1 merlin sand bay
2 short eared owl sand bay
25 grey plover sand bay
a party of 6 raven over the point and then drifted east
1 chiffchaff along bottom track on south side
Click on the months below to link directly to that month or press ctrl + F for a find dialogue box.
2006 records cut and pasted from the forum:
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
1st
1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher on R.Axe
2nd
5 purple sandpipers at birnbeck high tide roost
In the bay:
40 snipe
1 jack snipe
2 short-eared owl
15 reed bunting
also at Sand Point:
1 dartford warbler on the south slope nr swallow cliff
3 redpoll low south
2 great black-backed gulls east past middle hope
7th
At Woodspring bay:
4 golden plover in with 300+ lapwing
1 turnstone
1 chiffchaff at the STW
also recorded:
1 spotted redshank + a merlin on the clevedon side
Report of a Little Owl at Uphill quarry present for the last few weeks, also a water pipit recently.
8th
Uphill and Weston STW:
Little Owl in the quarry
Water pipit in the saltmarsh infront of the ex burnt out hide
12 Partridges, Merlin, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, common ducks.
Only Dunlin, Oycs and Curlews on the Axe on the rising tide.
14th
1 Common sandpiper on river axe
worlebury hill:
150 chaffinch, 4 bullfinch, 1 raven
2 nuthatch and 3 great spotted woodpecker at weston wood.
15th
12mph southerly wind
sand point:
70 curlew in off the sea from the north east in 3 groups
a trickle of herring and lesser black back gulls south
4 swans (prob mute) up channel
Yeo est:
1 golden plover, 30 grey plover, 1 chiffchaff
weston bay gull roost:
1600 black headed gull, 150 common gull.
At River Axe
5 Goosander (2 drakes)
4 Green Sandpipers
3 Tufted duck
1 Little Grebe.
17th
very little around this morning:
1 short-eared owl in sand bay.
couldn't relocate the dartford warbler nr the point
very quiet out to sea. just a few gulls passing through
350 Dunlin on weston beach
18th
Numbers of Purple sandpiper back up to 6
1 great black back gull on birnbeck pier
also 350 dunlin and 15 ringed plover on weston beach.
19th
now 7 purple sandpipers at birnbeck high tide roost.
great black back gull still hanging around the pier.
200 dunlin on weston beach with 10 ringed plover
200 dunlin roosting on black rock.
peregrine on shingle ridge at axe est. also there yesterday. probably eyeing up tomorrows breakfast, a nice fat Teal!
male tawny owl hooting in ashcombe park this evening
21st
1 merlin sand bay
2 short eared owl sand bay
25 grey plover sand bay
a party of 6 raven over the point and then drifted east
1 chiffchaff along bottom track on south side
Yeo Est:
2 Chiffchaffs on that dung heap behind the sea wall
2 Merlins together
2 Raven, 6 Tufties, Cetti's warbler singing, 2 Shoveler
No Grey Plover (all in Sand Bay I see!), Godwits, Knot, or Pintail
22nd
Uphill area:
Brambling calling behind the boatyard
Usual ducks including c5 Gadwall, no Little Owl, a Peregrine over.
1 Bar-tailed Godwit on the rising tide, plus lots of Redshank, Dunlin, Lapwing, 3 Little Egrets and a few Curlew.
24th
Weston STW:
1 spotted redshank.
1 water pipit on bank of r.axe nr stw
82 mute swan off accomadation road
The Bar-tailed Godwit still present at lunch time today.
25th
50 rock pipits on the marsh edge this morning including a group of 30 in the air together at one stage. also 20 skylark and 5 reed bunting.
very little on the point. 1 bullfinch and 3 song thrush were all that could be found.
increase in wildfowl today at weston stw:
114 mutes off accomodation road
40 Gadwall
20 pochard
40 wigeon
20 coot
20 shoveler
also 20+ skylark on r.axe banks
1-2 yellow-legged gulls in the weston bay roost this afternoon. first one i had straight away and then found another or the same an hour later. herring and black-headed gull numbers down on yesterday. plenty of common gulls. i counted 100 before the flocks started to arrive. also 220 dunlin on weston beach.
rob laughton had the bar-tailed godwit and a male merlin today.
27th
Weston STW:
4 Bullfinch all females feeding together. They looked to be feeding on newly developed buds. Also 1 Goldcrest.
On the pools:
60 Coot, 15 Gadwall, 50 Wigeon, 25 Pochard, 15 Shoveler, 10 Tufties.
1 Water Pipit on r.axe bank nr uv pools.
in the weston bay gull roost:
1400 black headed gulls and 150+ common gulls by 4:30PM
28th
Weston bay.
2000 black headed gulls in the roost this evening. one bird present and also seen yesterday has virtually all white wing tips looking like a med. also 200 common gulls.
1 barn owl hunting around the edges of the old tip this evening illuminated by the street lights.
30th
Weston STW:
1 Water Rail on ice on the uv pools. Unfortunately the bird was backlit and the glare on the water didn't help.
An increase in duck numbers. Wigeon up to 130 and Shoveler up to 30.
31st
Sand Bay:
3 Short-eared Owls and several gulls feeding on voles exposed by this mornings high tide.
Also 2 Water Rails pushed out the the marsh. 1 Flew out of the marsh and into brambles nr an air raid shelter.
Waders: 70 Redshank, 80 Curlew
1st
Axe Est
3 Bar-tailed Godwits
1 drake shoveler
2 Great black back Gulls
Weston Bay
1 Great Crested Grebe just off the shoreline
500 Dunlin
20 Ringed Plover
2nd
Weston Bay:
500 Dunlin
20 Ringed Plover
7 Knot
3 Bar-tailed Godwit
4th
Woodspring Bay:
Half a dozen grey plover in the bay
1 spotted redshank at the yeo
in the wsl stw: 7 shoveler, 10 tufties, 1 water rail, 1 cettis warbler, 4 little grebe, 1 pochard
Weston Bay:
1,850 Dunlin
40 Ringed Plover
4 Purple Sandpiper
2 peregrine
5th
3 Green Sandpipers on the axe
1 female Goosander on the axe
3 Black-tailed Godwit on the axe
130 Wigeon on axe and wildfowl lagoons
1 Bar-tailed Godwit Axe Est.
1 Barn Owl this evening perched in trees half way along the dual carriageway at 8:35PM. The trees border the old tip on the opposite side of the carriageway to Hutton Moor playing fields.
7th
6 purple sandpipers feeding on tideline at low tide off birnbeck.
25 Golden Plover on mud flats are mouth of Axe before being pushed off by high tide and then flew inland.
1 Merlin which i think was a male perched on shingle ridge.
9th
Barn Owl seen in flight over Weston old tip from moving car at 7.50pm approx. opposite Travel Inn.
adult yellow-legged gull coming to bread this evening on weston beach. the gulls were spread out in the roost this evening between the pier and uphill beach.
Wing tagged Great Bustard at Bleadon level with 120 Mute Swans this lunch time. Found by Richard Mielcarek. Julian T has confirmed that Orange tag 15 is the same one that was seen between Weston Zoyland and Middlezoy on 22nd January. Orange means the bird is from a 2004 introduction.
10th
still 6 Purple Sandpipers on rocks nr Birnbeck Pier
3 Knot roosing on mudflats on uphill beach
1 black-tailed godwit Axe Est
12th
At Sand Bay/Point this morning:
1000 Dunlin
2 Knot
44 Grey Plover
182 Herring/Lesser Black-backs west this morning over Sand Point. Ratio 70:30 in the Herring Gull favour. Drifting through in groups of 3 - 10.
1 Chiffchaff calling nr toilet block.
1 Mistle Thrush in fields adjacent to car park
13th
Moulting adult Med Gull roosting on Sand Bay mud flats until mid morning at least. Found by Paul G earlier this morning.
Also 6 Purple Sandpipers still present and the Great Bustard still present with 120 Mute Swans mid morning until it was flushed by a dog walker and flew towards Berrow.
Saw my first butterfly this lunchtime flying past my house, but by the time i got outside it had dissappeared so not sure which species it was.
14th
Male Black Redstart in car park of Madeira Court this morning. Initially seen under a car but then watched at the entrance of the court near a bed with 3 palm trees.
Number of Purple Sandpipers has increased to 7 this morning.
15th
male black redstart still in car park of madeira court by the three palm trees this morning.
2 adult Gannets together seen flying north past birnbeck towards sand point
1 Fulmar seen flying north past birnbeck towards sand point.
17th
At Weston Bay a 1st winter Med Gull coming to bread this evening. Also still around 1,000 black headed gulls, 150 common gulls, 200 herring gulls and 100 lesser black back gulls
18th
male Black Redstart still present although not in the same area. It was present on rooftops nr manilla crescent.
6 Short-eared Owls in Sand Bay.
At Sand Bay a female type merlin, 1 kestrel, 19 reed bunts, 3 stonechat and 30+ ripits
At Weston STW 1 common sand there, 1 male peregrine, 2 raven. No grey parts in the stubble but a flock of 42 skylarks and a stonechat.
Great Bustard still with mute swans
19th
male Black Redstart still at Madeira Court
1 Purple Sandpiper at birnbeck
2 Green Sandpiper on river axe.
400 Dunlin weston bay
10 ringed plover weston bay
25th
The current north and easterly winds seem to be non productive at the moment. Recorded:
30 Rock Pipits in marsh
1 Short-eared Owl in marsh
1 fem type Merlin on rocks nr point
26th
3 Purple sandpipers off birnbeck
1 male Black Redstart still at madeira court
1 male blackcap at madeira court
136 mute swans at bleadon level
1 great bustard at bleadon level
1 green sandpiper on river axe
60 fieldfare weston stw
1 barn owl weston stw
7+ stock dove weston stw
6 grey plover sand bay
Weston bay gulls roost this evening produced 1 moutling adult med gull coming to bread. Also 3,000 black-headed gulls
28th
5 Bewicks Swans in field opposite model racing club. 3 adults and 2 immatures.
1st
This mornings high tide covered the whole marsh in sand bay:
30 Snipe
1 water rail
2 short-eared owls
The Black-headed Gull seen on Weston Beach on 21st Feb with a metal ring has been identified as having a polish ring. The exact location in poland is still being looked in to.
2nd
at weston stw:
1 male merlin
30 golden plover flying around fields on somerset side
1 chiffchaff in rhynes nr stw
no sign of any bewicks in mute flock by 9:00AM
3rd
Sand Bay (marsh) at high tide today.
1 Short Eared Owl. 2 Merlin, 20 curlew, 2 Snipe,usual other waders and duck.
Birnbeck,5 Purple Sandpipers
4th
Beautiful morning, bright but cold.
Not much on the Point, a Chiffchaff and a female Stonechat the only noteable exeptions.
In the saltmarsh:
100+ Curlew
100 Shelduck
70 Redshank
50 Dunlin
4 Snipe
2 Short-eared Owls
10th
Unsuccessful with this mornings sea watch from birnbeck. 7:05 - 8:30 produced nothing. 10:40 - 11:40 produced 1 Kittiwake flying north at 10:45.
moulting adult Med Gull roosting with black-headed gulls at uphill this evening.
11th
Spent a lot of this morning looking for Wheatears after the ideal conditions during the night and into the morning. Some should have been recorded on the south coast today.
At sand point:
3 alba wagtails north. 1 looked and sounded like a white wagtail
33 meadow pipits north
9 stock dove north then came back and landed in trees briefly before flying north again.
An impressive flock of 14 Raven between swallow cliff and the trig. They were initially perched and then drifted towards middle hope where at least 5 were still present late morning.
2,000 Starling in fields between woodspring priory and sand bay.
1 grey plover in sand bay
Weston STW:
2 Great-crested grebes on UV pools
1 black-tailed godwit on river axe.
Great Bustard still present at Bleadon Level
13th
12mph southerly winds and high cloud cover.
Quiet this morning at Uphill. I did notice a trickle of Black-headed Gulls moving south. There have also been movements of black-headed gulls moving south on the south coast.
14th
9mph southerly wind.
At uphill this morning:
1 female Goosander in/off the sea and flew strongly south-east up the river axe
4 Stock dove east
5 Greenfinch east
1 Knot appeared to be a new arrival coming in from the west and landing with Oystercatchers on the mud flats.
The Polish ringed Black-headed gull still present this morning.
This evenings high tide at Uphill:
7 Golden Plover pushed off the mud flats by the incoming tide and flew towards brean.
1 probable adult yellow-legged gull:
16th
Weston STW:
2 Ruddy Ducks at the UV pools are new in today
the number of Pochard are significantly down. Yesterday 22, today only about half a dozen.
50 Wigeon on wildfowl lagoons
c.10 shoveler
also small numbers of Gadwall, Little Grebe, Coot, Tufted Duck
No sign of any Garganey yet.......
17th
1 Bar-tailed Godwit Axe Est
5 Black-tailed Godwit River Axe
2 Ruddy Duck STW UV pools
Great Bustard still on Bleadon Level
18th
Too cold for much! Saturday's high tide at the Axe, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit on Black Rock with the Oycs. Female Ruddy Duck on the UV pool, c30 Shoveler, only a few Tufties and Pochard.
Sunday's high tide in Sand Bay, 1 Ringed Plover, c30 Dunlin. Siskin over the house. Barwit on the beach at Uphill mid afternoon. Met a group of birders who had been up to the STW, who reported very little except a few Blactwits and usual duck (no Goldeneyes! Just thought I'd ask specifically)
20th
6 Blackwits this morning. 2 are showing head and body moult of summer plumage. They appear to be the race Limosa.
2 Ruddy Duck on UV pools.
21st
1 sand martin over UV pools briefly this morning
2 Ruddy duck on UV pools
5 black-tailed godwit (3 UV and 2 on r.Axe)
1 spotted redshank at brean cross sluice
22nd
At sand point this morning:
1 Chiffchaff singing by the toilet block
5 Stonechat in sand bay
40 meadow pipit east
several gulls moving east: 45 lesser black-backed gulls, 3 herring, 1 great black-backed gull
8 alba wagtails east
1 mute swan swimming around the south side of the point.
23rd
At sand point this morning:
1 Yellowhammer calling in sand bay
3 Siskin east
7 Bullfinch (6 in car park and 1 in/off the sea from the NW)
30 Meadow Pipit east
1 imm Mute Swan still present at the point
3 alba wagtails through 2 east and 1 in from the north and landed on middle hope.
24th
Movement of gulls over sand point this morning. Between 7:45 and 9:00:
385 Lesser black-backed gulls west
67 Herring gulls west
11 Black-headed gulls west
1 Common Gull west
Meadow Pipit passage dried up with only 6 moving east
At mid day:
1 Ruddy Duck on UV pools
6 Black-tailed Godwits on UV pools
104 Wigeon on Axe and wildfowl lagoons
70 Dunlin Uphill beach
25th
Sand Point was pretty quiet, the Mute Swan was on the the mud flats, the path up the side had a couple of Chiffchaffs flitting about. There was a constant stream of LBB Gulls overhead, but the best sighting was 2 Sandwich Terns flying SW close in passed the point at 07:30.
A White Stork has appeared in a field off the road to Brean at ST323544.
At Weston STW:
1 Common sandpiper nr brean cross sluice
2 Ruddy duck UV pools
6 Black-tailed Godwit on UV pools
30 Tufties on UV pools
At sand point mid morning to lunch time:
1 Chiffchaff
2 wheatear on middle hope
9 gannet flew past brean. I managed to relocate 5 flying up channel distantly towards clevedon
The white stork flew off to roost at 6:40 and appeared to land in the grounds of the cider farm shop.
A Woodcock flew across accomodation road by the model racing track at around 6:50.
26th
On Sand Point:
1,700 Lesser black-backed gulls west
400 herring gulls west
5 common gulls west
1 great black-backed gulls west
2 yellowhammers south
30 chaffinch south
2 bullfinch in/off sea from welsh coast and landed on middle hope
17 linnet west
16 Meadow pipit through
2 stock dove NW
The White Stork still present and was on the Avon side of the border mid morning with the bustard and mute swans.
1 Yellow Brimstone at Bleadon mid-day.
26th
1 Great Crested Grebe on the River Axe by the forge
3 Egyptian Geese flew up from pools somewhere beyond the Cider farm at 4:00, when tons of stuff was flushed by something (Osprey?), and flew north over the railway bridge near the forge, over Bleadon Level and kept going. An unexpected Avon, OS map and Weston tick! Unfortunately the Stork went the other way and landed in the ditch that runs south from Wick Farm.
27th
White Stork still present at 9:15 this morning in fields west of the cider farm shop.
Great Bustard still present also.
At Sand Point this morning:
1,000 Lesser black-backed Gulls
150 Herring Gulls
1 Common Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull
1 House Martin over middle hope
several passerines high flying north east were unable to be indentified.
1 Chiffchaff around nr the house singing.
2 Swallows north off birnbeck mid afternoon.
28th
A good moring in a 13mph south westerly wind. Between 7:30 and 8:45:
2 Common Scoter. 1 male and 1 female flew down channel at quarter distance and got level with the trig before turning round and flying upchannel again.
2 Willow Warbler. Both birds at the point. 1 flew towards swallow cliff and the other went into a bramble bush presumably to roost.
3 Swallow through
1 male Wheatear on middle hope (per a dog walker)
3 Siskin west
passerines moving west:
70 Goldfinch
60 meadow pipit
50 chaffinch
5 Linnet
8 Bullfinch (a group of 3 and a group of 5 + at least 4 grounded)
45 Greenfinch
Also hundreds of Lesser black-backed gulls and herring gulls moving west.
Other migrants moving North west:
45 Woodpigeon
2 Golden Plover
7 Stock Dove
Couldn't find the Stork in 2 visits this morning. Also could not find the Great Bustard although there are 13 Golden Plover in the field with the mute swans.
2 Greylag Geese in a flooded field along the back track to Weston STW.
the stork was still there this morning, per Andy & Wendy Slade. Usual place.
2 Sandwich Terns roosting on Black Rock over this evenings high tide.
29th
1 Firecrest seen nr trig point. I was unable to relocate in a brief search at 9:15
1 female wheatear on middle hope
1 sand/house martin high south
2 swallow west over the trig
c.100 passerines high west. was unable to id due to height
3+ chiffchaff
8 bullfinch 6 by car park and 2 nr trig
steady passage of lbbgulls and herring gulls
1 siskin west
Yesterdays coal tit turned out to be a great tit with a coal tit like call.
Middle Hope Nature Res:
4 Chiffchaff,
1 Willow Warbler,
2 Kestrel and a nice male Sparrowhawk sat up in the sun.
On top: 3 Wheatear
Plenty of activity from common species also a lot of insects.
Still some golden plover in the bustard field but no bustard and very few swans c.10.
30th
At Sand Point:
9 Wheatear on middle hope
2 Sand Martin west
2 Siskin west
1,000+ Gulls west mainly lesser black-back with a smaller number of herring and a 1 second winter Common Gull.
Small passage of passerines west including 25 Chaffinch, 30 Meadow Pipit and smaller numbers of alba wags, greenfinch, goldfinch.
Last night a Barn Owl was hunting in the area of last years Woodchat Shrike.
31st
Winds more westerly than on previous days at 13mph
At sand point:
6 Chiffchaff (2 on middle hope)
2 Wheatear on middle hope
50 meadow pipits west
15 chaffinch west
1 swallow north
1 yellowhammer west over middle hope
less gulls west than yesterday but still a steady trickle.
A Weston STW:
66 Mute Swans at Bleadon Level
7 Golden Plover with the Mute Swans. At least one of the birds is starting to show the black belly.
22 Mute Swans on the UV pools. One has a yellow ring on the right leg.
1 Ruddy Duck on UV pools
4-5 Black-tailed godwits
1st
light westerly wind at 10mph and good visibility.
At sand point this morning:
13 Swallow north
2 House Martin north
2 Sand Martin north
6 Chiffchaff (4 at the east end of middle hope)
4 Wheatear on middle hope (1 bird was present yesterday)
1 Blackcap singing nr the toilet block
1 Yellowhammer west over the down (wondering if this is the same lingering bird now)
1 Siskin east over the NR
Sandpoint: 1 Merlin flew NE.
2nd
Not brilliant weather, a stiff WSW wind and showers.
Good passage of Green and Goldfinch, 3 Swallows, 7 Siskins and 2 Yellowhammers.
Had 2 garden ticks this morning with 4 canada geese south and 4 sand martin south over the house.
At Uphill this morning:
1 male Wheatear
16 sand martin north over the woodchat field and along weston beach
2 swallow north west over the woodchat field and headed towards brean.
1 blackcap singing nr heronry
9 chiffchaff
1 short-eared owl hunting around the woodchat field
3 siskin over
10 Mipit west
steady tricle of herring and lesser black-backed gulls.
On brean:
1-4 chiffchaff
1 sand martin south east
5 swallow north having come in from the axe direction
3 siskin over
5 wigeon high north over weston bay
9 Mipit west
9 chaffinch west
4 greenfinch west
Almost like groundhog day at Weston STW:
1+ ruddy duck
5 black-tailed godwits
2 swallow north towards brean
3rd
Forecast today was wrong. The 7mph north-westerly was a c.10mph westerly. Tomorrows prediction looks promising. Lets hope it's right...
Little movement today at Uphill:
1 Swallow north
4 Chiffchaff
4 Goldfinch west
4 Mipit west
30 Black-headed Gull south-east up the Axe.
4th
At sand point this morning:
2 Tree Pipit 1 north-west and 1 circled and flew over middle hope
30+ Swallows
10+ Sand Martin
15 Chiffchaff + 2 in sand bay
1 Willow warbler middle hope
3 blackcap
1 redpoll west
7 wheatear inc 1 in sand bay
1 merlin female type on the point
5+ siskin
40 black headed gull up channel
10 common gull up channel
only c.100 lesser black-backed and herring gulls west this morning.
Middle Hope Nature Res:
1 guillemot at axe est late morning between the back end of brean down and black rock being mobbed by gulls.
On weston STW:
50 sand martin
3 swallow
1 yellow wagtail north over UV pools towards brean
30 shoveler
5th
NE wind c.8mph and clear skies.
At sand point:
1 male Redstart middle hope
35 Sand Martin in from the south and flew NE over middle hope
5 Swallow north over trig
10 chiffchaff (1 on point)
2 blackcap
100 Mipit upchannel over middle hope
4 Siskin
4 Wheatear (1 on point)
6th
7mph westerly wind and clear skies:
1 merlin on point
2 swallows and a sand martin north
1 fem wheatear on middle hope
5 chiffchaff
1 blackcap
7th
6-7mph westerly wind this morning. cloudy with occasional light showers.
At sand point this morning:
1 male redstart behind the house
15 chiffchaff
3 willow warbler
1 male yellowhammer singing near the car park
4 wheatear
5 swallow lingering around feeding
3 blackcap
50 meadow pipit (inc a flock of 40 lingering on middle hope)
8th
Much the same weather this morning with slightly stronger winds. The birds seem to be lingerers from yesterday mainly. Highlight of the day was a Porpoise moving slowly up channel close to Middle Hope.
1 Willow Warbler nr house
8 Wheatear
2 Blackcap
10 Chiffchaff
10 Swallow (4 moving north)
9th
good movement of birds early morning but dried up when the winds increased.
At sand point:
1 Bar-headed Goose in fields adjacent to R. Banwell
5-6 sand martin north
5 willow warbler
70 swallow north
1 house martin north
10 chiffchaff
2 blackcap
8 Wheatear
At Worlebury Hill:
1 male Redstart
9 Blackcap
1 willow warbler
4 chiffchaff
At Weston STW:
7 Wheatear
10 Sand Martin
10th
8mph northerly wind and clear skies.
Was expecting more passage this morning but the wind may have been a bit too strong and/or too cold?
1 Yellow Wagtail north
1 House Martin north
2 Tree Pipit north
15 Swallow north
1 Willow Warbler
4 Wheatear
1 Blackcap
several Chiffchaff
At weston STW mid morning:
1 Little Ringed Plover on R.Axe
1 Yellow Wagtail north
10 Swallow north
1 Sand Martin north
11th
8mph south-westerly wind and cloudy with good visibility early morning.
At sand point:
Very little of note. The highlight was a Brambling calling amongst a flock of 14 finches flying hight east over middle hope.
12th
7-8mph WNW winds and clear sky.
Small passage noted. about right for the conditions.
At Sand Point by 9:00AM:
40 Swallow north
2 house martin north
2 sand martin north
2 tree pipit north
1 willow warbler
7 wheatear (inc 1 that went straight through)
no blackcaps heard this morning
7 chiffchaff inc 1 bird showing down to 7ft.
13th
Quiet today with only 3 house martin and 3 swallow north past birnbeck. The current weather seems to favour inland passage with a pied flycatcher and whitethroat at blagdon today and a cuckoo at chew yesterday. weather today was 11mph raising to 16mph westerly by mid to late morning and peaking at 20mph mid afernoon.
Manx Shearwater lingering close to Birnbeck Pier at 5:30 this afernoon. Also 2 house martins south.
14th
Very little passage again this morning in the rain:
1 male Merlin low west over middle hope
7 Wheatear (6 male)
20 Swallow through
1 Bar-headed Goose still present with mutes on the Banwell Est.
Good conditions for passage this evening and set to continue for more good passage tomorrow.
At Sand Point this evening in 45 minutes:
60 Swallow north
40 Sand Martin north
2 House Martin north
1 Willow Warbler by car park
Surprise of the evening was a Red Legged Partridge
15th
Good fall of migrants today as predicted yesterday.
Cloudy but still conditions with a slight easterly breeze by mid morning.
In 5.5 hrs at sand point:
5 Grasshopper Warbler
1 whitethroat
1 whimbrel
2 brambling
12 tree pipit
50+ willow warbler
15 chiffchaff
14 wheatear
6 blackcap
1 red legged partridge
5 yellow wagtail
45 sand martin
25 swallow
1 bar headed goose at banwell est
5 siskin
2 house martin
1 pied flycatcher
5 redstart
1 redpoll
Also recorded:
Weston STW: 8 grasshopper warblers and large fall of willow warblers
Brean Down: 100+ willow warbler, 2 redstart and several tree pipits
Worle Hill: 2 redstart, 1 siskin, 6 blackcap, 4 willow warbler
Wains Hill: grasshopper warbler, redstart, pied flycatcher, tree pipits and yellow wags.
16th
light 7mph westerly winds this morning.
at sand point by mid morning:
3 whitethroat
35 swallow north
3 blackcap
2 willow warbler
2 wheatear
3 siskin
1 yellow wagtail
also recorded were 6 purple sandpipers at birnbeck.
1 Common Tern north past Birnbeck at 12:15 close in.
A shock surprise to see a male Redstart in my garden this afternoon.
Paul
I had a male Redstart in our garden in Cliff Road, Worlebury on Saturday (15th) along with 2+ Willow Warblers.
17th
After discussioins with Howard at Clevedon who saw the same Skuas as us but had longer and better views, ie head on and side on, rather than going away, I am sure the pale phase bird was in fact a Pom where as we dismissed it as probably "just" an Arctic.
18th
Lesser whitethroat sing above the car park
Grasshopper warbler reeling 100yds before the tip of the point
12+ Tree Pipits, including a flock of 6
Sea watched from 7:40-9:00:
1 Guillemot up river at 7:57
4 adult Gannets up at 8:05
1 Osprey went up river at 8:07, still visable but gaining height at 8:10
7 adult Gannets up at 8:40
1 Great skua up at 8:45
also 3 Mute Swans and a Canada Goose.
In 2 hours off Birnbeck between 7:00 and 9:00AM:
3 Mute Swans
1 Canada Goose
1 House Martin
2 Swallows
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Peregrine
19th
Winds changed from westerly to moderate southerly today bring cloud and light rain.
At Sand Point this morning:
1 colour ringed Chough on Middle Hope (red on right leg and green over white on left leg).
1 Greenshank south over middle hope
10 Tree Pipits
1 Lesser Whitethroat nr trig
2 Whimbrel on rocks north side of middle hope
100 Swallow west
1 Sand Martin west
1 House Martin west
1 male Redstart
2 Whitethroat
15 Wheatear
Thanks to Helene Jessop for the information:
Hello. This bird was ringed at the nest in 2004 at the Gower by the Welsh Colour Ringing Project. In recent weeks, it has been present further east along the Welsh coast in a flock of about 8 birds, several of which were also colour-ringed. This bird was last seen in Wales closely associating with its 3 siblings so there is a possibility of more choughs in Somerset? This bird is the first confirmed movement from the south Wales chough population to England. Thanks to the project in Wales for this information.
At Weston STW:
100+ Sand Martin
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling briefly
2 Common Sandpiper
10 Swallow
5 House Martin
5 Blackwits
1 whitethroat
Axe Est:
3 Dunlin
13 Ringed Plover
several hirundines
2 Sedge Warblers, 1 prob Chiloe Wigeon, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 100+ Swallow, 100+ Sand Martin, 20 House Martin at Weston STW early afternoon.
61 Wheatear and 2 Redstart at Dundry this morning.
c.40 wheatear this evening and 2 redstarts at sand point. the chough was still present north of the trig. the skies were quiet except for one flock of 13 swallows flying south.
20th
No sign of Chough in extensive search this evening. The Ring Ouzel was present till early evening only.
21st
Good fall of migrants today in light easterlies:
Total estimated count for the day:
2 Ring Ouzel
2 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
100 Wheatear
80 Willow warbler
3 whinchat
15 yellow wagtail
11 tree pipit
2 redstart
1 garden warbler
thousands of hirundines moving west
10 whitethroat
1 Pied Flycatcher
1 Cuckoo
20 Blackcap
3 whimbrel
A shopping trip to Morrisons produced Cetti's and Sedge Warbler at Moor Lane Pond and Garden, Reed, Sedge and Grasshopper at Summer Lane Pond.
22nd
Ideal conditions hence plenty of diurnal passage but the heavy cloud prevent any overnight passage.
Totals for the morning:
1 Swift east with hirundines
1 Greylag south with shelduck
1 whinchat nr swallow cliff
hundreds of hirundines east mainly swallows and sand martins with smaller numbers of house martin
1 garden warbler singing nr car park
1 redstart female east of trig
10 wheatear
10 siskin
3 redpoll
5 tree pipit
5 yellow wagtail
1 lesser whitethroat
2+ whimbrel
15 willow warbler
also recorded late morning/early afternoon:
1 grasshopper warbler 200yds west of ancient fort
1 male pied flycatcher nr clapper gate
11 whimbrel
1 swift
1 greenshank
6 wheatear
3 yellow wagtail
2 redoll
7 siskin
1 sum plum spotted redshank on the yeo.
This afternoon at sand point:
1 male ring ouzel in bushes north of trig
6 jay twice flew towards the point.
1 yellow wagtail over
23rd
over night cloud again. winds changed from yesterdays light easterly to a light south westerly.
on sand point by lunchtime:
38 gannet up channel
6 sandwich tern up channel
16 arctic tern up channel
4 commic terns up channel
1 pied flycatcher on middle hope
2 grasshopper warbler between swallow cliff and trig
7 tree pipit
2-3 yellow wagtail
1 sedge warbler singing nr car park
1 sand martin
6 redpoll
10 swallow
10 whimbrel
1 green woodpecker
1 great spotted woodpecker
1 skylark west out to sea
1 great black-backed gull
50 black-headed gulls west
1 male ring ouzel on slope north of trig.
24th
light north easterly wind this morning with heavy cloud and poor visibility.
at sand point this morning:
1 male ring ouzel around the trig
1 tree pipit
140 swallow through
4 house martin through
1 sand martin through
At weston STW mid morning:
1 Swift
20 Blackwits
1 Common Sand on UV pools
Several Swallow and Sand Martins
Good numbers of Sedge and Reed Warblers around Wildfowl lagoons and UV pools.
Lesser Whitethroat at 12.00pm,in bushes on footpath to house.
Went down to the Yeo 3:50-4:50.
25 Whimbrel
1 Common Sandpiper
1 summer plumage Spotted Redshank
12 Redshank
5 Dunlin
2 Cettis Warbler, 1 our side, 1 Blakes Pools
1 Grasshopper Warbler on Blakes Pools side
8 Little Egrets along the Clevedon side
c15 Teal
15 Tufties, 2 Little Grebes on STW
2 Lesser Whitethroats
no sign of Saturdays reported female Pintail.
25th
c.7mph southerly wind bringing cloud and light rain.
At sand point this morning in a brief search:
4 Swift
1 Grasshopper warbler
5 redpoll
2 siskin
2 whimbrel
1 tree pipit
4 small waders high south-east
20 Swallow
1 house martin
26th
Clear skies and a 6mph westerly wind.
Quiet at sand point this morning:
8 Whimbrel
1 Tree pipit
1 Siskin
1 lesser whitethroat
27th
Light 2mph north winds. Calm conditions.
Less migration than expected so far at Sand Point:
1 Sand Martin
20 Swallow
2 House Martin
2 Willow Warbler
2 lesser whitethroat
1 fem redstart
1 redpoll
1 swift
1 garden warbler
20 ringed plover
12 dunlin
several whimbrel heard calling in the bay and 4 little egrets present
imm red kite untagged over middle hope at 1pm then flew towards clevedon and came in at clevedon pier.
2 garden warblers at N.R.
holly blue at N.R.
per Phil Amies
28th
Light north winds and clear skies
At sand point this morning:
3 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Swift
10 House Martin
10 Swallow
1 Sand Martin
1 Redpoll also 1 at Birnbeck
Small number of waders in the bay. (40 Dunlin and 20 Ringed Plover last night).
29th
7mph northerly winds
1 female pied flycatcher nr clapper gate
10 swift
10 house martin
20 swallow
1 sand martin
31 arctic tern up channel
11 commic tern north between point and flat holm
2 common scoter down channel
2 kittiwake distantly to the north west
1 hobby east
4 redpoll
2 lesser whitethroat
1 cuckoo 200yds east of house
30th
light north west wind:
At sand point:
1 fulmar up channel
3 lesser whitethroats
2 tree pipits
1 yellow wagtail
1 grey wagtail north
4 whimbrel
17 house martin inc a flock of 15 through
1 reed warbler singing in rhyne nr car park
1 sedge warbler singing nr car park
2 wheatear
1st
13mph westerly winds:
At sand point:
2 Arctic Skuas 1 up channel early morning and 1 up channel late morning.
40 Kittiwakes up channel early morning
2 fulmar down channel
5 gannets 1 down channel mid morning, 4 down channel late morning on the welsh side
3 Sanderling down channel mid morning
1 tern sp down channel mid morning
2nd
14mph SSE wind this morning
At sand point:
7 Swift
2-3 yellow wagtail
1 sedge warbler nr car park
1 reed warbler nr car park
4 wheatear 1 male + 3 female on middle hope
1 tree pipit
1 whimbrel up channel
3 dunlin down channel
3rd
At Sand Point:
1 grasshopper warbler above car park
3 garden warbler 2 nr car park, 1 on middle hope
24 whimbrel 12 in woodspring bay
15 wheatear
1 spotted flycatcher before clapper gate
3 tree pipit
1 whinchat female on slope east of house
1 yellow wagtail over
1 common sand banwell est
40 swift
1 sand martin
many swallows and house martins through
At Weston Woods
1 wood warbler in weston woods 150yds north into wood from manor road.
1 Tawny Owl male calling just before mid day 300yds west of water tower
several singing chiffchaffs and blackcaps
This afternoon:
At sand point:
1 red-rumped swallow north past the trig and out to sea towards the south-east side of cardiff. Unfortunately all I got on the bird was the rump as it flew away from me. A cream rump with a red patch on it, which was still visible some distance out to sea.
1 grasshopper warbler reeled briefly, 9 wheatear, 1 whinchat
At woodspring bay
6 wheatear, 1 spotted flycatcher
butterflies seen today:
2 holly blue, 1 painted lady, 1 orange tip, 1 small tortoiseshell, several whites.
4th
2 Spotted Flycatchers
1 Garden Warbler
4+ Redpolls, 1 of which looked rather pale with distinct little streaks down its flanks (sat up above the clapper gate at 7:20)
1 Siskin
4+ Tree Pipits
didn't get Paul B's Wood Warbler by the clapper gate
1 Reed Warbler singing half way along the point
At sand point by 11AM:
1 Wood Warbler
2 Sedge Warbler
4 Garden Warbler
3 Tree Pipit
11 Redpoll
1 Siskin
2 Spotted Flycatcher
1 Hobby in from the west and perched briefly in hawthorn
1 fem Wheatear
16 Arctic Tern up channel
1 male Whinchat 200yds on road side 200yds south of woodspring priory.
9 Jay on middle hope
5th
6:00-7:30 Rather quiet. There seems to be about 5 Redpolls virtually resident now.
1 Tree Pipit high east.
Sedge Warbler singing on the northern slope at 7:25.
7-8mph westerly winds and clear skies:
At sand point:
1 dark phase Arctic Skua flew north past the point about 300yds offshore, landed for about 1 second and then continued east up channel
1 Auk sp up channel
20 small waders south past the point
50 Swallow in 1's and 2's west past the point
1 wheatear on the point
1 whimbrel at the point
6th
Light southerly winds and clear sky
At sand point this morning:
2 garden warbler
2 tree pipit
11 jay in off the sea and hung around the point, then headed east
1 turnstone up channel with oystercatchers
1 female redstart on middle hope
2 spotted flycatchers 1 in/off sea from the west and 1 on middle hope
13 redpoll
7th
Light northerly winds.
at Sand Point:
1 whinchat
6+ lesser whitethroat
2 reed warbler
1 swift north
3 house martin north
a trickle of swallows through
4 redpoll lingering briefly above the house
8th
light north easterly winds with intermittent light rain.
5 redpoll 2 west and 3 lesser redpoll above house
30 swallow through some north and some west
20 house martin through coming in from the south and flying east over middle hope
3 swift through moving up channel
Drake Garganey on UV pools feeding on insects on the water surface.
1 Cuckoo calling distantly
50+ swift
10 house martin
20 swallow
1 drake wigeon
1 fem ruddy duck
9th
light west swinging north west winds and high cloud cover
At sand point this morning:
1 whimbrel
6 lesser redpoll feeding along path before the clapper gate
10 swallow through
Yesterday afternoon and early evening:
3 wheatear 2m and 1f in sand bay
100 small waders north past the point
100+ swift north
10th
moderate north east wind.
On sand point in a brief search:
1 mealy redpoll in with flock of 12 -14 redpolls
1 garden warbler singing nr trig
6 jay nr trig
3 house martin through
11th
Light north-east winds and clear sky
At sand point:
6 spotted flycatcher
16 redpoll
1 sanderling in bay
4 dunlin in bay
2 ringed plover in bay
1 nuthatch mobile around the trig
3 wheatear 1 male in bay and 2 male 150yds west of trig which may have been greenland race
9 commic terns up channel
4 gannets up channel 2 adults and 2 3rd yr
1 Pomarine Skua up channel
1 fem Marsh Harrier up channel. I initially thought this bird was a skua as it was low over the water 400yds out but when in the scope saw that it was in fact a Marsh Harrier
1 Garden Warbler
1 male Whinchat
1 diver sp recorded flying down channel past severnside at 10:20 but did not see the bird by 11:00.
Redpoll and spotted flycatcher in weston woods mid-day.
Sand Point 5:35-7:00 a.m.
2 Tree Sparrows in bushes beyond the trig point
2 Spotted Flycatchers around the car park
1 Ringed Plover was the only small wader in the bay at 5:35
Cettis Warbler singing behind the bungalows opposite the wader watching layby was a Sand Bay/Point tick.
Having watched these redpolls last night and this morning and then looked at loads of photos and articles on the internet about separating common from lesser, maybe I'm being naive but they all look as though they could be Greenland/Icelandic to me. Isn't picking out the biggest, greyist and whitest one, and saying we only have one "Mealy" is selling the situation short? The other point is that aren't nominate Lessers breeding at the moment and shouldn't we be seeing Greenland and Icelandic migrants like the wheatears at the moment. So why a few "mealies" should get in a big flock of lessers at a migration point in May doesn't seem very logical....?
Paul,
Your comments could be correct. In my case I have seen the birds and researched the identification after so would really need to go back and look through the birds again.
Wader count this evening:
Axe Est:
c.100 Dunlin
c.30 Ringed Plover
2 Sanderling 1 in partial summer, 1 in full summer
In Sand Bay:
119 Dunlin
11 Ringed Plover
1 Sanderling in partial summer
2+ whimbrel
Also, a late sand martin over middle hope this evening
11th
Mark Ponsford found a Spoonbill this evening on pools on the bank of the River Axe by the STW. When I got there the bird was in flight heading towards the Estuary where it dropped. I relocated the bird just before dusk feeding in the marsh.
12th
Axe Estuary: the Spoonbill left its roost in the marsh at 5:05 and fed along the shore in the large bay on the Somerset side looking towards Brean Down for 10 minutes before flying back into the marsh. Paul B got his photo about half an hour later.
Sand point: female Marsh Harrier flew low east over the car park at 6:00. Apart from that, a Tree Pipit and still some Redpolls buzzing around but I didn't try and get any proper views this morning.
Virtually windless conditions
At Sand Point
3 Wheatear 1 150yds west of trig and 2 in bay
1 Grey Wagtail west
1 tree pipit
4 Redpoll
3 Spotted Flycatcher
1 Siskin
2 Tree Sparrow nr trig
1 Cuckoo
12th May
female Marsh Harrier at Axe Est this evening perched in the marsh preening.
Spoonbill still present but occasionally dissappearing into gulleys.
6 Dunlin on tideline
2 whimbrel
13th
13mph westerly wind with 100% cloud cover reduced visibility
Spoonbill still around Axe Est and STW
1 Little Tern flew out the Axe out to sea and turned and came back into weston bay at 8AM but not seen to go past sand point in the following hour.
1+ Tree Sparrow between trig and clapper gate
6 Redpoll between trig and clapper gate.
1 Siskin over
1 whimbrel and sand bay
c.100 small waders in sand bay
1 male wheatear 150yds west of trig
14th
3mph south westerly winds
At sand point this morning:
4 redpoll at least 1 was a mealy
2 tree sparrow in bushes around the trig most of the morning
4 siskin
2 common scoter both drake flying up channel
1 arctic skua up channel
1 wheatear prob greenland
3 whimbrel in bay
200 dunlin in bay plus a flock of 50 came in from the north late morning
25 ringed plover
7 sanderling
1 mute swan up channel
At weston stw this afernoon:
1 Greenshank on the river axe
1 male yellow wagtail on river axe.
15th
moderate south-easterly wind with light rain.
At Weston STW:
1 Greenshank on Axe
8 Whimbrel inc a flock of 4 in from the south
20 Swift
30 House Martin
20 Swallow
1 Sand Martin
16th
light south-westerly winds and high cloud
At sand point:
2 Tree sparrows around trig
12 Redpolls
1 Tree pipit
1 wheatear
2 siskin
2 Swift over
4 Swallow through
17th
light southerly winds and low cloud
At Weston STW:
40 Swift 64 were counted here yesterday
10 Swallow
2 House Martin
1 Sand Martin
2 Common Sandpiper on river Axe
14 Stock Dove
An evening visit to Weston STW:
1 Marsh Harrier hunting along the river axe before drifting off towards brean
1 greenshank on the axe
150+ swift over the uv pools
18th
Sand Point 6:00-7:00
2 Tree Sparrows by trig point
1 redpoll buzzing around
20 Swallows north
nothing on the "sea" 6:15-7:15....but there should be later.....!
sea watch this afternoon and late evening produced:
50 Gannet most up channel
240 Kittiwake including 2 flocks of around 100 each up channel late evening
1-2 Fulmar
1 sea duck down channel
1 Little tern down channel
2 arctic tern down channel
1 common tern
Unfortnately no skuas or shearwaters.
19th
strong westerly winds
At Sand Point by 10:30:
450 Manx Shearwater down channel
50 Fulmar down channel
1 Kittwake down channel
20 Gannet down channel
4 Arctic Skua up channel
At weston stw:
Another or the same adult spoonbill on UV pools this evening
200 house martin
30 swift
20 swallow
1 fem ruddy duck
Final sea watching totals for 5:50-12:30:
500 Manx
49 Gannets
52 Fulmar
4 Arctic Skua
2 Kittiwakes
20th
Strong westerly winds
In 6.5hrs between 07:45 and 14:15 on Sand Point
5 Arctic Skua 4 together flying up channel plus 1 flying up channel mid day
20 Gannet mainly flying down channel
11 Fulmar mainly flying down channel
101 Kittiwake 3 down channel followed by a flock of 40 then 18 then 20. Some lingered on the sea north of trig for 10 mins before continuing down channel
1 Great Skua at 11am that may have been the bird below. Very distant it seemed to show a hint of wing bars but did not show the pale coverts.
1 Skua sp. this bird raised some questions about its plumage. All the upper wing coverts were pale brown except for the greater coverts that were white forming a large inner wing bar on both wings. The pale brown coverts contrasted with the dark flight feathers. All under side appeared dark. Head plumage not noted.
1 arctic tern up channel close in
3 manx shearwater down channel late morning
A text from the clevedon guys had me driving out to birnbeck to intercept a great northern diver but with no luck.
I did record: 1 arctic skua up channel, 5 fulmar down channel and 3 kittiwake down channel.
21st
Mainly birding from the car today due to constant rain.
strong south-east winds
16 Sanderling on uphill beach at high tide
At Weston STW:
1 fem ruddy duck
100 house martin
50 swift 100 present yesterday
40 swallow 10 present yesterday.
22nd
18mph westerly winds over mid day
A sea watch between 3pm and 5pm at sand point:
1 summer plum Guillemot close in down channel - after some research and the sighting of a guillemot off minehead during the evening, I have decided that this bird was a guillemot not razorbill.
23 fulmar most down channel
4 gannet most up channel
1 dark phase arctic skua close in up channel
1 pomarine skua down channel. distant but almost close enough to make out the tail pattern
4 kittiwake 3 up channel
23rd
Moderate westerly winds
On sand point:
2 siskin west
1 garden warbler singing nr trig
1 spotted flycatcher nr trig
off sand point between 5:30 and 8:15
1 storm petrel down channel
1 pomarine skua up channel
3 arctic skuas up channel
1 great skua lingering
4 fulmar
50+ manx shearwater moving both up and down channel
15-20 kittiwakes up channel
24th
strong westerly winds and still plenty of sea bird action.
From Birnbeck between 7:30am and 9:30am:
128 Manx shearwater
6 fulmar
9 gannet
2 arctic skua pale phase and light phase
1 guillemot down channel
25th
light to moderate northerly winds
1 hobby perched south of fort and then flew low east but not seen again.
1 fem wheatear flighty bird between swallow cliff and fort
1 whimbrel heard in bay
7 swallow through
This evening:
At Axe Est 3 ringed plover and 2 dunlin
At Sand Bay: 2 Whimbrel, 8 Sanderling, 7 Dunlin
26th
strong westerly winds
At Birnbeck 11:30 - 13:00:
4 Gannet
3 Manx Shearwater
5 Fulmar
In 2 hour watch late afternoon from Sand Point:
1 Bonxie down channel close in. Unfortunately this bird went through before i had chance to set the camera up. A few cuss words followed.
4 Gannet down channel. 1 2nd winter, 1 3rd winter and 2 4th winter birds. All birds close in.
1 Fulmar down channel close in.
27th
continuing westerly winds much lighter that previous days.
No sea birds recorded at sand point in half an hour search this morning.
2 house martin west
2 swallow west
c.20 small waders up channel
This afternoon in an hour produced a skua sp distantly moving up channel in the low cloud.
28th
light westerly winds
At sand point:
16 sanderling in the bay
52 dunlin in the bay
1 siskin west
7 house martin west
6 swallow west
6 swift west
1 Hobby high east over weston at 14:55
29th
moderate North wind swung NW to 18mph mid to late morning.
At sand point:
1 Yellow Wagtail perched briefly on swallow cliff
1 Wheatear brieftly on swallow cliff
3 swallow
27 house martin
1 lesser whitethroat new in
1 whimbrel at Axe Est
2 Great Crested Grebe on UV pools
70 house martin over UV pools
20 Swift over UV pools
30th
quite strong northerly winds this morning
At sand point:
1 Spotted Flycatcher briefly between clapper gate and trig point
8 house martin through
4 swallow through
58 small waders flying around the bay on incoming tide. at least 2 were sanderling.
1 adult summer black headed gull on uphill beach
Wall Brown this morning. Yesterday several small coppers and a speckled wood.
31st
light northerly wind
At sand point:
1 fem wheatear 100yds west of fort
1 willow warbler nr swallow cliff new in today
5 swallow through
1 house martin through
1 siskin heard nr trig
At Weston STW:
1 Shoveler drake on UV pools
2 Cuckoo
1 Great Crested Grebe on UV pools
50 Swift
20 house martin
2nd
Light northerly winds and clear sky
3+ Glanville Fritillary on slope west of fence 30yds SW of iron age fort
1 Cuckoo calling and seen briefly between trig point and wall
2 Redpoll north
2-3 Swallows and House Martins through
At Weston STW:
1 Great Crested Grebe on UV pools
1 Great Black-backed Gull on UV pools
Black-tailed Skimmer and Emperor Dragonfly recorded today. For photos see insect page.
3rd
light northerly wind and clear sky
At Sand Point:
Highlight of the day was a hummingbird hawk moth briefly in the north west corner of the car park
1 Spotted Flycatcher at the fort then flew towards the point
5 black-headed gulls up channel
1 swallow through
2 swift through
2 house martin through
1 female redstart east of trig point
1 Willow Warbler at top of diaganol track
Insects:
5 Common Blue, 2 Small Blue, 6 Wall Brown, 3 Painted Lady, 3 Small Copper, 1 Red Admiral, up to 6 Glanville Fritillary, Small White, Large White, Orangetip, Pale Tussock (see photo)
4th
Light northerly wind with 95% high cloud cover
At Sand Point this morning:
5 Swift through
1 Wheatear east of swallow cliff
2 Spotted Flycatcher briefly nr fort then flew off north calling
1 Lesser Whitethroat new in bringing the total to 3 singing males
1 Willow Warbler new in bringing the total to 2 singing males
1 Garden Warbler singing above toilet block
Also 4+ Glanvilles
5th
medium strength NNE winds
At sand point in the morning:
17 house martin through
6 mute swan up channel
10 swift through
1 redpoll west
2 spotted flycatcher 1 north and 1 west calling
3 swallow
this evening at sand point:
31 swift east
2 black headed gulls east
2 swallows through
1 siskin east
6th
Light south easterly winds and high cloud cover.
Very little at sand point this morning with just a couple of swifts moving through.
A marsh harrier was seen heading north over berrow this morning so could well have ended up somewhere around the axe.
At Weston STW:
1 1st winter Mediterranean Gull on river axe.
12 Black headed gulls on river axe.
7th
light variable winds
At weston STW:
1 Little egret
1 cuckoo
50 Swift
6 black headed gull
8th
light north east winds and clear sky.
Quiet at sand point this morning:
2 Swift through
1 spotted flycatcher north
1 swallow through
At Axe Est this afternoon
1 Dunlin
1 Ringed Plover
10 Sanderling
4 Black headed gull
An influx of Black-headed Gull at STW of 26 birds.
At sand point this evening:
1 whimbrel lingering in the bay and then flew up channel
30 swift
2 swallow
2 house martin
9th
13mph easterly winds and clear skies.
Migrants at sand point:
1 Swift through
1 Swallow through
1 Willow warbler singing in gardens north of caravan park.
1 1st summer male Common Rosefinch at middle hope. The bird was initially picked up calling flying towards the trig point with a "kwee" call and then I could hear the bird flying back past me. I then heard a song "sitchoo-weechoo" very fluty resembling the quality of a woodlark or willow warbler. I located the bird singing on a hawthorn behind the house and got some distant shots before scaling the fence. Unfortunately it flew east 100yds and I had to try and pin it down again on the deck. When done so the bird looked like a spotted flycatcher in plumage but i know that spot fly has a song of just a few robin like notes. The bird then flew to another bush in the field behind which is when I saw the heavy bill and realised that the bird was a Rosefinch. After checking tapes and talking to other birders it was confirmed that the bird was a common rosefinch.
10th
easterly winds again this morning.
In a brief search the only new birds found were a Reed Warbler singing by the toilet block and 12 Swifts through.
No sign of the Rosefinch this morning.
12th
At steep holm today:
1 swift through
3 swallows through
1 whitethroat singing behind barracks
14th
14mph NNE winds.
At sand point:
12 Swift through
50 Black headed gulls in the bay. Last night 120 in the bay.
15th
light norhterly wind
At Weston STW in brief search:
1 Great Crested Grebe on UV
60 Black headed Gulls including a juvenile
a couple of meadow browns on the wing
1 Grey Squirrel along the river axe bank by UV pools was an unusual find.
Blue-tailed and Common Blue Damselflies on the wing.
Axe Est:
Mallard numbers increased to 30
16th
Small amount of migration late morning:
1 Siskin east
1 Sand Martin east
3 Swallow west
1 House Martin east
Still 1 Glanville on the wing 100 yards east of the trig point.
18th
moderate southerly winds and cloudy sky
Very little around:
1 Redpoll through
1 Swift through
2nd July
1 Common Sandpiper this morning on rocks on the point at Sand Point. Also 3 Ringlets lingering around the ancient fort. The first time I have recorded this sp on Sand Point. Also recorded: Several Six-spot Burnet, Silver Y, Marbled Whites on the wing.
AUGUST
8th August
light variable winds. 4 yellow wagtail 3 in bay and 1 in marsh, 15 whitethroat, 1 lesser whitethroat, 1 willow warbler, 30 house martin lingering high over trig, 1 raven nr trig, 1 turnstone heard over swallow cliff
light south-east breeze at sand point,1 great black-back gull in bay, dunlin and ringed plover heard, 2 willow warbler, 6 lesser whitethroat, 1 common gull west past the point, 1 common sandpiper heard in bay on edge of marsh, 1 wheatear nr fort, 1 whimbrel calling in marsh, 3 spotted flycatcher behind house
9th August
Elderberries are starting to ripen. It was very productive checking elderberry bushes last year for warblers. 2 Blackcaps this morning feeding on elderberries.
10th August
13th August
15mph northerly wind15th August
16th August
At weston stw late afternoon:
3 black tailed godwit on uv pools
2 common sand flew up river axe
3 swift over uv pools
50 redshank of river axe
4 teal on r.axe
1 greenshank on r.axe
1 kingfisher heard nr uv pools
2 ruddy duck on uv pools
2 pochard on uv pools
17th August
18th August
19th August
21ST August
22nd August
23rd August
24th August
25th August
26th August
Overcast day with a 10-12mph NW wind
Not much recorded this morning at sand point:
130+ House Martin including a flock of 88 sat on wires nr house
1 tree pipit over heard calling once
3 wheatear on middle hope
1 willow warbler on middle hope
1 sanderling
60 dunlin
10 ringed plover
On brean down
Similar numbers of hirundines flying towards wales
1 whinchat
Moth trap highlights. The ones id’d so far:
2 Orange Swift
23 Large Yellow Underwing
1 Pebble Hook-tip
1 Brimstone moth
1 Light Emerald
3 Setaceous Hebrew Character
A confiding Pectoral Sandpiper was found by James Packer this afternoon. It showed well at 20yds range on a small puddle till early evening at least. Also present: spotted redshank, green sandpiper, greenshank and 4 yellow wagtails
27th August
28th August
29th August
30th August
A drop in westerly wind speed has done little to curb the current bird drought.
31st August
1st September
By request the I've recreated the link to my Avon Year list.
http://www.birdlist.co.uk/avon2006.htm
9-10mph south-west wind
2nd September
3rd September
4th September
5th September
10+mph south westerly winds
very quiet this morning:
Axe Est this afternoon:
6th September
high tide waders this evening:
numbers of dunlin at the axe have doubled to 2
1 common sandpiper
4 black-tailed godwit
a flock of 20 small waders in sand bay flew high inland.
7th September
10+ mph northerly wind
8th September
above totals updated to reflect this afternoons count. still plenty of swallows and house martins moving through plus 2 sand martins.
9th September
10th September
light c.6mph easterly winds changing to light southerly in the afternoon
11th September
12th September
13th Septemebr
moderate southerly wind
14th September
light westerly winds At weston stw:
15th September
light northerly winds
16th September
moderate northerly wind17th September
Light variable winds
At sand point:
2 wheatear roosting nr trig
15 blackcap including a bird in off the sea from the south west landing on swallow cliff.
1 snipe west
4 grey wagtail 2 flew out to sea towards cardiff and 2 on the point
2 whitethroat 1 in bushes on swallow cliff and 1 nr fort
1 yellow wagtail on middle hope
25 house martin lingering over fort
5 chiffchaff.
4 goldcrest 3 nr house and 1 towards the point.
a small passage of chaffinches and meadow pipit noted today.
At weston stw:
1 black-necked grebe still present on uv pools mainly in middle
2 snipe on uv
1 ruddy duck on uv
3 greenshank on axe
1 common sandpiper on axe
18th September
Middle Hope/Woodspring Priory
19th September
light westerly wind20th September
strong southerly wind21st September
strong south easterly wind22nd September
light south-easterly wind23rd September
Light SE wind at first light changing to brisk SSE throughout the morning.
At sand point:
8 wheatear
1 common sandpiper south side of swallow cliff
At weston stw:
1 Ruff on axe
1 black-tailed godwit on est
2 knot at est
50 skylark in marsh
30 meadow pipit south
several hirundines south
1 common sandpiper on axe
In the moth trap:
6 Lunar Underwing
24th September
moderate SE winds25th September
change of wind direction to westerly although very light variable winds early morning26th September
light variable winds27th September
moderate southerly wind:
28th September
light southerly wind
29th September
A light SSE wind bringing some very light rain
30th September
moderate SSE wind with intermittent showers by mid morning2nd October
moderate SSW wind at sand point:3rd October
a moderate NW wind4th October
light SW winda large flock of small waders at last to search through this afternoon with 7 dunlin on the shoreline at high tide.
5th October
moderate SW wind and light rain.
6th October
brisk SW wind7th October
brisk W wind8th October
light variable wind first thing with a moderate southerly wind starting up mid morning at weston stw:9th October
SW wind with some heavy rain mid morning
on sand point
1 wryneck on middle hope. the bird was flushed from a rock face and continued to feed for 5 mins when it moved out of site. it was not relocated by lunch time but could still be in the area.
1 tree pipit over - 1 also seen on the deck on middle hope around mid-day
5 wheatear on middle hope
3 swallow through
30 greenfinch through
50 linnet around middle hope
10 goldfinch over
30 meadow pipit through
10 alba wagtails through
1 grey wagtail middle hope
100 starling through in 1 flock
4 chiffchaff
1 female type merlin over middle hope
10th October
Light variable wind and fog
at sand point:
21 swallow south
6 blackcap
an impressive flock of 34 long-tailed tit
15 woodpigeon at middle hope nr appeared to be migrants
400 starling east
4 chiffchaff
40 meadow pipit over
10 greenfinch over
1 wheatear on middle hope
3 alba wagtail over
15 skylark south
2 reed bunting on middle hope
10 chaffinch over
1 tree pipit heard calling on middle hope
at Weston stw:
1 lesser yellowlegs on axe
1 greenshank on axe
2 common sandpiper on axe
in moth trap:
4 cypress carpet
13 blair’s shoulder-knot
2 common marbled carpet
11th October
southerly wind and light rain at dawn.12th October
a moderate southerly wind and clear skystill no sign of lesser yellowlegs by 2pm. the only waders recorded so far on the axe:
1 greenshank13th October
unusual wind conditions today at 0mph. also foggy and 100% cloud cover
14th October
light easterly wind and fog
15th October
moderate easterly wind
at sand point:
many birds coming in across sand bay and on to middle hope. also good numbers in from south wales having come from flat holm direction.
starling 1,395. many coming in from the south east. 2,000+ recorded by the boc migration watch
woodpigeon 50
chaffinch 4,385 - largest flock through was 250. good numbers still coming through at 12:30hrs
redwing 1
alba wagtail 8 east
meadow pipit 30 east
song thrush 5 east
redpoll 2 east
brambling 3 east
goldfinch 10 east
house sparrow 3 east with the finch flocks
linnet 5
greenfinch 75 many in with the chaffinches
skylark 19 east boc migration watch had more
wheatear 2 - 1 at point, 1 on middle hope
siskin 13 east
river axe
some vis mig around 1pm with 15 skylark, 30 chaffinch 30 starling and some linnets across the estuary
2 golden plover roosting on the flats
30 teal
1 common sand on river
1 greenshank on river
6 snipe
40 pochard on uv pools
8 gadwall on uv pools
200 redshank on river
wigeon 115 on wildfowl lagoons
1 short-eared owl in salt marsh
in moth trap:
7 blair's shoulder-knot
1 angleshades
1 feathered ranunculus
1 black rustic
1 cypress carpet
1 lesser yellow underwing
16th October
moderate easterly wind. visibility became poorer at mid morning which seemed to slow down the migration
17th October
moderate easterly wind with 100% cloud cover and reduced visibilityat the axe est this afternoon:
at the axe est this afternoon:
15 golden plover18th October
short visit to axe est this morning:19th October
moderate to strong southerly winds and intermittent heavy showers.
20th October
light south westerly winds and partially sunnyi was walking along the bank of the axe when a dunlin sized wader flew
up from the river bank calling with a weak "tzit" call. it flew up
south but turned and came towards the uv pools where it circled low
calling still. from here i could see that the bird had a white rump.
expecting to match the call with curlew sandpiper in the book it became
apparent that the call is nothing like curlew sand but identical to
white-rumped sandpiper. I scanned all round the uv pools from both
sides but could not locate the bird. hopefully it will be present
tomorrow.
21st October
moderate SW wind.
22nd October
moderate southerly wind with light rain.23rd October
slightly variable winds but mainly with a southerly bias.
24th October
brisk NW windy
yellow-browed warbler found by paul gregory at 9:10 this morning and still present 11:00am calling occasionally.
25th October
moderate SE wind with light rain
26th October
14mph SW wind27th October
light south westerly wind (forecast although it felt more southerly)28th October
light SW wind and overcast with occasional light rain.
29th October
variable wind this morning starting off westerly changing to northerly and then easterly by mid-day30th October
moderate SSW wind. overcast
31st October
strong westerly wind1st November
clear skies and cold 10mph northerly wind
2nd November
light NE wind and clear sky3rd November
light winds and clear skies
at the axe est this afternoon:
4th November
light NW winds and clear skies:5th November
light westerly winds and clear sky
6th November
Birding pretty much cancelled due to fog.7th November
Fogged up again this morning.8th November
11mph SW wind and light rain9th November
light NW wind and clear sky10th November
light southerly wind and high cloud11th November
brisk NW wind12th November
light WNW winds13th November
strong westerly winds14th November
moderate SW wind, mainly cloudy15th November
moderate southerly wind16th November
moderate southerly winds19th November
At the river axe late morning:
21st November
axe est high tide:22nd November
light southerly wind and 100% cloud cover23rd November
Another Black-headed gull on uphill beach this morning with rings.