TBOSG     S. Glos News

Please send your sightings to me at martyn.hayes@tiscali.co.uk

S. Glos 2010 Year List stands at 174 - Latest addition(s): White-spotted Bluethroat, Fulmar. The S. Glos year list record is 212 set in 2009!

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull at Oldbury Power Station. July 2010. © Matt Plenty.

Mediterranean Gull at New Passage. July 2010. © Paul Bowerman

VERY VERY LATE NEWS:

From June 2009 on a bird table in a back garden in Yate comes what was described as a bright yellow bird with brown wings, white in the tail and a black head and was thought possibly to have been a male Black-headed Bunting! More details to follow hopefully soon...!

Mediterranean Gull at New Passage. June 2010. © Paul Bowerman.

The headcount for Quail at Marshfield has risen to three birds with one from Down Road and a further two from Down Track. Also Hobby on show over Rushmead Farm. Also a Grasshopper Warbler was still present near Wickwar around Lower Woods at ST: 733 883.

Spotted Flycatcher in the Shire Valley. © Darren Pearce.

This adult male White-spotted Bluethroat was seen and heard singing on June 19th in a private garden at Staple Hill in Bristol. It was present between 10:00 and 11:30 and was photographed before its departure. This occurrence constitutes the first report of this form for S. Gloucestershire. Read the details here!

Male White-spotted Bluethroat. June 2010. © Janet Farley.

A Red Kite was seen in Shire Valley this morning and another was noted over Westerleigh Common this afternoon at 13:30. A Quail was heard calling distantly near West Littleton.

MAMMAL NEWS: An Otter was seen on the Marshfield patch in an area with no general access and as far as we know it's the first record here! It was considered to be and adult and probably a male.

A couple of Red Kites brightened up a slow period in S. Glos with one flushed at Severn Beach at 06:55 and a fly-over from Westerliegh Common at 13:30 ; seen by Darren Pearce on his patch giving him both a garden tick and a patch tick in four days! The same or another Red Kite was also seen over Doynton.

A garden tick Red Kite for Darren Pearce was seen over his house at Yate around 13:00. The same or another Ring-necked Parakeet,  was seen and heard over a Kingswood garden (BS15) at 20:15.

A Grasshopper Warbler was present today at Littleton Warth, another was 'reeling' at Oldbury Power Station on Lagoon II and two Arctic Skua's were noted upriver at around 07:15 one light and one dark morph. A couple of Wheatear seen at Littleton Warth and in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth areas were considered to be of the 'Greenland' form.

A singing male (and first this year) Wood Warbler was noted from Savage's Wood near Bradley Stoke around 07:00 whilst nearby a Grasshopper Warbler was heard at Three Brooks NR along with both Reed and Sedge Warblers.

A Marsh Harrier, the third this year,  flew east from Severn Beach at 12:35 after initially being watched flying up the estuary from the south-west. The Grasshopper Warbler was still present at Oldbury Power Station.

At Oldbury Power Station a possible Black Redstart was heard singing on the jetty then seen briefly as it flew to the main building and three Little Egret were present one mile inland on the rhine by the Severn Drainage offices.

The first Pomarine Skua's of the year were noted this morning with two pale morph  birds with full spoons off Severn Beach at 07:55, they were seen to drift high south-west. Also there were 5 Arctic Skua's comprising of two pale, two dark and one intermediate morph,

Additionally a Grasshopper Warbler was noted at Ingst just south-east of Aust this morning.

Arctic Skua off Severn Beach. April 2010. © Paul Bowerman.

The adult Pacific Diver seen on November 27th 2009 off Severn Beach has been officially accepted by the BBRC as the first record of this species for S. Gloucestershire. Congratulations all round!

Pacific Diver off Severn Beach. November 2009. © M. Hayes.

A Grasshopper Warbler was heard 'reeling' at Overscourt Plantation near Siston. On Severnside; From Severn Beach the first Manx Shearwater of the year was noted plus a lingering Grasshopper Warbler and on Northwick Warth a Little Egret was present.

Yesterday's Grasshopper Warblers were still present at Oldbury Power Station with additional birds in the New Passage/Northwick Warth area and Severn Beach.

Also in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area there was a 3rd summer Yellow- legged Gull.

A dawn visit to Northwick Warth produced two 'reeling' Grasshopper Warblers, Aztec West held another 'reeling' bird in the business park, a further five were logged at Lower Knole Farm near Almondsbury and two more were present at Oldbury Power Station on Lagoon II this evening, one in centre the other near the reed bed.

The twenty-second report of Osprey for S. Glos was seen flying in off the estuary at Chittening Warth then later over Orchard Pools near Severn Beach mid afternoon.

A female Goshawk was seen around 11:00 this morning. More Grasshopper Warblers were located today; one at Cribbs Causeway and another this afternoon on Northwick Warth. A 1st summer male Black Redstart was heard singing at Oldbury Power Station on the south-west side of the main buildings.

At dawn this morning a Grasshopper Warbler was heard 'reeling' on Shirehill Lane at Marshfield. Severn Beach held two Little Egrets, Grasshopper Warbler and this years first Tree Pipit. On Northwick Warth another Little Egret and female Merlin.

A Grasshopper Warbler was heard reeling from the south-west corner of Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station early this morning, a Little Egret was seen over a private garden in Pilning. At Cetti's Warbler was heard again at Orchard Pools near Severn Beach and a Little Egret was seen on Northwick Warth.

The second Marsh Harrier in five days was seen flying north over the Second Severn Crossing at Severn Beach this morning bringing the S. Glos total to 24 all told.

On the Marshfield patch the first report of Mandarin was collected by John Barnett today when he flushed a female from Broadmead Brook in the Shire Valley. It was seen to fly into Gunning's Wood where it presumable 'landed' in trees there.

There have been, including this one, three in 2010 so far.

It's impossible to know the provenance of Ruddy Shelduck in the UK but a great find nevertheless. April 2010. © Geoff Harris.

This Hoopoe was seen and photographed in a private garden at Thornbury on March 28th. There have been just nineteen Hoopoe reported from S. Glos with this one representing the earliest by eight days...!

It was an amazing experience seeing the Hoopoe in our garden at Kington not far from Oldbury-on-Severn. Our cottage is in a rural area adjoining open farmland. The Hoopoe was sitting very still on a small lawned area just outside our kitchen window. We watched it for a few minutes and managed to take this photo. The flash from the camera made the bird jump and it flew on to the top of the hedge and then flew off over the fields. It was such a privileged to have seen such a fantastic bird. March 2010. © Joy Irwin.

Just finished some work in the garden this morning about 11:45  and on hearing a Buzzard calling I looked into the skies over Westerleigh Common in Yate and could see two Buzzards soaring and above them I noticed two other birds higher, picking up my bins from the house I could see they were a pair of Goshawks. The smaller male was doing the usual dive display with the large female ignoring. The pair drifted over the common in the direction of Coalpit Heath area. (Gordon Youdale)

The S. Glos year list hit 150 with the addition today of House Martin. Around 80 'Comic' Terns were seen throughout the day on Severnside.

Two Barnacle Geese were seen in flight north-east past Northwick Warth this morning where there was also Little Ringed Plover. Another couple of LRP's were being watched a little further north at OPS.

The first Little Ringed Plover of the year was seen on Northwick Warth this morning and a further two were noted at Oldbury Power Station where there was also this years first Grey Plover and Yellow Wagtail. The Red Kite invasion continued today with one seen over Yate at 13:40 heading north and a 2nd summer male Marsh Harrier was seen at Severn Beach this evening.

Little Ringed Plover on Northwick Warth & Marsh Harrier at Severn Beach. April 2010. © Paul Bowerman.

A bit of a 'raptor-fest' in S. Glos today with at least five Red Kite two Goshawk, numerous Buzzard, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel and all before lunch! Also today several firsts for the year including Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat.

Of the Red Kite today one was seen drifting south at Orchard Pools at around 11:45 and a highest count for S. Glos four circling high over Overscourt Plantation at Siston around 12:40 when they drifted off north-west.

Yesterday's male Redstart was still present on Westerleigh Common this morning. Another male Redstart was seen at mid-day in the Shire Valley at Marshfield from the bridge over Broadmead Brook. At Oldbury Power Station the first Common Sandpiper of the year was seen at Oldbury Gout and a Little Egret was noted nearby. Additionally a Barn Owl was noted at Rushmead Farm near Marshfield after dark this evening.

The Barn Owl noted at Oldbury Power Station in recent days has unfortunately succumb to predation. A number of feathers were found by Lagoon II outfall this morning.

Barn Owl at Oldbury Power Station. April 2010. © Pete Hazelwood.

At Marshfield today a Grey Partridge, there's still one left, was noted on Northfield Lane!

Though considered to be common and not threatened throughout it's range, it appears to be declining in numbers in some areas of intensive cultivation especially the UK, probably due to a loss of breeding habitat and possibly food supplies. Their numbers have fallen in these areas by as much as 85% in the last 25 years!

Grey Partridge on Northfield Lane. © Martyn Hayes.

A Grasshopper Warbler seen at Severn Beach this morning represents the earliest reported in S. Glos by nine days. The previous earliest was noted on Northwick Warth on April 11th 2008. Also today a female Merlin was noted on Northwick Warth. At Oldbury a record equalling seven Little Egret were seen roosting in fields by Pool Farm and the Barn Owl from OPS was seen again hunting in the area of Lagoon II.

A Red Kite was seen over Pilning at 15:15 and was noted to have one right primary missing. I subsequently drifted east in front of a storm being mobbed by 200 or so Rooks and Jackdaws.

Two first for the year were noted on Severnside today; A visit to Severn Beach this evening produced a dark morph Arctic Skua, three Common Scoter, at least 60 Kittiwakes,

Arctic Skua at Severn Beach. March 2010. © Paul Bowerman.

The female Black Redstart at OPS was on the Water Works fence again today and then on Lagoon II but very mobile. A well earned garden tick for Matt Plenty at Thornbury today when at least one, probably two Common Crossbill were seen and heard at around 11:40.

At Oldbury Power Station a female Black Redstart was seen near the Water Works and a flock of five Little Egret were noted feeding at the south end of the tidal reservoir. They were subsequently seen in a field near the yacht club at high tide. On Severnside a Water Pipit was seen again on the salt marsh below Severn Beach.

Black Redstart was again available at Severn View Services, a Whimbrel just made S. Glos when it dropped in at New Pill on Chittening Warth and a male Merlin was noted at New Passage at mid-day.

23rd

Four firsts for the year to S. Glos today with three Avocet and White Wagtail in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area, two Swallow at Severn Beach and Black Redstart at Severn View Services. Additionally Merlin was also noted in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area,

This very nice sequence of shots of Avocet on Severnside were captured by Don Smith. March 2010. © Don Smith.

22nd

A Merlin was seen on the salt marsh upriver of the Windbound Pub near Shepperdine.

21st

The twenty-second record of Pale-bellied Brent Goose for S. Glos was seen at Severn Beach in company with 54 Brent Geese this morning and a Jack Snipe was also noted .

Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Severn Beach. March 2010. © Paul Bowerman.

 Pale-bellied Brent Goose breeds in Franz Josef Land, Svalbard, Greenland and north-eastern Canada, wintering in Denmark, northeast England and Ireland.

In May 2009 the first record of Black Kite for S. Glos was seen in the Marshfield area....this morning the second was seen well by two lucky observers mid morning flying along the salt marsh at Severn Beach. I was seen to depart east being mobbed by Crows and Buzzard. Incredibly this occurrence represents the first Severnside record and the fifth new addition to the patch list there since September 2009! Additionally it represents the earliest record for S. Glos by some 10 (ten) weeks! Congratulations to Kevin Bainbridge and Steve Hale...!

Also today a male Ring Ouzel was noted at Aust STW on Sandy Lane just north of the Old Severn Crossing. Another significant sighting in that it too was the earliest record for S. Glos by eight days! Well done Steve Emery...!

A Little Egret was again present in the Northwick Warth area and at 16:50 a Red Kite was seen flying south over the M4 from Woodlands Golf Club area into Bradley Stoke estate, just W of Trench Lane bridge over the motorway.

A Little Egret was seen in the Northwick Warth area and at least 175 Kittiwake were noted high over the Second Severn Crossing from Severn Beach this evening.

At West Littleton pond today there were at least fourteen Common Snipe and a single Jack Snipe!!

The ninth S. Glos record of Scandinavian Rock Pipit and at least one Water Pipit were present mid-morning on the salt marsh to the south of Severn Beach, and a Jack Snipe was seen at Oldbury Power Station.

The ninth record of Common Crane was logged for S. Glos when one was seen in flight heading north over Aust Warth this morning around 09:30. This is the second time that Common Crane has been recorded in S. Glos on March 2nd! Also seen were two Short-eared Owls over the salt marsh there and six Greylag Geese.

Excellent news from the patch at Marshfield this morning when John Barnett found the first record for Little Egret. It was inadvertently flushed from 'Big Pond' along Broadmead Brook in the Shire Valley to trees in Gunning's Wood where it was present until at least 11:30. Also today a juvenile Lesser Redpoll was noted in Alders on the north-east side of Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station and four Little Egret near Pool Farm Oldbury. A Spotted Redshank was present close to The Windbound near Sheppardine; this record represents the earliest date for this species in S. Glos by at least six weeks! An afternoon visit to New Passage saw that six Greylag Geese were still present.

The first record of Little Egret for the Marshfield patch. February 2010. © Martyn Hayes.

Six Greylag Geese were still present in the Northwick Warth area. Also today between 17:30 and 18:15

All the action comes from Severnside again today; Two Water Pipit were seen well on the salt marsh below Severn Beach and Little Egret plus the seven lingering Greylag Geese were present at New Passage.

Water Pipit on the Salt Marsh at Severn Beach. February 2010. © Paul Bowerman.

Interesting and useful field observations from Paul; ...'Water Pipits are difficult to see in the salt marsh because they don’t tolerate a close approach, usually flush readily and then fly high, up and down the shoreline for several minutes before landing a 100 metres from where they took off, Rock Pipits are quite approachable in comparison and usually only fly a short distance before landing again'...

19th

Conditions improved somewhat today so the seven Greylag Geese and three Bar-tailed Godwit still present on Northwick Warth were basking in glorious sunshine. Also there, a Jack Snipe put in an appearance.

Severnside hosting both Greylag Goose and Jack Snipe on Northwick Warth. February 2010. © Paul Bowerman.

A Red Kite was seen over the M5 around two miles north of the Almondsbury interchange at 13:50. Around sixty-five Red Kite have now been recorded in S. Glos!

The quintessential kite profile and becoming more common, that is to say less rare in S. Glos. © M. Hayes.

Merlin was seen near Rushmead Farm at Marshfield this afternoon and Severn Beach. Water Pipit and Merlin were also seen from the shore here. Also on Severnside, 12 White-fronted Geese flew north-east over Aust Warth at 15:20 having been seen earlier over Northwick Warth at 15:00.

Short-eared Owl at Aust Warth. February 2010. © Chris Jones http://www.chrisjphotography.com/home.php

The Jack Snipe was still present at Shepperdine today. On Severnside a Water Pipit was seen on the salt marsh at Severn Beach, and a Short-eared Owl put in an appearance around 17:00 at Aust Warth. Two Dippers were seen at Willsbridge Mill and a pair of Goosander were on the river near the Lock Keeper at Keynsham.

Hot news from Oldbury Power Station today with a male Green-winged Teal seen on Lagoon I before being flushed onto the tidal reservoir. It returned later to Lagoon I at high tide. Significant on several levels in that it's just the second ever record for S. Glos (the first in January 2001 also at OPS) and the latest in the recording area by five days.

Other news from OPS; The 25 Barnacle Geese that were at New Passage yesterday were noted flying up river at Oldbury Power Station and a Little Egret was seen in a ditch just west of The Windbound.

Also today a Jack Snipe was seen at Westerliegh Common Pool early afternoon with eight Common Snipe.

Short-eared Owl at Aust Warth. January 2010. © Paul Bowerman.

Twenty-five Barnacle Geese flew up river past Severn Beach at 13:30 and were subsequently seen grazing on Northwick Warth. This occurrence represents the highest count in S. Glos for this species. The previous total was thirteen in April 1999 at Oldbury Power Station. Two Short-eared Owls were on show at Aust Warth this evening at 16:05.

Part of a flock of twenty-five Barnacle Geese on Severnside representing the highest count for S. Glos. January 2010. © Paul Bowerman.

An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at Oldbury Power Station in fields to the south-west of Lagoon III and around 500 Pied Wagtail roosted on the Power Station buildings. Barn Owl was seen at Overscourt Plantation this morning and Short-eared Owl was seen again this  afternoon at Aust Warth.

Mediterranean Gull at Oldbury Power Station. January 2010. © Matt Plenty.

At least three Brambling were present today near Rushmead Farm at Marshfield. Also today the twenty-fifth record of Hen Harrier was seen in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area at 16:00.

At Oldbury Power Station this morning a Jack Snipe was seen with Common Snipe at Shepperdine, and a male Goosander flew down river from the Yacht Club at 11:15.

Today at Oldbury Power Station; A Woodcock was seen sat in the snow by the hedge along the shore by Lagoon 3 and a Little Egret on the main rhine. A Merlin was seen again at Aust Warth late this  afternoon. A further two Woodcock were seen on Doncombe Brook just south of Marshfield.

Two Shorelark were seen feeding on the salt marsh near Lagoon I at Oldbury Power Station at ST: 607 954 around 11:30. They flew up river and dropped into the salt marsh just before high tide. They represent the seventh and eighth S. Glos records and equal the highest count for the recording area along with two from November 2009.

A pair of Ruddy Shelduck were also seen here in flight up river. Not only do they represent the thirteenth and fourteenth records for S. Glos they are also the earliest! Also at OPS was a male Merlin and Little Egret in a boundary ditch. Another Merlin was seen at Aust Warth late afternoon.

Short-eared Owl was seen at Aust Warth at 14:45 were a Merlin was also present. Another Merlin was seen in Doncombe Valley at Ringswell south of Marshfield. Of note up to fifteen (15) Ravens were present in the Shirehill/Rushmead Lane area at Marshfield.

A Little Egret was seen at Aust Warth and a Brambling was noted at Rushmead Farm, Marshfield. A pair of Goosander were present on the River Avon at Hanham opposite the 'Chocolate Factory'.

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