TBOSG     Storm Petrel - Hydrobates pelagicus

Storm Petrels have a cosmopolitan distribution and are found in all oceans. They are strictly pelagic coming to land only when breeding. In the case of most species little is known of their behaviour and distribution at sea where they can be hard to find and harder to identify. The name Petrel is a corruption of the word 'pitterel' and alludes to the habit of tapping the water whilst in flight i.e. 'pitter-patter'. It is also associated with bad weather hence the prefix 'stormy'. 'Petrel' is also a diminutive form of Peter and a reference to Saint Peter; it was given to these birds because they sometimes appear to walk across the water's surface. Early sailors named these birds 'Mother Carey's Chickens' because they were thought to warn of oncoming storms; this name is based on a corrupted form of Mater Cara, a name for the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Earliest: January 28th 2002 off Severn Beach.

Latest: December 29th 2007 off Severn Beach.

Highest Count: Twelve on September 4th 1983 off New Passage.

There have been around a hundred and twenty-five Storm Petrels reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;

2009: (1)

One was seen off Severn Beach on November 18th at around 10:00;

2008: (14)

One was seen off Severn Beach on June 22nd at 19:00; At least two were seen off Severn Beach at 13:00 on June 28th; At least three birds were lingering off Severn Beach on August 10th; One was seen off Severn Beach on August 12th; At least four were present late afternoon off Severn Beach on August 13th where one was picked up moribund & taken into care, another was picked up dead at Awkley Flood Pools beside the M4/ M48 junction; Up to four were seen off Severn Beach on August 19th, three in the morning, one in the evening; One was seen off Severn Beach at 10:35 on August 20th.

Storm Petrel at Severn Beach. Left June 22nd, right June 28th 2008.  © Paul Bowerman.

Storm Petrels off Severn Beach. 13th August 2008. © Paul Bowerman.

Storm Petrel off Severn Beach. 19th August 2008. © Paul Bowerman.

2007: (14)

One was seen off Severn Beach in the morning of July 4th with two there in the evening; At least two were seen off Severn Beach close inshore in the morning on July 5th; Around six were seen off Severn Beach by 10:20 on July 6th with five lingering until at least 18:00; At least two were lingering off Severn Beach in the morning on July 7th with one still present at 14:15; One was seen off Severn Beach at 14:10 on December 29th.

Storm Petrels off Severn Beach. July 2007. © Paul Bowerman.

2006: (16)

At least two possibly three were seen after strong overnight winds off Severn Beach on May 19th; At least one flew past Severn Beach on May 20th; On May 24th three were seen off Severn Beach at around 07:00 with three more on the evening tide; One was seen on the evening tide off Severn Beach on May 26th; On June 22nd one was seen flying around the sea defences at Severn Beach at 19:55; On July 9th two were watched off Severn Beach; Two were reported off Severn Beach on December 7th at around 14:00.

Storm Petrels off Severn Beach. May 2006. © Paul Bowerman.

Storm Petrels off Severn Beach. July 2006. © Paul Bowerman.

2004: (6)

Off Severn Beach, one was seen on September 13th; Five were present on September 14th off Severn Beach.

2003: (2)

One was showing well on May 20th off Severn Beach; One was reported on July 17th off Severn Beach.

2002: (12)

One was seen on January 28th off Severn Beach; A corpse was found at Oldbury Power Station on February 17th; Up to six were seen on May 25th off Severn Beach; One was noted on May 29th off Severn Beach; Two were seen on June 10th off Severn Beach; One was seen on October 27th off Severn Beach.

2001: (2)

Two were seen off Severn Beach on July 11th.

2000: (3)

One was found on May 17th off Severn Beach; Two were seen on October 30th off Severn Beach, one of which lingered into October 31st.

1999: (1)

One was seen off Severn Beach on April 22nd.

1998: (8)

One was seen on June 9th off Severn Beach; One on June 28th off Severn Beach; Two on July 12th off Severn Beach; Two on July 18th off Severn Beach; Two on October 27th off Severn Beach.

1997: (2)

Two were seen on June 21st off Severn Beach, one at 08:40 and one at 09:10.

1996: (5)

Two on August 25th off Severn Beach, dropped to one lingering into August 26th; One was watched on November 3rd off Severn Beach; Two were seen on November 6th off Severn Beach.

1994: (2)

One on June 18th was seen off Severn Beach; One on June 21st was watched off Severn Beach.

1990: (4)

One was seen on July 1st off New Passage; One was seen on July 8th off New Passage; One was seen on August 16th off New Passage; One was seen on September 9th at Oldbury Power Station over Lagoon II.

1989: (5)

A count of four were noted on October 29th off New Passage; One was seen on December 17th off Severn Beach.

1988: (3)

One was noted on February 2nd at Severn Beach; One was seen on July 30th off Severn Beach; One was seen on September 24th off Severn Beach.

1985: (3)

One was seen on June 23rd off New Passage; One on August 3rd off New Passage; One on September 16th off New Passage.

1983: (15)

On September 3rd seven were noted off New Passage; Twelve, the regions highest count to date were off New Passage September 4th and on September 5th five were still available; On October 16th there were three, four on the 17th, one on the 18th and one on the 19th off New Passage.

1982: (1)

One flew up stream off Severn Beach in a south-westerly gale on November 19th.

1978: (3)

One probably this species was reported off New Passage on September 10th; One was found close inshore on September 16th off Severn Beach; One was seen on September 30th off New Passage.

1938: (1)

The partial remains of one were found near Severn Beach on October 16th.

1903: (1)

A single bird was found on November 15th near Alveston.

1824: (1)

One was identified on October 31st near Alveston following the violent gale of All Hallows Eve.

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