THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE 2018€¦ · the odd ‘twitcher’. It is by no means...

THE BIRDS OF SOUTH

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

2018

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THE BIRDS OF SOUTH

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

A review of rare, scarce and unusual birds,

butterflies and dragonflies from South

Gloucestershire in 2018

www.thebirdsofsouthgloucestershire.co.uk

http://www.thebirdsofsouthgloucestershire.co.uk/

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Contents

Editorial 3

S. Glos Bird Diary 2018 6

S. Glos Year List 2018 64

S. Glos Year Lists 2008 - 2018 64

New Additions 65

The S. Glos Systematic List 66

Geese & Swans 66

Ducks 67

Game, Divers & Seabirds 69

Herons & Raptors 70

Waders 72

Gulls 75

Skua’s & Owls 76

Nightjar, Hoopoe, Woodpeckers, Parakeet & Shrike 77

Crows & Larks 78

Warblers 79

Starlings, Thrushes & Chats 80

Wagtails & Pipits 81

Finches & Buntings 83

Notable Birding Events in 2018 85

The S. Glos Bird Species & Forms List 2018 86

Marshfield Diary 2018 87

Marshfield Patch Year List 123

S. Glos Butterfly Diary 2018 124

S. Glos Butterfly List 2018 138

S. Glos Dragonfly List 2018 139

Articles 140

Contributors 143

Front Cover: Ortolan Bunting courtesy of John Judge

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Editorial

Since the initial idea of The Birds Of South Gloucestershire (TBOSG) back in

2003 the project has evolved, some fifteen years later, into the resource we

see today.

The 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.

The original concept revolved around rare, scarce and unusual ‘birding’

events that had occurred within the boundaries of S. Glos. In addition to the

S. Glos Birds pages, the viewer can now access Butterfly and Dragonfly

pages alongside the 300 odd pages of other ‘useful’ information.

Though the addition of Systematic Butterfly and Dragonfly Lists are great fun

and adds, I feel, another dimension to TBOSG the main thrust will always be

rare, scarce and unusual bird news and information!

On that note in 2018 a significant milestone, in ‘birding terms’, was realised

when the S. Glos birds systematic list reached the heady heights of 300!

The very first documented reference to rare or scarce birds in the recording

area was in the 19th century when Storm Petrel was reported on October

31st 1824 near Alveston following; …’the violent gale of All Hallows Eve’...

Subsequent ‘mega’ birds from that century included Pallas’s Sandgrouse

with as many as ten at Hambrook on June 3rd 1888 and Spotted Crake at

Stoke Bridge, Stoke Gifford sometime in September 1891 neither of which has

been reported since!

In the 20th century rarities included, Marsh Warbler at Patchway in June, and

Red-breasted Goose at Oldbury-on-Severn in November 1909. King Eider at

Court Rocks, Shepperdine in November 1912, Kentish Plover at Severn Beach

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in May 1947, Night Heron on Severnside in November 1971, Red-footed

Falcon near Shepperdine in September 1974, Aquatic Warbler at Littleton-

upon-Severn in August 1976 and Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Aust in December

1993 to name but a few.

The 21st century brought us Cory’s Shearwater, Subalpine Warbler, Pied and

Desert Wheatear, Red-flanked Bluetail, Pallid Harrier and Iberian Chiffchaff

for example.

Collectively that brought the S. Glos birds’ systematic list at the end of 2017

to a very respectable 299! What, I wondered, would the magical 300th be?

There was great speculation as to what it might be, where and who might

find it. With more and more candidates turning up all over Britain each year

the possibilities were seemingly endless.

As to where well that would most likely to be one of the coastal sites; one of

the well watched ones, Severnside, Littleton or Oldbury Power Station was

most probably where it might occur; having said all that some spectacular

birds have been found away from the aforementioned ‘hot-spots’.

As to whom, your guess is a s good as mine, but wouldn’t it be great if it was

one of those avid patch watchers who spend endless hours, days and

weeks flogging their small corner of the birding world.

Well we didn’t have to wait long… and in September 2018 it finally

happened!

So on the morning of September 13th 2018 when Paul Bowerman was duly

‘flogging’ his patch when he happened on a call over Northwick Warth!

(One he’d been recently getting to grips with on Xeno Canto)

The bird in question was both seen and heard in flight over the 2nd Sentry

box heading towards and landing at New Passage at around 08:50. Not only

did he see the bird he instantly recognised the call as ORTOLAN BUNTING!

It dropped onto the warth and was temporarily lost to view.

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Just over twenty minutes later it was relocated on the warth in the New

Passage area where three (very lucky) birders; Tony Scott, John Martin and

Kevin Bainbridge managed to get on to it.

Though the bird was flighty, vocal and mobile it was seen and heard well

enough to clinch the identification.

To add to the intrigue a few days later, on September 15th, Matt Hobbs saw

and heard a second bird, possibly this species, briefly as it flew from Pilning

Wetland Reserve onto the saltmarsh on Northwick Warth.

Well done and congratulations to all involve, especially Paul! This significant

find takes the S. Glos systematic list to a very satisfying 300!

Read Paul’s experience in the articles on page 140!

What next…?

Who knows but what is clear is that persistence pays off… so get out there,

good luck, good birding, may the birding gods be with you and always

remember the TBOSG motto…!

Qui curat, qui vincit!

TBOSG January 2019

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The South Gloucestershire Bird Diary 2018

JANUARY

Monday 1st to Sunday 7th January 2018

BLACK REDSTART - A winter male was seen around the Jetty fence, Oldbury

Power Station on the 2nd.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE - An adult present in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth

area on the 2nd.

GLAUCOUS GULL - A 1st winter was seen well from Severn Beach around

08:00 on the 3rd before departing down river.

GOOSANDER - A male was reported on the 6th on the R. Avon c.200 metres

downstream of Siston Brook, Willsbridge.

© Lee Gardiner

HAWFINCH - ST. ANNE'S CHURCH, OLDLAND COMMON: At least six on the 1st

– 2nd, one on the 3rd - 4th, at least one, possibly two on the 5th and six on

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the 6th - 7th. MARSHFIELD: One possibly two at the east end of Cloud Wood,

around 11:30 on the 7th.

JACK SNIPE - Two noted on Severnside on the 1st, one reported from Aust

Warth on the 4th and one displaced from the salt marsh south of Severn

Beach on the 5th.

LEACH'S PETREL - A storm driven individual heading down river from Severn

Beach on the 3rd.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - An adult was seen at the entrance to Chestle Pill,

New Passage on the 1st, an adult flew over the houses at Severn Beach on

3rd and the same or another adult from Severn Beach on the 4th.

RED KITE - One over the ring road at the junction of the A4174/ A420

Kingswood late morning on the 5th and one seen flying east over the A420

between The Folly and Marshfield at 14:30 on the 7th.

SHORT-EARED OWL - AUST WARTH: Three on the 1st, one on the 2nd - 4th and

one on the 6th. OLDBURY POWER STATION: One past the point at

Shepperdine on the 4th.

SNOW BUNTING - One, putatively this species, was both seen and heard in

the Severn Beach area on the 3rd and the predated remains of a 1st winter

female was found on Northwick Warth on the 5th.

WATER PIPIT - One from the New Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland

Reserve area on the 2nd, 4th and 7th.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - Two seen in flight north-east over Pilning Wetland

Reserve early afternoon on the 7th and subsequently upriver past Aust Warth

at 15:20.

WHOOPER SWAN - Two adults were found on Northwick Warth in the

morning on the 7th spending most of their time on Pining Wetland Reserve.

They were last seen in flight north-east past Aust Warth at 16:40.

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Monday 8th to Sunday 14h January 2018

AVOCET - Two were feeding on the shore by Lagoon III, Oldbury Power

Station on the 14th.

BLACK REDSTART - OPS: A 1st winter/ female along the seawall between The

Jetty and Lagoon II on the 8th, an adult winter male was noted on the stony

area inside the fence viewed from The Jetty on the 13th and a 1st winter/

female was seen on the seawall by The Jetty on the 14th.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE - An adult was seen at Shepperdine upriver from the point

just south of The Windbound on the 11th.

HAWFINCH - ST. ANNE'S CHURCH, OLDLAND COMMON: At least three on the

8th, one on the 9th - 10th, seven (7) on the 11th, four on the 13th and 14th.

MARSHFIELD: At least one was seen at the east end of Cloud Wood,

Marshfield on the 10th. OPS: One flew over the reedbed at Lagoon II on the

11th alighting in trees briefly then flew north-east.

JACK SNIPE - A high count of nine noted on Aust Warth on the 13th and at

least seven counted there on the 14th.

RED KITE - One was noted over Golden Valley LNR, Wick on the 13th.

RING-NECKED PARAKEET

ST. ANNE'S CHURCH/ SISTON BROOK,

OLDLAND COMMON:

At least four were seen at feeders on

Fairway Close and in flight over the

Church on the 9th. At least one in trees

along Siston Brook, Oldland Common

on the 10th and six there on the 14th.

© TBOSG

© TBOSG

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SHORT-EARED OWL - AUST WARTH: One on the 10th, four, possibly five from

16:00 on the 11th, four on the 12th, two on the 13th and up to three on show

late afternoon on the 14th.

© Dan White

Monday 15th to Sunday 21st January 2018

BLACK REDSTART - An adult male was seen again on the 15th on the stony

ground inside the fence from The Jetty at Oldbury Power Station and what

was assumed to be the same bird on stony ground viewed from The Jetty

area again on the 21st.

© Lee Gardiner, Denise Whittle

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HAWFINCH - ST. ANNE'S CHURCH, OLDLAND COMMON: At least two on the

15th - 16th, one fly-over on the 17th, one reported on the 19th and six very

mobile birds on the 20th. MARSHFIELD: One from a garden in the Withymead

area at Marshfield on the 18th, 20th and 21st. Also one was reported from

Siston Common on the 20th.

JACK SNIPE - One noted from Littleton Warth on the 19th and one from

Oldbury Power Station on the 20th.

ICELAND GULL - An immature winter bird, possibly this species, was seen

distantly and in poor conditions from Aust Warth in the afternoon on the 21st.


At least three were seen

on the 15th in the Siston

Brook/ St. Anne's Church

area at Oldland

Common.

SHORT-EARED OWL - AUST

WARTH: One on the 15th,

one over Cake Pill around

17:00 on the 18th, one

late afternoon on the 19th

and three on the 21st.

MARSHFIELD: Two were

reported from Rushmead

Lane, Marshfield around

10:15 on the 19th.

WATER PIPIT - One was

seen in the New Passage/

Northwick Warth/ Pilning

Wetland Reserve area on

the 16th. © Dan White

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Monday 22nd to Sunday 28th January 2018

BLACK REDSTART - The adult male was seen again on stony ground viewed

from The Jetty area at Oldbury Power Station on the 22nd.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE - An adult was seen on the 23rd on Kendleshire Golf

Course, Coalpit Heath.

HAWFINCH - ST. ANNE'S CHURCH, OLDLAND COMMON: Four on the 22nd, at

least one on the 24th, at least two on the 25th, eight (8) on the 26th, and six

on the 27th. MARSHFIELD: One seen briefly at the east end of Cloud Wood

Marshfield on the 22nd and one visiting feeders in the Withymead area at

Marshfield on the 23rd - 27th.

JACK SNIPE - One seen on Aust Warth on the 25th.

SHORT-EARED OWL - AUST WARTH: Five were noted in the morning on the

25th, at least four on the 26th, two early evening on the 27th and one on

show from late afternoon on the 28th. MARSHFIELD: One noted from

Rushmead Lane throughout the day on the 22nd.

WATER PIPIT - One showed well but briefly around Chestle Pill at New

Passage on the 25th.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - One was seen in flight over Aust Warth late in the

day on the 27th.

Monday 29th to Wednesday 31st January 2018

BLACK REDSTART - An adult male on stony ground viewed from The Jetty

area again 29th.

HAWFINCH - One on feeders in the Withymead area at Marshfield again on

the 29th and at least six present at St. Anne's Church, Oldland Common on

30th.

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RING-NECKED PARAKEET - ST. ANNE'S CHURCH/ SISTON BROOK, OLDLAND

COMMON: Two were reported on the 29th and three on the 30th - 31st.

© Denise Whittle

© Lee Gardiner

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SHORT-EARED OWL - AUST WARTH: Two were seen at 17:10 on the 29th and

two disturbed by intruders at 14:00 on the 30th.

FEBRUARY

Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th February 2018

Continental Cormorant - One photographed in flight in the New Passage/

Northwick Warth area on the 3rd.

HAWFINCH - ST. ANNE'S CHURCH, OLDLAND COMMON: At least five on the

1st - 2nd and at least three on the 4th. MARSHFIELD: One faithfully visiting

feeders in the Withymead area on the 1st - 4th.


COMMON: At least three on the 1st - 4th.

© John Mildenhall

SHORT-EARED OWL - AUST WARTH: Just one bird on show on the 1st, three on

the 2nd and one on the 3rd.

WATER PIPIT - One in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area on the 3rd.

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© Adam Rawson, John Martin

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL - Two, putatively this species, feeding in fields

opposite The Lake, Oldbury Power Station on the 1st.

Monday 5th to Sunday 11th February 2018

BLACK REDSTART - A probable 1st winter male on the south-west side of the

reactor towers, Oldbury Power Station on the 7th.

HAWFINCH - ST. ANNE'S CHURCH, OLDLAND COMMON: Three, possibly four,

on the 5th, up to five on the 6th and at least two on the 9th - 10th.

MARSHFIELD: One still visiting feeders in the Withymead area, Marshfield on

the 5th, 7th - 10th.


COMMON: Two on the 5th, three on the 7th, two on the 10th and six on the

11th. Additionally two were noted south over Warmley on the 5th.

SHORT-EARED OWL - AUST WARTH: Three showing on the 6th, two on the 7th,

one on the 8th and one on the 11th.

WATER PIPIT - One, putatively this species, both seen and heard in flight

between The Waterworks and Lagoon III, Oldbury Power Station on the 7th.

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GOSHAWK - An unconfirmed report of a male at 11:35 on the 17th near

Newhouse Farm on the Tormarton Road, Marshfield where it was watched

for five minutes both sat on a drystone wall and in flight.

HAWFINCH - ST. ANNE'S CHURCH, OLDLAND COMMON: At least three on the

12th, at least two on the 13th, three on the 15th, one on the 16th and three

around 10:00 on the 18th. MARSHFIELD: One continuing to show on and off

at feeders in the Withymead area on the 12th - 17th.

© Donna Harvey

JACK SNIPE - One flushed from the saltings between Lagoon I and The

Windbound on the 16th and one noted on Littleton Warth on the 17th.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - A moulting adult was seen in fields opposite The

Lake at Oldbury Power Station on the 13th and a second and different adult

in the Tidal roost at Oldbury Power Station on the 14th.

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RED KITE - Two birds on the 15th; One over the Willsbridge Valley/ Siston Brook

area around 11:30 and one drifting over fields adjacent to Starveall Lane,

Hawkesbury Upton in the afternoon.

© Adam Rawson

RING-NECKED PARAKEET - ST. ANNE'S CHURCH, OLDLAND COMMON: Three

on the 12th - 13th, four on the 15th and three on the 16th.

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SHORT-EARED OWL - AUST WARTH: One on the 12th, three on the 13th, one

on the 14th and 16th, at least four possibly seven on the 17th and up to four

throughout the day on the 18th.

© TBOSG


HAWFINCH

ST. ANNE'S CHURCH, OLDLAND

COMMON: At least seven early

afternoon on the 19th, five on the

20th, five on the 23rd, six on the 24th

and three on the 25th.

MARSHFIELD: One still visiting feeders

in the Withymead area at Marshfield

on the 19th.

© Steve Mackie

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LITTLE EGRET - Ten were counted a kilometre inland of Oldbury Power Station

along the Rhine by the Severn Drainage Board offices on the 21st.

PIED WAGTAIL - At least 150 were noted forming a roost at Severn View

Services, Aust in the evening on the 21st.

RING- NECKED PARAKEET - One was seen in the Willsbridge Valley/ Siston

Brook area, Oldland Common on the 19th, and one was on view from St.

Anne's Church, Oldland Common on the 21st.

SHORT-EARED OWL - AUST WARTH: At least two on the 19th, one in windy

conditions on the 20th and one on the 22nd.

WATER PIPIT - One was seen in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Pilning

Wetland Reserve area on the 20th and again in the same area on the 22nd.

Monday 26th to Wednesday 28th February 2018

HAWFINCH - ST. ANNE'S CHURCH, OLDLAND COMMON: Four reported on the

26th.

HEN HARRIER - An unconfirmed report of a 'ringtail' showing briefly by the row

of poplars on Aust Warth on the 26th.

MANDARIN - A pair were present on The Little River Avon near Damery on

the 28th.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - A winter adult was seen in the roost at Oldbury

Power Station on the 28th.

MARCH

Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th March 2018

HAWFINCH - Birds continued to show at a couple of sites in the area with one

still frequenting feeders in the Withymead area at Marshfield on the 3rd - 4th,

and one noted in the St. Anne's Church/ Willsbridge area on the 4th.

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MEDITERRANEAN GULL - One was reported from the foreshore at New

Passage early afternoon on the 3rd.

RED KITE - One was reported in flight over Chipping Sodbury on the 3rd.

SHORT-EARED OWL - These spectacular Owls were still showing well from

Passage Road, Aust with seven (7) birds on show early on the 4th.

© Matt Hobbs, Pete Coslett

Monday 5th to Sunday 11th March 2018

GOOSANDER - A pair were watched floating upriver on the R. Severn at

Severn Beach on the morning of the 7th.

HAWFINCH - ST. ANNE'S CHURCH, OLDLAND COMMON: Three on the 6th and

two on the 11th. MARSHFIELD: One again at feeders in the Withymead area

at Marshfield from the 5th - 8th and 10th with two present on the 6th. AUST:

One seen in flight south-west from Aust Cliffs then over Aust Warth on the

10th.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - A summer adult was seen in the gull flock from

Rushmead Lane, Marshfield late morning on the 9th. A 2nd winter was seen

in flight low east over a property in Pilning on the 11th.

RED KITE - One was seen over Brimsham Park, Yate early afternoon on the 7th

and one over Shirehill Bridge, Marshfield on the 10th flying towards West

Littleton.

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RING-NECKED PARAKEET - Two reported in the Awkley area flying high east

around the convergence of the M4/ M48 on the 6th, three in flight over

Abbey Wood roundabout, Filton at around 08:15 on the 6th, one was seen

flying north along the sea wall at Severn Beach on the morning of the 7th

and two were seen in the garden of The Glen at New Passage on the 11th

before flying back into the village.

© John Martin

SAND MARTIN - The first of the year was seen at Littleton Brick Pits on the 10th!

Early but not quite the earliest!

SHORT-EARED OWL - AUST WARTH: One on the 5th and 8th, at least four on

the 6th and 9th, at least five on the 10th and three on the 11th.

TURTLE DOVE – A wholly unconfirmed report of a 'Turtle Dove spp' on the 9th

from a garden on Durban Road, Patchway. Apparently, after an online

search, it was determined that the bird was a 'Turtle Dove'. Information was

sought by the observer and visiting guests at the BTO before informing News

Services. A damaged aviary at Bristol Zoological Gardens allowed birds to

escape one of which was 'apparently' Turtle Dove so there's a high

percentage possibility that the Patchway bird was of captive origins.

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AVOCET - Six were found on the 16th on Pilning Wetland Reserve early

morning before moving to New Passage.

© Paul Bowerman

BLACK REDSTART - One was noted on top of the cooling towers at Oldbury


HAWFINCH - One at feeders in the Withymead area again on the 14th.

© Denise Whittle

JACK SNIPE - One was seen on Aust Warth on the 17th.

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MEDITERRANEAN GULL - A summer plumaged adult was seen in flight north-

east up the estuary at Oldbury Power Station on the 12th.

RED KITE - Two heading west over Chipping Sodbury and one over Church

Road, Yate on the 14th also one over Thornbury at 12:50 on the 18th.

SANDWICH TERN - One, the first of the year, down river at Oldbury Power

Station at 17:40 on the 16th.

SHORT-EARED OWL - A migrant flew over and across the R. Severn from New

Passage north towards Benchley Point on the 12th. AUST WARTH: At least four

on show on the 13th, four on the 15th, three on the 16th, two on the 18th.

© Rod Holbrook

WATER PIPIT - One, probably this species or possibly Scandinavian Rock Pipit,

in near summer plumage from Aust Warth on the 18th.

NORTHERN WHEATEAR - The first of the year was at Thornbury Sailing Club,

Oldbury-on-Severn on the 13th.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL - An adult on Coopers Lake, Yate on the 18th.

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AVOCET - One in the Northwick Warth area on the 21st - 22nd.

BLACK REDSTART - A 1st winter male on the seawall near The Jetty at Oldbury


CETTI'S WARBLER - A singing male at Oldbury Power Station on the 21st.

GREAT GREY SHRIKE – One was seen on wires by the crossroads near the pub

and post office at Acton Turville at 18:00 on the 22nd.

HAWFINCH - One still visiting feeders in the Withymead area at Marshfield on

the 25th.

JACK SNIPE – One at Oldbury Power Station on the 19th, one from the

saltmarsh near Thornbury Sailing Club with another from Severn Beach on

the 21st.

RED KITE - One over Chipping Sodbury Common on the 21st, one over the

M4/ J18 towards Marshfield and one over Aust Warth on the 22nd.

RING-NECKED PARAKEET - Two, possibly three, in the Willsbridge Valley on the

19th with one present on the 23rd. With the March sightings, this species has

now been reported from S. Glos in all months!

SHORT-EARED OWL - AUST WARTH: Three on the 20th - 24th, two on the 25th.

One in the Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve area on the 22nd.

WATER PIPIT - One around Chestle Pill, Northwick Warth on the 22nd with two

present on the 23rd.

Monday 26th to Saturday 31st March 2018

CETTI'S WARBLER - One reported from Orchard Pools, Severn Beach on the

26th.

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JACK SNIPE - One reported from Chipping Sodbury Common on the 27th.

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER - A male at close range near the Little River

Avon in the Damery area on the 31st.

RED KITE - One over Grimsbury Farm at the bottom of Cock Road, Kingswood

and one over Down Road, Marshfield on the 29th.

RING-NECKED PARAKEET - Two at St. Anne's Church, Oldland Common on

the 28th. Two by the Anchor car park, Oldbury on the 29th with one on

Streamside Walk, Thornbury on the 29th and 31st.

SHORT-EARED OWL - AUST WARTH: Two on the 26th, one on the 31st.

SWALLOW - The first of the year was noted over Pilning Wetland on the 31st.

© Paul Bowerman

WATER PIPIT - One around Chestle Pill, Northwick Warth on the 26th with two

present on the 28th - 29th.

APRIL

Sunday 1st to Sunday 8th April 2018

ARCTIC SKUA - One, a dark morph and the first of the year, north-east upriver

from Severn Beach on the 7th.

AVOCET - Three at Shepperdine early morning on the 2nd.

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CETTI'S WARBLER - Two noted from Lagoon II, Oldbury Power Station on the

3rd and 8th with one there on the 5th.

COMMON SCOTER - Eleven present off Severn Beach on the evening high

tide on the 2nd with sixteen present on the 6th.

GOOSANDER - A male seen in flight north-east past Severn Beach on the 7th.

HAWFINCH - One noted at St. Anne's Church, Oldland Common on the 8th.

HOUSE MARTIN - The first of the year over Pilning Wetland on the 4th.

JACK SNIPE - One on Yate Common early afternoon on the 3rd.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER - Three, the first of the year, on the foreshore at New

Passage on the 6th.

OSPREY - One, the first of the year, heading west over Emerson's Green Retail

Park at 15:55 on the 3rd.

PURPLE SANDPIPER - One, the first for two years, on rocks in Burger Bar Bay,

Severn Beach on the 3rd.

COMMON REDSTART - The first returning birds of the year were noted at

Hanham Hills, Hanham and Aust STW, Aust this week.

RED KITE - One, possibly this species, over woodland on the north side of river

the R. Avon towards Hanham (from Willsbridge) late afternoon on the 6th.

One over Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 7th. Two over Littleton Brick Pits,

Littleton, subsequently over Orchard Pools and Pilning Wetland Reserve

again on the 8th.

RING-NECKED PARAKEET - At least one at Willsbridge Mill Reserve, Willsbridge

on the 1st and 3rd.

SEDGE WARBLER - One seen and heard in the reedbed around Lagoon III,

Oldbury Power Station was the first of the year.

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© Paul Bowerman

SHORT-EARED OWL - Two at Aust Warth on the 1st and 8th, one on the 7th.

TREE PIPIT - The first of the year on Chipping Sodbury Common on the 4th.

WATER PIPIT - One in the Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve area on

the 1st with two on the 2nd, 4th - 5th and 7th - 8th.

© Paul Bowerman

WHIMBREL - Four, the first of the year, were seen in the New Passage/

Northwick Warth area on the 8th.

WHITE WAGTAIL - The first of the year was seen in the New Passage/

Northwick Warth area on the 4th.

© Paul Bowerman

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WILLOW WARBLER - The first of the year was seen and heard in Kingsgate

Park, Yate on the 2nd.

YELLOW WAGTAIL - The first of the year was logged with a male over Severn

Beach on the 7th.

Monday 9th to Sunday 15th April 2018

ARCTIC SKUA - Three heading up-river from Severn Beach early on the 12th.

AVOCET - Two were present at Thornbury Sailing Club, Oldbury-on-Severn on

the 15th.

Ashy-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava cinereocapilla – One on Northwick

Warth around 10:20 on the 15th.

© Paul Bowerman

CETTI'S WARBLER - One noted in the Pilning Wetland Reserve area on the

11th, one on Northwick Warth Landfill Site on the 13th and two at Oldbury


COMMON TERN - One, the first of the year, was at Severn Beach on the 9th.

Continental Cormorant - One over Kingswood, Bristol on the 14th.

P a g e | 28

© TBOSG

DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE - Four, the first of the year, were seen in flight

up-river past Oldbury Power Station on the 14th.

GOSHAWK - One, putatively this species, in flight over Latteridge around

mid-day on the 12th.

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER - At least three seen and heard around Lagoon III,


Greenland Wheatear - A male, the first of the year, was seen on Chipping

Sodbury Common on the 13th.

HAWFINCH - One, probably this species, north-east over Oldbury Power

Station at 07:20 on the 9th.

HOOPOE - One was seen briefly in Kingsgate Park, Yate early morning on the

15th but sadly could not be relocated.

LESSER WHITETHROAT - One, the first of the year, was seen around East End

Dew Pond, Marshfield on the 13th.

LITTLE EGRET - Thirteen were noted in fields near Thornbury Castle on the 13th.

LITTLE GULL - Four adults from Severn Beach late afternoon on the 10th.

P a g e | 29

PIED FLYCATCHER - A male, the first of the year, was seen in Kingsgate Park,

Yate on the 11th - 13th, a different male in a private garden at Alveston on

the 13th and a female around Lagoon III, Oldbury Power Station on the 14th.

© TBOSG

REED WARBLER - One, the first of the year, from the Pilning Wetland Reserve

area on the 11th.


One from Kingsgate Park,

Yate on the 11th - 15th.

One seen heading east

over Old Sodbury at

08:45 on the 13th.

RING OUZEL - A male, the

first of the year, was seen

to fly from Lagoon III

outfall inland at Oldbury

Power Station early

morning on the 12th. © Mark Coller

SHORT-EARED OWL - One on Aust Warth late afternoon on the 11th and 13th.

STONE CURLEW – One on Northwick Warth on the 15th.

© TBOSG

P a g e | 30

© Pete Hazelwood

© Vic Savery

WATER PIPIT - One at Oldbury Power Station on the 12th and one on

Northwick Warth on the 14th - 15th.

WHINCHAT - The first of the year, near New Pill, Chittening Warth on the 11th.

COMMON WHITETHROAT - The first of the year in Kingsgate Park on the 11th.

WOOD WARBLER - A presumed male, the first of the year and the earliest

ever record for S. Glos, was heard in song in the Nature Reserve of Kingsgate

Park, Yate around 11:20 on the 11th. Previous earliest date was April 14th

2009 at New Passage. An unconfirmed report of a singing male in Kingsgate

P a g e | 31

Park on the 12th. A male was both seen and heard in the grounds of The

Glen, New Passage on the 14th and one was reported c.400 metres north-

east of Northwick Warth Flash early afternoon on the 15th.

© Aravind Ramesh

© Matt Hobbs

P a g e | 32

YELLOW WAGTAIL - The individual above was seen on Northwick Warth on

the 13th. Though striking in appearance it could not be determined to

species/ form level.

Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd April 2018

ARCTIC TERN - Four, the first of the year, were seen in flight down river from


AVOCET - One seen in flight north-east up-river past New Passage on the

21st.

CETTI'S WARBLER - Three birds present on Lagoon II, Oldbury Power Station on

the 18th with two still present on the 22nd.

CUCKOO - An early first of the year present around Lagoon II, Oldbury Power


GOSHAWK - One noted soaring over Down Road, Marshfield around mid-

day before drifting north on the 18th. A male was seen circling near The

Orchard, Oldbury Power Station before being lost to view and a female was

watched in flight north-east over Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 21st.

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER - One was heard 'reeling' in the garden of The Glen,

New Passage close to the outfall with a second ringed at Littleton Brick Pits

on the 18th. One was heard 'reeling' in scrub south of Severn Beach on the

19th. One was heard 'reeling' around Lagoon II, Oldbury Power Station, one

was both seen and heard near Frampton Cotterell along Frome Valley

Walkway (ST: 666 823) early morning and one was heard 'reeling' at Three

Brooks LNR, Bradley Stoke on the 21st.

NIGHTINGALE - A wholly unconfirmed report of one heard singing from

Golden Valley LNR, Wick on the 19th.

OSPREY - One spent an all too brief ten minutes around 09:45 at New

Passage on the 22nd.

P a g e | 33

© John Martin

RED KITE - At least two birds present in the Shire Valley during the afternoon

on the 18th. One was seen over Chipping Sodbury Common at 15:50 with

the same or another over North Yate at 17:45 on the 21st. One flew north

over Pilning Wetland Reserve around 13:00 on the 22nd.

RED-THROATED DIVER - One, the first for three years, lingered for a couple of

hours on the R. Severn from New Passage on the 18th.

RING OUZEL - Two; a female was seen on Northwick Warth near the 2nd

Sentry Box early morning and a male was seen in flight and in brambles near

The Glen at New Passage in the afternoon on the 16th.

SHORT-EARED OWL - One from Aust Warth in the evening on the 20th.

COMMON SWIFT - The first of the year was seen north-east over Pilning

Wetland Reserve early morning on the 21st.

WATER PIPIT - One present in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Pilning

Wetland Reserve area on the 16th, 18th - 19th.

WHITE STORK - One was seen in flight heading low north-east over Pilning

Wetland Reserve mid-afternoon on the 22nd.

Monday 23rd to Monday 30th April 2018

ARCTIC SKUA – A pale morph from Severn Beach mid-afternoon on the 25th.

P a g e | 34

AVOCET - One early morning on Pilning Wetland Reserve then on Northwick

Warth Flash in the evening on the 30th.

Channel Wagtail (Hybrid) – This handsome spring male was found on

Northwick Warth on the 27th.

© Brian Lancastle

GARDEN WARBLER - Two, the first of the year, were noted at Lyde Green

early morning on the 24th.

GARGANEY - A male and female, the first of the year, were seen on Pilning

Wetland Reserve early morning on the 30th.

© Matt Hobbs

P a g e | 35

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER - Two birds were heard 'reeling' from around

Lagoon III, Oldbury Power Station on the 24th. One was singing at Severn

Beach on the 25th and one from Lagoon III, Oldbury Power Station on the

26th and 28th.

GREAT WHITE EGRET - Two birds dropped onto Pilning Wetland Reserve

around 07:40 on the 23rd and stayed for just ten minutes; One seen in poor

conditions in flight over Lagoon II, Oldbury Power Station and past Littleton-

upon-Severn early morning on the 27th was noted in flight north over Aust

Warth later.

© Paul Bowerman

MANDARIN - A pair

were seen again on

The Little River Avon

near Damery on the

23rd. These birds have

apparently been

frequenting the area

since February.

© Adam Rawson

P a g e | 36

OSPREY - Two birds tracking north-east up-river distantly from Oldbury Power


WOOD SANDPIPER - The first of the year was seen on Pilning Wetland Reserve

on the 27th.

MAY

Tuesday 1st to Sunday 6th May 2018

ARCTIC SKUA – A dark morph past Oldbury Power Station at 08:30 on the 5th.

BARNACLE GOOSE - One reported from Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 5th.

CETTI'S WARBLER - At least two present at Oldbury Power Station on the 2nd.

GOSHAWK - One, possibly this species, was seen twice over Oakleaze Road,

Thornbury before departing towards the west on the 5th.

RED KITE - One drifted north-east from Severn Beach early morning on the

1st, one in the Northfield/ Rushmead Lane area on the 4th, one low over

Oakleaze Road, Thornbury on the 5th and one reported from North Yate on

the 6th.

WHOOPER SWAN - A very distant Swan that flew north-east in mist at Severn

Beach in the morning on the 6th was a possible this species!

WOOD SANDPIPER - One on Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 6th.

© Brian Lancastle

P a g e | 37

WREN - Forty-three (43) were counted at Oldbury Power Station on the 4th.

Monday 7th to Sunday 13th May 2018

CETTI'S WARBLER - One at Grebe Pond, Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 11th.

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER - One at Oldbury Power Station on the 8th.

HOBBY - The first of the year over Severn Beach mid-afternoon on the 9th.

MANDARIN - One reported on the R. Avon at Hanham on the 13th.

OSPREY - One flew low over the A4174 Ring Road at Filton Roundabout early

evening on the 9th. It was subsequently reported from Coalpit Heath.

RED KITE - One drifted north over Coalpit Heath late afternoon on the 9th,

one over Tytherington late afternoon on the 10th, one over the M5 at Cribbs

Causeway, Bristol at 10:30 on the 11th with a further two over Dean Road,

Yate.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - This year's first birds were noted on the 8th and 9th at

New Passage (2) and Chipping Sodbury Common.

WOOD SANDPIPER - An adult on Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 6th - 8th.

Monday 14th to Sunday 20th May 2018

© John Martin

P a g e | 38

AVOCET - Two on Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve in the evening

on the 15th with a third on the 16th. Two seen mating on the 17th in the

Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve area with one settled on a 'nest'

constitutes the first breeding attempt of this species in South Gloucestershire.

Two still present on the 18th, three in the Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland

Reserve area on the 20th.

CETTI'S WARBLER - Two at Oldbury Power Station on the 20th.

RED KITE - One circling overhead at the junction of the B4058 and B4509 near

Charfield on the 15th, one over Riverside Shopping Centre on the 16th, two

east over Falfield on the 17th and one over West Littleton Down on the 18th.

SPOONBILL - A wholly unconfirmed report of one on the saltmarsh at Oldbury


Monday 21st to Sunday 27th May 2018

AVOCET - Two on Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 25th.

BLACK TERN - Two, the first of the year, upriver at Severn Beach on the 24th.

Blue-headed Wagtail - A fine male was seen on Pilning Wetland Reserve

early morning on the 24th.

© Paul Bowerman

P a g e | 39

GARGANEY - A pair on Butts Pool, Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 21st.

© Paul Bowerman

NIGHTJAR – A report of one disturbed from The Orchard, Oldbury Power

Station around 19:00 on the 22nd.

NIGHTINGALE - One recorded singing at the south-east end of Kingsgate

Park, Yate early morning on the 21st is the first of the year.

RED KITE - One at Frampton Cotterell on the 21st, two drifted over Thornbury

Sailing Club, Oldbury-on-Severn on the 21st, one over Thornbury High Street

and one over Pucklechurch on the 22nd, one over Latteridge, one over

Filton Hill, Filton and two over Down Road, Marshfield on the 23rd, one over

Dundridge Park, Hanham around mid-day and one over the Wild Places

Project, Cribbs Causeway late afternoon on the 24th, two over Thornbury

early evening and one over Hanham Primary School on the 25th, one over

Thornbury Sailing Club, Oldbury-on-Severn, one over Leyhill mid-afternoon,

and five over Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 26th.

Monday 28th to Thursday 31st May 2018

AVOCET - One in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area early on the 28th.

RED KITE - One circling over Badminton Road at Kendleshire at 15:00 on the

28th and one over Inglestone Common on the 31st.

P a g e | 40

SHORT-EARED OWL - One from Northwick Warth in the evening on the 31st.

JUNE

Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd June 2018

© Adam Rawson

MANDARIN

A female successfully hatched at least five ducklings in the Little River Avon

area at Damery.

RING-NECKED PARAKEET - One on Streamside Walk, Thornbury on the 3rd.

WOODLARK - The first ever June record with an adult just south of Severn

Beach on the 1st. It also constitutes the latest date for this species in S. Glos!

© Brian Lancastle

P a g e | 41

Monday 4th to Sunday 10th June 2018

RED KITE - One over a cut field at Avening Green, and one over Old Sodbury

on the 5th, one over the towers and Lagoon II, Oldbury Power Station, one

over Olveston and one over Bradley Stoke, two over the A403 behind

Northwick Warth, one north-east over Charfield at 16:15, one over Cribbs

Causeway and one over Wick on the 6th, one over Wapley, and one over

Lower Woods Lodge on the 7th, one over Oldland Common and one over

Aust Cliffs on the 8th, one at the top of Tog Hill and one over the Shire Valley,

Marshfield on the 9th.


CETTI'S WARBLER - One noted at Oldbury Power Station on the 15th.

GREAT SKUA - The first one this year from Severn Beach on the 14th.

© TBOSG

MANX SHEARWATER - At least 150, the first of the year, from Severn Beach

following Storm Hector on the 14th.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - A 1st summer from Severn Beach on the 14th.

RED KITE - One over the M48 near Aust on the 12th, one over Westerleigh

Road, Westerleigh on the 13th, two in the Shire Valley on the 16th.

P a g e | 42

STORM PETREL - One out from of 'Burger Bar Bay', Severn Beach on the 14th.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL - A 2nd summer from Severn Beach on the 14th.


HARRIER SPP - One, probably Hen, was seen briefly in flight north-east over

Engine Common Lane, Yate early morning on the 22nd.

HOOPOE - LATE NEWS: One photographed near Marshfield mid-May.

© Unknown

P a g e | 43

RED KITE - One over the Masons Arms on the A38, Rudgeway on the 20th,

one on the 22nd over Chipping Sodbury and Yate throughout the day and

two low over Cromhall on the 24th.

STORM PETREL - One from Severn Beach around 11:00 on the 18th.

Monday 25th to Saturday 30th June 2018

AVOCET - One on Pilning Wetland Reserve mid-morning on the 30th.

© Paul Bowerman

CETTI'S WARBLER - A newly fledged individual was heard at Oldbury Power

Station on the 26th - 28th.

CURLEW SANDPIPER - A moulting adult, the first of the year, was found on the

foreshore at New Pill, Chittening Warth in the evening on the 25th.

RED KITE - One drifting slowly north-east over Severn Beach on the 25th.

JULY

Sunday 1st to Sunday 8th July 2018

AVOCET - Four on Northwick Warth on the 4th.

COMMON SCOTER - Eight (seven males and a juvenile/ female) drifted up-

river past Oldbury Power Station on the rising tide at 11:15 on the 6th.

P a g e | 44

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - A summer adult was on Northwick Warth in the

evening on the 2nd and at New Passage/ Northwick Warth on the 3rd - 6th.

Two adults were seen in flight south-west over Severn Beach on the 5th.

RED KITE - One over Barnhill Quarry, Chipping Sodbury around 09:00 on the

5th.

Monday 9th to Sunday 15th July 2018

LITTLE EGRET - At least nine in the Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve

area on the 9th with twelve at Severn Beach on the 14th.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - An adult was reported from New Passage on the

12th, an adult on Northwick Warth and two juveniles were noted at Severn

Beach on the 14th and an adult and a 2nd calendar year in the New

Passage/ Northwick Warth area on the 15th.

© Paul Bowerman

RED KITE - One over Oldland Common sometime last week! One over the

Shire Valley, Marshfield on the 10th, one over Lagoon III at Oldbury Power

Station late morning on the 11th, two in the Shire Valley, Marshfield on the

14th, one over Chipping Sodbury Common on the 15th and three in the Shire

Valley, Marshfield on the 15th.

WOOD SANDPIPER - One flushed from Pilning Wetland Reserve by

engineering activities and flew off calling towards New Passage early

morning on the 15th.

P a g e | 45

Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd July 2018

© Matt Ames

GREAT WHITE EGRET - One on the 18th around 10:30, in flight over Pilning

Wetland Reserve, viewed from second sentry box, before heading high over

Aust where it was lost to view.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - An adult in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area

on the 16th, an adult and 2nd summer reported from the New Passage/

Northwick Warth area again, an adult at Shepperdine on the 17th, an adult

and two juvenile/ immatures in the New Passage/ Pilning Wetland Reserve

area on the 18th, a juvenile on the 19th at Culvert Avenue, Yate near to

Yate Trading Estate and a juvenile on Northwick Warth on the 21st.

© Brian Thompson

P a g e | 46

QUAIL - An unconfirmed report of a single male heard a couple of times only

on the south side of Shirehill Lane, Marshfield mid-July.

RED KITE - Two over New Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve

on the 16th and one drifting east over Oakleaze Road, Thornbury on the

18th.

WOOD SANDPIPER - An adult was present on the 1st Sentry Box Pool, Pilning

Wetland Reserve again from the 16th - 18th.

Monday 23rd to Tuesday 31st July 2018

LITTLE EGRET - A thirteen on Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 27th.

MANDARIN - A female at Kingsgate Park, Yate from the 27th - 31st.

MANX SHEARWATER - C.120 were on the 28th from Severn Beach.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - Two juvenile/ 1st winters at Severn Beach on the

28th and a juvenile on Northwick Warth on the 30th.

RED KITE - One from Broad Hill, Hawkesbury on the 24th, one at Cold Ashton

on the 25th and one over Old Sodbury on the 29th.

AUGUST

Wednesday 1st to Sunday 5th August 2018

© Paul Bowerman

P a g e | 47

AVOCET - An adult and by four juveniles in the New Passage/ Northwick

Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve area on the 1st and one in the same area

on the 3rd.

MANDARIN - A female lingering at Kingsgate Park, Yate on the 1st - 2nd.

MARSH HARRIER - A juvenile in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Pilning

Wetland Reserve area for just a couple of minutes on the 1st.

© TBOSG

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - A moulting adult was at New Passage/ Northwick

Warth on the 1st, 3rd - 4th.

MERLIN - One on Northwick Warth on the 1st.

Monday 6th to Sunday 12th August 2018

COMMON CUCKOO - Not so 'common' nowadays so an obliging individual

at Severn Beach on the 5th - 6th was a very welcome distraction!

LITTLE EGRET - Eighteen (18), the highest count this year, were disturbed by

ground maintenance workers on Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 6th.

HEN HARRIER - A juvenile (the first of the year) was both seen and

photographed from Rushmead Lane, Marshfield on the 7th possibly again

distantly mid-afternoon on the 9th from Rushmead Lane, twice on the 10th

P a g e | 48

heading north from Down Track, Down Road mid-afternoon and briefly from

Gorse Lane near Pennsylvania late afternoon and a gain mid-afternoon

heading north from Down Track, Down Road on the 12th.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - A juvenile/ 1st winter reported from the New


RED KITE - One reported from the Hawkesbury Upton area on the 8th.

© Brian Lancastle


HEN HARRIER - A juvenile from Down Road, at Marshfield on the 13th.

P a g e | 49

© Martin Smith

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - A winter adult in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth

area on the 17th.

RED KITE - One over Chipping Sodbury Common mid-afternoon on the 19th.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL - An adult, probably this species, around the Jetty at



OSPREY - One seen briefly in flight low south from Severn Beach on the 21st.

RED KITE - One around mid-day near Milbury Heath, Thornbury on the 24th.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL - A 1st winter was noted on Northwick Warth on the

25th.

Monday 27th to Friday 31st August 2018

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER - One was reported from Severn Beach on the 30th.

GREAT SKUA - One down river from Oldbury Power Station at 11:15 on the

29th.

P a g e | 50

© Pete Coslett

OSPREY - One over Rushmead Lane, Marshfield in the afternoon on the 27th.

RED KITE - One reported from the Shire Valley, Marshfield on the 31st.

SEPTEMBER

Saturday 1st to Sunday 9th September 2018

MANDARIN - An adult female again in Kingsgate Park, Yate on the 4th.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - An adult was noted in flight south-west past Aust

Cliffs View Point in the afternoon on the 2nd.

RAVEN - At least thirty-eight in the Shire Valley, Marshfield on the 2nd.

RED KITE - One in the Shire Valley, Marshfield in the afternoon on the 1st.

ROSE-COLOURED STARLING

A juvenile/ 1st winter was found

mid-afternoon on the 1st on

Gorse Cover Road, Severn

Beach.

© John Martin

P a g e | 51

© Paul Woolams

WRYNECK - One photographed on Chipping Sodbury Common on the 5th.

Monday 10th to Sunday 16th September 2018

MANDARIN - A female was present again at Kingsgate Park, Yate on the

13th.

ORTOLAN BUNTING - The first ever record of this species for S. Glos was seen

in flight over Northwick Warth on the 13th.

OSPREY - One low to the south over New Passage at 16:30 on the 10th.

RED KITE - One at Oldbury Power Station on the 10th.

SAVI'S WARBLER - An unconfirmed reported of one seen for a few minutes in

reeds at Grebe Pond, Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 15th.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL - An adult at Oldbury Power Station on the 15th.

Monday 17th to Sunday 23rd September 2018

BEARDED TIT - A wholly unconfirmed report of one in flight over the Grebe

Pond, Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 18th.

P a g e | 52

GREY PHALAROPE - An adult was found on Butts Pool, Pilning Wetland

Reserve late afternoon on the 20th where it remained until dusk. Present

again on the 21st remaining faithful to Butts Pool where it was joined by a

juvenile/ 1st winter late afternoon. A third individual was also found on the

21st when a juvenile/ 1st winter was located on the estuary from Severn

Beach. An adult and juvenile/ 1st winter still together on Butts Pool, Pilning

Wetland Reserve on the 22nd with a juvenile/ 1st winter nearby in Chestle

Pill. All three birds were present on Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 23rd.

© Aravind Ramesh

LEACH'S PETREL - One from Severn Beach early afternoon on the 19th.

MANDARIN - A female was again present at Kingsgate Park, Yate on the

17th.

Monday 24th to Sunday 30th September 2018

GREY PHALAROPE - An adult and a juvenile/ 1st winter present still in the New

Passage/ Pilning Wetland Reserve area on the 24th. A winter adult was seen

briefly at Oldbury Power Station in the morning on the 25th.

GREAT GREY SHRIKE - A wholly unconfirmed report of one seen from a

moving vehicle near the M5/ J16 Almondsbury Interchange on the 24th.

MANDARIN - A male was seen on the S. Glos side of the R. Avon at

Keynsham on the 28th.

P a g e | 53

© Pete Hazelwood

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - A winter adult was seen at Thornbury Sailing Club,

Oldbury-on-Severn on the 29th.

RED KITE - One was seen briefly in the Shire Valley at Marshfield around mid-

day on the 25th.

RING-NECKED PARAKEET - Two or three were heard calling from trees around

the M5/ J14 Falfield at 16:40 on the 26th and one was noted on Streamside

Walk, Thornbury on the 29th.

OCTOBER

Monday 1st to Sunday 7th October 2018

CORMORANT - A flock of seventeen down river past Shepperdine on the 1st.

JACK SNIPE - One on show on Grebe Pond, Pilning Wetland Reserve on the

7th.

RING-NECKED PARAKEET - One was seen between Severn View Services and

Aust/ Littleton ST Works on the 7th.

WOODLARK - One was seen well around Cake Pill, Northwick Warth late

morning on the 7th.

P a g e | 54

© TBOSG

Monday 8th to Sunday 14th October 2018

AVOCET - One in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area was seen to drop

onto the 1st Sentry Box Pool, Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 11th.

COMMON CROSSBILL - One south over a private garden in Pilning early


LAPLAND BUNTING - A wholly unconfirmed report of one in the New


© Paul Bowerman

P a g e | 55

MARSH HARRIER - An immature/ female was seen firstly over Old Passage

and subsequently Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 8th.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - An adult was seen in the New Passage/ Northwick

Warth area on the 11th.

SCAUP - A winter female was seen well from Northwick Warth and later New

Passage on the 10th. The first since December 2010!

Monday 15th to Sunday 21st October 2018

GOSHAWK - A reliable report of one seen near Hallen on the 19th.

GREAT WHITE EGRET - One over Lagoon III, Oldbury Power Station on the

19th.

HEN HARRIER - A male mobbed by corvids over Northwick Warth on the 21st.

JACKDAW - 1,040 over the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area on the 21st.

JACK SNIPE - One in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area on the 20th.

RED KITE - One in the Shire Valley, Marshfield on the 20th.

WATER PIPIT - Two in the Severn Beach area on the 20th.

© Brian Lancastle

P a g e | 56

WHOOPER SWAN - Four juveniles distantly on the estuary from New Passage

on the 16th.

Monday 22nd to Sunday 28th October 2018

EGRET SPP - Two, very probably Great White, were seen in flight late

afternoon heading north-north-east from the Rodway Common,

Mangotsfield area on the 28th.

RED KITE - One from Shirehill Lane, Marshfield in the morning on the 24th and

one near Severn Beach early afternoon on the 27th.

SHORT-EARED OWL - One disturbed briefly from Aust Warth late morning on

the 27th.

WATER PIPIT - One noted on the seawall at Shepperdine in the morning on

the 25th.

WHOOPER SWAN - A flock of seven were reported from Tortworth Court Lake

on the 22nd. This figure represents the highest count for this species in S. Glos

eclipsing the previous count of five on November 13th 1983 on Northwick

Warth!

Monday 29th to Wednesday 31st October 2018

COMMON CROSSBILL - One to the north at Oldbury Power Station around

09:30 on the 30th.

GREAT WHITE EGRET - One was seen in flight up river from Littleton around

09:30 landing near Oldbury Pill, Oldbury-on-Severn on the 31st. It was then

watched in flight over the estuary.

JACK SNIPE - One reported from Aust Warth on the 31st.

MARSH HARRIER - A female/ immature was noted low to the east over

Northwick Warth late morning on the 29th.

P a g e | 57

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - An adult was seen on Pilning Wetland Reserve,

Northwick Warth on the 31st.

WATER PIPIT - One reported again from the New Passage/ Northwick Warth

area on the 31st.

WHOOPER SWAN - Two watched in flight east over Pilning Wetland Reserve,

Northwick Warth mid-morning on the 29th.

© Aravind Ramesh

NOVEMBER

Thursday 1st to Sunday 11th November 2018

BLACK REDSTART - A very mobile adult winter male was seen between the

Jetty and Water Works at Oldbury Power Station on the 7th. The first returning

bird of the autumn! The adult winter male again at Oldbury Power Station on

the 10th though elusive among jetty buildings and main station area;

subsequently seen on roofs inland of the Water Works viewed from Lagoon II

on the 11th.

CETTI'S WARBLER - One reported from Aust Warth on the 11th.

GREAT WHITE EGRET - One, probably this species, was seen distantly in flight

heading south-west over Pilning early morning on the 5th.

MARSH HARRIER - A juvenile was reported from Northwick Warth on the 6th.

P a g e | 58

SHORT-EARED OWL - One from Aust Warth on the 10th, three present on

Northwick Warth on the morning of the 11th, with two of them showing at

dusk from Aust Warth.

SWIFT SPP - One reported from Piling Wetland Reserve, Northwick Warth on

the 11th. Pallid Swift has never been recorded in S. Glos and the latest date

for Common Swift is October 29th 2004 at Severn Beach.

WATER PIPIT - One from the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area on the 5th -

6th and 8th.

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER - One was reported in trees in a private garden

on North Road, Thornbury on the 10th.

Monday 12th to Sunday 18th November 2018

BARNACLE GOOSE - One was seen from New Passage on the 15th. This is the

first record of this species for November!

BEWICK'S SWAN - A party of six flew upriver from Pilning Wetland Reserve

towards Aust early morning on the 18th.

© Matt Hobbs

BLACK REDSTART - An immature male was seen from the sea wall at New

Passage early afternoon on the 15th and was still present on the 16th. The

adult winter male again very briefly on The Jetty at Oldbury Power Station on

P a g e | 59

the 16th and a juvenile/ female was seen on the roof of the building on

Pilning Wetland Reserve early morning on the 18th.

© Adam Rawson

JACK SNIPE - One was noted from Littleton Warth on the 18th.

PIED WAGTAIL - C.200 going to roost at Oldbury Power Station on the 16th.

RED KITE - One was seen distantly from Rushmead Lane, Marshfield on the

18th with another reported around 14:00 from the Warmley area.

RICHARD'S PIPIT - One was both seen and heard calling in flight fairly low to

the east over Pilning Wetland Reserve, Northwick Warth on the 14th. The first

record for four years, the fourth in November and the second November

14th bird!

RUFF - A count of sixteen were photographed on Pilning Wetland Reserve on

the 17th.

SHORT-EARED OWL - One at Aust on the 12th, two from Northwick Warth, one

from Aust Warth and one between The Windbound, Shepperdine and

Oldbury Power Station on the 13th - 14th, two at the north end of Northwick

Warth around 15:00 and one from Inglestone Common around 16:30 on the

15th and two from Aust Warth on the 17th.

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WATER PIPIT - One was seen on the 1st Sentry Box Pool Island on Pilning

Wetland Reserve in the afternoon on the 18th.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - One was seen in flight upriver from Northwick

Warth late afternoon and two ‘Grey Geese’ (presumed White-fronted) flew

east over Severn Beach at 15:00 on the 17th.

WOODLARK - Two were logged in flight north-east over Severn View Services,

Aust around 07:45 on the 18th.

Monday 19th to Sunday 25th November 2018

BLACK REDSTART - The adult winter male again late afternoon around The

Jetty at Oldbury Power Station on the 25th.

SHORT-EARED OWL - One was seen to go to roost on the saltmarsh near

Thornbury Sailing Club south-west of Oldbury Power Station in the morning on

the 22nd. It was still present in the area on the 24th - 25th.

Monday 26th to Friday 30th November 2018

ARCTIC SKUA - One seen from Oldbury Power Station after lunch on the 30th.

BLACK REDSTART – An adult winter male on the tower and roof by The Jetty,

Oldbury Power Station on the 26th and a female around the Chemical

Store, Oldbury Power Station on the 30th.

PETREL SPP – One seen very briefly from Severn Beach around 11:30 on the

29th.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER - Three redheads 'flashed' up-river past Severn

Beach around 10:30 on the 29th; also seen distantly from Oldbury Power

Station.

SHORT-EARED OWL - One present at dusk on the 26th from Aust Warth, one

at Oldbury Power Station hunting over salt marsh adjacent to Lagoon III and

one from Aust Warth on the 30th.

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WATER PIPIT - One near the 1st Sentry Box Pool on Pilning Wetland Reserve in

the morning on the 26th and one putatively this species on the seawall by

the waterworks at Oldbury Power Station on the 28th.

DECEMBER

Saturday 1st to Sunday 9th December 2018

BLACK REDSTART - One at Oldbury Power Station on the 3rd in flight towards

South Road, the adult winter male on the towers on the south-west side at

Oldbury Power Station on the 4th and an unconfirmed report of a 'female

type' at New Passage on the 9th.

SHORT-EARED OWL - One reported from Oldbury Power Station on the 5th.

SNOW BUNTING - An adult winter male was found at Burger Bar Bay, Severn

Beach on the 8th before relocating to the shingle beach.

Monday 10th to Sunday 16th December 2018

GOLDEN PLOVER - C.600 between Acton Turville and Tormarton on the 10th.

HEN HARRIER - A winter female briefly in flight south along Northwick Warth

early afternoon on the 14th.

© Paul Bowerman

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Nordic Jackdaw - One showing characteristics of this form was found in

fields from Little Green Lane, Severn Beach on the 13th.

© John Martin

SHORT-EARED OWL - One seen quartering the saltmarsh near Thornbury

Yacht Club south of Oldbury Power Station on the 10th also late news of two

in the same area late November. One hunting the saltmarsh/ fields from

Lagoon III to Thornbury Yacht Club and one from Aust Warth on the 11th.

One in fields from Central Avenue, Western Distribution Park, Severn Beach

on the 12th.

TWITE - One, putatively this species, heard several times in the New Passage/

Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve area on the 10th.

WATER PIPIT - One in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland

Reserve area on the 10th and one at Severn Beach on the 14th.

Monday 17th to Sunday 23rd December 2018

BLACK REDSTART - A ‘female type’ seen briefly on the foreshore at Oldbury

Power Station in the morning on the 23rd.

CETTI'S WARBLER - One seen in the Ableton Lane area at Severn Beach on

the 17th and Orchard Pools, Severn Beach on the 21st and 23rd.

FIRECREST - At least one, the first of the year, seen and heard in the Ableton

Lane area at Severn Beach on the 17th was still present on the 19th.

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GOLDEN PLOVER - A flock of c.1000 in the Tormarton area on the 17th.

Nordic Jackdaw – One, showing characteristics of this form, in the furthest

paddock from Little Green Lane, Severn Beach again on the 17th.

WATER PIPIT - One on Northwick Warth on the 17th, again on the 19th and

around Chestle Pill on the 22nd - 23rd.

Monday 24th to Monday 31st December 2018

BLACK REDSTART - Two at Oldbury Power Station on the 24th; a female/ 1st

winter around The Jetty and a winter male on a roof nearby. The winter male

has been seen on and off at this site since November 7th. One showing well

in and around The Jetty at Oldbury Power Station on the 25th. An immature

near The Jetty, Oldbury Power Station in the afternoon on the 27th. A 1st

winter male was seen opposite The Waterworks at Oldbury Power Station in

the afternoon on the 29th. A 1st winter/ female was reported as still present

at Oldbury Power Station on the 30th.

MANDARIN - A winter male was seen on the R. Avon at Willsbridge near The

Lock Keeper on the 31st.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - A 1st winter was seen in the New Passage/

Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve area on the 30th.

SHORT-EARED OWL - One hunting over Lagoon III, Oldbury Power Station in

the afternoon on the 27th was seen again in the same area on the 30th.

One from Aust Warth late afternoon on the 31st.

WATER PIPIT

One still present in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland

Reserve area on the 30th and 31st.

P a g e | 64

The South Gloucestershire Rare & Scarce Year List 2018

JANUARY HAWFINCH, JACK SNIPE, MEDITERRANEAN GULL, SHORT-EARED OWL, BLACK

REDSTART, CETTI'S WARBLER, EGYPTIAN GOOSE, WATER PIPIT, GLAUCOUS GULL,

LEACH'S PETREL, SNOW BUNTING, RED KITE, GOOSANDER, WHITE-FRONTED

GOOSE, WHOOPER SWAN, RING-NECKED PARAKEET, AVOCET.

FEBRUARY YELLOW-LEGGED GULL, Continental Cormorant, LITTLE GULL, GOSHAWK,

MANDARIN.

MARCH LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

APRIL PURPLE SANDPIPER, OSPREY, ARCTIC SKUA, PIED FLYCATCHER, WOOD

WARBLER, RING OUZEL, GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, HOOPOE, STONE CURLEW,

Ashy-headed Wagtail, RED-THROATED DIVER, WHITE STORK, GREAT WHITE

EGRET, WOOD SANDPIPER, Channel Wagtail, GARGANEY.

MAY BARNACLE GOOSE, NIGHTINGALE, NIGHTJAR, Blue-headed Wagtail.

JUNE WOODLARK, STORM PETREL, CURLEW SANDPIPER.

JULY QUAIL.

AUGUST MARSH HARRIER, HEN HARRIER.

SEPTEMBER ROSE-COLOURED STARLING, WRYNECK, ORTOLAN BUNTING, GREY

PHALAROPE.

OCTOBER COMMON CROSSBILL, SCAUP.

NOVEMBER YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, RICHARD'S PIPIT, BEWICK'S SWAN, RED-BREASTED

MERGANSER

DECEMBER Nordic Jackdaw, FIRECREST.

South Gloucestershire Year Lists 2008 – 2018

YEAR SPECIES FORMS ADDITIONS TOTAL

2008 200 17 2 217

2009 199 18 6 217

2010 199 17 2 216

2011 203 16 2 219

2012 202 16 3 218

2013 210 16 2 226

2014 199 18 2 217

2015 201 17 1 218

2016 200 17 2 217

2017 206 19 3 225

2018 195 16 2 211

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New Additions to the South Gloucestershire List

There were two new additions to the S. Glos list in 2018.

Ashy-headed Wagtail - Motacilla flava cinereocapilla - A very welcome and

unexpected addition to the S. Glos list with this form first seen on Northwick

Warth around 10:20 on April 15th 2018. (Mark Coller)

© Paul Bowerman

ORTOLAN BUNTING - Emberiza hortulana - One, the first ever record of this

species for S. Glos, was both seen and heard in flight over the 2nd Sentry box

on Northwick Warth heading towards and landing at New Passage at 08.50

on September 13th 2018. (Paul Bowerman) This is the first documented

reference to this species in S. Gloucestershire. It was seen to drop onto the

saltmarsh near Chestle Pill at New Passage where it was relocated remaining

mobile and vocal until around 09:15. A significant occurrence this as it

represents the 300th species to be recorded in S. Gloucestershire!

The following narrative represents unfiltered reports; all

sightings of rare and scarce birds are subject to

ratification by the appropriate rarities committee!

P a g e | 66

THE SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE SYSTEMATIC LIST

The South Gloucestershire Systematic List follows the conventions of The BOU

British List: A Checklist of Birds of Britain (9th edition) December 2018. The S.

Glos 2018 list can be found on page 87.

Each taxon is headed followed by the vernacular and scientific names, total

number of occurrences to the end of 2017 in parentheses, total reported in

2018 and status. All rare and scarce birds seen in 2018 are listed, full species

in capitals and forms in lower case.

GEESE

BARNACLE GOOSE - Branta leucopsis (c.228) 2 Very Scarce

MAY: One was reported from Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 5th.

NOVEMBER: One was seen from New Passage on the 15th.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - Anser albifrons (c.2,400) 6 Scarce

JANUARY: Two flew north-east over Pilning Wetland Reserve early afternoon

on the 7th later past Aust Warth at 15:20; one was seen in flight past Aust

Warth on the 27th. NOVEMBER: On the 17th one was seen in flight upriver

from Northwick Warth late afternoon and two “Grey Geese” (presumed

White-fronted) flew east over Severn Beach at 15:00.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE - Alopochen aegyptiacus (c.16) 1 Rare

JANUARY: An adult was present in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area

on the 2nd, an adult at Shepperdine upriver from the point just south of The

Windbound on the 11th and one was seen on Kendleshire Golf Course,

Coalpit Heath on the 23rd.

SWANS

BEWICK'S SWAN - Cygnus columbianus (c.625) 6 Scarce

A party of six flew upriver from Pilning Wetland Reserve towards Aust early

morning on November 18th.

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WHOOPER SWAN - Cygnus cygnus (c.28) 15 Rare

JANUARY: Two adults were found on Northwick Warth on the 7th spending

most of their time on Pining Wetland Reserve. They were last seen in flight

north-east past Aust Warth at 16:40. OCTOBER: Four juveniles were seen

distantly on the estuary from New Passage on the 16th and 18th; A flock of

seven birds were reported from Tortworth Court Lake on the 22nd; Two

noted in flight east over Pilning Wetland Reserve, Northwick Warth mid-


© TBOSG

DUCKS

© Mark Coller

P a g e | 68

MANDARIN - Aix galericulata (c.580) c.10 Scarce

FEBRUARY: A pair, on the Little River Avon, Damery on the 28th. APRIL: Two

still on the Little River Avon, Damery on the 23rd. MAY: One on the R. Avon at

Hanham on the 13th. JUNE: A female with at least five ducklings on the Little

River Avon, Damery on the 1st. JULY: A female was present at Kingsgate

Park, Yate from the 27th - 31st... AUGUST; ...on the 1st - 2nd... SEPTEMBER; ...

on the 4th, 13th and 17th; A male was seen on the R. Avon at Keynsham on

the 28th and a winter male on the R. Avon at Willsbridge on the 31st.

GARGANEY - Anas querquedula (c.105) 4 Scarce

APRIL: A male and female were seen on Pilning Wetland Reserve early

morning on the 30th. MAY: A pair, were new arrivals on Butts Pool, Pilning

Wetland Reserve on the 21st.

SCAUP - Aythya marila (c.40) 1 Rare

A winter female was seen well from Northwick Warth and later New Passage

on October 10th.

© Paul Bowerman

GOOSANDER - Mergus merganser (c.215) 4 Scarce

JANUARY: A male on the R. Avon 200 metres downstream of Siston Brook at

Willsbridge late morning on the 6th. MARCH: A pair watched floating upriver

past Severn Beach on the 7th. APRIL: A male was seen in flight north-east

past Severn Beach on the 7th.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER - Mergus serrator (c.80) 3 Rare

Three 'flashed' up-river past Severn Beach around 10:30 on November 29th

and were subsequently seen distantly from Oldbury Power Station.

P a g e | 69

GAME

QUAIL - Coturnix coturnix Scarce

A shocking year! One second hand report of one male audible from Shirehill

Lane, Marshfield mid-July.

DIVERS

RED-THROATED DIVER - Gavia stellate (c.20) 1 Rare

One lingered for a couple of hours on the R. Severn from New Passage on

the April 18th.

© Paul Bowerman

SEABIRDS

STORM PETREL - Hydrobates pelagicus (c.220) 1 Scarce

JUNE: One heading out of 'Burger Bar Bay', Severn Beach early on the 14th.

LEACH’S PETREL - Oceanodroma leucorhoa (c.570) 2 Scarce

JANUARY: One was seen from Severn Beach on the 3rd. SEPTEMBER: One

noted on the estuary from Severn Beach early afternoon on the 19th.

Continental Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (5) 3 Underreported

FEBRUARY: One in flight in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area on the

3rd; One on the 1st Sentry Box Pool, Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 16th.

APRIL: One west over Kingswood, Bristol late morning on the 14th.

P a g e | 70

© John Martin

HERONS

WHITE STORK - Ciconia ciconia (10) 1 Extremely Rare

One was seen in flight heading low north-east over Pilning Wetland Reserve

mid-afternoon on April 22nd.

GREAT WHITE EGRET - Casmerodius albus (c.25) 6 Extremely rare

APRIL: Two dropped onto Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 23rd and stayed

for just ten minutes; One poor conditions in flight over Lagoon III, Oldbury

Power Station and past Littleton-upon-Severn on the 28th was subsequently

noted in flight north over Aust Warth. JULY: One seen on the 18th around

10:30, in flight over Pilning Wetland Reserve, viewed from second sentry box

before heading high over Aust until it was lost from view. OCTOBER: One flew

over Lagoon III, Oldbury Power Station heading east on the 19th; One was

seen in flight up river from Littleton landing near Oldbury Pill on the 31st.

LITTLE EGRET – Egretta garzetta Regular

Eighteen (18), the highest count this year, were disturbed by ground

maintenance workers on Pilning Wetland Reserve on August 6th.

RAPTORS

OSPREY - Pandion haliaetus (c.60) 8 Rare

APRIL: One seen heading west over Emerson's Green Retail Park at 15:55 on

the 3rd; One spent an all too brief ten minutes at New Passage on the 22nd;

Two birds north-east up-river distantly from Oldbury Power Station on the

25th.

P a g e | 71

MAY: One flew low over the A4174 Link Road at Filton Roundabout early

evening on the 9th and was subsequently noted over Coalpit Heath.

AUGUST: One was seen in flight low to the south from Severn Beach at 15:45

on the 21st; One in flight over Rushmead Lane, Marshfield in the afternoon

on the 27th. SEPTEMBER: One south over New Passage at 16: 30 on the 10th.

GOSHAWK - Accipiter gentiles (c.60) 6 Rare

FEBRUARY: A male at 11:35 on the 17th near Newhouse Farm on the

Tormarton Road, Marshfield where it was watched for five minutes. APRIL:

One, putatively, this species in flight over Latteridge around mid-day on the

12th; One noted soaring over Down Road, Marshfield around mid-day on

the 18th before drifting north; A male was seen circling near The Orchard,

Oldbury Power Station before being lost to view and a female was watched

in flight north-east over Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 21st. OCTOBER: A

reliable report of one seen near Hallen on the 19th.

MARSH HARRIER - Circus aeruginosus (c.60) 4 Rare

AUGUST: A juvenile was seen for just a couple of minutes in the New

Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve area on the 1st before

departing south-east. OCTOBER: An immature/ female was seen firstly over

Old Passage at 08:45 and subsequently Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 8th;

A female/ immature was noted low to the east over Northwick Warth late

morning on the 29th. NOVEMBER: A juvenile was reported from Northwick

Warth on the 6th.

HEN HARRIER - Circus cyaneus (c.60) 3 Rare

AUGUST: A juvenile seen and photographed from Rushmead Lane,

Marshfield on the 7th. It was subsequently seen on and off in the area from

Gorse Lane, Pennsylvania, Rushmead Lane and Down Road until at least the

13th. OCTOBER: A male was over Northwick Warth on the 21st. DECEMBER: A

winter female south along Northwick Warth early afternoon on the 14th.

RED KITE - Milvus milvus Scarce

J F M A M J J A S O N D Total

3 2 12 7 36 25 16 4 3 3 2 113

P a g e | 72

EARLIEST: One seen over the ring road at the junction of the A4174/ A420

Kingswood late morning on January 5th. LATEST: One near Severn Beach

early afternoon on October 27th. HIGHEST COUNT: Five (5) drifted low north-

east over Pilning Wetland Reserve on May 26th. Three in the Shire Valley,

Marshfield on July 15th.

WADERS

STONE CURLEW - Burhinus oedicnemus (4) 1 Extremely Rare

One was found on Northwick Warth early morning on April 15th where it

remained throughout the day.

© Paul Bowerman

AVOCET - Recurvirostra avosetta (c.200) c.35 Very scarce

JANUARY: Two birds feeding on the shore by Lagoon III, Oldbury Power

Station on the 14th. MARCH: Six were found on the 16th on Pilning Wetland

Reserve early morning before moving to New Passage; One in the Northwick

Warth area on the 21st - 22nd. APRIL: Three at Shepperdine early morning on

the 2nd; Two were present at Thornbury Sailing Club, Oldbury-on-Severn on

the 15th; One was seen in flight north-east up-river past New Passage on the

21st; One early morning on Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 30th. MAY: Two

seen mating on the 17th in the Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve

P a g e | 73

area with one settled on a 'nest' constitutes the first breeding attempt of this

species in South Gloucestershire. Two still present on the 18th; Three in the

Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve area on the 20th; Two were noted

in the Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve area on the 25th; One

briefly in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area early morning on the 28th.

JUNE: One present on Pilning Wetland Reserve mid-morning on the

30th.JULY: Four were present on Northwick Warth on the 4th. AUGUST: An

adult accompanied by four juveniles in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth/

Pilning Wetland Reserve area on the 1st with one in the same area on the

3rd. OCTOBER: One noted in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area and

was seen to drop onto the 1st Sentry Box Pool on the 11th.

PURPLE SANDPIPER - Calidris maritima (c.320) 1 Very Scarce

One was seen well on rocks in Burger Bar Bay, Severn Beach on the April 3rd.

© Paul Bowerman

JACK SNIPE - Lymnocryptes minimus Scarce

EARLIEST: One on Grebe Pond, Pilning Wetland Reserve on October 7th.

LATEST: One was noted on Yate Common early afternoon on April 3rd.

HIGHEST COUNT: A high count of nine noted on Aust Warth on January 13th.

P a g e | 74

Location J F M A M J J A S O N D Totals

Aust Warth 20

1

1

22

Littleton Warth 1 1

1

3

Oldbury Power Station 1 1 2

4

Severn Beach 1

1

2

Northwick Warth

2

2

C Sodbury Common

1

1

Yate Common

1

1

Total Bird Days 23 2 5 1

3 1

35

GREY PHALAROPE - Phalaropus fulicaria (c.35) c.4 Rare

SEPTEMBER: An adult was found on Butts Pool, Pilning Wetland Reserve on

the 20th where it remained until dusk. Present again on the 21st remaining

faithful to Butts Pool, it was joined by a juvenile/ 1st winter late afternoon21st.

A third individual was also found on the 21st when a juvenile/ 1st winter was

located on the estuary from Severn Beach. An adult and juvenile/ 1st winter

together on Butts Pool, Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 22nd with a juvenile/

1st winter nearby in Chestle Pill. All three birds were present on Pilning

Wetland Reserve on the 23rd with the adult and one juvenile/ 1st winter

lingering on site on the 24th. A winter adult was seen briefly at Oldbury


© Paul Bowerman

P a g e | 75

WOOD SANDPIPER - Tringa glareola (c.40) 2 Rare

APRIL: One was seen on Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 27th. MAY: One

present on Pilning Wetland Reserve in the evening from the 6th - 8th. JULY:

An adult on Pilning Wetland Reserve on the 15th - 18th.

GULLS

MEDITERRANEAN GULL - Larus melanocephalus Scarce

EARLIEST: A winter adult from New Passage on January 1st. LATEST: A 1st

winter in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve area

on December 30th. HIGHEST COUNT: An adult and two juvenile/ immature

birds in the New Passage/ Pilning Wetland Reserve area on July 8th.


(SB/ NP/ NW/ PWR) 3

1

1 23 5

2

1 36

Pilning Village

1

1

Aust Cliffs

1

1

Oldbury Power Station

3 1

1

1

6

Yate

1

1

Marshfield

1

1

Total Bird Days 3 3 4

1 25 5 2 2

1 46

GLAUCOUS GULL - Larus hyperboreus (9) 1 Extremely Rare

A 1st winter was seen well from Severn Beach at 08:00 on January 3rd before

departing down river.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL - Larus michahellis (c.270) 7 Scarce

FEBRUARY: Two in fields opposite The Lake, Oldbury Power Station on the 1st.

MARCH: An adult on Coopers Lake, Yate on the 18th. JUNE; A 2nd summer

seen from the sea wall at Severn Beach mid-morning on the 14th. AUGUST:

An adult, probably this species, around the Jetty at Oldbury Power Station

on the 18th; A 1st winter was noted on Northwick Warth on the 25th.

SEPTEMBER: An adult was reported from Oldbury Power Station on the 15th.

P a g e | 76

SKUAS

ARCTIC SKUA - Stercorarius parasiticus Uncommon

EARLIEST: A dark morph, up-river from Severn Beach on April 7th. LATEST: One

at Oldbury Power Station on November 30th. HIGHEST COUNT: Three

heading up-river from Severn Beach early morning on April 12th.


Severn Beach

5

5

OPS

1

1

2

Total Bird Days

5 1

1

7

© Andy Jordan

OWLS

SHORT-EARED OWL - Asio flammeus Scarce

LATEST: One on Northwick Warth on May 31st. EARLIEST: One disturbed briefly

from Aust Warth late morning on October 27th. HIGHEST COUNT: Seven from

Passage Road, Aust Warth on March 4th.

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Location J F M A M J J A S O N D Total

Aust/ NP/ NW/ SB 50 30 60 8 1

1 12 3 165

OPS/ Shepperdine 1

6 5 12

Marshfield 3

3

Inglestone Common

1

1

Total Bird Days 54 30 60 8 1

1 19 8 181

NIGHTJAR

NIGHTJAR - Caprimulgus europaeus (16) 1 Extremely rare

One flushed from The Orchard, Oldbury Power Station at 19:00 on May 22nd.

HOOPOE

HOOPOE Upupa epops (c.30) 2 Very rare

APRIL: One was seen briefly in Kingsgate Park, Yate early morning on the

15th but sadly could not be relocated. MAY: One was both seen and

photographed at the entrance to Oldfield Farm on the A46 near

Pennsylvania mid-month.

WOODPECKERS

WRYNECK -Jynx torquilla (23) 1 Very rare

One on Chipping Sodbury Common on September 5th.

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER - Dendrocopos minor (UK) 1 Rare

A male at close range near the Little River Avon, Damery on March 31st.

PARAKEET & SHRIKES

RING-NECKED PARAKEET - Psittacula krameri (c.25) c.20 Rare

JANUARY: Four on Fairway Close and St. Anne's Church, Oldland on the 9th,

two along Siston Brook on the 10th - 11th, six from the Siston Brook/ St. Anne's

P a g e | 78

Church on the 14th, three on the 15th and 29th - 31st. FEBRUARY: Three in the

St. Anne's Church/ Siston Brook/ Willsbridge Valley area from the 1st - 21st

with six on the 11th, four on the 15th; Two over Warmley on the 5th. MARCH:

Two in the Awkley area around the M4/ M48 junction with a further three

over Abbey Wood, Filton on the 6th; One along the sea wall at Severn

Beach on the 7th; Two in The Glen, New Passage on the 11th; Two in the

Willsbridge Valley on the 20th with one there on the 23rd; Two at St. Anne's

Church, on the 28th; Two by The Anchor, Oldbury on the 29th; One on

Streamside Walk, Thornbury on the 29th and 31st. APRIL: One at Willsbridge

Mill on the 1st and 3rd; One from Kingsgate Park, Yate on the 11th - 15th;

One over Old Sodbury on the 13th. JUNE: One from Streamside Walk,

Thornbury on the 3rd. SEPTEMBER: Three in trees around the M5/ J14, Falfield

on the 26th; One on Streamside Walk, Thornbury on the 29th. OCTOBER: One

between Aust/ Littleton ST Works on the 7th.

J F M A M J J A S O N D Total

29 72 17 10

1

4 1

134

GREAT GREY SHRIKE - Lanius excubitor (4) 1 Extremely rare

One was seen briefly on wires by the crossroads near the pub and post

office in Acton Turville at 18:00 on March 22nd.

CROWS

Nordic Jackdaw - Corvus monedula monedula (c.10) 1 Extremely rare

One showing characteristics of this form was watched in fields from Little

Green Lane, Severn Beach on December 13th and 17th.

LARKS

WOODLARK - Lullula arborea (15) 4 Extremely rare

JUNE: One just south of Severn Beach on the 1st. OCTOBER: One around

Cake Pill, Northwick Warth on the 7th. NOVEMBER: Two in flight north-east

over Severn View Services, Aust around 07:45 on the 18th.

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WARBLERS

CETTI'S WARBLER - Cettia cetti Locally scarce

EARLIEST: One was present at Oldbury Power Station on January 2nd. LATEST:

One both seen and heard at Orchard Pools, Severn Beach on December

23rd. HIGHEST COUNT: Three present around Lagoon II, Oldbury Power

Station on April 18th.

WOOD WARBLER - Phylloscopus sibilatrix (c.50) 3 Very scarce

APRIL: A presumed male was heard in song in the Nature Reserve of

Kingsgate Park, Yate on the 11th. Also an unconfirmed report of a singing

individual at Kingsgate Park on the 12th; A male was both seen and heard in

the grounds of The Glen, New Passage on the 14th; One was reported c.400

metres north-east of Northwick Warth Flash early afternoon on the 15th.

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER - Phylloscopus inornatus (c.15) c.5 Extremely rare

One was reported in trees in a private garden on North Road, Thornbury on

November 10th.

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER - Locustella naevia Very scarce

EARLIEST: Three around Lagoon III, Oldbury Power Station on April 14th.

LATEST: One on August 30th at Severn Beach. HIGHEST COUNT: Three around

Lagoon III, Oldbury Power Station on April 14th.


OPS

8 1

9

Severn Beach

2

1

3

New Passage

1

1

Littleton Brick Pits

1

1

Frome Valley

1

1

Three Brooks LNR

1

1

Total Bird Days

14 1

1

16

P a g e | 80

FIRECREST - Regulus ignicapillus (c.55) c.1 Rare

DECEMBER: At least one was both seen and heard in the Ableton Lane area

at Severn Beach on the 17th and was still present on the 19th.

STARLINGS, THRUSHES & CHATS

ROSE-COLOURED STARLING - Sturnus roseus (3) 1 Extremely rare

A juvenile/ 1st winter was found mid-afternoon on September 1st on Gorse

Cover Road, Severn Beach. It was seen at several locations subsequently

and present until dusk.

© Brian Lancastle

© Paul Bowerman

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RING OUZEL - Turdus torquatus (c.85) 3 Very scarce

APRIL: A male was seen to fly from Lagoon III outfall inland at Oldbury Power

Station early morning on the 12th; Two on the 16th; a female was seen on

Northwick Warth near the 2nd Sentry Box early morning and a male was

seen in flight and in brambles near The Glen at New Passage in the

afternoon.

NIGHTINGALE - Luscinia megarhynchos Rare

A male was heard and recorded singing at the south-east end of Kingsgate

Park, Yate early morning on May 21st.

It is widely believed this species has been lost as a breeding bird in S. Glos!

PIED FLYCATCHER - Ficedula hypoleuca (c.25 since 2000) 3 Very scarce

APRIL: A male was seen in Kingsgate Park, Yate on the 11th - 13th; A male in

a private garden at Alveston also on the 13th; A female was seen around

Lagoon III, Oldbury Power Station on the 14th.

BLACK REDSTART - Pheonicurus ochruros Very scarce

LATEST: A 1st winter male seen on the seawall near The Jetty, Oldbury Power

Station on March 19th. EARLIEST: A winter male at Oldbury Power Station on

November 7th. HIGHEST COUNT: Two a winter male and a female/ 1st winter

at Oldbury Power Station on December 24th.


OPS 8 1 2

7 9 27

SB/ NP/ NW

3 1 4

Total Bird Days 8 1 2

10 10 31

WAGTAILS & PIPITS

Ashy-headed Wagtail - Motacilla flava cinereocapilla (0) 1 Extremely rare

APRIL: One was first seen on Northwick Warth and subsequently Pilning

Wetland Reserve from around 10:20 until dusk on the 15th. This is the first

documented reference to this form in S. Gloucestershire.

P a g e | 82

© Paul Bowerman

RICHARD'S PIPIT - Anthus richardi (c.10) 1 Very rare

One was both seen and heard calling in flight fairly low to the east over

Pilning Wetland Reserve, Northwick Warth on November 14th.

WATER PIPIT - Anthus spinoletta Very scarce

LATEST: One in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve

area on April 19th. EARLIEST: Two in the Severn Beach area on October 20th.

HIGHEST COUNT: Two in the New Passage/ Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland

Reserve area in March and April with two at Severn Beach in October.


NW/ NP/ PWR 5 3 11 16

1 5 6 47

SB/ Chittening 1

2

1 4

Aust Warth

1

1

Oldbury Power Station 1 1

1

1 1

5


4 6 7 57

P a g e | 83

FINCHES & BUNTINGS

HAWFINCH - Coccothraustes coccothraustes (c.130) c.12 Scarce

JANUARY: Up to six at St Anne’s Church, Oldland Common between the 1st -

31st with seven on the 11th and eight on the 26th; One, possibly two, at the

east end of Cloud Wood, Marshfield on the 7th, 10th and 22nd; One over

the reedbed at Lagoon II, Oldbury Power Station on the 11th; One was

visiting feeders in the Withymead area, Marshfield from the 18th - 31st; One

reported from Siston Common on the 20th. FEBRUARY: Up to five at St Anne’s

Church, Oldland Common between the 1st - 27th with seven on the 19th; six

on the 24th; One in the Withymead area, Marshfield from the 1st - 19th.

MARCH One in the Withymead area, Marshfield from the 3rd - 10th, 14th and

25th with two present on the 6th; One in the St. Anne's Church/ Willsbridge

area on the 4th with three present on the 6th, two on the 11th; One south-

west from Aust Cliffs then over Aust Warth on the 10th. APRIL: One in the St.

Anne's Church/ Willsbridge area on the 8th.


St. Anne's Church 96 68 6 1

171

Marshfield 14 16 10

40

Oldbury Power Station 1

1

Aust Warth/ Cliffs

1

1

Siston Common 1

1


214

COMMON CROSSBILL - Loxia curvirostra (c.190) 2 Scarce

OCTOBER: One flew south over a private garden in Pilning early morning on

the 10th and one to the north at Oldbury Power Station around 09:30 on the

30th.

ORTOLAN BUNTING - Emberiza hortulana (0) 1 Extremely rare

One was both seen and heard in flight over Northwick Warth at 08:50 on

September 13th before dropping onto the saltmarsh near Chestle Pill at New

Passage. It was relocated remaining mobile and vocal until around 09:15. A

P a g e | 84

second bird, possibly this species, was heard briefly on September 15th as it

flew from Pilning Wetland Reserve onto the saltmarsh on Northwick Warth.

SNOW BUNTING - Plectrophenax nivalis (c.95) c.3 Very scarce

One, putatively this species, was both seen and heard at Severn Beach on

January 3rd before flying south-west. The predated remains of a 1st winter

female were found on Northwick Warth on January 5th. An adult winter

male was found at Burger Bar Bay, Severn Beach on December 8th before

relocating to the shingle beach.

© Brian Thompson

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Notable Birding Events in 2018

FIRST RECORDS

Ashy-headed Wagtail One Northwick Warth on April 15th.

ORTOLAN BUNTING One Northwick Warth on September 13th.

EARLIEST DATES RECORDS

EGYPTIAN GOOSE One January 2nd at New Passage.

SANDWICH TERN One March 16th at Oldbury Power Station.

MERLIN One August 1st on Northwick Warth.

RING-NECKED PARAKEET Several January 9th at Oldland.

WOOD WARBLER One April 11th in Kingsgate Park, Yate.

SEDGE WARBLER One April 4th at Oldbury Power Station.

Ashy-headed Wagtail One Northwick Warth on April 15th.

ORTOLAN BUNTING One Northwick Warth on September 13th.

LATEST DATES RECORDS

Continental Cormorant One over Kingswood on April 14th.

Blue-headed Wagtail One Northwick Warth on May 24th.

HIGHEST COUNT RECORDS

WHOOPER SWAN Seven October 22nd on Tortworth Lake.

RING-NECKED PARAKEET Six January 14th at Oldland Common.

WREN 43 May 4th at Oldbury Power Station.

P a g e | 86

The South Gloucestershire Bird List 2018 Species believed to have occurred naturally in S. Glos to the end of 2018 - 300

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, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Green-winged Teal, Mallard,

Pintail, Garganey, Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Pochard, Ring-necked Duck, Tufted Duck, Scaup, Eider, King

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, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Bittern, Little 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, Pallid Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, 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, Common Snipe, Long-billed Dowitcher,

Woodcock, Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Curlew, Spotted Redshank, 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 ,Whiskered 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 ,Herring Gull, Caspian Gull, Yellow-

legged Gull, Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Pallas's Sandgrouse, Stock Dove,

Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet, Common 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, Lesser 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, Rock Pipit ,Water Pipit,

Red-throated Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Sand Martin, House Martin,

Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Cetti's Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Aquatic Warbler, Marsh

Warbler, Reed Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Western Subalpine Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat,

Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Yellow-browed Warbler, Wood Warbler, Common Chiffchaff,

Iberian Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Starling, Rose-coloured Starling, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied

Flycatcher, Robin, Nightingale, Red-spotted Bluethroat, Red-flanked Bluetail, Black Redstart, Common Redstart,

Whinchat, Common 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, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Serin, Siskin, Linnet, Twite, Lesser Redpoll, Common Redpoll, Common

Crossbill, Bullfinch, Hawfinch, Common Rosefinch, Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting, Yellowhammer, Ortolan Bunting,

Cirl Bunting, Reed Bunting, Black-headed Bunting, Corn Bunting.

Forms believed to have occurred naturally in S. Glos to the end of 2018 - 31

Ashy-headed Wagtail, Blue-headed Wagtail, Continental Blackbird, Continental Black-tailed Godwit, Continental

Chaffinch, Continental Coal Tit, Continental Cormorant, Continental Lesser Black-backed Gull, Continental

Greylag Goose, Continental Jay, Continental Song Thrush, Greenland Dunlin, Greenland Wheatear, Greenland

White-fronted Goose, Grey-headed Wagtail, Icelandic Golden Plover, Icelandic Merlin, Icelandic Redshank,

Icelandic Redwing, Kumlien's Gull, Nordic Jackdaw, Northern Dunlin, Northern Willow Warbler, Pale-bellied Brent

Goose, Scandinavian Chiffchaff, Scandinavian Herring Gull, Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Siberian Chiffchaff, Tundra

Ringed Plover, White Wagtail, White-spotted Bluethroat.

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The Marshfield Diary 2018

JANUARY

Monday 1st

Grey Heron, three Kestrel, Snipe, 40 Woodpigeon, 30 Skylark, three Pied

Wagtail, five Stonechat, six Redwing, large flock of Fieldfare, Song Thrush,

five Blackbird, 20 Corn Bunting, ten Yellowhammer, six Goldfinch, 60 Linnet,

seven Bullfinch, 30 Chaffinch, c.600 Starling, 100+ Corvids, including seven

Raven. Also Long-tailed, Blue, Great, Coal and Marsh Tit, Magpie, Collared

Dove, two Buzzard and Siskin.

© Pete Coslett

Wednesday 3rd

Common Snipe on Lower West Littleton pond, c.250 Golden Plover from the

Tormarton Road and Sparrowhawk on Down Road. Also 50 Fieldfare, 30

Linnet and two Yellowhammer.

P a g e | 88

Thursday 4th

Barn Owl over the A420 between the Folly and Marshfield at 22:00.

Friday 5th

Over 400 Golden Plover, c.120 Fieldfare, Stonechat, Kestrel, c.100 Chaffinch

and a few Corn Bunting.

Saturday 6th

Two Reed Bunting from Northfield Lane. C.150 Golden Plover and c.200

Common Gull opposite Marshfield Primary School on the A420. C.150

Fieldfare in fields from Shirehill Lane and at least two Brambling amongst 40+

Chaffinch from Down Road.

Sunday 7th

Combined reports from the patch today: A Red Kite flying east over A420

between The Folly and Marshfield at 14:30, Little Egret still present in Shire

Valley, west of Shirehill bridge also four Bullfinch. At least two Brambling, two

Stock Dove, Kestrel, two Buzzard, Stonechat, and c.150 Chaffinch in the

Down Road area along with c.220 Golden Plover, c.300 Linnet and c.120

Corn Bunting. C.120 Fieldfare with a few Redwing from Northfield

Lane. Three Marsh Tit, Hawfinch, and 20 Yellowhammer were also seen in the

Cloud Wood area south of the village.

Wednesday 10th

Combined reports from the patch today: A female Merlin and two

Brambling from Down Road at 11:35. At least one Hawfinch and three Marsh

Tit at the east end of Cloud Wood. A Flock of c.600 - 700 Fieldfare from

Shirehill Lane, and a couple of male Stonechat from Middledown and

Rushmead Lanes.

Saturday 13th

Combined reports from the patch today: Six Buzzard, 25 Golden Plover,

c.150 Common Gull, 20 Stock Dove, four Collared Dove, Great Spotted

Woodpecker, three Kestrel, Peregrine, two Jay, c.400 Corvid, six Raven,

Goldcrest, a flock of twenty Blackbird, c.150 Fieldfare, c.60 Redwing, three

Stonechat, two Pied Wagtail, 20 Meadow Pipit, 20 Chaffinch, eight Bullfinch,

c.100 Linnet, 50 Goldfinch, 25 Siskin, 36 Corn Bunting and six Yellowhammer.

P a g e | 89

© Brian Thompson

Thursday 18th

A Hawfinch was reported from a garden in the Withymead area this

morning.

Friday 19th

Two Short-eared Owls were reported around the barns along Rushmead

Lane around 10:15 also Peregrine two Stonechat and c.80 Fieldfare.

© Pete Coslett

Saturday 20th

A Hawfinch briefly in gardens in the Withymead area again this morning.

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Sunday 21st

A Hawfinch still on feeders in the Withymead area. A Short-eared Owl was

disturbed from rough ground on Rushmead Lane this morning; it was also

seen quartering the fields there this evening. Also today; 52 Lapwing over

between Rushmead Lane and Tormarton Road, 20 Golden Plover in fields

from Northfield Lane plus at least three Stonechat and a mixed flock of c.100

Starling and c.60 Fieldfare. In addition, c.60 Corn Bunting, five Skylark, two

Chaffinch, c. 40 Stock Dove, c.100 Linnet, three Kestrel, two Buzzard and

two Herring Gull. A Little Egret in the Shire Valley and on the south side of the

village, Marsh Tit in the Withymead area and Hawfinch briefly at the east

end of Cloud Wood Marshfield.

Tuesday 23rd

A Hawfinch still visiting feeders in the Withymead area this morning.

Wednesday 24th

A Hawfinch still visiting feeders in the Withymead area today.

© Denise Whittle

Thursday 25th

A Hawfinch still taking advantage of feeders in the Withymead area also in

the Rushmead Lane area, Common Buzzard, 20 Skylark, three Meadow Pipit,

13 Pied Wagtail, three Stonechat, 205 Fieldfare, ten Yellowhammer, 40 Corn

Bunting, five Goldfinch and 50 Linnet.

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Friday 26th

Combined reports today: In the Shire Valley this morning highlights were

Siskin and c.200 Golden Plover. Elsewhere around the patch, Kestrel, small

numbers of Meadow Pipit, two Stonechat, c.70 Chaffinch, c.220 Linnet, c.50

Yellowhammer, c.280 Corn Bunting plus single Greenfinch and Reed Bunting.

Saturday 27th

The Hawfinch visiting feeders in the Withymead area again today.

Monday 29th

A Hawfinch still visiting feeders in the Withymead area, also 80 Golden Plover

from Northfield Lane, c.100 Fieldfare from West Littleton Lane and a Muntjac

chasing Fox...!

Tuesday 30th

A Merlin from Down Road this morning, plus c.330 Common Gull, two

Buzzard, Kestrel, 30 Corn Bunting, 20 Skylark a few Yellowhammer and two

Stonechat.

Wednesday 31st

C.200 Linnet and five Corn Bunting from Down Road this afternoon.

FEBRUARY

Thursday 1st

The Hawfinch remains faithful to feeders in the Withymead area. Also today

a Water Rail in the boggy area west of Shirehill Bridge plus Marsh Tits and

Sparrowhawk in the Shire Valley and Cloud Wood.

Friday 2nd

One Hawfinch still visiting feeders in the Withymead area.

Saturday 3rd

The Hawfinch present on and off at feeders in the Withymead area. Also

Little Egret in the Shire Valley, c.80 Corn Bunting from Down Road, plus c.200

mixed Chaffinch/ Linnet flock, Brambling, six Yellowhammer, 28 Pied Wagtail,

P a g e | 92

two Stonechat, Black-headed Gull, two Lesser Black-backed Gull, c.320

Common Gull and a couple of Raven.

© Pete Coslett

Sunday 4th

The Hawfinch still taking advantage of feeders in the Withymead area.

Monday 5th

The Hawfinch still visiting feeders in the Withymead area, also 200+ Corn

Bunting and a similar number of Linnet at Rushmead Farm/ Lane this morning

and a Lesser Redpoll calling over South of village at lunchtime.

Wednesday 7th

A Hawfinch back on feeders in the Withymead area. Also today; In the Shire

Valley, two Buzzard and two Raven. C.95 Jackdaw and c.50 Fieldfare from

Shirehill Lane.

Thursday 8th

A Hawfinch again on feeders in the Withymead area.

Friday 9th

A Hawfinch on feeders in the Withymead area still. Also today, two Reed

Bunting and Stonechat from Down Road, 20 Fieldfare between Down Road

P a g e | 93

and Rushmead Lane along with Buzzard and three Raven from Rushmead

Lane.

Saturday 10th

A Hawfinch still at feeders in the Withymead area, also on the patch today,

two Grey Heron and Little Egret in the Shire Valley along with five Raven and

three Buzzard. Nearby from Down Road, c.200 Common Gull, two Black-

headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, at least 200 Linnet, 48 Pied Wagtail,

two Stonechat, 50 Woodpigeon and Stock Dove.

Monday 12th

Combined reports today; Two Golden Plover, three Stonechat and c.80

Linnet from Down Road. Reed Bunting with c.70 Chaffinch and a few

Yellowhammer from Down Track. In the Rushmead Farm area, c.80

additional Linnet along with c.60 Yellowhammer in a mixed flock. Greenfinch

in the village churchyard and the Hawfinch continuing to show on and off at

feeders in the Withymead area.

Tuesday 13th

This afternoon in the Shire Valley, two Marsh Tit, two Grey Heron, Little Egret

and Water Rail. Hawfinch on and off at feeders in the Withymead area.

Wednesday 14th

A Hawfinch reported today in the Withymead area still.

Thursday 15th

A Hawfinch still present on feeders in the Withymead area. Also on the south

side of the village from Cloud Wood this morning; Several Buzzard, two Great

Spotted Woodpecker drumming, male Stonechat, a small number of

Redwing, five Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Marsh/ Coal/ Blue/ Great and Long-

tailed Tit, two Nuthatch, two Treecreeper, two Raven, small numbers of

Chaffinch and Goldfinch and a possible Hawfinch over.

Friday 16th

Combined reports from the patch today; One Hawfinch still coming to

feeders in the Withymead area. A Barn Owl showing well from Rushmead

Lane also c.100 Linnet, c.300 Fieldfare in fields from Shirehill Lane, Little Owl in

P a g e | 94

trees near Ashwicke Grange and a further c.100 Fieldfare, Woodcock and

Marsh Tit just south of Cherry Wood. In the Shire Valley; Jay, four Buzzard, two

Pied Wagtail, Mistle Thrush, three Raven, 40+ Chaffinch, Skylark in song, Grey

Heron, c.300 Jackdaw, Treecreeper and Blue and Great Tit and two

Stonechat from Down Road.

© TBOSG

© Dan White

P a g e | 95

Saturday 17th

Hawfinch still visiting feeders in the Withymead area and a male Goshawk

near Newhouse Farm where it was watched for five minutes.

Monday 19th

Hawfinch still visiting feeders in the Withymead area. In the Shire Valley,

female Common Teal, Little Egret and two Grey Heron, nearby Merlin from

Rushmead Lane.

Tuesday 20th

In the Shire Valley; Three Grey Heron, two Mallard, two Buzzard, Peregrine, 40

Woodpigeon, two Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtail, 6+ Robin, ten Redwing,

Song Thrush, two Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, 6+ Blackbird, 10+ Long-tailed Tit, 6+

Blue Tit, 6+ Great Tit, two Nuthatch, three Treecreeper, 5+ Goldfinch, 4+

Chaffinch, Starling, Jay, 40+ Jackdaw and 10+ Carrion Crow. 80 Common

Gull from the Tormarton Road.

Wednesday 21st

In the Shire Valley: Stock Dove, Jackdaw, Blue & Great Tit, three Buzzard,

Kestrel, c.30 Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Bullfinch, three Mistle Thrush, Great

Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Rook, Grey & Pied Wagtail, Nuthatch, two

Treecreeper, Redwing, Goldcrest and Grey Heron.

Sunday 25th

At least 500 Common Gull from Rushmead Lane, also five Corn Bunting,

c.200 Fieldfare, c.200 Golden Plover, four Buzzard, Mistle Thrush. Little Egret,

Lapwing and Stonechat.

Monday 26th

Two Grey Partridge flushed from waste ground on Rushmead Lane flew to

the top of Orchid Lane, also c.80 Linnet, c.100 Fieldfare and Little Owl.

MARCH

Saturday 3rd

HAWFINCH: One again at feeders in the Withymead area, plus three

Brambling.

P a g e | 96

Sunday 4th

A Hawfinch again at feeders in the Withymead area. A fly-over Lapwing and

Grey Partridge from Rushmead Lane plus a few Corn Bunting,

Yellowhammer and mixed flock of c.50 Redwing and Fieldfare.

Monday 5th

A Hawfinch again at feeders in the Withymead area this afternoon.

Tuesday 6th

HAWFINCH: Two at feeders in the Withymead area early afternoon.

Wednesday 7th

A male Hawfinch still present at feeders in the Withymead area this morning.

© Pete Coslett

Thursday 8th

The male Hawfinch present again at feeders in the Withymead area.

Friday 9th

A summer adult Mediterranean Gull the gull flock from Rushmead Lane.

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Saturday 10th

Combined reports: Hawfinch still visiting feeders in the Withymead area also

Marsh Tit. Elsewhere, Grey Partridge, two Herring Gull, eight Common Gull,

100+ Woodpigeon, 20 Skylark, 20 Yellowhammer and c.120 Fieldfare from

Northfield Lane. Three Mallard and Kestrel from Rushmead Lane and c.50

Corn Bunting near Rushmead Farm. Three Buzzard over Shirehill Bridge along

with Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl calling and Stonechat at the top of

Shirehill. In the Down Road area, 200 Starling, 40 Corn Bunting and a mixed

flock of 100 Linnet and Chaffinch plus the usual corvids including six Raven.

Sunday 11th

40 Corn Bunting, 40 Yellowhammer, Little Owl, 30 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, two

Raven and seven Common Buzzard.

Tuesday 13th

In the Shire Valley: Grey Heron, four Mallard, four Buzzard, two Kestrel, several

Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Pied Wagtail, c.50 Fieldfare,

Song Thrush, c.25 Redwing, Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tit, two Nuthatch,

small numbers of Chaffinch and Greenfinch. Down Road area; c.100

Common Gull, plus Black-headed, Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull,

c.50 Stock Dove, c.200 Skylark, Stonechat, c.300 Jackdaw, several Raven,

c.50 Chaffinch, c.1000 Linnet plus Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting.

Wednesday 14th

A Hawfinch once again at feeders in the Withymead area this morning.

Friday 16th

Combined reports; Three Canada Geese on 'Big Pond' in the Shire Valley

and a Wheatear from Down Road were the first for the patch this year.

Down Road, Yellowhammer, three Buzzard, eight Stock Dove and c.300

Linnet. A further c.800 Linnet on Rushmead Farm, c.50 Fieldfare from

Northfield Lane, Grey Partridge flew from Northfield Lane to Orchid Lane plus

Skylark and Corn Bunting singing everywhere in the sunshine. Common

Chiffchaff at Ringswell.

Tuesday 20th

In the Shire Valley today, Chiffchaff, Little Egret and four Grey Heron.

P a g e | 98

Friday 23rd

Around the patch today; A pair of Mallard on Rushmead Flash, at least two

Northern Wheatear in fields from Down Road, several Raven and good

numbers of Yellowhammer, Linnet and Corn Bunting.

© TBOSG

Sunday 25th

From Northfield Lane; Eight Meadow Pipit, 31 Pied Wagtail, 60

Yellowhammer, Grey Partridge, and a few singing Skylark. Rushmead Lane,

40 Corn Bunting, 20 Linnet, Raven, 11 Common Buzzard.

Wednesday 28th

Two Canada Geese on the dam at West Littleton, 45 Fieldfare from

Northfield Lane plus 80 at Garston Farm, over 400 Linnet and 50

P a g e | 99

Yellowhammer from Down Track, three Grey Heron in the Shire Valley plus

Corn Bunting and Skylark.

Thursday 29th

A Red Kite heading north over Down Road, Marshfield this morning.

Saturday 31st

A Barn Owl at the junction of the A420 and Tormarton Road around 07:30.

© Pete Coslett

APRIL

Sunday 1st

Combined reports Northfield and Rushmead Lanes. Lots of Skylark and

Yellowhammer plus a few Corn Bunting, six Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, four

Common Buzzard and five Raven. Two Canada Geese at West Littleton

Dam. Two Sparrowhawk, two Great Spotted Woodpecker, c.140 Fieldfare

and Chiffchaff in the Shire Valley; several hundred Linnet Downthorns Farm.

Thursday 5th

Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff and female Blackcap in Shire Valley, Lapwing from

Down Road plus a few Fieldfare lingering. 800+ Linnet from Down Road and

at least 350 on Rushmead Farm.

P a g e | 100

© Pete Coslett

Sunday 8th

Two Swallows on Rushmead Lane today, the first of the year! Also, several

Blackcap and Chiffchaff south of the village at Ringswell.

Wednesday 11th

Combined reports: In the Shire Valley; A pair of Mallard, several Buzzard, c.50

Stock Dove, two Great Spotted Woodpecker, at least three House Martin,

two Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, female Redstart, two Mistle Thrush,

Blackcap, several Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Long-tailed, Blue

and Great Tit, two Nuthatch, Treecreeper, several Raven and two

Greenfinch. Two Canada Geese on West Littleton Dam and Moorhen on

West Littleton Pond.

Sunday 15th

A Curlew was heard calling as it flew over St. Catherin's Valley just south of

Marshfield Village.

Monday 16th

Combined reports: In the Shire Valley; Three drake Mallard, several Buzzard,

Stock Dove, two Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey and Pied Wagtail, Song

P a g e | 101

and Mistle Thrush, at least five male Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed, Blue,

Great and Coal Tit, Treecreeper, three Nuthatch and small numbers of

Goldfinch. Also Northern Wheatear in the sheep field on Rushmead Lane this

evening.

© TBOSG

Wednesday 18th

Combined reports: In the Shire Valley; Grey Heron, Mallard, at least two Red

Kite, six Buzzard, Stock Dove, Grey and Pied Wagtail, several Blackcap,

Chiffchaff and Goldcrest. Top field; Three 'Greenland' Wheatear and several

P a g e | 102

Raven. A Goshawk was seen with two Common Buzzard soaring over Down

Road around mid-day before drifting north towards West Kington. Also Little

Grebe was noted on West Littleton Upper Pond, Willow Warbler on the Lower

Pond, Little Owl plus 'plenty' of Chiffchaff in the valley at Ringswell.

Thursday 19th

A Redstart was seen briefly around East End Dew Pond, Marshfield.

MAY

Tuesday 1st

Combined reports; In the Rushmead/ Orchid Lane area: A nice Wheatear

and Whinchat plus a strange Linnet with yellow/ buff instead of red/ pink

colouration, Skylark, Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer. South of the Village

Sand Martin with Swallows and House Martin around Ringswell dew pond.

Friday 4th

In the Northfield/ Rushmead Lane area; Raven, Red Kite, two Buzzard,

Kestrel, loads of singing Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Skylark.

Saturday 5th

Four Wheatear on dry walling stones at Tolldown mid-day. Also

Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting and House Martin over Marshfield.

Sunday 6th

From Down Road this afternoon, Buzzard, three Wheatear, Blackcap, several

pairs of Whitethroat, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting and two Raven.

Monday 7th

Two Northern Wheatear and two Yellow Wagtail at the top of Shirehill on the

Tormarton Road.

Thursday 10th

In the Shire Valley: Quiet with few birds of note, Chiffchaff, Moorhen, Raven,

Buzzard, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker. West Littleton Dam; A

pair of Tufted Duck, a pair of Little Grebe and a pair of Canada Geese with

goslings.

P a g e | 103

Monday 14th

This evening: Grey Partridge

from Rushmead Lane, Little

Owl on Rushmead Farm

also a flock of 100+ Linnet,

60+ Corn Bunting and 15

Stock Dove. Also several

Small Tortoiseshell and four

Hares!

Friday 18th

West Littleton Down

produced Hobby, Red Kite,

Peregrine, Buzzard, lots of

Whitethroat, Yellowhammer,

Corn Bunting, Skylark and

five Ravens. Lesser

Whitethroat south of the

village, the other side of

Ringswell. Two Wheatear on

Rushmead Farm plus several

Swallows, Swifts and House

Martin in the village. © Pete Coslett

Tuesday 22nd

Tolldown; Buzzard, two Stock Dove, two Blackcap, five Whitethroat, lots of

singing Skylark and Yellowhammer, seven Ravens. Also two Spotted

Flycatchers for the first time this year in the Shire Valley. Four Tufted Duck and

two Little Grebe on West Littleton dam plus Lesser Whitethroat.

Wednesday 23rd

Two Red Kite over Down Road and Yellow Wagtail noted in the area.

Monday 28th

In the Shire Valley this afternoon; Grey Heron, Buzzard, three Great Spotted

Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, two House Martin, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Mistle

P a g e | 104

and Song Thrush, three Nuthatch, Treecreeper and two Raven a Yellow

Wagtail.

JUNE

Friday 8th

Six Tufted Duck n West Littleton Dam with two Canada Geese with four

goslings. Also Lesser Whitethroat on the track from West Littleton to the Shire

Valley.

Saturday 9th

In the Shire Valley; Three Grey Heron, five Common Buzzard, Peregrine,

Green Woodpecker, four Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Grey Wagtail,

ten House Martin, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Song & Mistle

Thrush, three Nuthatch, Treecreeper and four Raven and Red Kite over.

Saturday 16th

Down Road; Common Buzzard, five Lesser Black-backed Gull, 20+ Skylark,

Pied Wagtail, ten Swallow, two Common Whitethroat, ten Yellowhammer,

ten Corn Bunting and Raven. Shire Valley; Grey Heron, three Common

Buzzard, two Red Kite, Hobby, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, ten Swallow, eight

House Martin, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Mistle Thrush and a few of

the usual corvids.

Thursday 21st

Shire Valley; Juvenile Redstart, juvenile Grey and Pied Wagtail, Moorhen with

two chicks, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and three Grey Heron.

Thursday 28th

A Little Owl calling on Downthorns Farm. On West Littleton dam; Two

Canada Geese with five young, Mallard with young and two Tufted Duck.

LATE NEWS:

A Hoopoe was photographed on the track to Oldfield Farm on the A46 mid-

May.

P a g e | 105

© Unknown

JULY

Saturday 7th

West Littleton Dam: Two Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, two Canada Geese with

five young, Moorhen and Mallard. In the Shire Valley; Three Song Thrush, two

Common Chiffchaff, four Grey Heron, three Grey Wagtail, two Spotted

Flycatcher and two Bullfinch. Marshfield Village; Twenty Common Swift and

c.25 House Martin. Generally on the patch; Very large numbers of Skylark

and Corn Bunting, a good distribution of Linnet and Yellowhammer, a total

of fifteen Raven and good numbers of Swallow and two Common

Whitethroat. Eleven species of Butterfly including a large number of Small

Tortoiseshell and a few Marbled White.

P a g e | 106

Tuesday 10th

In the Shire Valley: Two Grey Heron, Common Buzzard, Red Kite,

Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Moorhen, two Common Swift, Great Spotted

Woodpecker, three Grey Wagtail, ten Swallow, Blackcap, Willow Warbler,

three Common Chiffchaff, a few Goldcrest, Song Thrush, several parties of

Blue and Great Tit, two Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Chaffinch, c.100 Jackdaw in

groups, and three Raven.

© Pete Coslett

Thursday 12th

Little Owl showing well from Down Road.

Saturday 14th

Two Red Kite in Shire Valley this afternoon; one settled in Gunning's Wood.

Sunday 15th

This afternoon in the Shire Valley; Three Red Kite, six Raven, Spotted

Flycatcher beyond the second gate, two Grey Heron and Marsh Tit.

Thursday 19th

Northfield Lane; 20+ Skylark, 30 Swallow, 40 House Martin, Sedge Warbler

(the first of the year), four Common Whitethroat, 35+ House Sparrow, 30+

P a g e | 107

Corn Bunting (including lots of juveniles) and 20 Yellowhammer. Little Owls

have three youngsters which are beginning to explore the immediate

vicinity of the nest. All three seen plus at least one adult, also observed one

of the youngsters being fed.

Saturday 21st

This afternoon; A Yellow Wagtail over Rushmead Lane, two very young-

looking Yellow Wagtails, 50+ House Sparrows and c.70 Starling on Northfield

Lane, also Common Whitethroat, 40+ Swallows and even more Skylarks plus

good numbers (20+) House Martins.

Tuesday 24th

Northfield Lane; Common Buzzard, Kestrel, two Stock Dove, Little Owl, 20

Skylark, c.40 Swallow, two House Martin, 15 House Sparrow, 20 Corn Bunting,

ten Yellowhammer, ten Linnet, 15 Starling plus the usual corvids.

Wednesday 25th

A Red Kite was seen at Cold Ashton.

Thursday 26th

Two Yellow Wagtails on Rushmead Lane this evening.

Monday 30th

A juvenile Little Owl showing well, also eight Yellowhammer, 11 Corn Bunting,

46 Linnet, five Skylark and Common Whitethroat.

Tuesday 31st

A family of Spotted Flycatcher near West Lodge, Ashwicke, also two pairs of

Bullfinch and good numbers of Swallow.

AUGUST

Thursday 2nd

Combined reports: North of the village, Corn Bunting, Skylark and

Yellowhammer, c.100 Starling, 40 House Sparrow, 20 Linnet, a few Swallow,

two House Martin, three Common Swift, four Yellow Wagtail, two juvenile

Little Owl and at least 20 Chaffinch. South of the village at least 70 House

P a g e | 108

Martin, several Common Swift and 13 Swallow around Ringswell Dew Pond

also, a large flock of Long-tailed Tit plus Willow Warbler.

Sunday 5th

Several Blackcap, Hobby over plus still 20+ House Martins at Ringswell.

Tuesday 7th

A juvenile Hen Harrier was seen in the Northfield Lane area.

© Pete Coslett

© TBOSG

© TBOSG

P a g e | 109

Thursday 9th

Combined reports: Several Common Buzzard, Black-headed, Lesser Black-

backed and Herring Gull, good numbers of Stock Dove and Woodpigeon,

four Little Owl, Skylark, Swallow, House Martin, adult and juvenile Pied

Wagtail, large numbers of corvid generally including several Raven, small

numbers of Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Linnet and

Corn Bunting.

Friday 10th

The juvenile Hen Harrier was seen twice today; Heading north from Down

Track/ Down Road and briefly from Gorse Lane near Pennsylvania late

afternoon.

Sunday 12th

The juvenile Hen Harrier again heading north from Down Track/ Down Road.

© Pete Coslett

P a g e | 110

Monday 13th

Combined reports: Three Northern Wheatear, three Yellow Wagtail, two Pied

Wagtail, six Raven, Kestrel, six Common Buzzard, three Common Swift, ten

Skylark, 30 Swallow, ten House Martin, Common Whitethroat, Linnet, Corn

Bunting and Yellowhammer around Rushmead Barn/ Rushmead Lane and a

juvenile Little Owl was nearby. In the Shire Valley; Four Grey Heron, Willow

Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher. Down Road; Juvenile Hen Harrier still

quartering fields from Down Road, also c.50 large gulls.

LATE NEWS: An unconfirmed report of a single Quail audible on the south

side of Shirehill Lane mid-July.

Tuesday 14th

Seven Yellow Wagtail and a Northern Wheatear around Rushmead Barn/

Rushmead Lane. C.120 Large gulls (Herring and Lesser Black-backed) from

Down Road plus lots of 'hirundine' (Swallow/ House Martin plus the odd Swift).

Sunday 19th

Four Raven and Mistle Thrush in the Shire Valley and c.150 Linnet from the

Tormarton Road. South of the village; Kestrel, Redstart and Spotted

Flycatcher.

Monday 20th

A Tree Pipit heard over Rushmead Lane, four Pied Wagtail, four Yellow

Wagtail and three White Wagtail were mixing with stock from Rushmead

Barn.

Tuesday 21st

A Northern Wheatear on Orchid Lane with another near Rushmead Barn.

Two Whinchat from Northfield Lane plus Common Whitethroat, Kestrel and

Raven.

Thursday 23rd

Seven Yellow Wagtail this morning in Rushmead Barn field, also

Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Little Owl, two Raven and a few at least 20 Swallow

going through.

P a g e | 111

Monday 27th

In the Rushmead Lane area this afternoon; Three Yellow Wagtail, c.50

Swallow feeding around the cattle from Rushmead Barn also Northern

Wheatear and an Osprey in flight to the south. A further Northern Wheatear

on Down Road.

© Pete Coslett

© TBOSG

P a g e | 112

Tuesday 28th

Combined reports: Rushmead Lane; Two Northern Wheatear, three Yellow

Wagtail and ten 'alba' Wagtails. Down Road; c.50 large gulls; Herring and

Lesser Black-backed. Shirehill Lane; Hobby, Kestrel and a good passage of

Swallow. Shire Valley; Grey Heron, Mallard, several Common Buzzard, Stock

Dove, two or three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a sizeable flock of Swallow

and House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap,

Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, three Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed, Marsh,

Great and Blue Tit, three Nuthatch, eight Raven and c.50 Goldfinch.

Wednesday 29th

Shire Valley; Seven Grey Heron, ten Raven, Marsh Tit, two Coal Tit, three

Mistle Thrush four Spotted Flycatcher and Common Redstart with another

Common Redstart south of the village.

© TBOSG

P a g e | 113

Thursday August 30th

Combined reports; From Northfield Lane, four Yellow Wagtail and Chiffchaff,

nearby, Little Owl. Common Redstart and c.60 Goldfinch at Ringswell.

Friday August 31st

Combined reports; West Littleton Down, three Common Buzzard, 20 Skylark,

15 Linnet, 10 Chaffinch, two Northern Wheatear, three Raven plus ten House

Martin in Tormarton. Shire Valley; Cormorant, 12 Raven, ten Common

Buzzard, two Kestrel, Red Kite, 100+ Swallows, 40+ House Martin, four

Common Chiffchaff, five Nuthatch, six Long-tailed Tits, two Common

Redstart, five Yellowhammer, four Grey Herons, and twelve Corn Bunting.

SEPTEMBER

Saturday 1st

Hobby, Red Kite and at least three Spotted Flycatcher in the Shire Valley.

Sunday 2nd

Combined reports; In the Shire Valley, three Grey Heron, eight Common

Buzzard, Hobby, Kestrel, three Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common

Redstart, Common Chiffchaff and thirty-eight (38) Raven, nearby Little Owl.

A Common Redstart and c.50 House Martin at Ringswell.

Tuesday 4th

In the Shire Valley: Two Grey Heron, five Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Collared

and Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, two

Grey Wagtail, several Robin, four Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, three Chiffchaff,

Blue and Great Tit, two Nuthatch, at least twenty Raven and c.20 Goldfinch,

Also several Common Darter and Migrant Hawker. Around the Top Fields;

Increasing numbers of corvids. Ten 'alba' wagtail from Rushmead Barn.

Wednesday 5th

Three Whinchat and two Northern Wheatear reported.

Friday 7th

A Yellow Wagtail at Rushmead Barn. South of the village, Lesser Whitethroat

and two Willow Warbler at Ringswell.

P a g e | 114

Sunday 9th

Two Northern Wheatear, three Whinchat, nine Pied Wagtail, ten Meadow

Pipit, eight Skylark, c.60 Linnet, Kestrel, Buzzard, two Raven and Little Owl.

Thursday 13th

Rushmead/ Northfield Lanes; Two Buzzard, Kestrel, Whimbrel calling high

over, three Pied Wagtail, two Yellow Wagtail, two Northern Wheatear, 20

Linnet, ten Skylark, four Raven and Little Owl.

Saturday 15th

Two Northern Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, 15 Pied Wagtail, four Raven and

Common Stonechat.

Sunday 16th

Four Northern Wheatear, 15 Pied Wagtail, 20 Meadow Pipit, Corn Bunting,

ten Skylark by Rushmead Barn. In the Shire Valley; 23 Raven, Hobby, five

Buzzard, three Common Chiffchaff, three Grey Heron and six Jay.

Friday 21st

Kestrel, 30 Meadow Pipit, Swallow, 40 House Martin feeding behind tennis

courts in the village. Northern Wheatear on Rushmead Farm plus c.350

Linnet.

Tuesday 25th

In the Shire Valley; Two Grey Heron, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, ten Common

Buzzard, Kestrel, two Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, a small passage of

Swallow, six Meadow Pipit, three Common Chiffchaff, Long-tailed, Blue and

Great Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, five Jay and c.20 Raven. Elsewhere; c.30

Yellowhammer and c.60 Corn Bunting around Rushmead Farm, at least 30

Meadow Pipit in the area, 20 Swallow over Rushmead Barn plus Northern

Wheatear there plus two Kestrel from Northfield Lane, two Blackcap and five

Greenfinch by Ringswell dew pond.

Wednesday 26th

In the Shire Valley; Sparrowhawk, six Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Stock Dove,

two Great Spotted Woodpecker, six Meadow Pipit, Common Chiffchaff,

P a g e | 115

Goldcrest, Blue and Great Tit, Nuthatch, three Jay, 15 Raven and small

numbers of Goldfinch.

© TBOSG

Sunday 30th

C. 400 Common Gull and 25 Stock Dove from Down Road.

OCTOBER

Monday 1st

C. 60 Linnet from Down Road, c.50 Skylark in the Rushmead Lane area also

Golden Plover over. Good numbers of Meadow Pipit scattered around.

Tuesday 2nd

Very autumnal; 30 Yellowhammer, 20 Skylark, several Corn Bunting, ten

Linnet, a field of mixed corvids plus Common Stonechat along Northfield

Lane.

Sunday 7th

Little Owl, c.150 Corn Bunting, 30 Yellowhammer plus Redwing over. The

remains of Barn Owl in fields off Down Road! Also Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk,

four Common Buzzard, two Kestrel, 40 Common Gull, ten Black-headed Gull,

ten Skylark, 60 Linnet, c.150 Corvids, Jay and five Raven.

P a g e | 116

Monday 8th

In the Shire Valley; Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, 14 Raven, two Grey Heron,

Sparrowhawk, several Common Buzzard, Meadow Pipit and Grey Wagtail.

37 Golden Plover on West Littleton Down and in the Rushmead Lane area a

flock of c.450 gulls mostly Common with a few Herring, Black-headed and

Lesser Black-backed.

© Pete Coslett

© TBOSG

P a g e | 117

Tuesday 9th

In the Shire Valley; Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, a dozen Common Buzzard,

two Kestrel, Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, small movement of

Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, several Pied Wagtail, two Mistle Thrush,

two Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, c.20 Long-tailed Tit plus Blue, Great and

Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Jay, a dozen Raven, Chaffinch, several Goldfinch and

small numbers of Linnet. Rushmead Lane; c.600 gulls mostly Common.

Tuesday 16th

In the Shire Valley; Four Siskin, six Raven, four Common Chiffchaff and two

Grey Heron. From Northfield Lane, Golden Plover, c.80 Linnet, c.60 Common

Gull, two Stonechat and 30 Corn Bunting.

Thursday 18th

Two Sparrowhawk, half a dozen Golden Plover in the Rushmead Lane area

with c.160 over West Littleton. Also, c.200 Common Gull, three Kestrel, ten

Raven, 20 Skylark, three Nuthatch, c.300 Starling, c.90 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing,

six Goldfinch, two Siskin and 12 Yellowhammer.

Friday 19th

C. 230 Golden Plover in fields off the A420 at Cold Ashton plus 20 Skylark.

C.150 Common Gull off Tormarton Road.

Saturday 20th

Grey Heron, seven Common Buzzard, Red Kite, Kestrel, two Great Spotted

Woodpecker, two Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch,

Goldcrest, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit, Jay and seven Raven.

Sunday 21st

Still over 200 Golden Plover between Cold Ashton and Marshfield.

Monday 22nd

Two Grey Heron in the Shire Valley, Sparrowhawk from Rushmead Farm, four

Stonechat and Merlin from Northfield Lane.

Tuesday 23rd

A female Merlin was still present in the area early afternoon.

P a g e | 118

Wednesday 24th

Shirehill Lane; Five Grey Heron and Red Kite. Shire Valley; A pair of Mallard,

several Common Buzzard, c.200 Red-legged Partridge, two Great Spotted

Woodpecker, several Skylark, several Meadow Pipit, Song Thrush, Mistle

Thrush, 20 Long-tailed Tit plus Coal Blue and Great Tit, two Nuthatch, c.100

Jackdaw, several Raven, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and several Yellowhammer.

From Rushmead Lane; 25 Lapwing and two Common Stonechat.

© Les Williams

Thursday 25th

Combined reports from Northfield Lane today; Two Common Buzzard,

Kestrel, female Merlin, 30 Skylark, 20 Meadow Pipit, six Pied Wagtail, three

Stonechat, four Blue Tit, ten House Sparrow, c.120 Corn Bunting , 40

Yellowhammer, ten Goldfinch, c.50 Linnet, c.150 Starling, two Raven and a

large flock of distant gulls were mostly Common.

Friday 26th

There was a flock of between 150 - 200 Golden Plover in the fields close to

the weighbridge on the A46 around 16:00.

P a g e | 119

Saturday 27th

Skylark, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, three Common Stonechat, four Stock

Dove, 11 Lapwing, two Raven, Kestrel and Common Buzzard.

Sunday 28th

Northfield Lane, five Lapwing and several Stock Dove. Two Common

Stonechat in Orchid Lane and two on West Littleton Road. Lots of Common

Gull around plus one Black-headed.

© TBOSG

P a g e | 120

Tuesday 30th

In the Shire Valley: Several Common Buzzard, good numbers of Common

Gull, Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Skylark, at least

seventy Fieldfare, Song Thrush, a few Redwing, c.15 Long-tailed Tit, Blue and

Great Tit, two Jay, c.30 Starling, two Chaffinch, c.30 Goldfinch and ten Siskin.

Around Top Fields: A Grey Heron, several Common Buzzard, Kestrel, small

numbers of Black-headed Gull, several hundred Common Gull, c.25

Lapwing, c.30 Stock Dove, calling Little Owl, c.50 Skylark, c.75 Meadow Pipit,

Pied Wagtail, up to six Common Stonechat, two Raven, c.150 Starling, c.150

Linnet, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and Corn Bunting.

NOVEMBER

Thursday 1st

Northfield Lane; 26 Lapwing, 15 Pied Wagtail, 30 Stock Dove and c.80 Linnet

with c.350 Common Gull around Rushmead Farm. Around Ringswell dew

pond, c.400 Starling a few Stock Dove and c.80 Linnet. Also, Sparrowhawk,

four Common Buzzard, two Kestrel, Raven, five Skylark, four Goldcrest, six

Fieldfare, Song Thrush and ten Chaffinch.

Monday 5th

Ringswell area; At least 50 Redwing, Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Kestrel, c.200

Common Gull and Sparrowhawk.

Saturday 10th

Around the patch, 70 Common Gull, Kestrel, six Skylark, eight Redwing, two

Common Stonechat, six Meadow Pipit, 20 Chaffinch, 20 Linnet, 50 Goldfinch,

20 Corn Bunting and 20 Yellowhammer.

Thursday 15th

Two Common Stonechat on Northfield Lane also 60 Corn Bunting, 40

Yellowhammer, 30 Skylark, 40 Meadow Pipit, six Pied Wagtail, 70 Common

Gull, three Common Buzzard and two Raven.

Sunday 18th

Two Common Stonechat near Pennsylvania, and a distant Red Kite from

Rushmead Lane. Ten Fieldfare and c.200 Common Gull from Down Road.

P a g e | 121

Thursday 22nd

Very little to report from the patch apart from 52 Lapwing in fields from

Rushmead Lane.

Sunday 25th

200+ Redwing and c.150 Fieldfare in the Shire Valley. On West Littleton lower

pond, eight Mallard, two Moorhen and two Snipe, nearby 50 Lapwing from

Rushmead Lane.

Monday 26th

Barn Owl, c. 300 Fieldfare, 50 Redwing, nine Corn Bunting, 25 Yellowhammer,

50 Common Gull, 11 Golden Plover, c.200 mixed corvids.

© Dan White

DECEMBER

Monday 3rd

A stunning Merlin, 60+ Fieldfare, 60+ Starling, good numbers of Corn Bunting,

Yellowhammer and Linnet. This afternoon; Two Stonechat opposite the

entrance to Harcombe Farm, three Grey Heron in the Shire Valley and 200+

Fieldfare on Northfield Lane.

P a g e | 122

© Wayne Tucker

Tuesday 4th

From Northfield Lane, several Common Buzzard, a large distant flock of

Golden Plover with seven on the deck, a dozen Lapwing, c.20 Black-

headed Gull, c.200 Common Gull, three Herring Gull, Stock Dove,

Woodpigeon, c.50 Skylark, c.50 Meadow Pipit, three Pied Wagtail, c.100

Fieldfare, c.50 Redwing, two Blue Tit, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow and several

Raven, c.200 Starling, three Chaffinch, c.20 Goldfinch, small numbers of both

Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting plus a female Reed Bunting.

Wednesday 5th

25 Golden Plover in fields from A420 by Marshfield School, 15 Meadow Pipit

by the junction of Northfield Lane and West Littleton Road with several others

scattered elsewhere. A pair if Stonechat from Northfield Lane, c.50 Skylark in

fields near Down Track also at least 100 Chaffinch including some

continental forms. Decent numbers of Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting

scattered around but Corn Buntings seem to be a bit down on previous

winters so far.

Monday 10th

Some birds at last in fields and hedges at the far end of the Garston Farm

Airstrip; c.100 mainly Chaffinch but also, Greenfinch, several Linnet,

Yellowhammer, Goldfinch, and three Reed Bunting. Around Garston Farm;

c.50 Chaffinch, a few Goldfinch, from the Down Road area c.170 Linnet.

P a g e | 123

Wednesday 12th

Three Common Buzzard, c.100 mixed gulls, 14 Stock Dove, at least 700

Corvid including six Raven, two Skylark, c.300 Starling, c.120 Fieldfare, six

Redwing, Grey Wagtail, three Pied Wagtail, four Chaffinch, 14 Linnet, 20

Goldfinch, 40 Corn Bunting and eight Yellowhammer.

Saturday 22nd

32 Golden Plover, at least Skylark, ten Meadow Pipit, two Common Raven,

at least 200 Fieldfare and Redwing, five Chaffinch and c. 65 Yellowhammer.

Sunday 23rd

A Water Rail by Shirehill Bridge this afternoon.

Wednesday 26th

Pretty dull this afternoon; Grey Heron, 80 Common Gull, seven Common

Buzzard, Little Owl, 150 Linnet, ten Fieldfare and two Raven in the Down

Road and Shirehill Lane area.

Thursday 27th

Five Common Buzzard, c.35 Common Gull, Raven, Goldcrest, c.60 Starling, a

mixed flock of c.50 Redwing and Fieldfare and two Bullfinch reported.

The Marshfield Patch Year List 2018 Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Osprey, Red Kite, Hen

Harrier, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Merlin, Hobby, Peregrine, Red-legged Partridge, Grey

Partridge, Quail, Common Pheasant, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Common Snipe,

Woodcock, Curlew, Whimbrel, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull,

Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Short-eared Owl, Common

Swift, Hoopoe, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Tree

Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Common Redstart,

Whinchat, Common Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush,

Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler,

Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay,

Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch,

Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Hawfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting.

Also seen were White Wagtail, Greenland Wheatear, Continental Blackbird, Continental Song Thrush and

Continental Chaffinch.

A total of 108 species and forms were logged in 2018.

P a g e | 124

The South Gloucestershire Butterfly Diary 2018

JANUARY

The first butterfly of the year, a Red Admiral, was seen at Bradley Stoke on

the 9th. It’s the earliest date for this species in S. Glos! The previous earliest

date was February 13th 2017 at Longwell Green.

FEBRUARY

A Small Tortoiseshell, the first of the year, was seen on a stable wall at

Badminton in the morning on the 16th. It represents the earliest date for this

species in S. Glos. The previous earliest date was February 17th 2017 at Yate.

A Peacock, the first of the year, was noted at Thornbury Community

Orchard on 17th. A Red Admiral on Vantage Park, Old Gloucester Road

near Bradley Stoke on the 21st.

© Marian Stephens

P a g e | 125

MARCH

The first Brimstone of the year on the wing in the Hencliff Wood area at

Hanham on the 11th. At least one Small Tortoiseshell from Shirehill Lane,

Marshfield and the first Comma of the year in Longwell Green on the 13th.

Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell were around Lagoon II at Oldbury Power

Station on the 21st. Red Admiral at Warmley plus Brimstone at Pucklechurch

and OPS on the 25th.

© Pete Coslett

APRIL

Peacocks were seen near Tortworth and Severn Beach on the 5th. Also a

good spread of Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone. Our first Orange-tip of the

year was seen at Lower Hazel, Old Down on the 14th. Large White in the

Shire Valley, Marshfield and Speckled Wood at Three Brooks, Bradley Stoke

P a g e | 126

on the 18th were both new for the year. Small White and Holly Blue were

both at New Passage on the 19th.

MAY

A Green-veined White, the first of the year, was present on Chipping

Sodbury Common on the 9th.

© Mark Coller

© Lisa Presland

P a g e | 127

A very smart Small Copper at Oldbury Power Station on the 20th. The first

Small Heath of the year was seen at Oldbury Power Station on the 18th.

The first Common Blue was seen at Charfield Meadows on the 23rd. The first

Large Skipper was on Chipping Sodbury Common on the 28th along with

Small Heath.

© Mark Coller

P a g e | 128

JUNE

A Painted Lady on the wing at Oldbury Power Station on the 1st and a Small

Skipper on the 3rd were both firsts of the year. Meadow Brown, Common

Blue, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Large Skipper

at Marshfield on the 13th. Also present in good numbers were both Beautiful

and Banded Demoiselle.

© TBOSG

The first Ringlet of the year was seen in fields from the footpath at Willsbridge

Hill on the 15th. The first Marbled Whites of the year were on the wing on the

18th. One in fields from the footpath at Willsbridge Hill and one from Lagoon

III at Oldbury Power Station.

White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary both seen at mid-day at Lower

Woods, Wickwar on the 23rd. Dark-green Fritillary was noted in a Severn

Beach Garden on the 24th. The first Purple Hairstreaks of the year were

reported on the 26th with one along the bridleway at the south end of

Lagoon II, Oldbury Power Station and at least eight possibly as many as

twenty along the R. Avon at Hanham. The first White-letter Hairstreak was

seen at Lower Woods, Wickwar on the 26th.

P a g e | 129

© Donna Harvey

© Pete Hazelwood

P a g e | 130

JULY

© TBOSG

Around twenty

species of butterfly

were reported from

the recording area in

the first week of the

month in soaring

temperatures!

The 'valesina' form

Silver-washed Fritillary

was seen at Lower

Woods, Wickwar in

the afternoon on the

1st.

The first Gatekeepers of the year were noted on the 4th on Chipping

Sodbury Common and the first Essex Skipper of the year was seen at

Overscourt Woods, Siston on the 5th.

P a g e | 131

© TBOSG

Plenty of butterflies around at Marshfield on the 8th: Small, Essex and Large

Skipper, Large, Small and Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Small

Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow

Brown, Ringlet and Common Blue.

Silver-washed Fritillary, Purple and White-letter Hairstreak along the R. Frome

in Iron Acton, plus White-letter Hairstreak on thistle at Elberton on the 10th.

© David Hanks

P a g e | 132

© Vic Savery

A Brown Argus was seen at Old Down near Alveston and fifteen species of

butterfly at Oldbury Power Station on the 14th including Painted Lady and

the first Clouded Yellow of the year.

© Adam Rawson

Good numbers of Small Copper in meadows at New Passage on the 17th.

P a g e | 133

Quite a few butterflies out in the Down Road area at Marshfield on the 18th.

Plenty of Purple Hairstreak still present at Hanham Raptor Watch Point on the

19th.

© Matt Plenty

Plenty of butterflies in the parched meadows around Old Down, Alveston

plus a Painted Lady at New Passage on the 23rd. At least thirty-five (35)

Silver-washed Fritillary and two White Admiral at Lower Woods, Wickwar plus

Clouded Yellow at Broad Hill, Hawkesbury on the 24th. Sixteen species

recorded on the 25th in the Yate area including at least five Purple

Hairstreak and Silver-washed Fritillary.

AUGUST

Good numbers of Common Blue still on Chipping Sodbury Common on the

1st. Amazing numbers of Brown Argus at Lower Woods, Wickwar on the 3rd.

A Clouded Yellow around Lagoon III and two Painted Lady at Oldbury

Power Station on the 4th. Half a dozen Silver-washed Fritillaries around

Tortworth Lake on the 5th including one 'valesina' form. A Clouded Yellow

was flushed from the footpath at Organic Blooms, Latteridge and a further

individual was noted at Oldbury Power Station on the 8th. Brown Argus,

Small, Green-veined and Large White, Common Blue, Speckled Wood and

Meadow Brown were all still on the wing from Down Road, Marshfield on the

9th.

P a g e | 134

Two Clouded Yellows on the

9th; One east of Hanson

Quarry, Chipping Sodbury

and one at Cromhall Diving

Centre. Several Common

Blue and Speckled Wood,

Small, Green-veined and

Large White, Meadow Brown

and Comma in the Shire

Valley, Marshfield on the

13th. A Clouded Yellow

(possibly 'helice') around

Lagoon III, Oldbury Power

Station on the 16th. © Pete Hazelwood

Numerous Small Copper, including the blue spot form, at Aust Services Area

on the 25th along with many Brown Argus, several Common Blue, a fresh

Small Heath, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell.

© Vic Savery - Lycaena phlaeas caeruleopunctata

© Pete Hazelwood

P a g e | 135

On the 28th at least fifty Small Heath and several Small White on Chipping

Sodbury Common. Speckled Wood and Small White in the Shire Valley and

Small Copper from Willsbridge Hills. On the 29th; Two Brown Argus in the

orchard at Oldbury Power Station, On Chipping Sodbury Common, c.25

Small Heath, Meadow Brown and Common Blue, and in the Shire Valley,

Marshfield, Large and Small White, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell and

Red Admiral plus dozens of Common Darter and Common Blue Damselfly

and a surprise Brown Hawker!

© TBOSG

SEPTEMBER

On Chipping Sodbury Common on the 2nd; Small Copper, Common Blue

and plenty of Small Heath still. At Marshfield on the 4th; Small numbers of

Small White plus Common Blue and Brown Argus.

Combined reports on the 5th; Small White, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell,

Comma, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Small Copper and

Common Blue all still on the wing. Seven or eight Small Copper at Organic

Blooms, Latteridge on the 6th.

At Oldbury Power Station on the 12th: Red Admiral, Small Copper, good

numbers of Common Blue and Speckled Wood.; and on the 24th, 38 Small

P a g e | 136

Copper, 25 Speckled Wood, nine Common Blue, five Small White, two

Peacock, Red Admiral and Small Heath. At Marshfield in the Shire Valley on

the 25th; Small White, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Common

Blue. A Clouded Yellow at Oldbury Power Station on the 26th and in the

Shire Valley at Marshfield; Brimstone, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell,

Comma, Speckled Wood, Small Copper and Common Blue. On the 28th the

same or another Clouded Yellow was noted on the shore near Lagoon II at

Oldbury Power Station. A Clouded Yellow was seen at Severn Beach on the

29th.

OCTOBER

LATE NEWS: At least a dozen Purple Hairstreak were seen on one day over

the summer (date unspecified), around the large oak tree along the main

Rhine at Oldbury Power Station!

At Oldbury Power Station on the 1st; Nine Small Copper (including one

Lycaena phlaeas caeruleopunctata), six Common Blue, three Speckled

Wood and Small White. Three Clouded Yellow on the wing plus Small

Copper, Common Blue and Speckled Wood on the 3rd at Oldbury Power

Station.

On the 4th: Clouded Yellow around Lagoon II shore at Oldbury Power

Station plus 14 Speckled Woods, five Common Blue, five Small Copper

including one Lycaena phlaeas caeruleopunctata form, two Red Admiral,

two Small White, two Small Heath, Peacock and amazingly a Brimstone. In

addition a Red Admiral black form caterpillar. Also today, Painted Lady and

Speckled Wood from the Northwick Warth/ Pilning Wetland Reserve area. A

very fresh Painted Lady at Severn View Services plus a few Red Admiral and

a late pair of Small Heath at Aust.

On the 7th: Plenty of Speckled Wood and a Comma at Oldbury Power

Station. Two Small Heath on Northwick Warth. On the 9th; A few Common

Blue at Three Brooks LNR, Bradley Stoke plus Red Admiral, Comma, Painted

Lady, Small Copper and Speckled Wood all in the Shire Valley, Marshfield.

On the 10th; A Clouded Yellow was seen at New Passage also Common

Blue and two Small Tortoiseshell. Lots of Butterflies between Oldbury and

P a g e | 137

Shepperdine; Many Small Copper, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Red

Admiral and at least four Clouded Yellow.

© Simon Cubbage

On the 19th: A Red Admiral in a private garden at Warmley. On the 21st, two

Clouded Yellow in the Shire Valley at Marshfield. On the 22nd; Three Red

Admiral at Oldbury Power Station and on the 24th a Red Admiral in the Shire

Valley, Marshfield. On the 25th; A Red Admiral at New Passage. On the 28th

a Red Admiral and Clouded Yellow at Oldbury Power Station and on the

31st, Red Admiral at Thornbury Sailing Club, Oldbury-on-Severn.

NOVEMBER

A Red Admiral was seen at New Passage on the 2nd. A Red Admiral at New

Passage plus a further three at Three Brooks LNR, Bradley Stoke on the 17th

and a Red Admiral from 2nd Sentry Box Lane, Northwick Warth on the 22nd.

P a g e | 138

The S. Glos Butterflies List 2018

SPECIES/ FORMS DATE LOCATION OBSERVER

Red Admiral 10th January Bradley Stoke Vic Savery

Small Tortoiseshell 16th February Badminton Billy Mackie

Peacock 17th February Thornbury Marian Stephens

Brimstone 11th March Hanham Nigel Kempson

Comma 13th March Longwell Green Donna Harvey

Orange-tip 14th April Old Down John Martin

Large White 18th April Marshfield TBOSG

Speckled Wood 18th April Bradley Stoke Vic Savery

Small White 19th April New Passage TBOSG

Holly Blue 19th April New Passage TBOSG

Green-veined White 9th May CS Common Mark Coller

Small Heath 18th May OP Station Pete Hazelwood

Small Copper 20th May OP Station Lisa Presland

Brown Argus 20th May Marshfield TBOSG

Common Blue 23rd May Charfield Mark Coller

Large Skipper 28th May CS Common Mark Coller

Painted Lady 1st June OP Station Pete Hazelwood

Small Skipper 3rd June OP Station Pete Hazelwood

Meadow Brown 6th June Marshfield TBOSG

Ringlet 15th June Willsbridge Donna Harvey

Marbled White 18th June Willsbridge Donna Harvey

Silver-washed Fritillary 23rd June Lower Woods Morris Benson

White Admiral 23rd June Lower Woods Morris Benson

Dark-green Fritillary 24th June Severn Beach Paul Bowerman

Purple Hairstreak 26th June Hanham Nigel Kempson

White-letter Hairstreak 26th June Lower Woods Chris Wiltshire

Silver-washed Fritillary (valesina) 1st July Lower Woods Chris Mott

Gatekeeper 4th July CS Common Mark Coller

Essex Skipper 5th July Siston TBOSG

Clouded Yellow 14th July OP Station Matt Plenty

Clouded Yellow (helice) 16th August OP Station Pete Hazelwood

Small Copper (caeruleopunctata) 25th August Aust Vic Savery

Total species and forms reported in 2018 – 32

P a g e | 139

The S. Glos Dragon and Damselfly List 2018

SPECIES

SOUTHERN EMERALD DAMSELFLY Lestes barbarus

EMERALD DAMSELFLY Lestes sponsa

BANDED DEMOISELLE Calopteryx splendens

BEAUTIFUL DEMOISELLE Calopteryx virgo

WHITE-LEGGED DAMSELFLY Platycnemis pennipes

AZURE DAMSELFLY Coenagrion puella

VARIABLE DAMSELFLY Coenagrion pulchellum

COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY Enallagma cyathigerum

RED-EYED DAMSELFLY Erythromma najas

SMALL RED-EYED DAMSELFLY Erythromma viridulum

BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLY Ischnura elegans

SCARCE BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLY Ischnura pumilio

LARGE RED DAMSELFLY Pyrrhosoma nymphula

SOUTHERN MIGRANT HAWKER Aeshna affinis

SOUTHERN HAWKER Aeshna cyanea

BROWN HAWKER Aeshna grandis

MIGRANT HAWKER Aeshna mixta

COMMON HAWKER Aeshna juncea

EMPEROR DRAGONFLY Anax imperator

LESSER EMPEROR DRAGONFLY Anax parthenope

HAIRY DRAGONFLY Brachytron pratense

GOLDEN-RINGED DRAGONFLY Cordulegaster boltonii

DOWNY EMERALD Cordulia aenea

BROAD-BODIED CHASER Libellula depressa

SCARCE CHASER Libellula fulva

FOUR-SPOTTED CHASER Libellula quadrimaculata

KEELED SKIMMER Orthetrum coerulescens

BLACK-TAILED SKIMMER Orthetrum cancellatum

YELLOW-WINGED DARTER Sympetrum flaveolum

RED-VEINED DARTER Sympetrum fonscolombii

RUDDY DARTER Sympetrum sanguineum

COMMON DARTER Sympetrum striolatum

VAGRANT EMPEROR Anax ephippiger

Total species list to the end of 2018 - 33

P a g e | 140

ARTICLES

ORTOLAN BUNTING by Paul Bowerman

At about 08.50, I was returning south along the Severn Way footpath on

Northwick Warth. While next to what is known as the 2nd sentry box I heard

an unusual distinctive call from directly above me. I immediately recognised

it as the call of Ortolan Bunting. The previous week I had researched and

listened to recordings of Ortolan Bunting on the Xeno-canto web site out of

curiosity as there had been a number of recent day and night reports

nationally and wanted to remind myself of what they sounded like.

The bird called again and I saw a Sparrow sized bird flying away from me at

a height of about 20 metres. The bird called third time with the same ‘pliip’

call as it flew away from me as a speck heading towards New Passage. I

watched the bird through my telescope, always heading away from me,

and to my surprise it appeared to drop onto the saltmarsh near the old stone

wall next to Chestle Pill at New Passage about a Kilometre from where I was

standing. Even more surprising was the sight of Tony Scott and Kevin

Bainbridge walking in the same field of view, directly behind where the bird

had landed.

The Adrenalin kicked in and somehow I fumbled through the contacts on my

mobile and telephoned Tony Scott at New Passage. I explained that I had

just heard an Ortolan Bunting and it had landed somewhere near them on

the Saltmarsh. My next call was to John Martin and explained to him what

had just happened. He said he was at home and would head straight to the

sight to try and relocate the bird.

I made steady progress towards New Passage along the seawall and at the

same time searched again for Ortolan flight calls on my smartphone to be

sure of what I had heard. I found identical recordings and was satisfied with

my identification.

About fifteen minutes later my telephone rang with John Martin’s name

displayed but when I answered the call was lost. I called him back but it was

engaged. A minute or so later my telephone showed a missed call and that

P a g e | 141

I had a voicemail. It was from John to say they had just seen and heard the

Ortolan in flight just across Chestle Pill from where they were stood.

A few minutes later I joined the group of three that had seen the bird but

despite a prolonged wait and search I never saw or heard the bird again.

It had been 26 years to the day since I heard some calls from a flock of 5 at

Lavernock Point, Glamorgan!

Below are extracts of emails received from Kevin Bainbridge and Tony Scott

who saw and heard the bird at New Passage with John Martin……

Part of email from Kevin Bainbridge

The best view of the bird I saw was when it flew onto the salt marsh after

being chased by a sky lark. Then it landed to the left of a wheatear. That's

when I viewed it in my scope and, as I took my eye off the bird to let John

have a look, unfortunately, the bird flew off.

What I saw at that brief moment was a bunting with a pointed pink bill, a

broad moustache stripe which was very pale, washed out yellow. Also, the

head seemed light (pale brown/ greyish) in contrast to the moustache

which fits with the Ortolan versus a Corn Bunting. This might indicate it being

a first year bird? I didn't see an eye ring. However, I picked out white in the

coverts against the chestnut colours on the wing; that did stick out to me.

Before, this view in the scope, I did hear a distinctive short 'plip' and I did see

the white corners in the tail when it flew, as reported by John.

Part of email from Tony Scott;

Kevin and I were ‘catching-up’ whilst strolling alongside the pill towards the

sluice when I received a phone-call from Paul. He said he had just heard

and seen a bird overhead which called like an Ortolan and appeared to

land on the saltmarsh in the area of the old red and white marker pole, not

too far away from where we were.

P a g e | 142

Kevin and I scanned the area for several minutes but could only see two or

three Pied Wagtails, some Meadow Pipits and Linnets and a couple of

Wheatears.

Soon we were joined by John who immediately began scanning the same

area with his binoculars and almost straightaway got on to a bird in the grass

by the old stone wall. We all trained our telescopes onto it, but with John

having zero vision through his due to fogging, I invited him to look through

my ‘scope as soon as I had the bird in view. In the very brief moment before

moving aside for John I noted a bright all-pink bunting type bill, but

unfortunately no other features,

Before John could view it the bird flew up towards and over us towards the

Glen calling with a short ‘plip’, which on hearing, all three of us agreed

sounded like an Ortolan call.

I too remember the bird being chased back over the pill by another bird

before it had reached the Glen and recall hearing more calling, the most

distinctive to me being the same as last flight call recording on the Collins

bird guide app. which is a short di-syllabic chirp followed quickly by a ‘plip’.

I lost sight of the bird as it crossed the pill and didn’t pick it up again. Kevin

said that he had seen two Corn Buntings during his search and I decided to

cross to the other side of the pill via the sluice to search with better light with

the sun behind me.

I eventually found one of the corn buntings showing its head and ‘shoulders’

behind a tussock on the south side of the pill, the stout bill having a greyish

upper mandible and the lower a lighter greyish yellow colour quite unlike

that of the Ortolan.

I’m afraid I didn’t ‘grill’ the Ortolan properly but I did see its possibly most

distinctive feature of a pink bill. I didn’t get a good enough flight view to

note its tail pattern either (combination of poor reactions and eyesight!) but I

think we are all in agreement on the calls.

Paul Bowerman - January 2019

P a g e | 143

A HUGE THANKS TO ALL OUR CONTRIBUTORS!

Matt Ames, Phil Ashman, Phil Baber, Louise Bailey, Kevin Bainbridge, Kevin Balch, John Barnett, Ray

Barnett, Morris Benson, Malcolm Black, Richard Bedwell, Sam Bilner, Paul Bowdler, Paul Bowerman,

Paul Brennan, Karle Burford, Derek Clark, Allan Chard, Teresa Chard, Mark Coller, John Coombes,

Adam Cross, Pete Coslett, Richard Cox, Simon Cubbage, Mark Dadds, Michael Davis, Greg

Dawes, Ed Drewitt, Ian Dickie, Barry Dursley, Dave Emery, Rob Emery, Charlie Fayers, Rich Ford,

Paul Francis, Alastair Fraser, David Gale, Lee Gardiner, Paul Golledge, Phil Gower, Mike Gray, Chris

Hall, David Hanks, Karon Harcom, Robert Hargreaves, Donna Harvey, Nick Hawkridge, Pete

Hazelwood, Craig Ingham, Matt Hobbs, Rod Holbrook, Paul House, Gary Hughes, Morven Houston,

Mike Jackson, Steve Jones, Andy Jordan, Nigel Kempson, Wilf King, Henry Kirkwood, Brian

Lancastle, Rob Laughton, Craig Lewis, Alex Mackintosh, Billy Mackie, Steve Mackie, Fen Marshall,

Paul Marshall, John Martin, Stuart Matthews, Andy Middleton, Rich Miles, John Mildenhall, PE Miller,

Chris Mott, Steve Payne, Darren Pearce, Matt Plenty, Vic Polley, Dave Poulton, Martyn Pratt, Lisa

Presland, Lois Pryce, Aravind Ramesh, Adam Rawson, Dick Reader, Dean Reeves, Mark Rich,

Jeanette Sakel, Philip Saunders, Vic Savery, Matt Scott, Tony Scott, Rosemary Setter, Lynne Sinclair,

Dominic Singleton, Nigel Sluman, Kevin Smith, Martin Smith, Sean Spear, Martin Sprake, Roger &

Jean Staples, Theo Stockwell, Larry Sweetland, Pete Taylor, Anita, Chris & David Teague, Gary

Thoburn, Julian Thomas, Brian Thompson, Nigel Tucker, Wayne Tucker, Chris Vines, Nigel Warren,

Darrel Watts, Dan White, Denise Whittle, Jack Wilmott, Les Williams, Paul Williams, Penny Will, Chris

Wiltshire, Chris Woods, Paul Woolams, Gordon Youdale, Mike Youdale.

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