Tuesday 25th November 2025 Aust/Northwick Wharf/Pilning Wetlands.

 

Just for a change of scenery this week’s birding trip took us to the Severn Estuary where the 3 Amigos first stop was Aust Wharf  where we walk along a walkway towards the original Severn Bridge this section of the Severn has cliffs on the west which meant that we were in shade and being a cold day it wasn’t a day to hang around we did find a few birds Starling, Blue Tit, Magpie, Blackbird and Robin. The highlight of this short walk was a small flock of Barnacle Geese flying upstream and a  pair of Stonechats the 1st of 4 pairs we found during the day. 

Stonechat - (Bath Birdwatcher)

On the walk back to the car we also found Great Tit, Dunnock and Woodpigeon. Our next stop was a few 100yds along the road to the beginning of Northwick Wharf where the Penduline Tit had recently been seen, we knew it was no longer there but had a walk to see what was about. Our 1st sighting was a hunting Kestrel that was constantly swooping down but not catching anything,  next I heard the contact call of a Skylark and when we scanned the sky above several were flying past. We then watched a pair of Reed Buntings feeding on the heads of bullrushes, then a flock of Linnets flew up from the grass and moved to another spot where they disappeared in the long grass. Herring Gulls, Carrion Crows and Black Headed Gulls all flew by and c300 Starling flew up like a cloud before settling again we also noted Meadow Pipits with them. Moving on we found a place where we could see the Severn  and here we found Tufted Ducks, Wigeon and a fly past group of Oystercatchers. We then drove to the other end of the wharf where a stream runs out from Pilning Wetlands here we found Greylag and Canada Geese with c25 Redshank, Curlew, Teal and many 100’s of Black Tailed Godwits but were unable to find any Bar Tailed amongst them. We then walked back to the car for lunch, during a comfort break I spotted House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Buzzard. Back to the river where a huge flock of waders was spotted earlier but too far away to be certain what they were, but now they had moved much closed and we were able to say confidently that they were Dunlin, also here were Shelduck and Grey Heron. Next we walked to Pilning Wetlands here were many species of waterbirds some we had previously seen but many new for the day including Mallard, Lapwing, Shoveler, Gadwall, Snipe, Moorhen, Common Gull and Pied Wagtail. To end the day, we walked to another pond hidden behind a reed bed and here were Coot and Little Grebes. Walking Back to the car we added Little Egret, Jackdaw and Collared Dove. Finally driving home along the M4 we spotted a Red Kite  giving us a day total of 48 species

Greylag Goose - Pilning Wetlands (Bath Birdwatcher)


 

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