January to June 2009
Sunday 21/6/09 – AM reported 2 Lapwing acting protectively in fields by OPS.
Sunday 14/6/09 – 11 juvenile Shelduck with 2 adults on the shore.
Saturday 13/6/09 – A Kingfisher flew along the main rhine (VERY unusual at this time of year, here) and 3 Sand Martin heading low downriver. On the lake there were 3 juvenile Moorhen with adults and the 4 juvenile Canada Goose with adults still. Four types of orchids in flower: Bee, Pyramidal, Southern Marsh and probably some sort of cross that looked like Lapland Orchid.
Southern Marsh Orchid
(left)(unspotted leaves) and
Crab Spider on
Sunday 7/6/09 – AM reported: A Little Egret on lagoon 3, 8+ House Martin, 7 Tufted Duck and 15 Canada Goose on the lake.
Friday 29/5/09
– A lovely sunny morning, . . . except for the
Painted Lady and Silver-Y moth, 29/5/09.
Cuckoo, Lagoon 2, 29/5/09.
Tuesday 26/5/09 – MP reported the Cuckoo at lagoon 2 again.
Monday 25/5/09
– A Cuckoo calling along the
main
Saturday 23/5/09 – The Peregrine pair were together on the tower and then the male flew along the shore and unsuccessfully attacked some Swallows ! Then went back to the tower and followed the female out over the estuary, where she gained height and stooped on a lone Feral Pigeon. She missed first and second times, but made the kill at the third attempt. Spectacular show!
2 Mute Swan (adult + juvenile) flew upriver.
Peregrines on tower and view of Severn Bridges on a very clear day, 23/5/09.
MP reported on Lagoon 2: c10 singing Reed Warbler plus at least 12 foraging birds seen; another 2 Reed Warbler singing by dragonfly pond; 3 Sedge Warbler singing; probably 2 pairs of Reed Bunting (female carrying food and dropped down into reeds); 2 Lesser Whitethroat; 5 Fox cubs playing and an adult. Also, a pair of Shelduck with 7 young and a Grey Wagtail on the bridleway.
Juvenile Grey Wagtail and Fox cub (photos by MP), 23/5/09.
Friday 22/5/09 –
18
Saturday 16/5/09 – 2 Sandwich Tern flying slowly downriver into SW wind at 7.25am.
Friday 15/5/09 – A Little Egret and a Fox in evening.
Monday 11/5/09 – AM reported 19 Ringed Plover.
Sunday 10/5/09 – a Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Whimbrel and a Little Egret all flying upriver.
Saturday 9/5/09 – 2 Wheatear on the shore and a remarkable 13 Sedge Warbler singing (over double my previous highest count on-site !), mainly at south end of lagoon 2. Also: 1 Dunlin and 4+ House Sparrow in bushes at south end, lagoon 2.
Wheatear, 9/5/09.
Friday 8/5/09
– In this evening’s westerly wind, c60 Swallow and 3 Swift
headed NE. A Wheatear was on the
seawall by Lagoon 3. Also, 3 Ringed Plover. The Canada
Goose pair still have 4 gosling, and the brood of Mallard are still along the main
Correction - The Wryneck reported in a Thornbury garden was seen on 26/4/09.
Monday 4/5/09 – 4 Swift through are the first of the year. There were 5+ House Sparrow calling from bushes at south end of Lagoon 2 with 3 male and 2 female seen (unusual on-site). Along the shore; 8 Whimbrel, 2 Ringed Plover at Shepperdine and 2 Oystercatcher.
[A Hobby was seen to catch a hirundine over Thornbury.]
Whimbrel, 4/5/09.
Sunday 3/5/09 – 6 Sedge Warbler singing this morning (inc. 4 on lagoon 2), with c15 Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat and 9 Reed Warbler. There were 10 Whimbrel in a field next to lagoon 3. The Canada Goose pair only have 4 gosling and were joined by another adult (and another 3 over). c30 Swallow, 4 Sand Martin and 2 House Martin into wind, to north.
Update for 2/5/09 - MP reported a Red Kite over Cow Hill (a mile to SW of Lagoon 3), at 12:50pm.
Canada Goose goslings and Whitethroat, 3/5/09.
Saturday 2/5/09 – The Canada Goose pair have 5 goslings on the lake. There were 5 Sedge Warbler singing (interestingly, the only other time I have recorded this number was 3rd May 2008). A Mute Swan on the river. Still 4 Lesser Whitethroat singing and c10 Whitethroat.
Wednesday 29/4/09
– 8 Whimbrel,
8 Mallard ducklings on the main
Saturday 25/4/09
– A flock of 18 Bar-tailed Godwit
and 7 Whimbrel
flew upriver without stopping at c7:30am. Then at 8am
a ‘Commic’ Tern flew downriver, followed
by c20 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover. Later on at lagoon 3
were 7 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Dunlin and the Ringed Plover. Then at the yacht club a further 8 Bar-tailed Godwit, a Black-tailed Godwit (thanks AM) and c10
Dunlin. Singing warblers included: 6
Lesser Whitethroat,
12 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler and 4
Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlin, Lagoon 3, 25/4/09.
Wednesday 22/4/09 – A Lesser Redpoll feeding on oak flowers along the bridleway to the shore, where a Common Sandpiper was. There were 3 Lesser Whitethroat singing, c30 Swallow passing through and 2 ‘White’ Wagtail with c25 Pied Wagtail on Lagoon 1. Also a pair of Teal and a Lapwing there.
Sunday 19/4/09 – A smart male Yellow Wagtail on lagoon 1 (my 100th species at OPS in 2009) with c30 Pied Wagtail this evening, and also 2 Lapwing and a Teal there.
MP reported an adult female Hen Harrier which flew over Lagoon 1 and headed NE at 4.20pm, and 2 ‘White’ Wagtail on Lagoon 1.
Friday 17/4/09 – 5 Common Sandpiper at the Water Works outfall this morning and a Sedge Warbler singing from the island in the lake. Also a Streamer moth on the hide.
Streamer Moth, 17/4/09.
Thursday 16/4/09
– AM reported: 2 Common Sandpiper
at Oldbury Gout, 4 House Martin, 12 Swallow, 6
Wednesday 15/4/09 – 3 Common Sandpiper at the Water Works outfall this evening, and c15 Pied Wagtail went to roost in the reeds on Lagoon 2. Also: c10 Swallow, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 4 Reed Warbler, the male Wigeon, and 10 Tufted Duck on the lake.
MP reported: Swallows, 4 House Martin and 1 Sand Martin heading NE into wind, c100 Goldfinch to N, 2 Redpoll to N, 10+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 9 Tufted Duck.
WK reported: 2 Raven, 2 Peregrine, 23 Swallow, 15 House Martin, 5 Whitethroat and 2 Wigeon.
Monday 13/4/09 – A very foggy morning on The Severn, with just 5 House Martin and 3 Sand Martin emerging from it. When it cleared, a Short-eared Owl appeared at the Yacht Club and sat on driftwood for 10 minutes before it disappeared. (I presume it went to roost in the long grass between the seawall and the shore by the yacht club.) Also 1 Dunlin and c20 Redshank at the Yacht Club, and the Lesser Whitethroat still singing by lagoon 1 outfall.
Short-eared Owl, Yacht Club. 13/4/09.
Sunday 12/4/09 – A disappointing morning with no new migrants. The Lesser Whitethroat was on lagoons1/2, a male Wigeon is still hanging around and a Little Owl was heard.
I decided to give it another go this evening, and it turned into a bit of a classic when I spotted 2 Spoonbill flying low up the middle of the river at 7.15pm. They started heading towards the near shore, and landed at Shepperdine. (They were Juveniles, with black wing-tips.) Just had enough time to put up my telescope, attach the camera and take two photos (about 1 minute !) before they headed upriver again. Another bit of excitement at 7.30 when a flock of c75 large waders were flying high upriver in a V-formation. They turned out to be Curlew, and another 85 roosted on lagoon 3.
2 Spoonbill, Shepperdine (photo taken at distance of about half of a mile !), 12/4/09.
Saturday 11/4/09
– Spring migrants singing this morning: 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat,
2 Reed Warbler and 5
AM reported a Wheatear and Brimstone and Small White butterfly.
That’s 100
species recorded at the site in 2009.
Friday 10/4/09 – The first Reed Warbler of the year in the reeds on lagoon 2 (earliest recorded here by 3 days), and there were 10 Blackcap singing. Flying together round the towers were 3 Peregrine, including one with a missing secondary on the left wing. On the lake, the Canada Goose is still on a nest and there were 5 Tufted Duck (3 males).
MP reported the first Whitethroat
and Lesser Whitethroat (earliest
recorded here by 6 days) of the year on lagoon 2 this morning. Also 21 Swallow, 4
Wednesday 8/4/09 – AM reported 2 Tree Sparrow around Lagoon 3. MP reported a Wheatear and a Little Ringed Plover on lagoon 1.
Peregrine and Wheatear
(Photos by MP), 8/4/09.
Monday 6/4/09 – AM reported a male Ring Ouzel from trees on south side of Lagoon 3, and a Little Ringed Plover on that lagoon.
Saturday 4/4/09
– 3
Water being pumped into Lagoon 3, where there was a male Gadwall.
AM reported 3 Swallow and 2 Sand Martin.
Thursday 2/4/09 – MP reported: 15 Sand Martin and a Swallow over the lake.
Sunday 29/3/09 – 2 Little Ringed Plover on lagoon 1 this evening and 2 Swallow through heading NE. A pair of Canada Goose are nesting on the island in the lake.
Saturday 28/3/09 – 3 Blackcap singing and a probable Rock Pipit.
Saturday 21/3/09 – A Blackcap in full song with an interested female nearby, and 14+ Chiffchaff singing heralded in the Spring sunshine. A Siskin over to NE, and a male Yellowhammer in flight from the meadow to lagoon 3. On the lake were: 2 Mute Swan, 5 Tufted Duck and 2 Canada Goose (with another 12 in fields).
MP reported: 4 Redpoll in alders at SW corner of Lagoon 3. Also, 3 Peregrine; a male caught a Redshank and did a food pass to a female, which took the kill to the edge of the tidal res., with male following. Then another male joined them.
AM reported: another Redpoll in the orchard, and 4 Greylag Goose over lagoon 3.
Redpoll, lagoon 3 (photos by MP), 21/3/09.
Sunday 15/3/09 – 4+ Chiffchaff singing in the sun this morning. The Peregrine pair were together around the towers. 2 Mute Swan and 11 Canada Goose floated upriver on the incoming tide. Also: 7 Oystercatcher, c65 Wigeon and c25 Teal.
AM reported 4 Snipe on lagoon 2.
Grey Heron, 15/3/09.
(Late update: the LR Plover is in fact
Saturday 14/3/09 – Some early Spring migration today in the sun (with NW wind). There were 2 Chiffchaff in hedges by the road (both silent). At 8:15am a skein of c70 Brent Goose headed high upriver. There were no small waders again along the shore, so one that flew into Lagoon 3 caught my eye; it was a very early Little Ringed Plover – calling continuously (my, and the sites, earliest ever). It flew off upriver at 10:05am having stayed 10 minutes.
Little Ringed Plover, Lagoon 3, 14/3/09.
Sunday 8/3/09 – A Little Egret was the only bird of note.
MP reported 48 Shelduck roosting on Lagoon 3.
AM reported c100 Teal and c80 Wigeon.
Saturday 7/3/09 – A quiet morning with no small waders seen. The first Blackthorn flowers seen (3+ weeks later than 2008), and the Daffodils flowering in the orchard. A male House Sparrow nest-prospecting a hole in the roof of the visitor centre (unusual on-site) and 2 pair of Tufted Duck on the lake. Also: 1 Stonechat, 1+ Raven, 3 Oystercatcher and 7 Shoveler.
Sunday 1/3/09 – A lovely Spring-like morning. An adult Mediterranean Gull on lagoon 3 (which AM noticed had a red ring on left leg with white characters ‘797’ ?) and a Mistle Thrush in fields by lagoon 2. Also, 2 Mute Swan flying upriver and still c30 Redwing and c20 Fieldfare in the orchard. Plus the first Bumblebee of the year. AM also counted c80 Wigeon.
Saturday 28/2/09 – A Little Owl was sat in old Willows to SW of lagoon 3; a Ringed Plover and 13 Oystercatcher on the shore; 16 Shoveler on lagoon 1; 2 Mute Swan flying low downriver.
MW reported on Sunday 22/2/09: An extraordinary account of 6 Peregrine circling together over the estuary – 2 at first, then joined by 2 from upriver, and then joined by the pair coming off the towers at the power station! With lots of calling heard – a three-way boundary meeting I would guess.
Sunday 22/2/09 – A Tawny Owl was seen emerging from its hole in an old tree at dusk (same place as one seen last year). There were 2 Mediterranean Gull in the roost on lagoon 3, and c300 Common Gull and c500 Black-headed Gull roosting on the tidal reservoir. Also, c400 Dunlin at the yacht club.
Mediterranean Gull, Lagoon 3, 22/2/09.
Saturday 21/2/09 – The resident birds were singing in the sun this morning, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed. An unusual winter Bar-tailed Godwit was on the shore. At Shepperdine there was a Gadwall and a Pintail (both males) with 17 Shoveler. A Grey Wagtail flew over the estuary, heading North. The number of Shelduck has increased to 52. Also: 2 Stonechat, 1 Tufted Duck, 11 Canada Goose, c180 Wigeon and 10 Oystercatcher.
Bar-tailed Godwit, Shepperdine,21/2/09.
Tuesday 17/2/09 AM reported: 30 Greenfinch (any are unusual, so this is a very large count and there were 5 here on Sunday also – evidence of passage), c120 Wigeon, c25 Teal, c60 Linnet, c40 Goldfinch.
Sunday 15/2/09 – A good variety of species with 60 seen this morning. A Golden Plover was with the c700 Lapwing and c100 Dunlin. c15 Skylark went over in four flocks, to NE; displaced birds returning now the snow has melted ? 5 Tufted Duck have returned to the lake (4 yesterday). Also: 1 Mistle Thrush, 16 Shoveler, 1 Stonechat, 1 Water Rail, c50 Turnstone and 2+ Raven.
Saturday 14/2/09 – AM reported: 4 Tufted Duck, 33 Canada Goose, 134 Wigeon, 60 Mallard, 39 Teal, 750 Lapwing, 100 Dunlin, 22 Redshank.
Sunday 8/2/09 – A Rock Pipit, 3 Yellowhammer and a Stonechat on the shore.
Yellowhammer, 8/2/09.
Friday 6/2/09 – The snow had virtually melted here this afternoon, although still deep in nearby fields. 4 Goosander (redheads) flew upriver at 3.30pm. 10+ Golden Plover were with c200 Lapwing and c200 Dunlin in the fields towards the yacht club. Also a very well camouflaged Little Egret in the snow a mile inland !
Thursday 5/2/09 – A layer of 2 inches of snow today, made the mixed flock on Lagoon 2 stand-out: 18+ Skylark, 3+ Reed Bunting, c20 Chaffinch and c20 Linnet. A Treecreeper was along the bridleway to the shore. Also: 19 Oystercatcher, 52 Canada Goose, 1 Ringed Plover and 5 Buzzard.
Winter snow-scapes; Lagoon 1 & the shore by lagoon 3 (looking NE), 5/2/09.
Lagoon 3 & the
shore (looking SW)
Saturday 31/1/09 – A Coot has returned to the lake ! (Last seen here 23/7/08, before an algal bloom.) Flocks of c600 Lapwing and c300 Dunlin in the flooded stubble field towards the yacht club, also 3 Yellowhammer and 38 Canada Goose there. A large count of c25 Oystercatcher by the yacht club. Also, 2 Mute Swan there, a Stonechat on lagoon 2 and 12 Snipe flushed from lagoon 1.
Sunday 25/1/09 – Generally not a lot moving through at the moment. But 2 Rock Pipit on the shore, and the Mistle Thrush and Grey Plover again.
PD reported: A Shrew in the hide, 3 Water Rail, c200 Lapwing, c200 Dunlin, c80 Canada Goose and a Little Egret.
MB reported a few Ringed Plover and seeing a Water Rail in the small reedbed on Lagoon 2 in the week.
Saturday 24/1/09 – A Mistle Thrush eating Mistletoe berries towards the yacht club and 65 Canada Goose in a field there.
HL + Dursley Bird Group reported: Grey Wagtail and Stonechat.
Sunday 18/1/09 – The Grey Plover again with c400 Lapwing in the flooded maize field by the yacht club, before all being flushed by a Peregrine.
Saturday 17/1/09 – 2 Little Egret in-flight, 2 Mute Swan on the lake and a Grey Plover were the highlights. An increase in the duck at Shepperdine.
AM reported: A female Merlin flushed from roost in long grass on lagoon 2, and 10 Snipe there. Also: c500 Teal, c500 Wigeon and 28 Shoveler, 760 Lapwing, 85 Mallard, 17 Oystercatcher, 67 Canada Goose, 75 Curlew, 3 Yellowhammer and 2 Raven.
Sunday 11/1/09 – A pair of Gadwall were with the c160 Wigeon at Shepperdine (I didn’t see any here last year !). The male Peregrine was hanging high in the SW wind before stooping at full speed to Shepperdine, where it then aggressively attacked the c300 Dunlin – superb ! A huge flock of c1,000 Redwing and c500 Fieldfare in the thawing fields at Shepperdine, and another c300 Fieldfare in the orchard.
Also: 11 Oystercatcher and 2 Stonechat.
Pair of Gadwall, Shepperdine, 11/1/09.
Saturday 10/1/09 – 2 Yellowhammer by the metal gate again. The Peregrine pair flying together around the pylons and both calling loudly.
News from Friday 2/1/09 – An Avocet reported by a walker, with Curlew by yacht club.
AM’s Low Tide Count: 165 Wigeon, 210 Mallard, just 6 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 500 Dunlin, 46 Curlew, 13 Redshank, 50 Lapwing, 2 Raven, 200 Song Thrush and 200 Blackbird.
Sunday 4/1/09 – A nice find of a Corn Bunting on top of a bush at Lagoon 1, but it didn’t hang around long and flew off south. (And who can blame it ? On a very cold morning, with the temperature reaching -5 degrees C overnight.) A Little Egret on the main rhyne. There has been a movement of large Gulls upriver over the last week, and c100 did same today, with another c350 loafing around the tidal reservoir. Also there, 4 Tufted Duck and 14 Shoveler.
MP also saw a Water Rail cross the path by the reeds on lagoon 2.
AM reported: 31 Redshank, 138 Mallard, 3 Stonechat, 100 Song Thrush, 50 Redwing, 70 Fieldfare and 2 Mistle Thrush.
Saturday 3/1/09 – A Little Egret in flight past Lagoon 3; a Yellowhammer towards the yacht club; and the Mistle Thrush again. There were c200 Common Gull in the evening roost on the tidal reservoir, and c300 Rook and c200 Jackdaw roosting in the tall trees by Jobsgreen Farm.
Friday 2/1/09 – A Knot and 2 Ringed Plover were with the c800 Dunlin on the shore. A Mistle Thrush was at the back of Lagoon 1. The Peregrine pair were sat on the pylon to south of the entrance.
Reported by a walker: An Avocet by the yacht club.
Shoveler, 2/1/09.
Thursday 1/1/09 – Another cold day, and 23 Golden Plover were with Lapwing in a freshly muck-spread field off the main rhyne. (Thanks MB.)
AM also reported: 8 Shoveler, 500 Dunlin, 200 Wigeon, 20 Song Thrush, 50 Blackbird and 50 Fieldfare.
Golden Plover, 1/1/09.
Total of 148 species recorded at the
site in 2008 (see Latest Site
Species List for details). With my personal total
for the site in 2008 at 137 species.
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