the birds of south gloucestershire annual review 2015€¦ · northwick warth by paul bowerman. the...

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The Birds Of South Gloucestershire

Annual Review 2015

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The Birds Of South Gloucestershire

2015 review including news, articles and

notable birding events

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CONTENTS Introduction 4

S. Glos Diary 2015 (Abridged) 15

The S. Glos List 30

New Additions 30

Systematic List – Species 31

Swans & Geese 31

Ducks 32

Game & Divers 36

Seabirds 37

Herons 38

Grebes 42

Raptors 43

Rails, Crakes & Waders 46

Skua’s 50

Auks 52

Terns & Gulls 53

Sandgrouse, Doves, Pigeons & Parakeets 56

Owls & Nightjar 57

Swift, Hoopoe & Bee-eater 58

Woodpeckers, Orioles, Shrikes, Crows & Tits 59

Larks & Pipits 61

Swallows, Warblers & Crests 62

Starlings, Chats & Thrushes 65

Waxwing , Finches & Buntings 67

Systematic List – Forms 69

Notable Birding Events in 2015 70

Rarity & Scarcity Occurrences in 2015 71

Articles 72

The S. Glos Species & Forms List 2015 74

Butterflies: The S. Glos List 75

Front cover: Merlin on Northwick Warth by Dan White.

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INTRODUCTION

2015 realised the tenth anniversary of TBOSG – The Birds Of South Gloucestershire!

Amazingly those ten years have flown by since the website was launched on

November 25th 2005 and I recall that faithful evening with some trepidation as I

uploaded the first pages to the ‘interweb’.

I am also completely staggered by its popularity with over 300,000 visitors from

around the world. I’m always amazed by the ever increasing number of local (and in

some cases national) birders who are willing to actively participate in the process

not only providing news of rare, scarce and unusual bird information from the

recording area but some pretty spectacular photos too.

My primary objective was to provide a point of reference with easy access to

information about rare, scarce and unusual bird sightings, both full species and

forms, seen in ‘S. Glos’ to anyone from the back garden birdwatcher with a mild

interest in local birdwatching to the avid ‘birder’ and yes even the odd ‘twitcher’. It

is by no means authoritative nor exhaustive but it doe’s I feel capture the essence of

modern ‘birding’ in this extremely important region of the UK. It also, I feel,

highlights the changing trends of birds seen across the recording area.

The ‘S. Glos’ systematic list has changed significantly over the intervening period,

where in 2005 it stood at 298 including both full species and forms and with a year

list of 190, at the end of 2015 it stands at an amazing 321 again including both full

species and forms with a year list of 215. The best year thus far however was 2013

when the year finished on a whopping 223!

There were two new

additions to the list in 2005;

On January 1st a wintering

Siberian Chiffchaff was

found by Andy Jordan at

Emerson's Green and on

October 5th two Dartford

Warblers were positively

identified on Northwick

Warth by Paul Bowerman.

Dartford Warbler - Paul Bowerman.

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There were no additions in 2006 and just one in 2007 when on May 13th a European

Bee-eater was found by Paul Bowerman at Severn Beach around 18:00 where it was

heard calling several times moving north-east along the sea wall.

In 2008 three new birds were recorded; Two were seen in January the first of which

was Great Bustard!

A female (Orange 15) - from the UK re-introduction programme - was found on the

10th just inside the S. Glos boundary north of the R. Avon at Keynsham by John

Aldridge where it spent three days. On the 26th the same bird was relocated by Pete

Hazelwood at Oldbury Power Station in flooded fields by Thornbury Sailing Club.

Great Bustard - Matt Plenty.

Great Bustard is not counted on the S. Glos list but well worth a mention here.

The second came in the ‘form’ of Nordic Jackdaw on January 25th when it was

found by Rob Laughton in horse paddocks along George Lane at Marshfield.

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Nordic Jackdaw – TBOSG.

The final bird of the year, also a form, was a much under-recorded Greenland Dunlin

which was found by John Martin in a flock of c.60 Dunlin on May 16th at Severn

Beach.

Greenland Dunlin - John Martin.

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2009 was a memorable year for a number of reasons the first of which was that a

massive seven new birds were added.

In May a stunning male Channel Wagtail (a hybrid) was found on the 18th on

Northwick Warth by Paul Bowerman. The photo below was of the second record

from 2014.

‘Channel Wagtail’ - Mark Coller.

Also in May on the 26th a presumed adult Black Kite was watched drifting out of St.

Catherine's Valley near Marshfield. It was first seen around 06:00 at a height of

about 25 metres over the track between Halldoor Lane and Nailey Farm south and

west of Marshfield. It was last seen leaving the valley heading in a generally north-

north-westerly direction towards West Littleton. (John Mackenzie-Grieve)

In June came news of a Black-headed Bunting at Yate. The bird was seen in the

morning on Sunday June 7th at around 09:30 and was described as a bright yellow

bird with a black head, brown back about the size and shape of a Chaffinch. It was

watched for several minutes feeding on seed below the bird table with several

House Sparrows and was seen briefly on the back fence before flying towards

Kingsgate Park. In flight, white in the outer tail feathers was noted. Despite much

searching it could not be relocated that day or over the following days. (Mark Coller)

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A week or so before the S. Glos occurrence an adult male Black-headed Bunting was

photographed on Guernsey at Jerbourg on May 26th 2009.

In September a Grey-headed Wagtail was seen on Northwick Warth. An adult,

probably female, was noted mixing with Meadow Pipit and feeding amongst cattle

on the salt marsh on Northwick Warth north of New Passage. (Brian Lancastle, John

Martin)

On October 14th a juvenile/ 1st winter Glossy Ibis was seen in flight over Severn

Beach at around 15:30 by Pam Buckle and Phil Baber. It was subsequently tracked

north-east over New Passage, Northwick Warth and Aust Warth before being lost to

view.

Then things started to warm up firmly putting S. Glos on the international/ world

map!

On November 25th a probable Black-bellied Storm Petrel was seen from the sea wall

at Severn Beach. It was present for around ninety minutes before being lost to view

in mid channel at around 09:40. (John Martin, Allan Gaunt, Angus Dickie, Richard &

Rod Greer) Significantly it was the first UK record, the first Western Palearctic

record and as far we know the first North Atlantic record. As if that was not enough

just two days later... on the 27th November an adult winter Pacific Diver was seen

between 10:45 and 11:00 also from Severn Beach in 'Burger Bar Bay'. (Martyn Hayes,

Dick Reader) Not only was it the first documented reference to this species in S.

Gloucestershire but just the 4th ever British record.

After a breath-taking 2009, 2010

brought just two new additions

and both forms at that. The first

was indeed a quite bizarre set of

circumstances that added White-

spotted Bluethroat to the list!

On June 19th 2010 at around 10:00

whilst watering hanging baskets

in a small communal garden at

Staple Hill in Bristol, pensioner

Janet Farley (aged 75) was

distracted by birdsong she did not White-spotted Bluethroat - Janet Farley.

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recognise. Turning from her watering she was confronted, about five metres away,

by a small Robin sized bird with a bright blue breast, Janet said ...'I could even see

the white on it'....

She watched the bird for a couple of minutes in full song and bright sunshine on the

stems of a mature Pampas in a shrubby boarder. The Bluethroat moved to a nearby

bird table where it fed on suet then to a bird bath where it washed and drank,

returning to the Pampas where it moved to the back of the plant and resumed

singing. Janet mentioned ...'It was a little more difficult to see then but I could still

hear it'...

At this point Janet slowly retreated from the scene to fetch her compact camera.

She said... 'Whilst I was getting my camera I was hoping it would still be there when I

got back'... Fortune has it that the bird was still at the back of the Pampas and still

singing on Janet's return. Camera in hand she managed to capture this single photo,

she went on to say...'I zoomed in a little too far so the bird looks bigger than it

actually was, but it wasn't frightened when the flash went off'... Having managed

that single shot she watched the bird around the garden until around 11:15 when it

departed and was not seen subsequently.

This remarkably freaky occurrence came to light after a bizarre set of events; She

showed the photo on her camera to someone who recognised it as a Bluethroat,

that friend took his dog for a walk and bumped into Allan Chard. On hearing the tale,

Allan raced back to see Janet, saw the photo, borrowed the SD card and dashed

round to the local film developing shop and had two copies made!

The information with a digital copy of the photo was emailed to both the BOC and

TBOSG and news was released on June 25th 2010.

TBOSG eventually caught up with Janet at her home in Staple Hill on June 30th 2010

where she very kindly showed us the photo on her camera and took me on a tour of

the communal garden pointing out the Pampas, bird table and bird bath where she

watched this amazing bird!

The second new addition in 2010 was Greenland White-fronted Goose. Matt Plenty

watched two adults in flight south-west past Littleton-on-Severn early morning on

October 17th 2010. They flew down to the Severn Bridge turned and came back past

Littleton-on-Severn where they were seen less than 100 metres away. They

continued upriver towards Oldbury Power Station.

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A spectacular addition in 2011 was an extremely unexpected but most welcome Pied

Wheatear.

This 1st winter female was present at Thornbury Yacht Club, Oldbury-on-Severn from

late afternoon on Tuesday 25th October until at dusk on Friday 28th October.

Additionally it was the 62nd British record.

Pied Wheatear - Gary Thoburn.

Rounding out the year a flock of six Continental Greylag Geese were seen by Rob

Laughton on November 18th flying north-east along the A4174 Ring Road between

Warmley and Shortwood around 08:45. Greylag Geese are extremely unusual away

from the coast in S. Glos so the recent influx into the UK of this continental form

'rubrirostris' made an excellent addition to the list.

Three cracking new birds were found in 2012, the first was a splendid summer

plumaged Red-throated Pipit.

Early on the morning of April 22nd a brightly coloured pipit was seen on Northwick

Warth by visiting birders. It was lost to view temporarily before being relocated

around 09:00 on Northwick Warth opposite Pilning Wetland warden’s buildings and

was identified as summer plumaged adult. It was fortuitously photographed by two

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separate observers before it took flight and headed north up river along the Warth

where it appeared to drop back on to the salt marsh near the 'flash' at around

09:30.

The second was an all too brief encounter! On May 1st an adult Laughing Gull was

seen from 'The Pipes' a kilometre south of Severn Beach in flight north-east at

around 13:30 by Paul Bowerman. It was seen shortly afterwards by Brian Lancastle

off the sea wall at Severn Beach where it continued on up river.

Lastly was a fly-over Great White Egret.

On November 30th a presumed adult was seen in flight over the M5 a kilometre

south of J15 in the Almondsbury/ Patchway area by Chris Heyworth a commuting

RSPCA Officer.

Chris commented...

...'I saw it from the car approaching from the east as I was travelling north on the

M5. It flew fairly low over the motorway and continued west towards the coast. In

flight I noticed a large Heron sized all white bird and large all yellow bill. Also the

exceptional length of the all dark trailing legs'...

2013 saw the addition of two new birds to the list, one ‘form’ one full species. A

Continental Coal Tit was reported from the Hanging Hill/ Beach Wood area at Bitton

on April 18th… But…!

On December 11th a rather splendid 1st winter male Desert Wheatear was found late

afternoon by Paul Bowerman at Severn Beach on the sea wall where it remained

until dusk.

Paul wrote…

On Wednesday December 11th I met some visiting birders at New Passage late

afternoon who said they had seen a ‘Wheatear’ briefly on the sea wall at Severn

Beach earlier in the day and that it looked paler than usual but despite searching

they could not relocate. Hoping/ suspecting that the bird could be interesting for the

time of year I dashed back to the Burger Bar area of the sea wall at Severn Beach

and wandered around for five minutes and was just about to give up when the first

‘Severnside’ patch record, a 1st winter male Desert Wheatear, popped up on the

railings in front of me. I managed a few decent shots just before the light failed. The

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bird was seen by about ten other birders and was last seen in near darkness at the

top of the shingle beach 100 metres south of the concrete sea defences. Hopefully it

will still be in the area tomorrow!

Thursday dawned somewhat overcast giving hopes that the Wheatear had lingered

and by 08:00 it duly appeared when it was picked up in the gloom by Rich Ford sat

on a driftwood log around 200 metres down the beach from the end of the sea

defences. In a short time it was showing very well at short range on the beach, sea

wall and the green in front of a small apartment block. It remained in that area until

dusk on December 12th.

On December 13th it was still present remaining faithful to the beach front and

continued to show very well on or near the sea defences all day until dusk.

The following day December 14th was an increasingly breezy and wet day with

plenty of overnight rain however the bird was still present though looking decidedly

damp. It proved to be very obliging today spending a lot of time approaching birders

sometimes within a metre range. It was also feeding well on an assortment titbits

including meal worms provided by the steady stream of admirers.

Sadly on December 15th there was no sign of this first for Severnside and S. Glos

despite some extensive searching, hopefully it departed overnight on the 14th and

no succumbed to the vagaries of a very damp British winter.

Desert Wheatear - TBOSG.

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A remarkable end to 2013 you’d have to agree, well take a deep breath because a

month or so into 2014 and this little bad boy turns up …thank you John Barnett!

Red-flanked Bluetail – TBOSG.

The significance of the unique find has now only just been realised. Not just a first

for S. Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Avon it’s the first UK wintering record, the first

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for February, the latest date for this species and the longest staying individual ever

recorded in Brittan!

Later in the year an interesting summer plumaged adult Golden Plover was present

in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland area from July 13th - 22nd

and was showing characteristics of the form Pluvialis apricaria altifrons ~ Icelandic

Golden Plover. Although the call and underwing coverts matched that of European

Golden Plover, structure and plumage variations more closely aligned to this

northern form.

Putative Icelandic Golden Plover – Dave Hughes.

In 2014 the UK experienced an influx of Continental Jay. That was reflected in the

recording area with increased numbers of ‘Jay’ noted and It can be assumed that

the increase was due to continental drift. On September 24th 2014, thirteen

Continental Jays were counted in the Shire Valley at Marshfield.

In the period between 2005 and 2015 some twenty-three new birds have been

added to the S. Glos List – fourteen full species and nine forms.

So to the 2015 S. Glos annual review; Its packed full of information and fantastic

photographs kindly donated by an ever increasing number of birders, so it’s a huge

thanks to them for their generosity and most welcome support.

TBOSG - S. Gloucestershire 2015

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S. Glos Diary 2015 (Abridged)

JANUARY

1st GREEN-WINGED TEAL: A drake on

Northwick Warth.

2nd TREE SPARROW: Two from the

Severn Way, Shepperdine.

4th JACK SNIPE: Three around Lagoon

III, OPS, two on Aust Warth and one

on Yate Common. SHORT-EARED

OWL: Two from Aust Warth. WATER

PIPIT: One on Northwick Warth.

5th JACK SNIPE: One on Aust Warth.

SHORT-EARED OWL: One from Aust

Warth.

6th SHORT-EARED OWL: One on Aust

Warth.

8th TAWNY OWL: Six including five

males at Lower Woods, Wickwar.

9th CETTI'S WARBLER: One from Lagoon

III at OPS.

10th SHORT-EARED OWL: One at Aust

Warth.

11th JACK SNIPE: Two at OPS.

13th COLLARED DOVE: 55 at Westend

Lane, Oldbury Power Station. RING-

BILLED GULL: One unconfirmed at

Filton North Way Transfer Station.

14th GLOSSY IBIS: An immature at

Kingswood, Bristol.

15th KITTIWAKE: 90 from Severn Beach.

AUK SPP: One from Severn Beach.

17th JACK SNIPE: Four at Aust Warth.

SHORT-EARED OWL: One at Aust

Warth.

18th JACK SNIPE: Four at Aust Warth with

another on Broadmead Brook, Castle

Farm, Marshfield. WATER PIPIT: One

at New Passage/ Northwick Warth.

20th GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL: Twelve

at Oldbury Power Station. WATER

PIPIT: One at New Passage/

Northwick Warth.

22nd MEDITERRANEAN GULL: Adult near

Thornbury Yacht Club, Oldbury.

WATER PIPIT: One on 1st Sentry Box

Pool, Pilning Wetland.

23rd GREEN-WINGED TEAL: A drake from

Aust Warth. JACK SNIPE: One on

Littleton Warth with one at Castle

Farm, Marshfield. RED-BREASTED

MERGANSER: A drake at New

Passage. SHORT-EARED OWL: Two

on Aust Warth.

24th GREEN-WINGED TEAL: A drake on

Aust Warth. WATER PIPIT: One on

Northwick Warth and Pilning

Wetland.

25th GREEN-WINGED TEAL: A drake from

Aust Warth. SHORT-EARED OWL:

One on Aust Warth. WATER PIPIT:

One on Northwick Warth.

26th GREEN-WINGED TEAL: A drake on

Northwick Warth.


Aust and Northwick Warth. SHORT-

EARED OWL: One on Aust Warth.


Aust Warth.


Aust Warth.

30th GOOSANDER: A pair on the R. Avon,

Willsbridge. GREEN-WINGED TEAL: A

drake from Aust Warth.

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31st GREEN-WINGED TEAL: A drake from

Aust Warth.

FEBRUARY

1st GOOSANDER: A male and female on

the R. Avon at Willsbridge.

2nd GOOSANDER: A drake on the R.

Avon at Willsbridge.

4th GOOSANDER: A pair on the R. Avon

at Willsbridge.

5th JACK SNIPE: One at Thornbury

Sailing Club. RED KITE: One over Old

Sodbury.

7th CETTI'S WARBLER: One on Pilning

Wetland.

8th GOOSANDER: Two drakes and a

'redhead’ on the R. Avon,

Willsbridge. JACK SNIPE: Two on

Aust Warth. SHORT-EARED OWL:

One on Aust Warth.

9th CETTI'S WARBLER: One Pilning

Wetland. REED BUNTING: Thirty-

one at Oldbury Power Station.

WREN: Fifty-two at Oldbury Power

Station.

10th JACK SNIPE: Four on Yate Common.

11th GOOSANDER: Five, three drakes and

two 'redheads' on the R. Avon,

Willsbridge. WATER PIPIT: One on

Northwick Warth.

14th WATER PIPIT: One on Northwick

Warth.

15th WATER PIPIT: One on Northwick

Warth.

20th JACK SNIPE: One from Aust Warth.


Warth.

21st GREEN-WINGED TEAL: A drake from

Aust Warth. JACK SNIPE: One south

of Severn Beach. SHORT-EARED

OWL: One on Aust Warth. WATER

PIPIT: One on Northwick Warth.

23rd SONG THRUSH: A count of twenty-

three at Swineford.

28th BARN OWL: One at Western

Approaches Business Park, Severn

Beach.

MARCH

1st BARN OWL: One from Down Road,

Marshfield and from Aust Warth.

MANDARIN: Four, on Dodington

Lakes, Dodington.

3rd CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Orchard

Pools, Severn Beach.

5th CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Orchard


6th AVOCET: One at New Passage. BARN

OWL: One at Londonderry Farm,

Willsbridge. SCANDINAVIAN ROCK

PIPIT: A summer adult on Northwick

Warth. WATER PIPIT: One in the New

Passage/ Northwick Warth area.

7th CETTI'S WARBLER: One on Lagoon II,

OPS. SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPIT: A

summer adult on Northwick Warth.

8th GREEN SANDPIPER: One in flight

over Northwick Warth. SAND

MARTIN: The first of the year at

Shepperdine. SCANDINAVIAN ROCK

PIPIT: A summer adult on Northwick

Warth. TREE SPARROW: Two north

of The Windbound at Shepperdine.

10th NORTHERN WHEATEAR: The first of

the year at Thornbury Yacht Club,

Oldbury. SHORT-EARED OWL: One

south of Severn Beach.

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MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult

past Severn Beach. RED KITE: One

from Hawkesbury Upton.

PENDULINE TIT: A female at Dyrham

Park, Dyrham.

12th AVOCET: One at Thornbury Yacht

Club, Oldbury. CETTI'S WARBLER:

One at Orchard Pools, Severn Beach.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER: The first of

the year at Severn Beach.

13th BAR-TAILED GODWIT: Twelve in the

Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland

area. RED-BREASTED GOOSE: An

adult of unknown origins on

Northwick Warth. RED KITE: One at

Chipping Sodbury.

14th RED KITE: One over Bristol Saracens

Memorial Ground, Henbury. WATER

PIPIT: One at Shepperdine.

15th CONTINENTAL CORMORANT: An

adult up-river from New Passage.

RED KITE: One over Chipping

Sodbury and one at Frenchay.

16th LITTLE RINGED PLOVER: One in the

Northwick Warth/ New Passage area.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL: A 2nd

winter on Pilning Wetland.

17th FIRECREST: One at Oldbury Power

Station. GOSHAWK: One from

Rushmead Lane, Marshfield. RED

KITE: An adult from Rushmead Lane.

Marshfield. SHORT-EARED OWL: One

south of Severn Beach.

18th CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Oldbury

Power Station. COMMON CRANE:

Five north-west over Olveston. GREY

PARTRIDGE: One from Rushmead

Lane, Marshfield. RED KITE: One over

Chipping Sodbury Common.

19th AVOCET: One from Pillhead Gout,

Oldbury-on-Severn. BLACK

REDSTART: A female/ 1st winter on

Aust Beach. RED KITE: An adult near

Monument Farm, Hiilsley/

Hawksbury Upton.

20th BLACK REDSTART: A female/ 1st

winter on Littleton Warth. LITTLE

EGRET: Eight at Oldbury Power

Station.

21st JACK SNIPE: One from Aust Warth.

TREE SPARROW: One from

Patchway.

22nd BARN OWL: One at Orchard Pools,

Severn Beach. CETTI'S WARBLER:

One at Orchard Pools, Severn Beach.

RED KITE: One over Yate.

23rd WATER PIPIT: One on Northwick

Warth.

25th CONTINENTAL CORMORANT: One

upriver from Severn Beach.

COMMON EIDER: A female Severn

Beach. GOSHAWK: One upriver and

inland of Shepperdine.

27th CETTI'S WARBLER: One around

Orchard Pools, Severn Beach.

COMMON CRANE: One over Pilning

Wetland. RED KITE: An adult over

Down Road, Marshfield. WILLOW

WARBLER: The first of the year in the

Shire Valley, Marshfield.

28th KITTIWAKE: 80 from Severn Beach.

29th ARCTIC TERN: One from Severn

Beach. BARN OWL: One north of

Tormarton. KITTIWAKE: At least

400 from Severn Beach and c.50 at

OPS. LITTLE GULL: An adult and 1st

winter from Severn Beach.

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APRIL

1st SWALLOW: The first of the year on

Northwick Warth. WHITE WAGTAIL:

The first of the year on Northwick

Warth.

3rd BARN OWL: One at Lagoon III,

Oldbury Power Station. COMMON

SCOTER: Seven from New Passage.

4th COMMON CROSSBILL: One at

Oldbury Power Station.

GOOSANDER: A male upriver past

Thornbury Yacht Club. RED KITE: An

adult near Monument Farm, Hiilsley/

Hawksbury Upton.

5th COMMON CRANE: Five over

Tytherington. GREEN-WINGED

TEAL: A drake from Severn Beach.

JACK SNIPE: One from Aust Warth.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: Three

males from Severn Beach and

Oldbury Power Station. RED KITE:

One over the M4 J18 Tormarton.

WATER PIPIT: One in summer dress

at Cake Pill, Aust.

6th HOBBY: The first of the year over

Hanham Common. HOUSE MARTIN:

The first of the year at Latteridge.

NIGHTINGALE: The first of the year

at The Glen, New Passage. OSPREY:

The first of the year over Yate. RED

KITE: One over Overscourt

Plantation, Siston. SANDWICH TERN:

Four the first of the year past

Shepperdine.

7th NIGHTINGALE: One at The Glen, New

Passage. OSPREY: One over Cribbs

Causeway.

8th OSPREY: One over Cribbs Causeway.

RED KITE: One over Lagoon II,

Oldbury Power Station. TREE PIPIT:

The first of the year over Oldbury

Power Station.

9th GREENLAND WHEATEAR: One on

Northwick Warth.

10th GOOSANDER: A female upriver at

Shepperdine. NIGHTINGALE: One at

The Glen, New Passage. OSPREY:

One over Severn Beach. RING

OUZEL: The first of the year at

Oldbury Power Station. WHIMBREL:

The first of the year at Severn Beach.

YELLOW WAGTAIL: The first of the

year over New Passage.

12th COMMON REDSTART: The first of

the year on Chipping Sodbury

Common plus one at East End,

Marshfield. COMMON SANDPIPER:

The first of the year at New Passage.

13th COMMON CRANE: One over

Streamleaze, Thornbury. COMMON

WHITETHROAT: The first of the year

at Oldbury Power Station.

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER: The first

of the year near Severn Beach and

one at Oldbury Power Station.

OSPREY: One over Kingswood,

Bristol. RED KITE: One over The

Street, Alveston. YELLOW-LEGGED

GULL: The first of the year at Oldbury

Power Station.

14th GRASSHOPPER WARBLER: One by

Lagoon III, Oldbury Power Station.

REED WARBLER: The first of the year

at Lagoon II, Oldbury Power Station.

RING OUZEL: A female on Chipping

Sodbury Common. SEDGE

WARBLER: The first of the year

around Lagoon II, Oldbury Power

Station.

15th LESSER WHITETHROAT: The first of

the year south of Severn Beach.

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER: One by


OSPREY: One north over Hallen. RED

KITE: One over Gorse Lane near

Pennsylvania.

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16th GOLDEN PHEASANT: A male, of

unknown origin, at Lower Woods,

Inglestone Common.

17th ARCTIC SKUA: Two, the first of the

year, past Oldbury Power Station.

JACK SNIPE: One at Orchard Pools,

Severn RED KITE: One at Oldbury

Power Station.

18th GARDEN WARBLER: The first of the

year at Oldbury Power Station.

MARSH HARRIER: A female/

immature near Severn Beach.

WHINCHAT: The first of the year at

Aust.


Warth.


Warth.

21st RING OUZEL: One from New Pill,

Severn Beach. WHITE STORK: High

over New Passage.

22nd COMMON SWIFT: The first of the

year over Hanham. SPOTTED

REDSHANK: The first of the year at

Thornbury Yacht Club.

23rd COMMON CUCKOO: The first of the

year around Lagoon III, Oldbury

Power Station. GREENSHANK: The

first of the year at Severn Beach.

RING OUZEL: A male on Northwick

Warth. WOOD SANDPIPER: The first

of the year on Lagoon III, Oldbury

Power Station.

24th RED KITE: Two over High Street,

Chipping Sodbury. RING OUZEL:

Male on Northwick Warth.

25th GRASSHOPPER WARBLER: One at

Severn Beach. RING OUZEL: Male on

Northwick Warth.

26th RING OUZEL: Male on Northwick

Warth. SANDERLING: The first of the

year at New Passage. SPOTTED

FLYCATCHER: The first of the year at

Shepperdine.

27th GRASSHOPPER WARBLER: One

south of Severn Beach. RING OUZEL:

Male on Northwick Warth. YELLOW-

LEGGED GULL: An adult at Oldbury

Power Station.

29th WHIMBREL: One over Chipping

Sodbury Common.


Power Station. GRASSHOPPER

WARBLER: One at Northwick Warth.

COMMON CUCKOO: Up to five

throughout April with up to three at


MAY

1st RED KITE: One in the Shire Valley,

Marshfield.

2nd CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Oldbury

Power Station. RED KITE: One over

Thornbury.

3rd MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult

from New Passage/ Northwick

Warth.

4th COMMON TERN: The first of the year

from New Passage/ Northwick

Warth. COMMON CRANE: Two over

Oldbury Power Station. RED KITE:

One in the Shire Valley, Marshfield.

5th ARCTIC SKUA: Fifteen from Severn

Beach with two at Oldbury Power

Station. FULMAR: The first of the

year from Severn Beach. POMARINE

SKUA: The first of the year with four

from Severn Beach.

6th ARCTIC SKUA: C.40 from Severn

Beach with one reaching Oldbury

Power Station. GREAT SKUA: Six

P a g e | 20

from Severn Beach. LITTLE TERN:

The first of the year from Severn

Beach. MANX SHEARWATER: The

first of the year from Severn Beach.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL: A 1st winter

past Severn Beach. POMARINE

SKUA: C.20 from Severn Beach. RED

KITE: One over the A38/ M5 at

Almondsbury.


Power Station.


Pools, Severn Beach. GREAT WHITE

EGRET: One over Ableton Land/


9th CETTI'S WARBLER: Two at Oldbury

Power Station. POMARINE SKUA:

One past Severn Beach.

11th LITTLE TERN: One from New

Passage. RED KITE: One over Horton.

12th GREENLAND WHEATEAR: Two from

Rushmead Lane, Marshfield.

13th GREENLAND WHEATEAR: One on


14th RED KITE: Two from Lovett's Wood

Farm, Hawksbury Upton.

15th CURLEW SANDPIPER: The first of the

year at Severn Beach. MONTAGU'S

HARRIER: A female over Pilning

Wetland. SPOONBILL: One on

Grebe Pond, Pilning Wetland.

17th CETTI'S WARBLER: One on Littleton

Warth. YELLOW-LEGGED GULL: A

third calendar year at Oldbury Power

Station.

19th CETTI'S WARBLER: Two at Orchard

Pools, Severn Beach. YELLOW-

LEGGED GULL: Third calendar year at


21st RED KITE: One over M5 around

Falfield.

22nd CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Orchard

Pools, Severn Beach. RED KITE: One

over Oldbury Power Station.

23rd YELLOW-LEGGED GULL: Third

calendar year at Oldbury Power

Station.

25th JACK SNIPE: A corpse on Pilning

Wetland. RED KITE: An adult over

New Passage also one near Cromhall.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL: Third

calendar year at Oldbury Power

Station.



27th RED KITE: Two over Wick.



30th RED KITE: One over New Passage.

JUNE

1st CETTI'S WARBLER: One around


2nd ARCTIC SKUA: Two off Severn Beach.

GREAT SKUA: Four from Severn

Beach. POMARINE SKUA: One from

Severn Beach. STORM PETREL: One

from Severn Beach.

4th RED KITE: Three over fields west of

Marshfield, two over Old Sodbury.




Pools, Severn Beach. MANX

SHEARWATER: Nine from Severn

Beach. YELLOW-LEGGED GULL: One

at Oldbury Power Station.

P a g e | 21

7th RED KITE: One over Chipping

Sodbury, one between Hillesley/

Hawkesbury Upton, one at Perry's

Farm, Doynton and one over Wesley

Avenue, Hanham.


Pools, Severn Beach, also one at

Oldbury Power Station. GOSHAWK:

One over Rushmead Lane,

Marshfield. MANDARIN: A female

over J14 M5 Thornbury. RED KITE:

One over High Street, Thornbury,

two over Lagoon II, Oldbury Power

Station and one over Hanging Hill,

Beach.


Sodbury.



over Tog Hill near Pennsylvania.

11th RED KITE: One over Frampton

Cotterell, one over Alveston and one

east over Wick. YELLOW-LEGGED

GULL: One at Oldbury Power Station.

12th RED KITE: One over Westerleigh

Common. YELLOW-LEGGED GULL:

One at Oldbury Power Station.

13th RED KITE: One over Alveston.



over Morton Way/ Butts Lane,

Thornbury.

16th HARRIER SPP: An unconfirmed

report of a possibly Montagu's at

Stoke Gifford.

17th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: A 2nd

summer on Northwick Warth. RED

KITE: One over Frampton Cotterell.

18th RED KITE: One over the A38 at

Thornbury. STONE CURLEW: One

heard at Shirehill Lane, Marshfield.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL: One at


19th RED KITE: One over the A46 at

Dyrham.

20th RED KITE: One over the M4 near

Hinton and one over Dyrham.

21st QUAIL: The first of the year calling

along Down Road, Marshfield.

22nd QUAIL: One from Down Road,

Marshfield.

23rd MEDITERRANEAN GULL: Eight past

New Passage also two 2nd calendar

year gulls, likely Mediterranean.

CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Orchard

Pools, Severn Beach. QUAIL: One

calling from Down Road, Marshfield.

RED KITE: One over the M5 near

Falfield.

24th EUROPEAN BEE-EATER: Two over

Mangotsfield Road, Mangotsfield.

RED KITE: One over Tormarton Road,

Marshfield.

26th COMMON CROSSBILL: One over

Severn Beach.


Sodbury. BUTTERFLIES: At least ten

Silver-washed Fritillaries and a White

Admiral at Lower Woods, Wickwar.

JULY

1st RED KITE: Four in the Frome Valley,

Chipping Sodbury, one over Cribbs

Causeway and one over Emerson's

Green Retail Park.

2nd CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Oldbury

Power Station. MEDITERRANEAN

GULL: An adult in the New Passage/

Northwick Warth.

P a g e | 22

3rd MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult at

Oldbury Power Station and a 1st

summer on Pilning Wetland.

4th QUAIL: One heard from Down Road,

Marshfield.

5th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult on

Pilning Wetland.

6th CETTI'S WARBLER: One heard at


7th RED KITE: One over the M4 J18

Tormarton and one at Lovetts Wood

Farm, Hillesley.

9th QUAIL: One calling from Down Road,

Marshfield.

10th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: A 2nd year

at Oldbury Power Station. QUAIL:

One from Tormarton Road,

Marshfield. ICELANDIC BLACK-

TAILED GODWIT: A summer adult on

Pilning Wetland.


Pilning Wetland.

13th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: A 1st winter

from Severn Beach.



MEDITERRANEAN GULL: A 2nd

summer on Pilning Wetland.

15th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: A juvenile

on Pilning Wetland and a sub-adult

down river from Oldbury Power

Station. QUAIL: One calling from

Down Road, Marshfield.

16th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: A 1st

summer and an adult on Pilning

Wetland. RED KITE: One over Old

Sodbury.


Pilning Wetland.

18th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: A juvenile

on Pilning Wetland.

19th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: At least

four on Pilning Wetland. RED KITE:

One over Chipping Sodbury.


Pilning Wetland. RED KITE: One

around J18/ M4 Tormarton.

21st EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR: One at Aztec

West, Almondsbury.

22nd MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult on

Pilning Wetland. RUFF: The first of

the year on Pilning Wetland.

23rd MEDITERRANEAN GULL: A juvenile

around Cake Pill, Aust Warth.

25th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: Two adults

on Pilning Wetland.

27th POMARINE SKUA: One from Severn

Beach.

28th ARCTIC SKUA: Two from Severn

Beach.

29th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult

from Thornbury Sailing Club.

AUGUST

1st COMMON SCOTER: One at Oldbury


GULL: A 1st winter and an adult from

New Passage.

2nd MEDITERRANEAN GULL: Two adults

in the New Passage/ Northwick

Warth/ Pilning Wetland area.

3rd MEDITERRANEAN GULL: A 1st

summer in the New Passage/


area.

P a g e | 23

5th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult

and a 1st winter in the New Passage/

Northwick Warth area. RED KITE:

One over Old Sodbury.

6th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: Four in the

New Passage/ Northwick Warth area.


Northwick Warth. PIED

FLYCATCHER: The first of the year at

Frampton Cotterell.

8th GRASSHOPPER WARBLER: One at

New Passage STW.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult

from New Passage.

9th RING-NECKED PARAKEET: One over

the Territorial Army garden at New

Passage.

10th MANDARIN: One at Oldbury Power

Station. MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An

adult from New Passage/ Northwick

Warth.

11th MARSH HARRIER: A juvenile from


MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult at

New Passage. RING-NECKED

PARAKEET: A female on Abbott

Road, Severn Beach.

12th LITTLE EGRET: At least twelve at

Severn Beach. LITTLE STINT: Three

the first of the year on Littleton

Warth. RING-NECKED PARAKEET: A

female on Abbott Road, Severn

Beach.

13th MANDARIN: A drake at Oldbury

Power Station. RING-NECKED

PARAKEET: A female on Abbott

Road, Severn Beach.

15th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult at

Oldbury Power Station. RING-

NECKED PARAKEET: A female on

Abbott Road, Severn Beach.

16th RING-NECKED PARAKEET: A female

on Abbott Road, Severn Beach.

WOOD SANDPIPER: Three 1st

winters on Pilning Wetland.

17th CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Littleton

Brick Pits with one around Orchard

Pools, Severn Beach. WOOD

SANDPIPER: Four 1st winters on

Pilning Wetland.



OSPREY: An adult over Western

Distribution Park, Severn Beach. RED

KITE: Two from the Hillesley area.

WOOD SANDPIPER: Four on Pilning

Wetland.

19th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult at

New Passage. WOOD SANDPIPER:

Four on Pilning Wetland.

20th WOOD SANDPIPER: Four on Pilning

Wetland. YELLOW-LEGGED GULL:

One opposite Tormarton Road

cemetery, Marshfield.

21st MARSH HARRIER: A juvenile/ female

Marsh Harrier over Down Road,

Marshfield. WOOD SANDPIPER: Four

on Pilning Wetland.

22nd MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult

from New Passage. WOOD

SANDPIPER: Four on Pilning

Wetland.

23rd CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Littleton

Warth. WOOD SANDPIPER: Three on

Pilning Wetland.

24th HARRIER SPP: A juvenile/ female

Hen/ Montagu's in the Huntingford

area. WOOD SANDPIPER: Two on

Pilning Wetland.

25th WOOD SANDPIPER: Two on Pilning

Wetland again.

P a g e | 24

26th BARNACLE GOOSE: Four the first of

the year on Littleton Warth. MARSH

HARRIER: A juvenile/ female from

Down Road, Marshfield. RED KITE:

One over New Passage. YELLOW-

LEGGED GULL: A juvenile at New

Passage. WOOD SANDPIPER: Two on

Pilning Wetland.

27th BARNACLE GOOSE: Four in the

Thornbury Yacht Club/ Littleton

Warth area. WOOD SANDPIPER: Two

on Pilning Wetland.

28th BARNACLE GOOSE: Four in the

Littleton Warth area. WOOD

SANDPIPER: One on Pilning Wetland.

SEPTEMBER

1st MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult in

the New Passage/ Northwick Warth/

Pilning Wetland area.

2nd MARSH HARRIER: A male over Butt

Lane, Thornbury. TREE SPARROW:

One near the Chapel at Shepperdine.

3rd MARSH HARRIER: A juvenile/ female

around Orchid/ Rushmead Lane,

Marshfield.

4th WOOD SANDPIPER: One over

Shepperdine.

5th WOOD SANDPIPER: A 1st winter on

Pilning Wetland.

6th MEDITERRANEAN GULL: One in the


RED KITE: One over Elberton. WOOD

SANDPIPER: A 1st winter on Pilning

Wetland.

8th MANDARIN: An eclipse drake on

Kingsgate Park, Yate. WOOD


Wetland.


Pilning Wetland.


Pilning Wetland.

11th AVOCET: One in the Northwick

Warth/ Pilning Wetlands. WOOD


Wetland.

12th CETTI'S WARBLER: Four on Littleton

Warth. WOOD SANDPIPER: A 1st

winter on Pilning Wetland.



GULL: One in the New Passage/

Northwick Warth area. WOOD


Wetland.

14th LEACH'S PETREL: One from Severn

Beach.

15th BLACK TERN: The first of the year in

the Northwick Warth/ Pilning

Wetland area.


Pilning Wetland. WRYNECK: One

around Severn Lodge Farm, New

Passage.

17th CETTI'S WARBLER: One from


18th MARSH HARRIER: A 2nd calendar

male on Pilning Wetland.

20th CETTI'S WARBLER: Three on

Littleton Warth.

21st MEDITERRANEAN GULL: A winter

adult on BAWA playing fields Filton.

22nd SHORT-EARED OWL: One from Aust

Warth.

P a g e | 25

25th GREY PHALAROPE: One at New

Passage.


Wetland. SHORT-EARED OWL: One

over Goose Green Way, Yate.

28th HEN HARRIER: A 'ringtail' over New

Passage.

29th CETTI'S WARBLER: Two at Orchard


OCTOBER

2nd GREY PHALAROPE: One from New

Passage.

3rd JACK SNIPE: Two on Pilning Wetland.

RED-THROATED PIPIT: An adult on

Pilning Wetland.

4th GREAT WHITE EGRET: Two in the


RED-THROATED PIPIT: An adult on

Pilning Wetland.

5th JACK SNIPE: One on Pilning Wetland.

6th SHORT-EARED OWL: One at Aust.

SPOTTED REDSHANK: One in the




9th JACK SNIPE: One in the New

Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Pilning

Wetland area. SHORT-EARED OWL:

One at Aust.

10th CANADA GOOSE: A S. Glos record,

311 at Oldbury Power Station. JACK

SNIPE: One in the New Passage/


area. SHORT-EARED OWL: One from

Aust.

11th SHORT-EARED OWL: One from Aust.

13th CETTI'S WARBLER: One from Lagoon

II, Oldbury Power Station with

another at Pilning Wetland.

COMMON CROSSBILL: A female/

immature over New Passage.

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER: One at

Kingsgate Park, Yate.

14th AVOCET: Two at The Pill, New

Passage. BEARDED TIT: A male on

Lagoon II, Oldbury Power Station.

RING OUZEL: A 1st winter male on

Chipping Sodbury Common.

15th YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER: One at

the Science Park, Emerson's Green.

16th CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Littleton-

upon-Severn. COMMON CROSSBILL:

Eight north-east over Aust Cliffs.

FIRECREST: One opposite Caroline

Cottage, New Passage.

17th BLACK-NECKED GREBE: A winter

adult on 1st Sentry Box Pool, Pilning

Wetland. CETTI'S WARBLER: One

from Grebe Pond, Pilning Wetland

with another at Littleton-upon-

Severn. JACK SNIPE: One on Pilning

Wetland. HEN HARRIER: A 'ringtail'

over the lagoons, Oldbury Power

Station SHORT-EARED OWL: One

from Aust Warth. WATER PIPIT: One

on Northwick Warth. YELLOW-

BROWED WARBLER: One above

Severn View Services, Aust.

18th CETTI'S WARBLER: Two at Oldbury

Power Station. COMMON

CROSSBILL: Two at Oldbury Power

Station with a further six at Aust

Cliffs, then six at Aust Warth and five

over New Passage. GOOSANDER:

Two past New Passage/ Northwick

Warth. HEN HARRIER: A juvenile/

female over Down Road, Marshfield.

RING-NECKED PARAKEET: One in the


WATER PIPIT: One north-east over

Oldbury Power Station. YELLOW-

P a g e | 26

BROWED WARBLER: One at

Kingsgate Park, Yate.

19th CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Grebe

Pond, Pilning Wetland. HEN

HARRIER: A juvenile/ female at Down

Road, Marshfield.

20th BEARDED TIT: A female at Lagoon II,

Oldbury Power Station. DARTFORD

WARBLER: A female south of Severn

Beach.

24th JACK SNIPE: Two from Aust Warth.

25th JACK SNIPE: Two on Aust Warth.

26th RED KITE: Two over Keystone Yard,

Horton.

27th GREAT WHITE EGRET: One towards


GREENLAND WHEATEAR: One

between New Passage and the

Second Severn Crossing.

SPOONBILL: A juvenile/ 1st on Pilning

Wetland Wader Scrape.

28th FIRECREST: One at Orchard Pools,

Severn Beach. RING OUZEL: A 1st

winter male on Pilning Wetland.

SPOONBILL: A juvenile/ 1st winter on

Pilning Wetland Wader Scrape.

WATER PIPIT: Two on Northwick

Warth.

29th FIRECREST: At least one at Orchard

Pools, Severn Beach. RING OUZEL: A

1st winter male on Pilning Wetland.

SPOONBILL: A juvenile/ 1st winter on


WATER PIPIT: At least three on

Northwick Warth.

30th SPOONBILL: A juvenile/ 1st winter on


31st BLACK REDSTART: A female/ 1st

winter on Pilning Wetland. CETTI'S

WARBLER: One from Orchard Pools,

Severn Beach. RING OUZEL: A 1st

winter male on Pilning Wetland.


Warth. SPOONBILL: A juvenile/ 1st

winter on Pilning Wetland Wader

Scrape.

NOVEMBER

1st DARTFORD WARBLER: One south of

Severn Beach. RING OUZEL: One

along Rushmead Lane, Marshfield.

SHORT-EARED OWL: One south of

Severn Beach.

2nd CETTI'S WARBLER: One from Lagoon

III at Oldbury Power Station.

MANDARIN: A male on The Lake,

Oldbury Power Station. PURPLE

SANDPIPER: One south of Severn

Beach.

3rd COMMON CROSSBILL: Ten over Aust

Cliffs. PURPLE SANDPIPER: One from

Severn Beach.


Pools, Severn Beach. FIRECREST:

Two at Orchard Pools, Severn Beach.

HAWFINCH: Three at Orchard Pools,

Severn Beach. JACK SNIPE: One

south of Severn Beach. PURPLE

SANDPIPER: One south of Severn

Beach. SHORT-EARED OWL: One

south of Severn Beach and one from

Aust Warth. WATER PIPIT: One on

Northwick Warth.


winter at Oldbury Power Station.

CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Orchard

Pools, Severn Beach. FIRECREST:

Two at Orchard Pools, Severn Beach.

6th GLOSSY IBIS: A juvenile/ 1st winter

on Pilning Wetland, New Passage.

BLACK REDSTART: Two around The

Jetty, Oldbury Power Station.

FIRECREST: Two at Orchard Pools,

Severn Beach. NORDIC JACKDAW:

P a g e | 27

One on Pilning Wetland, New

Passage.

7th BLACK REDSTART: Two 1st winters

around The Jetty and Lagoon III,

Oldbury Power Station with another

from Northwick Warth. FIRECREST:

Two around Orchard Pools, Severn

Beach. GLOSSY IBIS: One on Pilning

Wetland, New Passage. NORDIC

JACKDAW: One on Pilning Wetland,

New Passage. SHORT-EARED OWL:

One over Aust Warth. WATER PIPIT:

Five in the New Passage/ Northwick

Warth/ Pilning Wetland.

8th BLACK REDSTART: Two around The

Jetty, Oldbury Power Station.

GLOSSY IBIS: One on Pilning

Wetland, New Passage. WATER

PIPIT: Three in the New Passage/


area.

9th BLACK REDSTART: A juvenile/ 1st

winter around The Jetty, Oldbury

Power Station. FIRECREST: One at



Wetland, New Passage. GREY

PHALAROPE: One at Shepperdine.

HAWFINCH: An unconfirmed two

over Pilning Wetland. WATER PIPIT:

Four on Pilning Wetland.

10th COMMON CROSSBILL: One over



Wetland, New Passage. SHORT-

EARED OWL: One south of Severn

Beach. WATER PIPIT: Three on

Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland.


Pools, Severn Beach and one at Aust

Cliff. GLOSSY IBIS: One on Pilning


EARED OWL: One from Aust Warth.

12th GLOSSY IBIS: One on Pilning

Wetland, New Passage. HAWFINCH:

One over Lagoon III, Oldbury Power

Station. SHORT-EARED OWL: One at

Oldbury-on-Severn near Thornbury

Yacht Club. WATER PIPIT: Three in

the Northwick Warth/ Pilning

Wetland area.

13th BLACK REDSTART: A juvenile/ 1st

winter in 'The Jetty' area, Oldbury

Power Station. GLOSSY IBIS: One on

Pilning Wetland, New Passage. GREY

PHALAROPE: One near Lagoon I,

Oldbury Power Station. LEACH'S

PETREL: One from Severn Beach.

POMARINE SKUA: One from Severn

Beach. WATER PIPIT: One in the


area.

14th GLOSSY IBIS: One on Pilning

Wetland, New Passage.

15th BLACK GUILLEMOT: A 1st winter

from Severn Beach. GLOSSY IBIS: A

juvenile/ 1st winter on Pilning

Wetland, New Passage. LEACH'S

PETREL: Three from Severn Beach

and New Passage. MEDITERRANEAN

GULL: Two from Severn Beach.

16th GLOSSY IBIS: A 1st winter on Pilning

Wetland, New Passage. LEACH'S

PETREL: Up to three from Severn

Beach. WOODPIGEON: C.10,000

south-east over Kingswood, Bristol.


Wetland, New Passage.

GOOSANDER: A drake past New

Passage. SHAG: One past Severn

Beach.


Wetland, New Passage. POMARINE

SKUA: One from Severn Beach

around. RED-THROATED DIVER: One

upriver at Severn Beach. SHAG: One

past Severn Beach. WATER PIPIT:

P a g e | 28

Five on Pilning Wetland, New

Passage. YELLOW-LEGGED GULL: A

1st winter from Severn Beach.



EARED OWL: One over Kingswood,

Bristol.


Wetland, New Passage. WATER

PIPIT: One on Pilning Wetland, New

Passage.

21st GREY PHALAROPE: One past Severn

Beach. WATER PIPIT: One on Pilning

Wetland today.

22nd BEARDED TIT: One heard from


BLACK REDSTART: One at the Water

Works, Oldbury Power Station.

CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Lagoon

II, Oldbury Power Station with

another on Pilning Wetland.

COMMON SCOTER: Twelve were

from Severn Beach. WATER PIPIT:

One on Pilning Wetland.

23rd CETTI'S WARBLER: One from Grebe

Pond, Pilning Wetland. WOODCOCK:

30+ around The Lodge, Lower

Woods, Wickwar.

25th CETTI'S WARBLER: One from Grebe

Pond, Pilning Wetland. GOOSANDER:

A pair over Pilning Wetland. WATER

PIPIT: One on Pilning Wetland.


Wetland. WATER PIPIT: One on

Pilning Wetland.

27th BLACK-THROATED DIVER: One from

Severn Beach. SHORT-EARED OWL:

One between Oldbury Power Station

and Thornbury Yacht Club.

28th BLACK REDSTART: Two 1st winters at

Oldbury Power Station. CETTI'S

WARBLER: One at Oldbury Power

Station. FIRECREST: One near


29th ARCTIC SKUA: Two from Severn

Beach. POMARINE SKUA: One from

Severn Beach.

30th ARCTIC SKUA: One down river from

Oldbury Power Station. GREAT

NORTHERN DIVER: One past Severn

Beach.

DECEMBER

1st POMARINE SKUA: One from Severn

Beach.

2nd JACK SNIPE: One from Aust Warth.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL: A 3rd winter

from Severn Beach.

3rd MEDITERRANEAN GULL: An adult on

Pilning Wetland.

5th JACK SNIPE: Seven from Aust Warth.

6th BLACK REDSTART: A 1st winter

around The Jetty, Oldbury Power

Station. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER:

One over Aust Warth. MANDARIN:

C.20 on Dodington Park Lakes,

Dodington. MEDITERRANEAN GULL:

A 1st winter on Pilning Wetland.

SHORT-EARED OWL: One at Aust

Warth and one from Lagoon III,


7th CETTI'S WARBLER: Three at Oldbury

Power Station. GOOSANDER: A

drake from the New Passage/

Northwick Warth area. SHORT-

EARED OWL: One at Oldbury Power

Station. WATER PIPIT: One from the


10th RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: A 1st

winter/ female on the Wader Scrape,

Pilning Wetland.

11th GOOSANDER: A female from New

Passage. RED-BREASTED

P a g e | 29

MERGANSER: A 1st winter/ female on

Pilning Wetland. YELLOW-LEGGED

GULL: Two adults near ASDA,

Marsham Way, Longwell Green.

12th MARSH HARRIER: A juvenile from


RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: A 1st

winter/ female on Pilning Wetland.


Wetland. RED-BREASTED


Pilning Wetland. SHORT-EARED

OWL: One on Pilning Wetland.

WATER PIPIT: One on Northwick

Warth.

14th GOOSANDER: A drake on the R.

Avon around The Lock Keeper,

Willsbridge. RED-BREASTED


Pilning Wetland.



WATER PIPIT: Two from Northwick

Warth.



WATER PIPIT: Two from the Pilning

Wetland area.



from Aust Warth. WATER PIPIT:

Three in the Northwick Warth/

Pilning Wetland area.

18th JACK SNIPE: Two at Oldbury Power

Station. WATER PIPIT: Two on

Northwick Warth.

19th RED KITE: One from Littleton Warth.

20th BLACK REDSTART: A 1st winter/

female around the Water Works,

Oldbury Power Station. CETTI'S

WARBLER: One on Pilning Wetland.

JACK SNIPE: Two at Yate. SHORT-

EARED OWL: One from Aust Warth.

WATER PIPIT: Three in the New

Passage/ Northwick Warth area.

23rd BLACK REDSTART: A 1st winter/

female at the Jetty and Water

Works, Oldbury Power Station.

CETTI'S WARBLER: One at Oldbury

Power Station with one on Pilning


from Aust Warth. WATER PIPIT: One

on Northwick Warth.

25th BLACK REDSTART: Two 1st winter/

female types around the Jetty and

Water Works at Oldbury Power

Station. SHORT-EARED OWL: One

towards Thornbury Sailing Club,

Oldbury.


Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station.

27th WATER PIPIT: Five on Northwick

Warth.

28th GREAT WHITE EGRET: One from Aust

Warth. MEDITERRANEAN GULL: A

winter adult on Northwick Warth.


Warth. WATER PIPIT: One in the


area.




Warth. WATER PIPIT: Three on

Northwick Warth.


winter around the Jetty, Oldbury

Power Station. JACK SNIPE: Four on

Aust Warth. MEDITERRANEAN GULL:

An adult on Pilning Wetland.

31st WATER PIPIT: Three on Northwick

Warth.

©TBOSG S. Glos Diary 2015

P a g e | 30

THE S. GLOS LIST

In 2015 215 birds were logged in the recording area – 201 species and fourteen forms.

Some of the highlights this year though included Green-winged Teal, Red-breasted

Merganser and Goosander early in the year but sadly no Garganey. Grey Partridge

are just about clinging on in the Marshfield area.

Three of the four divers were logged (all in November) with both Storm and Leach's

Petrel in June and September respectively.

Some great ‘herons’ were bagged - Great White Egret, White Stork, Glossy Ibis,

Spoonbill and Common Crane and a splendidly ‘showy’ Black-necked Grebe posed

for photographers for a day in October.

All three harriers put in an appearance as did Goshawk and Osprey. On the wader

front Avocet, Stone Curlew, Spotted Redshank and Grey Phalarope were all enjoyed

to varying degrees. Pomarine Skua and Black Guillemot were the most outstanding

seabirds.

On a more exotic front Ring-necked Parakeet, European Bee-eater and Wryneck

were seen as were Penduline and Bearded Tit.

A difficult and elusive Red-throated Pipit was eventually ‘ticked’ as were Dartford

Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler and Firecrest.

On the ‘finch’ front Tree Sparrow, Common Crossbill and Hawfinch rounded out the

list.

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE S. GLOS LIST

There was just one addition to the S. Gloucestershire list this year and a pretty

remarkable one it was too! A fine Penduline Tit - remiz pendulinus was photographed

on March 11th at Dyrham Park, Dyrham by Mick Sheldon. See the entry in the

systematic list and full story in the articles section below.

With the addition of Penduline Tit the S. Gloucestershire list at the end of 2015

stands at 321 - 291 full species and 30 forms. The 2015 list can be found on page 78.

P a g e | 31

SYSTEMATIC LIST - SPECIES

The S. Gloucestershire systematic list follows that of the BOU publication - A

Checklist of Birds of Britain (8th edition) 2013. Each taxon is separately headed

followed by the vernacular name, scientific name, total number of occurrences to

end of 2014 in parentheses, total in 2015 and status in italics. All rare and scarce birds

are listed here with full species in capitals and forms in lower case.

All sightings of rare and scarce birds are subject to ratification by the appropriate

rarities committee.

SWANS BEWICK’S SWAN cygnus columbianus (C.240) 0 Scarce winter visitor

A complete blank in 2015 with no birds recorded.

WHOOPER SWAN cygnus cygnus (C.25) 0 Rare winter visitor

As with Bewick’s Swan no reports were received for this species this year.

GEESE BEAN GOOSE anser fabilis (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

The last and as yet only record of Bean Goose comes from 1998.

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE anser brachyrhyncus (C.10) 0 Very rare vagrant

Last recorded in S. Glos in 1996.

EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE anser albifrons (C.2,400) 0 Scarce winter visitor

Last recorded in S. Glos in 2014.

BARNACLE GOOSE branta leucopsis (C.170) 4 Very scarce winter visitor

Four birds (of unknown origins) were present with Canada Geese on Littleton Warth

for three days in August from the 26th - 28th.

RED-BREASTED GOOSE branta ruficollis (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

The only genuine record of this species for S. Glos was recorded in 1909 at Oldbury-

on-Severn. In 2015 a rather splendid male was present in the Northwick Warth/

Pilning Wetland area on and off from mid-March until mid-April but was considered

to be of captive origins.

P a g e | 32

TBOSG.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE alopochen aegyptiacus (5) 0 Very rare feral visitor

No reports were received for this species this year.

RUDDY SHELDUCK tadorna ferruginea (C.20) 0 Rare vagrant

No reports were received for this species this year.

DUCKS MANDARIN aix galericulata (C.525) c.30 Very scarce introduced resident

The first to be encountered this year was on March 1st on Dodington Lakes,

Dodington where four birds, two males and two females, were present.

A female was seen next on June 8th in flight from a moving vehicle at J14 M4

Thornbury before heading towards Heneage Court Pools, an eclipse drake was

noted on shore at Oldbury Power Station on August 10th and was seen again in the

same area on August 13th, another eclipse drake was seen on Kingsgate Park, Yate

on September 8th, a winter male was seen on The Lake, Oldbury Power Station on

November 2nd and a flock of around birds were present rounded out the year on

Dodington Park Lakes, Dodington on December 6th.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL anus carolinensis (C.5) c.2 Very rare vagrant

In January a fine drake was first seen in front of the flash on Northwick Warth on the

1st. It was subsequently reported on and off commuting between Aust Warth and

P a g e | 33

Northwick Warth between the 23rd and 31st but regularly noted at the mouth of

Cake Pill from Aust Warth. In February presumably the same drake was seen again

from Aust Warth on the 21st. In April the same or another drake was seen from

Severn Beach in the morning on the 5th.

Pete Hazelwood.

Vic Savery.

GARGANEY anus querquedula (C.90) 0 Scarce passage migrant

No sightings of this dapper duck in S. Glos since April 2014.

RED-CRESTED POCHARD netta rufina (7) 0 Very rare vagrant

No reports this year the last was seen at Oldbury Power Station in January 2013.

P a g e | 34

RING-NECKED DUCK aythya collaris (4) 0 Extremely rare transatlantic vagrant

The last one to occur in the recording area was in November 2000 so long overdue!

SCAUP aythya marila (40) 0 Rare passage migrant

Our last encounter was in December 2010.

LONG-TAILED DUCK clangula hyemalis (20) 0 Very rare passage migrant

It’s been twelve years since the last one was seen (May 2003) a male on that

occasion…

VELVET SCOTER melanitta fusca (6) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

…and even longer since any of these have been seen! (November 1996)

SMEW mergellus albellus (11) 0 Rare vagrant

No reports of this elegant duck have been received since November 2010.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER mergus serrator (C.70) 5 Scarce winter visitor

One of the best years for this species in S. Glos with five birds reported. A drake was

present briefly at New Passage before flying downriver on January 23rd then three

males were watched drifting down river from Severn Beach on April 5th though

were seen earlier at Oldbury Power Station and a 1st winter/ female was present on

Pilning Wetland from the 10th - 16th December.

Paul Bowerman.

GOOSANDER mergus merganser (C.185) c.15 Scarce winter visitor

The second best year ever for this species in S. Glos with around fifteen birds

reported!

P a g e | 35

JANUARY: A male and female were present on the R. Avon around The Lock Keeper

near Keynsham Weir from the 30th until February 7th when they were joined by

another drake on the 8th with an additional pair there on the 11th (five in total).

APRIL: A male was seen in flight upriver past Thornbury Yacht Club on the 4th and a

female was seen in flight upriver close in before landing on the water at

Shepperdine on the 10th.

OCTOBER: Two were seen in flight north-east past New Passage/ Northwick Warth

around on the 18th.

NOVEMBER: A drake was seen heading down river past New Passage at 12:15 on the

17th and a pair were seen in flight north-west over Pilning Wetland on the 25th.

DECEMBER: A drake was reported from the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area on

the 7th, a 1st winter/ female was seen from New Passage around 16:20 on the 11th

and a drake was present on the R. Avon around The Lock Keeper near Keynsham

Weir on the 14th.

TBOSG.

P a g e | 36

GAME QUAIL coturnix coturnix Passage migrant and scarce summer visitor

As in 2014, an extremely poor year! All reports come from the Marshfield

stronghold.

Quail Bird Days 2015

Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Totals

Down Road 3 3 6

Tormarton Road 1 1

Totals 3 4 7

EARLIEST: One was heard calling from the 'set aside' on the west side of Down

Road, Marshfield on June 21st. LATEST: One was heard calling from in fields from

Tormarton Road, Marshfield on July 10th. HIGHEST COUNT: One on all dates.

DIVERS

Paul Bowerman.

P a g e | 37

RED-THROATED DIVER gavia stellate (C.18) 1 Very rare vagrant

One was seen to fly north-east upriver at Severn Beach and over the Second Severn

Crossing around 10:30 on November 18th.

BLACK-THROATED DIVER gavia arctica (3) 1 Extremely rare vagrant

One was seen around 08:40 on November 27th drifting south-west down river

towards 'The Pipes' from Severn Beach.

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER gavia immer (12) 2 Very rare vagrant

Two birds this year, the first was seen in flight south-west past Severn Beach around

10:20 on November 30th, the second was watched flying high to the west over Aust

Warth late afternoon on December 6th.

PACIFIC DIVER gavia pacifica (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

It is highly unlikely we’ll ever seen one of these transatlantic vagrants in the Severn

Estuary again…?

SEABIRDS CORY’S SHEARWATER calonectris diomedea (2) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Eleven years have slipped silently by since this species was last reported. Occurring

in winter the two records thus far are from January and November.

SOOTY SHEARWATER puffinus griseus (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Forty-one years have slipped silently by since this species was last reported… The

only record so far comes from September 1974.

BALEARIC SHEARWATER puffinus mauretanicus (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Last seen in 1988 it’s likely that storms in September will bring the next one…!

STORM PETREL hydrobates pelagicus (C.200) 2 Scarce, usually storm driven

At least two birds were seen from the sea wall at Severn Beach from late afternoon

into the evening on June 2nd.

LEACH’S PETREL oceanodroma leucorhoa (C.550) c.10 Scarce, usually storm driven

Two were watched around 19:20 from Severn Beach on September 14th. One was

noted from Severn Beach in the morning on November 13th with at least three on

the 15th and up to three on the 16th. One of these birds was grounded and taken

into care where it made a full recovery and was successfully released.

P a g e | 38

BLACK-BELLIED STORM PETREL fregetta grallaria (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Yes we’ve had one! How close to zero are the chances of another…!

SHAG phalacrocorax aristototelis (C.40) 2 Very scarce vagrant

Two reports this year, one was seen mid-morning on November 17th from Severn

Beach heading north-east upriver and one was watched past Severn Beach heading

south-west down river on November 18th.

Dan White, Vic Savery.

HERONS BITTERN botarus stellaris (C.6) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

None reported in 2015 the last was from the first winter period in 2011.

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON nycticorax nycticorax (2) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

The last time this species was recorded in S. Glos was in 1986.

P a g e | 39

CATTLE EGRET bubulcus ibis (2) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

No reports of this species in 2015.

LITTLE EGRET egretta garzetta Uncommon resident

The status of this species in S. Glos has changed significantly so reference here is

limited to the highest count. Eight were seen together at Oldbury Power Station on

March 20th.

GREAT WHITE EGRET casmerodius albus (8) 5 Extremely rare vagrant

The best year ever for this species with multiple sightings but sadly no

photo’s…now there’s a challenge.

The first of five sightings was of one in flight over Ableton Land and Orchard Pools,

Severn Beach on May 8th, next was two individuals seen briefly in the New Passage/

Northwick Warth area around on October 4th, then one was seen to fly in off the

estuary towards Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station on October 27th where it

headed downriver and was lost to view over Littleton Warth and one was seen

flying low south-east and inland from Aust Warth on December 28th.

WHITE STORK ciconia ciconia (8) 1 Extremely rare vagrant

An adult was seen flying high over New Passage, parallel to the second Severn

Crossing and heading towards Newport/ Cardiff on April 21st.

Dan White.

P a g e | 40

GLOSSY IBIS plegadis falcinellus (1) 2 Extremely rare vagrant

A juvenile/ immature was seen very briefly at Kingswood, Bristol on January 14th

before being lost to view heading south and a juvenile/ 1st winter was present on

Pilning Wetland, New Passage from November 6th - 20th.

TBOSG.

Dan White.

P a g e | 41

SPOONBILL platalea leucorodia (C.20) 2 Rare vagrant

One was seen briefly on Grebe Pond before flying south over Pilning Wetland, New

Passage around on May 15th and a juvenile/ 1st winter was present on Pilning

Wetland Scrape from October 27th until at least mid-morning on October 31st.

COMMON CRANE grus grus (C.4o) c.12 Rare vagrant

Records of Common Crane in the recording area are 'clouded' by birds from The

Great Crane Project so with that in mind here are this year’s sightings…

MARCH: A flock of five were seen heading north-west over Olveston on the 18th and

one was seen on the 27th in flight over Pilning Wetland, Northwick Warth before

departing north east.

APRIL: Five were watched for ten minutes over Tytherington before gaining height

and moving south on the 5th and one probably this species, was seen circling over

Streamleaze, Thornbury on the 13th before departing north.

MAY: Two were noted in flight over Oldbury Power Station on the 4th gaining

height and departed south-west where they were seen over Thornbury Yacht Club

before continuing down river over the central span of the Severn Bridge.

Pete Hazelwood.

P a g e | 42

GREBES SLAVONIAN GREBE podiceps auritus (5) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Sadly this species has not been seen in S. Glos since 2010. With just five previous

records it remains a much sought after regional rarity.

BLACK-NECKED GREBE podiceps nigricollis (3) 1 Extremely rare vagrant

After an absence of some sixteen years a winter adult was found on Sentry Box

Pool, Pilning Wetland, New Passage just after 10:00 on October 17th where it

remained until dusk.

Mark Coller.

Brian Lancastle.

P a g e | 43

RAPTORS HONY BUZZARD pernis apivorus (8) 0 Very rare vagrant

Last recorded in S. Glos in May 2011.

RED KITE milvus milvus Scarce passage migrant

The status of Red Kite has changed significantly since the first record in 1957 so

entries in this year’s annual review are restricted to earliest/ latest dates, highest

counts and unusual sightings.

Red Kite bird days 2015

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total

1 10 9 14 28 10 4 1 2

2 81

EARLIEST: One was seen heading

north over Old Sodbury on

February 5th.

LATEST: One was seen in flight

over Downend Sport Centre,

Downend at 10:00 on December

29th.

HIGHEST COUNT: Four were seen

in the Frome Valley area at

Chipping Sodbury around 14:15 on

July 1st.

TBOSG.

BLACK KITE milvus migrans (2) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Though there have been two previous records none have been seen since March

2010.

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE haliaetus albicilla (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Just one historical record that of an immature male ‘obtained’ sometime in

December 1871 at Dodington Park, Dodington.

P a g e | 44

MARSH HARRIER circus aeruginosus (C.40) c.7 Rare visitor and passage migrant

2015 was probably the best ever year for this species in S. Glos! A female/ immature

was the first to be seen this year moving north-east from Chittening Warth and was

observed from a stationary vehicle at Severn Beach on April 18th, another juvenile

was seen at the east end of Rushmead Lane, Marshfield on August 11th and was

noted as 'hunting its way south' and a juvenile/ female was seen heading north-east

over Down Road, Marshfield on August 21st with the same or another in the same

area on August 26th. A male was seen in flight south over Butt Lane, Thornbury on

September 2nd and a juvenile/ female was showing very well around Orchid/

Rushmead Lane, Marshfield on September 3rd. A 2nd calendar male was watched

on September 18th hunting over the reed bed on Pilning Wetland before drifting

east and a presumed juvenile lifted from the main reed bed of Lagoon II at Oldbury

Power Station on December 12th subsequently heading south-east.

Paul Bowerman, TBOSG.

HEN HARRIER circus cyaneus (C.50) 3 Rare visitor and passage migrant

A 'ringtail' was reported in flight over New Passage on September 28th then

another 'ringtail' was seen in flight over the lagoons at Oldbury Power Station on

October 17th. A juvenile/ female was seen in flight over Down Road, Marshfield and

roosting in 'set-aside'. It was seen leaving the overnight roost on October 19th then

high to the west.

P a g e | 45

MONTAGU’S HARRIER circus pygargus (7) 1 Extremely rare vagrant

An adult female was seen soaring on thermals over Pilning Wetland, New Passage

on May 15th before drifting high north east into clouds where it was lost to view.

GOSHAWK accipiter gentiles (C.50) 3 Rare visitor and passage migrant

Two were reported in March, one was seen on thermals with Common Buzzard and

Red Kite in the Rushmead Lane area at Marshfield on the 17th before departing

south-east and one was watched in roller-coaster display flight a kilometre upriver

and inland of Shepperdine on the 25th. In June another was reported over

Rushmead Lane, Marshfield on the 8th.

OSPREY pandion haliaetus (C.40) 7 Rare passage migrant

There were more Ospreys seen this year than in any previous year with a record

seven individuals being reported!

Spring passage kicked off in April when one was seen heading north over Yate on

the 6th, then one was seen in flight north over Cribbs Causeway on the 7th and

surprisingly a second was seen north over the same site on the 8th. One was seen

drifting north-east high over Severn Beach on the 10th, one was seen for a minute or

so drifting high west over Kingswood, Bristol on the 13th and one was seen in flight

north over Hallen on the 15th.

Autumn passage dished up

just one sighting when an

adult was seen high over

Western Distribution Park,

Severn Beach heading south

east on August 18th.

Vic Savery.

P a g e | 46

RED-FOOTED FALCON falco vespertinus (2) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. Just two previous records - 1974 and 2014.

RAILS AND CRAKES SPOTTED CRAKE porzana porzana (2) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

The only S. Glos record of this species comes from September and October 1891…

so… we’re well overdue another.

CORNCRAKE crex crex (16) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

This species was first documented in 1938 and our most recent was a calling bird

heard on Chipping Sodbury Common in July 2011.

WADERS BLACK-WINGED STILT himantopus himantopus (2) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Just two records of this elegant wader exist – 1848 and 1997.

AVOCET recurvirostra avosetta (C.145) 5 Very scarce passage migrant and winter

visitor

The first birds of the year were seen in March when one was seen on the foreshore

on Northwick Warth from New Passage on the 6th. Then one was seen at high tide

on the shore at Thornbury Yacht Club, Oldbury-on-Severn around Pillhead Gout on

the 12th with the same or another in the same area in the evening on the 19th.

None then until September when one was seen in the Northwick Warth/ Pilning

Wetlands area on the 11th and lastly in October, two were present and seen feeding

around Chestle Pill, New Passage on the 14th.

Pete Hazelwood.

P a g e | 47

STONE CURLEW burhinus oedicnemus (4) 1 Extremely rare vagrant

One, probable this species was heard calling several times from fields on the south

side of Shirehill Lane, Marshfield in the afternoon on June 18th.

KENTISH PLOVER charadrius alexandrines (5) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. Just five previous records - 1947, 1949, 1993, 2004 and 2006.

DOTTEREL charadrius morinellus (C.30) 0 Rare passage migrant

Not reported in 2015. Our best year for this species was 1992 when fourteen were

present in the Tormarton area in May.

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER pluvialis dominica (2) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015 this species last occurred in 2013.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER calidris pusilla (2) 0 Extremely rare vagrant


TEMMINCK’S STINT calidris temminckii (2) 0 Extremely rare vagrant


WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER calidris fuscicollis (C.5) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. Just five previous records – 1985, 1989, 1995, 1998 and 2001.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER calidris melanotos (8) 0 Very rare vagrant

No reports of this transatlantic vagrant this year.

Brian Lancastle.

P a g e | 48

PURPLE SANDPIPER calidris maritime (c.320) 1 Very scarce winter visitor

Just one reported this year when it was present and mixing with Turnstone in 'The

Pipes' area around one kilometre south of Severn Beach from the 2nd - 4th

November.

BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER limicola falcinellus (2) 0 Extremely rare vagrant


BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER tryngites subruficollis (3) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. Just three previous records – 1989, 1990 and 2003.

JACK SNIPE lymnocryptes minimus Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor

The status of Jack Snipe has changed significantly over the years in S. Glos so entries

in this year’s annual review are listed as earliest/ latest dates, highest counts and

Bird Days.

EARLIEST: Two reported by several observers on Pilning Wetland on October 3rd.

LATEST: A fresh corpse was found on Pilning Wetland on May 25th.

HIGHEST COUNT: Seven were counted from Aust Warth on December 5th.

Jack Snipe Bird Days 2015


NW/NP/ PWR 1 6 8 15

Orchard Pools 1 1

Aust Warth 7 3 2 4 1 4 21

Littleton Warth 1 1

Severn Beach 1 1 2

Yate 1 4 2 7

OPS 5 1 2 8

Marshfield 2 2

Totals 16 9 3 1 10 2 16 57

P a g e | 49

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER limnodromus scolopaceus (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

This species has not been seen in S. Glos since the first record in October 1977.

SPOTTED REDSHANK tringa erythropus (C.100) 2 Very scarce passage migrant

Two this year. A spring bird at Thornbury Yacht Club around Pillhead Gout on April

22nd, and an autumn bird at New Passage/ Northwick Warth area on October 6th.

WOOD SANDPIPER tringa glareola (C.25) c.6 Rear passage migrant

2015 was one of the best years for this elegant wader in S. Glos.

SPRING:

APRIL: A spring adult was seen on the scrape of Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station

in the evening on the 23rd.

AUTUMN:

AUGUST:

Three juvenile/ 1st winters were

seen on Pilning Wetland,

Northwick Warth on the 16th

and 23rd increasing to four from

17th - 22nd with two from the

24th - 27th and one on the 28th.

SEPTEMBER:

One was seen and heard in flight

low overhead from Shepperdine

over Oldbury Power Station and

to the south-west on the 4th,

and a juvenile/ 1st winter was

seen on Pilning Wetland late

afternoon on the 1st Sentry Box

Pool from the 5th - 16th. Paul Bowerman.

TEREK SANDPIPER xenus cinereus (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Just one of these far eastern delights has been recorded in S. Glos – September 1986

at Severn Beach… Oh for another!

P a g e | 50

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE phalaropus lobatus (2) 0 Extremely rare vagrant


GREY PHALAROPE phalaropus fulicaria (C.25) c.5 Rear passage migrant

All five of this year’s reports come from the second winter period. In September one

was seen briefly from the seawall at New Passage on the 25th and in October one

was reported briefly on the 3rd from New Passage. In November, one was seen at

close range at Shepperdine on November 9th where it was noted flying along the

sea wall to settle briefly on the Tidal Reservoir at Oldbury Power Station with the

same or another noted in the same area on the 13th and one was seen in flight north

past Severn Beach on the 21st.

Karle Burford.

SKUAS

TBOSG.

P a g e | 51

POMARINE SKUA stercorarius pomarinus (C.225) c.30 Very scarce

Another excellent year for this species in S. Glos with in excess of twenty individuals

recorded.

MAY: (C.27) Up to six were seen from Severn Beach on the 5th included three pale

morph and three dark morph. Around twenty were noted throughout the day from

Severn Beach on the 6th which included a flock of twelve. One pale morph was seen

past Severn Beach on the 9th.

JUNE: (1) A pale morph was seen from Severn Beach on the 2nd.

JULY: (1) A single pale morph was reported from Severn Beach during a late

afternoon/ early evening sea watch on the 27th.

NOVEMBER: (C.2) A pale morph adult with full 'spoons' was seen from Severn Beach

in the morning on the 13th and again in the afternoon on the 18th. A pale morph

adult with full 'spoons' was seen heading down river from Severn Beach on the

29th.

DECEMBER: (1) A pale morph adult was seen from Severn Beach heading down river

around 10:15 on the 1st. It was subsequently seen from New Passage around 13:00

before heading up river towards the Severn Bridge.

ARCTIC SKUA stercorarius parasiticus Uncommon - generally storm driven

EARLIEST: Two, one light, one dark morph were noted low up river past Oldbury

Power Station at 17:55 on April 17th. LATEST: A light morph was seen heading slowly

down river from Oldbury Power Station around 15:45 on November 30th. HIGHEST

COUNT: Around forty were seen throughout the day from Severn Beach on May 6th.

Arctic Skua Bird Days 2015


Severn Beach

55 2 2

2

61

OPS

2 3

1

6

Totals

2 58 2 2

3

67

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LONG-TAILED SKUA stercorarius longicaudus (7 ) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

No reports this year and was last seen in September 2008.

AUKS BLACK GUILLEMOT cepphus grille (1) 1 Extremely rare vagrant

A 1st winter was seen distantly but well mid-morning on November 15th from the

sea wall at Severn Beach. This is just the second ever record for this species in S.

Glos. The only previous record comes from 1998.

Amazingly the bird was photographed by at least two people! The top shot was

taken by Brian Thompson, the bottom by Vic Savery and are surprisingly good

considering the weather conditions at the time.

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LITTLE AUK alle alle (C.30) 0 Rare vagrant

Not a regular occurrence by any stretch of the imagination. Just thirty have been

logged historically the last in 2010.

PUFFIN fratercula artica (6) 0 Extremely rare

The last report for S. Glos was 2014 and that was the first for twelve years!

TERNS ROSEATE TERN sterna dougallii (2) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. Just two previous records – 1990 and 1997.

LITTLE TERN sterna albifrons (C.265) 3 Scarce passage migrant

Three spring birds this year and all in May; At least two were seen from Severn

Beach on the 6th and one was seen fishing and roosting from New Passage on the

11th.

Paul Bowerman.

WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN chlidonias leucopterus (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Just one definate record of this species from way back in 1990…! There’s also an

unconfirmed report of one from even earlier…in 1977.

GULLS MEDITERRANEAN GULL larus melanocephalus Scarce visitor

The status of Mediterranean Gull has changed significantly since the first record in

1979; subsequent entries are restricted to earliest/ latest dates, highest counts and

Bird Days.

P a g e | 54

EARLIEST: An adult in fields near Thornbury Yacht Club, Oldbury on January 22nd.

LATEST: A winter adult was present on Pilning Wetland on December 30th.

HIGHEST COUNT: A remarkable flock of eight adults (possibly ten) were seen in

flight down river past New Passage in the evening on June 23rd.

Mediterranean Gull bird days 2015

Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total

Severnside 2 2 11 20 21 3 2 4 65

OPS 1 4 1 6

Filton 1 1

Totals 1 2 2 11 24 22 4 2 4 72

TBOSG.

FRANKLIN’S GULL larus pipixcan (3) 0 Extremely rare vagrant


LAUGHING GULL leucophaeus atricilla (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. There’s only ever been one… May 2012.

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SABINE’S GULL larus sabini (C.30) 0 Rare vagrant

Of the thirty or so birds recorded in S. Glos the most recent was June 2012.

RING-BILLED GULL larus delawarensis (5) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

The last definite sighting was in December 2008.

CASPIAN GULL larus cachinnans (8) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

None this year and none since 2008.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL larus michahellis (C.240) c.8 Scarce visitor

TBOSG.

APRIL: A near adult was seen on the estuary at Oldbury Power Station on the 13th

and a presumed adult was present on the shore by the tidal reservoir at Oldbury

Power Station the evening on the 27th.

MAY: A third calendar year was present on the shore and Tidal Reservoir at Oldbury

Power Station throughout the month and was last seen on the 25th.

JUNE: A moulting individual was seen on the shore at Oldbury Power Station on the

6th, 11th - 12th and 18th.

AUGUST: A 3rd/ 4th calendar year was present in ploughed fields opposite

Tormarton Road cemetery, Marshfield on the 20th and a juvenile was present in the

New Passage area on the 26th.

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NOVEMBER: A juvenile/ 1st winter was seen from Severn Beach on the 18th.

DECEMBER: A 3rd winter was seen from Severn Beach heading across the estuary

on the 2nd and two adults were watched on the grass verge on Marsham Way,

Longwell Green on the 11th.

Vic Savery.

ICELAND GULL larus glaucoides (16) 0 Very rare vagrant

None reported in 2015, the last was from May 2012.

GLAUCOUS GULL larus hyperboreus (9) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

None reported in 2015, the last was from April 2012.

SANDGROUSE, DOVES, PIGEONS AND PARAKEETS PALLAS’S SANGROUSE syrrhaptes paradoxus (C.10) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Although around ten of these super birds have been seen historically in S. Glos none

have been recorded in the area for 118 years… too long!

TURTLE DOVE streptopelia turtur Rare passage migrant

They are, it seems, as rare as sandgrouse nowadays and although they were once a

locally breeding bird you’ll only encounter them on passage.

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RING-NECKED PARAKEET

psittacula krameri (C.20) 2

Rare feral introduced/ escape

One flew south west and calling

over the Territorial Army garden at

New Passage on August 9th and a

female, presumably this individual

was seen at New Passage on the

9th and was present in a garden on

Abbott Road, Severn Beach from

the 11th - 16th at least. The same or

another was reported in the New

Passage/ Northwick Warth area on

October 18th.

Rod Lees.

OWLS AND NIGHTJAR LONG-EARED OWL asio otus (C.45) 0 Rare vagrant

Not recorded in S. Glos since 2013.

SHORT-EARED OWL asio flammeus Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor

Vic Savery.

P a g e | 58

The status of Short-eared Owl has changed significantly since the first record in

1942; subsequent entries are restricted to earliest/ latest dates, highest counts and

Bird Days.

EARLIEST: One was reported from Aust Warth at 19:30 on September 22nd. LATEST:

One was seen on Aust Warth on April 20th. HIGHEST COUNT: Two in January and

November.

Short-eared Owl bird days 2015.

Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total

Aust Warth 9 3 2 1 8 3 6 32

NW/NP/PilnWet 1 1

Severn Beach 2 4 6

OPS 2 3 5

Yate 1 1

Kingswood 1 1

Totals 9 3 2 2 2 8 10 10 46

NIGHTJAR caprimulgus europaeus (14) 1 Very rare vagrant

One was both seen in flight and heard at 17:00 on July 21st at Aztec West,

Almondsbury. It was then heard until at least 17:30 in trees in the car park around

'Atkins Buildings', 500 Park Avenue, Almondsbury. The finder was also able to make

a sound recording of the bird at the time.

SWIFT, HOOPOE AND BEE-EATER ALPINE SWIFT apus melba (3) 0 Extremely rare vagrant


EUROPEAN BEE-EATER merops apiaster (1) 2 Extremely rare vagrant

At least two individuals were heard over Mangotsfield Road, Mangotsfield between

15:00 and 15:15 on June 24th. Arriving from the south-west, they appeared to be

fairly low down calling for a couple of minutes before departing north-west towards

Page Park and Downend. This is just the second time that this species has been seen

in S. Glos but the first multiple occurrence.

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HOOPOE upupa epops (C.25) 0 Rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015 after being seen (with the exception of 2012) every year since

2008.

WOODPECKERS WRYNECK jynx torquilla (22) 1 Rare vagrant

One was seen briefly at 08:50 around the farm outbuildings of Severn Lodge Farm,

New Passage/ Northwick Warth on September 16th.

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER dendrocopos minor Rare breeding resident

Probably enormously under recorded in S. Gloucestershire!

ORIOLES & SHRIKES GOLDEN ORIOLE 0riolus oriolus (6) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

No records of this species in S. Glos since 2007.

RED-BACKED SHRIKE lanius collurio (C.15) 0 Very rare vagrant

No records of this species in S. Glos since 2013.

GREAT GREY SHRIKE lanius excubitor (C.5) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. Just five previous records – 1891, 1982/ 83, 2009 and 2014.

WOODCHAT SHRIKE lanius senator (C.4) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. Just four previous records – 1887, 1989, 1994 and 2011.

CROWS HOODED CROW corvus cornix (6) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

No reports from 2015 and was last seen in S. Glos at New Passage in April 1994.

TITS PENDULINE TIT remiz pendulinus (0) 1 Extremely rare vagrant

A new bird for S. Glos! This (probable female) was both seen and photographed on

the morning of March 11th in trees in the car park of Dyrham Park near Dyrham.

Read the full story in the articles section below.

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BEARDED TIT panurus biarmicus (7) 3 Very rare vagrant

A male was seen well in the main reedbed on Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station on

October 14th, a female was seen at Lagoon II on October 20th and one was heard at

dusk on November 22nd calling from the main reed bed around Lagoon II.

Pete Hazelwood, Pavlo Zaltowski.

WILLOW TIT parus montanus (C.35) 5 Rare resident

Four were reported from Lower Woods, Wickwar on December 23rd, two in the

Chase Hill area (ST: 7388) and two from South Moon Ridings (ST: 7488) with one

reported from South Moon Ridings on December 28th.

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LARKS & PIPITS WOODLARK lullula arborea (15) 0 Very rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015 the last was a ‘fly-over’ at New Passage in October 2011.

SHORELARK eremophila alpestris (C.8) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

No reports of this species from the recording area since January 2010.

RICHARD’S PIPIT anthus richardi (C.10) 0 Very rare vagrant

After a spate of sightings 2015 drew a blank.

WATER PIPIT Anthus spinoletta scarce winter visitor and passage migrant

LATEST: One in the Cake Pill area on Aust Warth on April 5th. EARLIEST: One on

Northwick Warth on October 17th. HIGHEST COUNT: Five in the New Passage/

Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland area on November 7th, 18th and December 27th.

Water Pipit Bird Days 2015


NW/ NP/ PWR 9 4 2 6 31 27 79

Aust Warth 1 1

OPS 1 1 2

Totals 9 4 3 1 7 31 27 82

Paul Bowerman.

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RED-THROATED PIPIT anthus cervinus (2) 1 Extremely rare vagrant

An adult was heard calling and seen briefly on Pilning Wetland on October 3rd

before being 'pinned down' in the north-west corner of the reserve. It was still

present on the 4th and remained until at least early evening.

Mark Coller.

SWALLOWS RED-RUMPED SWALLOW hirundo daurica (4) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

There are four definite records of this species from S. Glos and two unconfirmed.

WARBLERS & CRESTS CETTI'S WARBLER cettia cetti Locally rare

EARLIEST: One from Lagoon III, OPS on January 9th. LATEST: One at Orchard Pools,

Severn Beach on December 29th. HIGHEST COUNT: Three at OPS on December 7th.

Cetti's Warbler Bird Days 2015


Pilning Wetland 2 1 3 4 4 14

Orchard Pools 24 19 5 23 1 1 2 1 3 1 80

Aust Cliffs 1 3 7 2 1 14

Littleton Warth 1 3 7 2 13

OPS 1 1 9 4 2 2 3 3 5 30

Totals 1 2 25 28 11 23 3 7 19 11 11 10 151

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GRASSHOPPER WARBLER locustella naevia Very scarce migrant and rare breeder

EARLIEST: One was heard 'reeling' from scrub near Severn Beach Railway Platform

and one from brambles on the north-east side of Lagoon II, Oldbury Power Station

on April 13th. LATEST: One was present in Elders near the ST Works at New Passage

on August 8th.

Grasshopper Warbler Bird Days 2015


NW/ NP/ PWR 1 1 2

Severn Beach 3 3

OPS 3 3

Totals 7 1 8

AQUATIC WARBLER acrocephalus paludicola (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015 and the only record to date was in August 1976 at Littleton.

MARSH WARBLER acrocephalus palustris (3) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. There are three previous records – 1909, 1935 and 2009.

ICTERINE WARBLER hippolais icterina (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015 and the only record to date was in May 1992 at Brentry.

DARTFORD WARBLER sylvia undata (6) 1 Extremely rare vagrant

A female was seen in brambles around one kilometre south of Severn Beach in 'The

Pipes' area at 13:45 on October 20th and the same or another was heard in scrub

again around one kilometre south of Severn Beach on November 1st.

SUBALPINE WARBLER sylvia cantillans (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015 and the only record to date was in May 2004 south of Severn

Beach.

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER phylloscopus inornatus (7) c.4 Extremely rare vagrant

The first was heard calling around 08:30 on the 13th in trees on the west/ south side

of Kingsgate Park, Yate and was subsequently heard and seen briefly around 10:30

but not again by dusk. One was seen several times in a mixed flock around 13:30 on

P a g e | 64

the 15th in the hedgerow adjacent to the Science Park at Emerson's Green and one

was both seen and heard in a small copse above Severn View Services, Aust on the

17th. Lastly the same or another was heard to call briefly again at Kingsgate Park,

Yate on the 18th.

WOOD WARBLER phylloscopus sibilatrix (C.45) 0 Scarce passage migrant

Not reported in 2015. With the exception of 2011 they have been noted in the

recording area every year since 2003.

FIRECREST regulus ignicapillus (C.45) 5 Rare passage migrant and winter visitor

MARCH: One was seen with Goldcrest on the 17th at Oldbury Power Station in

brambles at the steps from the main Rhine leading to Lagoon II.

OCTOBER: One was reported in trees opposite Caroline Cottage, New Passage on

the 16th and one was present at Ableton Lane, Severn Beach from the 28th - 31st.

NOVEMBER: One continued to show at Ableton Lane, Severn Beach from the 3rd –

9th with two from the 4th - 7th. One was seen in brambles alongside the reedbed on

the north-east side of Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station on the 28th.

Lee Gardiner.

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STARLING ROSE-COLOURED STARLING sturnus roseus (3) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. There have been just three previous records – 2000/ 2001,

2004 and 2012.

CHATS & THRUSHES NIGHTINGALE luscinia megarhynchos Rare summer visitor

A male was reported and heard briefly by several observers singing from the garden

of The Glen at New Passage on April 6th - 8th.

RED-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT luscinia svecica (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. There has been just one previous record – May 1998 at

Marshfield.

RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL tarsiger cyanurus (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. There has been just one previous record – February/ March

2014 at Marshfield.

BLACK REDSTART pheonicurus ochruros Very scarce winter visitor

EARLIEST: A female/ 1st winter was seen by the wardens building on Pilning Wetland

around 09:30 on October 31st. LATEST: A female/ 1st winter was seen on Littleton

Warth on March 20th. HIGHEST COUNT: Two at Oldbury Power Station in both

November and December.

Black Redstart Bird Days 2015


OPS 13 6 19

Pilning WR 1 1

Northwick 1 1

Aust Warth 1 1

Littleton Warth 1 1

Totals 2 1 14 6 23

P a g e | 66

Pete Hazelwood.

PIED WHEATEAR oenanthe pleschanka (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. There has been just one previous record – October 2011 at

Oldbury-on-Severn.

DESERT WHEATEAR oenanthe deserti (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Not reported in 2015. There has been just one previous record – December 2013 at

Severn Beach.

RING OUZEL turdus torquatus (C.65) 6 Very scarce passage migrant

APRIL: A male was seen between Lagoon III and the shore at Oldbury Power Station

on the 10th then a female spent most of the day on Chipping Sodbury Common on

the 14th. A male was seen in flight from New Pill towards Orchard Pools, Severn

Beach on the 21st and another male was found in fields on the east side of

Northwick Warth by the second sentry box on the 23rd and was present until at

least the 27th.

OCTOBER: A 1st winter (probably male) was seen on Chipping Sodbury Common on

the 14th and a 1st winter male was present in Hawthorn on the south-west side of

Pilning Wetland form the 28th - 31st.

NOVEMBER: One was 'heard only' from Rushmead Lane, Marshfield on the 1st but

could not be located in thick fog!

P a g e | 67

Dan White.

WAXWING WAXWING bombycilla garrulous Rare vagrant

The best year to date was 2005 when some 2,500 bird days were logged.

FINCHES & BUNTINGS TREE SPARROW passer montanus Very rare passage migrant

Two in fields and hedgerows from the Severn Way north of The Windbound at

Shepperdine ST: 624 972 on January 2nd with two again at the same site on March

8th. One from Patchway on March 21st and one probably this species in the lane

near the Chapel at Shepperdine on September 2nd.

TWITE carduelis flavirostris Rare winter visitor and passage migrant

Not recorded in 2015 and last seen in the area in November 2014.

COMMON REDPOLL carduelis flammea (C.10) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

The most recent sighting was in November 2013 at Oldbury Power Station.

COMMON CROSSBILL loxia curvirostra (C.150) c.30 Scarce passage migrant

2015 was a fairly good year for this species in the recording area. The first birds were

noted in April when one was both seen and heard at Oldbury Power Station on the

P a g e | 68

4th and in June one was seen and heard in flight north over Severn Beach on the

26th. A female/ immature flew over New Passage to the north-west on October 13th

and eight were noted in flight north-east over Aust Cliffs on October 16th. On

October 18th two were seen at Oldbury Power Station and six counted at Aust Cliffs

(four males and two females) subsequently seen in hawthorns at Aust Warth before

flying south-west towards New Passage where five of them were seen. Ten were

seen in flight north-east over Aust Cliffs on November 3rd and one was seen in flight

over Lagoon II, Oldbury Power Station on November 10th.

HAWFINCH coccothraustes coccothraustes (C.95) c.6 Scarce

Three were flushed from bushes around Orchard Pools, Severn Beach on November

4th before heading south. A wholly unconfirmed report of two seen in flight over

Pilning Wetland on November 9th and one, probably this species, was seen in flight

to the south-west of Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station on November 12th and

subsequently south-west along the shoreline.

LAPLAND BUNTING calcarius lapponicus (C.20) 0 Very rare vagrant

Not recorded in 2015 and last seen in the area in October 2013.

SNOW BUNTING plectrophenax nivalis (C.90) 0 Scarce winter/ passage migrant

Not recorded in 2015 and last seen in the area in October 2014.

CIRL BUNTING emberiza cirlus Extinct

Known as a resident in S. Gloucestershire in 1845 the last birds to be recorded here

were at Severn Beach in September 1975.

BLACK-HEADED BUNTING emberiza malanocephala (1) 0 Extremely rare vagrant

Just one report of this species exists for S. Glos that of a probable summer male

seen in a garden at Yate in June 2009.

P a g e | 69

SYSTEMATIC LIST - FORMS

Mark Coller.

Continental Cormorant phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (1) c.2

In March an adult was seen in flight upriver from New Passage on the 15th with the

same or another seen in flight upriver from Severn Beach on the 25th.

Nordic Jackdaw corvus monedula monedula (4) 1

One showing characteristics of this form was present briefly on Pilning Wetland,

New Passage on November 6th - 7th.

Scandinavian Rock Pipit anthus petrosus littoralis (C.12) 1

A summer plumaged individual was present on Northwick Warth around the 1st

sentry box in the morning on March 6th - 8th.

Greenland Wheatear oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa (UK)

A very good candidate of this form was present on Northwick Warth on April 9th;

Two birds present on Rushmead Lane, Marshfield on May 12th were probably of this

form, one of which was still present on the 13th; One was seen on the seawall rocks

between New Passage and the Second Severn Crossing in the afternoon on October

27th.

Many thanks to all contributors to this year’s review your help is invaluable and

hugely appreciated.

P a g e | 70

NOTABLE BIRDING EVENTS IN 2015

EARLIEST DATE RECORDS:

WHITE STORK: April 21st 2015 at New Passage.

GLOSSY IBIS: January 14th 2015 at Kingswood, Bristol.

RED-THROATED DIVER: November 18th 2015 from Severn Beach.

HOBBY: April 6th 2015 at Hanham.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER: March 12th 2015 at Severn Beach.

WOOD SANDPIPER: April 23rd 2015 at Oldbury Power Station.

ARCTIC TERN: March 29th 2015 at Severn Beach.

NIGHTINGALE: April 6th 2015 at New Passage.

Nordic Jackdaw: November 6th 2015 on Pilning Wetland.

LATEST DATE RECORDS:

GREEN-WINGED TEAL: April 5th 2015 at Severn Beach.

GREAT WHITE EGRET: December 28th 2015 at Aust Warth.

GLOSSY IBIS: November 20th 2015 on Pilning Wetland.

MARSH HARRIER: December 12th 2015 at Oldbury Power Station.

JACK SNIPE: May 25th 2015 on Pilning Wetland, New Passage.

WHIMBREL: December 12th 2015 Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland.

WOOD SANDPIPER: September 16th 2015 on Pilning Wetland, New Passage.

BLACK GUILLEMOT: November 15th 2015 at Severn Beach.

EUROPEAN BEE-EATER: June 24th 2015 at Mangotsfield.

PENDULINE TIT: March 11th 2015 at Dyrham Park, Dyrham.

RED-THROATED PIPIT: October 4th 2015 on Pilning Wetland.

SEDGE WARBLER: October 2nd 2015 at Oldbury Power Station.

FIELDFARE: April 14th 2015 at Chipping Sodbury.

Continental Cormorant: March 15th 2015 from New Passage.

Greenland Wheatear: October 27th 2015 at New Passage.

HIGHEST COUNT RECORDS:

CANADA GOOSE: 311 on October 10th 2015 at Oldbury Power Station.

GREAT WHITE EGRET: Two on October 4th 2015 on Northwick Warth.

WOODCOCK: 30+ in November 2015 at Lower Woods, Wickwar.

WOOD SANDPIPER: Four on August 17th 2015 on Pilning Wetland.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL: Eight/ ten on June 23rd 2015 from New Passage.

EUROPEAN BEE-EATER: Two on June 24th 2015 at Mangotsfield.

P a g e | 71

RARITY & SCARCITY OCCURRENCES IN 2015 (61)

A month by month review of the first sightings of rare and scarce birds in 2015:

January (11)

Green-winged Teal, Tree Sparrow, Jack Snipe, Short-eared Owl, Water Pipit, Cetti’s

Warbler, Ring-billed Gull, Glossy Ibis, Mediterranean Gull, Red-breasted Merganser and

Goosander.

February (1)

Red Kite.

March (9)

Mandarin, Avocet, Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Penduline Tit, Continental Cormorant,

Firecrest, Goshawk, Common Crane and Black Redstart.

April (11)

Common Crossbill, Nightingale, Osprey, Greenland Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Grasshopper

Warbler, Yellow-legged Gull, Marsh Harrier, White Stork, Spotted Redshank and Wood

Sandpiper.

May (5)

Pomarine Skua, Little Tern, Great White Egret, Montagu’s Harrier and Spoonbill.

June (3)

Storm Petrel, Quail and European Bee-eater.

July (1)

European Nightjar.

August (2)

Ring-necked Parakeet and Barnacle Goose.

September

(4)

Leach’s Petrel, Wryneck, Grey Phalarope and Hen Harrier.

October (5)

Red-throated Pipit, Yellow-browed Warbler, Bearded Tit, Black-necked Grebe and

Dartford Warbler.

November (8)

Purple Sandpiper, Hawfinch, Nordic Jackdaw, Black Guillemot, Shag, Red-throated

Diver, Black-throated Diver and Great Northern Diver.

December (1)

Willow Tit.

P a g e | 72

ARTICLES PENDULINE TIT – Remiz pendulinus

Dyrham Park, Dyrham, S. Gloucestershire: March 11th 2015.

It never fails…I’m always amazed at the sequence of events surrounding the finding

of rare and scare birds not only locally but nationally too. Another bizarre set of

circumstances came to light when discussing the occurrence of S. Gloucestershire’s

first ever Penduline Tit with its finder Mick Sheldon!

Alerted to the possibility of Penduline Tit at Dyrham Park (a photo of which was

posted to a Facebook group and annotated as possible Red-backed Shrike) by Paul

Taylor, Paul Bowerman and Steve Jones who suggested that local young talented

birder Katie Horrocks might be able to help. Eventually Steve, a member of the

group, was able to contact Mick and asked him if he’d be kind enough to get in

touch. He duly obliged giving TBOSG the opportunity to speak to him and discuss

this staggering find.

So the story begins… On Wednesday March 11th 2015, whilst on business in the

area, Mick (who hails from the West Midlands) found himself with a couple of hours

to kill before his next appointment. Typically Mick says…’I usually look for

somewhere local to visit whilst I’m waiting’… On this occasion fortuitously he

decided to pay a visit to the nearby National Trust historic building at Dyrham Park.

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On arrival at Dyrham Park at around 11:00 in drizzly, overcast and windy conditions,

Mick pulls into the site’s main car park and parks around 12o metre south of the

visitor centre to check out a stand of trees there. Soon spotting a Treecreeper he

tries (without much success) to take some shots. Whilst trying to get on to the

Treecreeper he spots another bird in trees close by. The bird looked fairly settle and

‘fluffed up’ said Mick as he managed to ‘crack off’ one shot before it moved back

into the trees towards the A46 where it was lost to view and could not be relocated.

Later Mick, having trawled through some identification guides and having shown

the photograph to others, thought it was possibly a Red-backed Shrike. The photo

was subsequently published to a closed Facebook group and annotated as such but

it was soon suggested that Penduline Tit more closely fitted the bill.

Mick was keen to point out that it was down to the sharp eyes of Katie Horrocks and

her suggestion of Penduline Tit that kicked off the whole process; so a hearty well

done to her without whom this amazing event might well have gone unrecorded.

It could be mooted that this individual was a returning bird from Devon where three

were first seen at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB Reserve, Topsham on December 7th

2014. Overwintering in the area they relocated to nearby Exminster Marshes

eventually settling at Darts Farm where all three were present on and off there until

the morning of March 2nd 2015.

Two birds were regularly reported from there until at least March 16th 2015 giving

ample time for the ‘missing’ individual to make its way to S. Gloucestershire.

Penduline Tits constitute a family of small passerines that are related to the true tits

which include species like Verdin and Fire-capped Tit. With the exception of Verdin

and Fire-capped Tit, they make elaborate basket like nests that hang from trees,

usually over water, and it’s from the nest construction that the name 'penduline'

derives.

The genus 'remiz' is almost exclusively Eurasian, ranging discontinuously from

Portugal and the tip of northern Morocco through to Siberia and Japan. Eurasian

Penduline Tit is migratory over parts of its range, with birds in northern Europe

moving south in the winter where birds in southern Europe remain close to their

breeding areas.

TBOSG - March 2015.

P a g e | 74

THE S. GLOS LIST 2015 SPECIES

Mute Swan

Bewick's Swan

Whooper Swan

Taiga Bean Goose

Pink-footed Goose

White-fronted Goose

Greylag Goose

Canada Goose

Barnacle Goose

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

Red-breasted Goose

Egyptian Goose

Ruddy Shelduck

Shelduck

Mandarin

Wigeon

Gadwall

Common Teal

Green-winged Teal

Mallard

Pintail

Garganey

Shoveler

Red Crested Pochard

Pochard

Ring-necked Duck

Tufted Duck

Greater Scaup

Common Eider

Long-tailed Duck

Common Scoter

Velvet Scoter

Goldeneye

Smew

Red-breasted Merganser

Goosander

Ruddy Duck

Red-legged Partridge

Grey Partridge

Quail

Common Pheasant

Red-throated Diver

Black-throated Diver

Great Northern Diver

Pacific Diver

Fulmar

Cory's Shearwater

Sooty Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

Balearic Shearwater

Storm Petrel

Leach's Petrel

Black-bellied Storm

Petrel

Gannet

Cormorant

Shag

Bittern

Night Heron

Cattle Egret

Little Egret

Great White Egret

Grey Heron

White Stork

Glossy Ibis

Spoonbill

Common Crane

Little Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Slavonian Grebe

Black-necked Grebe

Honey Buzzard

Red Kite

Black Kite

White-tailed Eagle

Marsh Harrier

Hen Harrier

Montagu's Harrier

Goshawk

Sparrowhawk

Common Buzzard

Osprey

Kestrel

Red-footed Falcon

Merlin

Hobby

Peregrine

Water Rail

Spotted Crake

Corncrake

Moorhen

Coot

Oystercatcher

Black-winged Stilt

Avocet

Stone Curlew

Little Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover

Kentish Plover

Dotterel

Golden Plover

American Golden Plover

Grey Plover

Lapwing

Knot

Sanderling

Semipalmated

Sandpiper

Little Stint

Temminck's Stint

White-rumped

Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

Dunlin

Broad-billed Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Ruff

Jack Snipe

Snipe

Long-billed Dowitcher

Woodcock

Iceland Black-tailed

Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Whimbrel

Curlew

Spotted Redshank

Common Redshank

Greenshank

Green Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Terek Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Turnstone

Red-necked Phalarope

Grey Phalarope

Pomarine Skua

Arctic Skua

Long-tailed Skua

Great Skua

Guillemot

Razorbill

Black Guillemot

Little Auk

Puffin

Sandwich Tern

Roseate Tern

Common Tern

Arctic Tern

Little Tern

Black Tern

White-winged Black Tern

Mediterranean Gull

Franklin's Gull

Laughing Gull

Little Gull

Sabine's Gull

Black-headed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Common Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Herring Gull

Caspian Gull

Iceland Gull

Glaucous Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Kittiwake

Pallas's Sandgrouse

Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon

Stock Dove

Woodpigeon

Collared Dove

Turtle Dove

Ring-necked Parakeet

Cuckoo

Barn Owl

Little Owl

Tawny Owl

Long-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Nightjar

Common Swift

Alpine Swift

Kingfisher

European Bee-eater

Hoopoe

Wryneck

Green Woodpecker

Great Spotted

Woodpecker

Less Spotted

Woodpecker

Golden Oriole

Red-backed Shrike

Great Grey Shrike

Woodchat Shrike

Jay

Magpie

Jackdaw

Rook

Carrion Crow

Hooded Crow

Raven

Penduline Tit

Bearded Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Marsh Tit

Willow Tit

Coal Tit

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Nuthatch

Treecreeper

Woodlark

Skylark

Shorelark

Richard's Pipit

Tree Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Red-throated Pipit

Rock Pipit

Water Pipit

Yellow Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

Sand Martin

Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow

House Martin

Cetti's Warbler

Grasshopper Warbler

Aquatic Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Marsh Warbler

Reed Warbler

Icterine Warbler

Dartford Warbler

Subalpine Warbler

Lesser Whitethroat

Common Whitethroat

Garden Warbler

Blackcap

Yellow-browed Warbler

Wood Warbler

Common Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

Goldcrest

Firecrest

Common Starling

Rose-coloured Starling

Spotted Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Robin

Nightingale

Red-spotted Bluethroat

Red-flanked Bluetail

Black Redstart

Common Redstart

Whinchat

Stonechat

Northern Wheatear

Pied Wheatear

Desert Wheatear

Ring Ouzel

Blackbird

Fieldfare

Song Thrush

Redwing

Mistle Thrush

Waxwing

Dipper

Wren

Dunnock

House Sparrow

Tree Sparrow

Chaffinch

Brambling

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Siskin

Linnet

Twite

Lesser Redpoll

Common (Mealy)

Redpoll

Common Crossbill

Bullfinch

Hawfinch

Lapland Bunting

Snow Bunting

Yellowhammer

Cirl Bunting

Reed Bunting

Black-headed Bunting

Corn Bunting

FORMS

Continental Cormorant

Greenland White F

Goose

Continental Greylag

Goose

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

Great Bustard

Icelandic Golden Plover

Tundra Ring Plover

Northern Dunlin

Greenland Dunlin

Black-tailed Godwit

Icelandic Redshank

Continental LBB Gull

Scandinavian Herring

Gull Kumlien's Gull

Scandinavian Rock Pipit

Blue-headed Wagtail

Channel Wagtail

Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Grey-headed Wagtail

White Wagtail

White-spotted

Bluethroat

Greenland Wheatear

Continental Song Thrush

Continental Blackbird

Icelandic Redwing

Scandinavian Chiffchaff

Siberian Chiffchaff

Northern Willow

Warbler

Continental Coal Tit

Nordic Jackdaw

Continental Jay

Continental Chaffinch

P a g e | 75

BUTTERFLIES

THE S. GLOS LIST 2015

SPECIES & FROMS

PAPILIONIDAE: 1

Swallowtail

HESPERIIDAE: 5

Small Skipper

Essex Skipper

Large Skipper

Dingy Skipper

Grizzled Skipper

PIERIDAE: 8

Clouded Yellow

Clouded Yellow (helice)

Brimstone

Large White

Small White

Wood White

Green-veined White

Orange-tip

RIODINIDAE: 1

Duke of Burgundy

Fritillary

NYMPHALIDAE: 24

Small P-bordered

Fritillary

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Dark Green Fritillary

Silver-washed Fritillary

SW Fritillary (valesina)

Marsh Fritillary

White Admiral

Red Admiral

Painted Lady

Large Tortoiseshell

Small Tortoiseshell

Camberwell Beauty

Peacock

Comma

Purple Emperor

Speckled Wood

Wall

Marbled White

Grayling

Gatekeeper

Meadow Brown

Monarch

Ringlet

Small Heath

LYCAENIDAE: 12

Green Hairstreak

Purple Hairstreak

Brown Hairstreak

White-letter Hairstreak

Small Copper

Brown Argus

Common Blue

Chalk Hill Blue

Adonis Blue

Silver-studded Blue

Holly Blue

Small Blue

TOTAL - 51

Those highlighted were recorded in 2015 – 31.

Marbled White and White-letter Hairstreak – TBOSG.

P a g e | 76

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the birds of south gloucestershire annual review 2015€¦ · northwick warth by paul bowerman. the...

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