Records

S. Gloucestershire from Tog Hill - November 2005

THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

LEACH’S PETREL – Oceanodroma leucorhoa

As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees

Leach's Petrel is strictly pelagic outside the breeding season and this together with its remote breeding sites makes it a difficult bird to see from land. Only in storms might this species be pushed into headlands. Unlike Storm Petrel it does not follow ships. In S. Gloucestershire the best chance of seeing this species is generally from September onwards on Severnside. It was named after the British zoologist William Elford Leach. The lifespan for this Leach's Petrel is unusually long averaging around 20 years with the longest lived to date around 36 years.

There have been over five hundred Leach's Petrel reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;

1938: (1)

One was observed on October 7th off Aust Warth Pier, seen over the Severn it was confidently identified as this species. It was watched at close quarters and was certainly too large for Storm Petrel. There had been violent westerly gales a few days previously.

1952: (c. 250)

An amazing c.250 were seen on October 26th off Aust Warth remains the regions highest count. There were small numbers noted on subsequent days at Severn Beach and Oldbury-on-Severn. Several were noted at inland locations including: Alveston, Doynton and Stoke Gifford.

1957: (1)

On September 15th off Severn Beach a single bird was seen in flight along the tide line.

1977: (2)

On November 13th one was watched off New Passage and one was found dead on the same day at Severn Beach.

1980: (1)

One was reported off Severn Beach on October 9th.

1983: (51)

All reports come from New Passage: Forty were seen on September 3rd, on September 4th ten were still present and on September 5th, three; On September 19th two were seen; One was noted on October 8th; Eight were seen on October 16th with single birds lingering on October 17th and 18th.

1985: (1)

One was seen on September 1st off New Passage.

1988: (5)

One on January 3rd off Severn Beach; Two were seen on September 2nd off Severn Beach; One on September 28th off Severn Beach; One on October 8th off Severn Beach.

1989: (36)

One on October 21st off New Passage; Eight on October 29th off New Passage; Two on November 4th off New Passage with another two off Severn Beach on the same day; Six on December 17th off New Passage; Four on December 21st off New Passage with another one off Severn Beach on the same day; Two on December 22nd off New Passage increasing to twelve on December 23rd with six lingering into December 24th dropping to one on December 25th.

1990: (1)

One on September 23rd off New Passage.

1991: (3)

Individuals were recorded on January 10th off New Passage; On November 3rd off New Passage; On November 13th off New Passage.

1995: (1)

One was watched on September 27th off Severn Beach.

1996: (4)

Four on November 6th off Severn Beach.

1997: (2)

One on February 26th off Severn Beach, flew south-west; One on October 7th off Severn Beach, flew south-west.

1998: (5)

One was seen on January 5th off Severn Beach in flight heading south-west; One was seen on September 10th off Severn Beach; Three on October 27th off Severn Beach lingered into October 28th.

1999: (1)

One this year on April 22nd off Severn Beach.

2000: (3)

One was seen on November 1st off Severn Beach; Two were seen on December 13th off Severn Beach.

2001: (1)

One on October 1st off Severn Beach.

2002: (9)

All off Severn Beach; One on January 28th; Four on February 5th; Three on February 9th all lingered into February 10th ; One on February 12th.

2004: (2)

One was seen off Severn Beach on September 13th - 14th; One was watched off Severn Beach on October 22nd during gusty south-westerly winds.

2005: (3)

Two on November 4th off Severn Beach, one at 09:18 but both in the morning; One on November 11th off Severn Beach was seen around 14:15 and lingered for a while.

2006: (c. 50)

Two were seen off Severn Beach at 14:40 on December 3rd with up to seven 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; On December 5th off Severn Beach there were at least five at 09:45, four at 11:15 and three at 12:50, 13:45 and 15:00; On December 6th there were five seen off New Passage, eight off Severn Beach at 09:15 with at least fourteen there at 10:40. On December 7th at least twenty were reported off Severn Beach; On December 8th two were noted off New Passage and one was seen off Severn Beach but was subsequently killed by a Great Black-backed Gull.

2007: (1)

On December 29th one was seen lingering off Severn Beach between 10:30 and 11:25.