December
This month is normally very quiet for birds, I tend to look at inland reservoirs for wintering divers and grebes, Chew Valley Lake is always a good bet for a Great Northern Diver, I also head out onto Salisbury Plain for Hen Harriers and Short eared owls, a slow drive across just before dusk normally gets you one or both species along with Barn Owls
Slimbridge in Gloucestershire is brilliant for Ducks, Swans and Geese, all giving very close views from the many hides.
The Cotswold Water Park is well worth a visit with so many pits to look at there is always something to find, there should be Goosander, Goldeneye and with a little luck Smew and Scaup, try pits 29, 30, 44, 57 and 74, if you are out late then try pit 74 or 16 for a gull roost, I have found Iceland and Glaucous Gulls here in the past
Severn Beach area can also be very good for Wildfowl, the best area is between the 2 motorway bridges at Northwick Warth / New Passage area looking upriver from the last house, Severn Beach sea wall can be worth a look and if you are lucky you might find a Diver or winter grebe.
Reports in RED are my own sightings (number) = total species seen this year so far
TOTAL SO FAR THIS YEAR (273)
Recent Bird records (South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the old county of Avon)
November Sightings
29th
Hen Harrier at Chippenham
27th
Black Redstart at Severn Beach
26th
2 Blackcaps, 9 Gadwall and 1 Tufted Duck in Kingsgate Park Yate
13 Bewick’s Swans, Merlin and 7 White Fronted Geese at Slimbridge
25th
20+ Great White Egrets, Long Tailed Duck and a Bearded Tit at Chew Valley Lake
Hen Harrier and 3 Red Kite at Lords Hill Wiltshire
21st
11 Crossbills and a Willow Tit at Savernake
19th
2 Hawfinch, Little Owl, 2 Raven, 200+ linnet, 100+ Redwing and 80+ Fieldfare on Chipping Sodbury Common
18th
16 White Fronted Geese, 4 Bewick’s Swans at Slimbridge
17th
A very late Swallow at Weston Super Mare
Great Grey Shrike back for the winter at Cleeve Hill
Great Grey back for the winter at Crabtree Hill
14th
Yellow Browed warbler at Langford Lakes
Hawfinch at Chippenham
5 Hawfinch over pit 68 of the Cotswold Water Park
12th
Jack Snipe, 4 Common Snipe on Yate Common
Hoopoe Shrewton Wiltshire
Lesser Scaup, Grey Phalarope, Long Tailed Duck and 32 Great White Egrets at Chew Valley Lake
2 Cattle Egrets and 2 Whooper Swans at Slimbridge
9th
Marsh Harrier at Oldbury Power Station
5th
5 Little Stints at Slimbridge
Long Tailed Duck still at Barrow Tanks
29 Great White Egrets at Chew Valley Lake
4th
Long Tailed Duck at Barrow Tanks
3rd
Willow Tit, 2 Haw Finch and 10 Marsh Tits at Savernake Woods
1st
Snow Bunting at Leckhampton Hill Gloucestershire
3 Merlin and a Spotted Redshank at Northwick Warth / Aust area
