Tuesday 1st October 2024 - Pilning Wetlands

 

The 3 Amigos this week were doing a recce as later this month David is leading an RSPB field trip to the Severn Estuary around Pilning Wetlands. As we set off it was raining although the forecast had promised a mainly dry day, but as we headed along the M4 we ran out of the rain and apart from a little drizzle it remained dry all day. When we arrived, we drove along Passage Road and noticed that it was high tide so decided to start the day at Pilning. Parking at the end of New Passage Road we walked to where the Chestile Pill runs into the Severn and here the tide was dropping leaving a muddy shoreline where many waders were feeding including Redshank, Dunlin. Black Tailed Godwit and Knot, also seen were Teal, Wigeon, Mute Swan and Black Headed Gull.  A Starling was on a TV ariel and on the land were Greylag and Canada Geese. Scoping upriver we spotted Curlew, Oystercatcher and Shelduck. Walking to the wetlands we added Jackdaw and Rook and in the Pill was a Little Egret, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Great Black Back Gull and Carrion Crow were all seen. The 1st birds we saw in the wetlands were several Pied Wagtails some playing chase. A Grey Heron was on the bank of one of the pools and Swallows were passing through, a Kestrel was seen in the distance and on the pool in front of us was a Moorhen and a few Shovelers. On the floodplain to our left, I think it was David who found a Wheatear and here we also found 3 Ringed Plover and lots of Meadow Pipits. Looking back over the wetlands we started searching for a fairly rare North American wader called a Lesser Yellowlegs that had been reported as being present and this was confirmed by other birders who had seen it. We were told it was very mobile and were told where it had last been seen but we were unable to find it but we did add Herring Gull, Little Grebe, Mallard, and Lapwing to the days list. Moving on to another pool we added Ruff, Snipe, and Coot and David spotted a Sparrowhawk that flew past and landed on some driftwood and gave us all a great view, Back on the hunt for the Yellowlegs we found Gadwall, Pintail and a Spotted Redshank and while we were scoping 50+ Redshank flew in and while I was looking through them I found a different bird much paler grey with white eye stripes and a brown back and I soon realised that I had found the Lesser Yellowlegs a lovely year tick but a bird I have seen twice before. Birders started turning up asking if the Yellowlegs was about and we were able to get everyone on it. 

Lesser Yellowlegs - Pilning Wetlands (Bath Birdwatcher)

Walking back to the car for lunch we added Raven and while eating lunch we saw Goldfinch, Robin and Blue Tit. After lunch we moved to Aust Wharf for a couple of hours adding Buzzard, Kingfisher, Stonechat, Linnet and Skylark to the days total.

Linnet - New Passage (Bath Birdwatcher)

What a great day we had and if we can repeat it when we visit with Bath RSPB then I feel everyone should be very satisfied with all we see even if the Yellowlegs has moved on.

Common Carder Bee - New Passage
(Bath Birdwatcher)


 

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