Saturday 26th October 2024 - Severn Beach/Pilning Wetlands

 

M4 Severn Bridge viewed from Severn Beach (Bath Birdwatcher)

Today was the Bath RSPB,s monthly field trip, David was our leader on a visit to Severn Beach and Pilning Wetlands. 19 members met at Severn Beach where Starling, Jay, House Sparrow and Woodpigeon were seen before we strolled to look over the Severn Estuary where the tide was low but coming in. Here we added Mallard, Wigeon, Black Headed Gull, Grey Heron, Oystercatcher, Great Black Back Gull, Little Egret, Curlew and Redshank. On our way to the venue David was driving and we went via Pilning to checkout parking, and we decided that 5 cars could easily park. Back at Severn Beach it was time to move on and next stop was Pilning, so we all piled into 5 cars and made our way to Pilning. At the entrance to the wetlands a stream which takes the overflow from the wetlands into the sea was a good spot to observe all the birds on the riverbank with the tide still rising but lots of mud still exposed and here amongst the many Wigeon, Mallard and Redshank we added Shoveler, Lapwing, Shelduck and Teal. On the grassed bank were a flock of Canada Geese with a few Greylag Geese on the mud by the river. Bryan found a single Common Gull amongst a small flock of Black Headed Gulls. On the wetlands we soon added Moorhen, Mute Swan, Black Tailed Godwit and Gadwall all in the 1st pond. Walking on several Pied Wagtails were on a roof and a Meadow Pipit flew over, the 1st of many. In the next pond we found a Snipe but was very difficult to see behind bankside vegetation, a Coot was on one of the far ponds and walking back to the cars a Little Grebe was in the 1st pond and a Magpie flew past. A few dragon flies were on the wing and a Common Darter was identified, The last bird of the morning was a Blackbird. We returned to Severn Beach for lunch, but no new sightings were found. After lunch we drove to Old Passage for a walk to Aust Cliffs as earlier in the day a Water Pipit had been seen but no luck for us, but we did add several Stonechats. Goldfinch, Lesser Black Back Gull, Collared Dove, Sparrowhawk and Jackdaw. 

Sparrowhawk - Aust (Bath Birdwatcher)

We finished the day with a short walk at old passage adding Robin, Wren, Linnet and our second bird of prey of the day, a Buzzard.

Male Stonechat - Aust (Bath Birdwatcher)

We were certainly blessed with the weather with clear blue sky all day, but we were a bit short on quality sightings but saying that several group members have never visited these places, and places they may visit in future.


M48 Severn Bridge viewed from Aust (Bath Birdwatcher)

 

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