and June.

 

1999: (2)

One was reported from Aust on April 25th; One was seen in the Marshfield area on April 28th.

 

1998: (2)

One was noted at Northwick Warth on April 18th; One was seen sometime in April at New Passage.

 

1997: (1)

One was reported at New Passage from April 24th - 27th.

 

1995: (2)

One was seen at Northwick Warth on April 17th; One was reported at Thornbury on May 2nd.

 

1994: (c.3)

One was reported from Oldbury Power Station on June 15th and 27th, July 16th, 20th and 22nd and August 7th.

 

1993: (3)

One was reported from the Marshfield area on May 2nd; One was noted at West Littleton on May 7th; One was reported from Elberton from June until at least July 11th.

 

1991: (c.4)

A nest site was found with young at Little Sodbury on July 10th and breeding was confirmed.

 

1990: (1)

One was noted at Horton between April and July.

 

1988: (2)

One was reported at Dyrham sometime in May; One was noted at Shepperdine on July 17th.

 

1985: (1)

One was noted between April 24th - 26th April at Dyrham.

 

1983: (2)

Singing males were reported from Littleton Brick Pits and Aust between April 16th and June 28th.

 

1982: (2)

Singing males were reported from Inglestone Common and Severnside between April 20th and July 19th.

 

1980: (7)

Singing males were reported from Inglestone Common, Oldbury-on-Severn, Littleton Warth, Tockington, Hallen, Filton, Stoke Park and Pucklechurch.

 

1979 (c.46)

Up to forty-six singing males were reported from Hawkesbury, Inglestone Common, Tytherington, Thornbury, Tockington, Aust, Severn Beach and Filton.

 

1978: (4)

Singing males were reported from Tytherington, Alveston, Elberton and Filton between April 16th and July 14th.

 

1977: (4)

Singing males were reported from Shepperdine, Inglestone Common, Tockington and Filton from April 25th to July 25th.

 

1976: (c.4)

Singing males were reported from Littleton-on-Severn and Doynton and breeding was proven at Filton between April 24th and July 24th.

 

1975: (4)

Singing males were reported from Lower Morton, Aust, Hallen, Filton and Doynton between April 25th and August 7th.

 

1974: (3)

Singing males were reported from Inglestone Common, Aust Warth and Severn Beach between May 3rd and August 24th.

 

1972: (c.11)

Reports of up to eleven from various locations but no specific dates or sites are mentioned.

 

1971: (3)

Up to three singing males were reported from Cromhall, Severn Beach and Beach.

 

1970: (4)

Singing males were reported from Tortworth, Cromhall, New Passage and Filton.

 

1966: (11)

Eleven singing males were noted at Oakford south of Marshfield on April 26th.

 

1965: (9)

Nine were reported singing at Oakford south of Marshfield on May 17th.

 

1964: (12)

Up to four were singing at Oakford near Marshfield from mid April; Eight were singing at Inglestone Common on April 30th.

 

1961: (1)

One was reported from Stoke Gifford on April 25th.

 

1960: (2)

One was noted at Wick on April 26th; One heard 'reeling' at Hawkesbury Common on July 3rd.

 

1959: (Several)

Reported from late April to the end of May from many widely scattered localities including Inglestone Common and Filton.

 

1957: (Several)

Singing males were reported in hedgerows between Hambrook and Harry Stoke on April 23rd; Noted and heard singing at Codrington on June 11th.

 

1954:(Several)

Heard in breeding season at Inglestone Common, Wickwar, Mangotsfield and Wick.

 

1951: (1)

One was reported at Severn Beach on May 14th.

 

1949: (1)

One was reported from Hawkesbury Common on May 15th.

 

1947: (1)

One was heard at Wallshut Wood near Filton on April 17th.

 

1946: (1)

One was heard between Dyrham and Doynton on April 23rd.

 

1942: (1)

On May 1st one was frequenting a rough hedgerow adjoining the Court Farm Building Estate at Stoke Gifford. It was heard or seen in the same spot on various dates until May 19th.

 

1941: (2)

One was noted at Dyrham on April 22nd; One was seen at Dyrham on May 4th.

 

1935: (2)

A pair was found nesting at Over near Almondsbury sometime in May. This occurrence constitutes the first report of this species for S. Gloucestershire.

 

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