Tuesday 29th August 2023 Aust Warth, New Passage, Pilning Wetlands.

 


Severn Bridge - Bath Birdwatcher

This week the 3 Amigos were down to 2 as David was away, so Bryan and I had a chat and decided to go to a new place for us (Aust Warth) as we had noted from Avon Birds website that interesting bird do turn up from time to time. We used google maps to direct us to the area and found Passage Road would be the best road to use. When we arrived we found the road was closed but decided to use the road and see where the closure was. The road was closed just short of a bridge that was part of a flood prevention scheme. We did see a footpath so parked up to explore this path. We found the path led to a road leading to the 1st Severn bridge, bird wise it was a bit disappointing having started well with 2 different Green Woodpeckers but back up with just Woodpigeon, Kestrel, Curlew, Lesser Black Back Gull, Jackdaw, Great Black Back Gull, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit and Canada Goose. Walking back to the car in a garden that had a pond we watched 3 Moorhens. Due to the closure we decided to drive to New Passage where it was just a short walk to Pilning Wetlands. On arrival we walked to the Severn as the tide was receding and here wo found a Little Egret and 14 Redshank and 3 Oystercatchers, a Robin flew into a bush and a flock of Starlings flew onto the estuary bank. 

Redshank - New Passage (bath Birdwatcher)

Moving a bit upstream for a better view of a flock of ducks that were mainly Mallard we did pick out 2 Teal and a single Shoveler. We also found Turnstone and Shelduck while scoping the mud and shoreline. A Goldfinch sang from a tree behind us and a few Swallows were seen flying south down the river. As it was too early for lunch we started to walk the short distance to Pilning Wetlands only to find the footpath closed again for flood prevention work,  what a pain so we took another path back to the road where the car was parked to see if there was another way onto the wetlands we did find a singing Dunnock, Collared Dove and a Magpie but no way onto the wetlands.  It was lunchtime and we had left our food in the car so we walked back to fetch it and sit by the river to eat lunch as we ate a  Pied Wagtail was flying after prey in front of us and then chased a female Wheatear up river but not far as she soon returned. Lunch over we walked down to the 2nd Severn Crossing but only added House Sparrow to our lists. On the drive back to Bath House Martin was our final sighting.

Severn Bridge from New Passage - Bath Birdwatcher

Pilning wetlands must we visitable as Avon Bird sighting reported birds seen there that day, but not knowing the area we were not able to get there which is a shame as we have visited many times and always had lots of things to look at.

 

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