Weston Bird News

30th December
3 adult bewicks swans still present this morning opposite the model racing track. At sand bay a water pipit in the scrub by the saltmarsh. The bird showed an obvious white web to the outer tail feathers and the ground colour to the breast and flanks were pale and noticeable even in flight, plus a brownish tint to the mantle. Unfortunately the bird dissappeared before I had time to get decent pictures. Waders in sand bay included 550 dunlin, 16 grey plover, 2 knot, 130 redshank. At sand point 1 imm Merlin at the point, 2 mistle thrush, 1 lesser redpoll, 4 siskin.

29th December
At brean cross sluice 500 lapwing, 8 golden plover were the highlights. 50 mute swans in the fields at the sewage works. At bleadon level 4 adult bewick swans were in the field opposite the model racing track.

26th December
At sand point a flyover Nuthatch was a good record and a patch rarity. Other flyovers were 2 brambling, 7 chaffinch and 30 starling. The chiffchaff still at the car park. 7 Purple Sandpipers at Anchor Head over high tide. At the axe estuary 200 teal, 50 wigeon, 60 lapwing, 180 dunlin. The polish ringed black-headed gull was present this morning.

22nd December
At sand point 17 teal lingering off the point, 2 raven, 4 siskin, 25 starling, 1 chiffchaff calling at the car park.

20th December
At sand point the clear sky and 7mph ENE wind tempted a little more movement with 22 chaffinch, 3 brambling and a siskin through. Just south of bleadon level around wick farm 6 golden plover, 100 lapwing, 150 fieldfare, 70 redwing and 30 blackbirds.

19th December
7 fieldfare and 1 siskin were the only migrants noted at sand point this morning. Both came in from the south along sand bay. At brean cross sluice a spotted redshank and common sandpiper. A general influx of blackbirds noted in recent days with 4 in my garden together (normally absent of any birds).

18th December
Little of note at sand point this morning. 2 siskins and a lesser redpoll NE.

14th December
At the axe estuary 100 dunlin, 1 black-tailed godwit and 180 teal. In weston bay 278 dunlin and 15 ringed plover.

13th December
Despite similar conditions to yesterday but more cloudy there was a distinct down turn in the number of recorded migrants with just 95 starling, 4 siskin and 1 brambling all heading west.

12th December
Light 8mph ESE wind. At sand point this morning: 80 chaffinch, 6 brambling, 22 siskin, 1 redpoll. Waders on the move with 29 grey plover SW and 10 lapwing W. 29 fieldfare north over sand bay. Wader counts in sand bay included 350 dunlin, 100 curlew, 30 redshank and 2 grey plover. In the marsh 1 water rail (heard), 10 snipe and 30 rock pipits.
In weston bay 122 dunlin and 5 ringed plover.

11th December
3mph north-westerly winds and clear sky gave the first calm conditions for some time. Vis mig at sand point 55 chaffinch, a single flock of 12 brambling, 1 yellowhammer, 1 golden plover, 2 lesser redpoll, 4 siskin, 2 skylark and 120 starling.

10th December
The Bahama Pintail present again at the mouth of the Axe Estuary along with increased numbers of Teal now around 170.

Bahama Pintail Axe Estuary

4th December
adult argentatus herring gull (pos omissus) on weston beach this morning. Possibly the same bird as 28th sept.

3rd December
At Axe per AH: 1 green sandpiper, 1 common sandpiper and 3 golden plover with lapwing on the somerset side.

2nd December
at anchor head in a 4 hour watch: 1 pomarine skua north at 11:25, 1 arctic skua north at 10:30, 2 kittiwakes, 7 dunlin, several common gulls

1st December
2 black-tailed godwits, 85 dunlin, 30 ringed plover and 80 teal at the axe.

28th November
8mph southerly wind and cloudy. 3 purple sandpipers at anchor head, 120 dunlin and 2 black-tailed godwits at the axe estuary. 55 dunlin and 30 ringed plover in weston bay.

27th November
6mph WSW wind and heavy cloud. At sand point, vis mig continuing 20 fieldfare, 1 mistle thrush, 6 brambling, 26 siskin, 350 starling, 150 chaffinch. A chiffchaff still around the car park.

24th November
Mainly clear with a 10mph SSW wind with some light rain by mid morning. Vis mig at sand point included 100 chaffinch south, 3 siskin, 2 redpoll, 200 starling and 2 stock dove amongst the 70 woodpigeon. 2 raven south over sand bay.

23rd November
Cold clear and a brisk NW wind. A brief search in weston bay produced 300 dunlin and 5 ringed plover. A further 150 dunlin were at the Axe estuary.

22nd November
7mph WNW wind and mainly cloudy. Vis mig at sand point: 19 brambling, 200 chaffinch, 350 starling, 70 woodpigeon, 10 greenfinch, 4 meadow pipit. 1 chiffchaff around the car park.

20th November
A brambling over at the axe estuary was the only bird record of interest today.

19th November
Only birds of note were 3 knot at the axe estuary.

17th November
cloudy with rain and a strong SSE wind. At the axe estuary 1 merlin, 1 black-tailed godwit and brief views of a bird that looked like it could have been a Bahama Pintail.

16th November
clear and sunny with a 3mph southerly wind. Another interesting morning. 2 common scoter off birnbeck plus 4 purple sandpiper. 1 drake pintail in sand bay where 600 dunlin and 10 knot present. 1 merlin (PAG) at sand point and 2 chiffchaff around the car park. 70 woodpigeon, 20 brambling, 5 siskin and a redpoll were the vis mig highlights. 267 dunlin and 32 ringed plover in weston bay (BB).

15th November
I booked this morning off earlier on in the week as the forecast showed building high pressure producing good conditions for birds. It turned out to be a good morning with a winter plumage great northern diver flying past sand point and landing in sand bay. A bunting with a twite like call but lower pitched and a sparrow like quality circled and headed towards the point but not relocated. A female red breasted merganser flew along the tideline in sand bay heading towards the point. Vis mig produced 20 brambling, 35 siskin, 40 woodpigeon, 200 chaffinch, 20 redwing, 1 redpoll, 200 starling. 350 dunlin in sand bay

14th November
8mph north westerly wind and clear sky. 4 Purple sandpipers roosted at birnbeck yesterday over high tide in the usual place by the royal pier hotel.

per Bill Blake: 2 snow buntings on the axe estuary by the boat club when flushed by a dog walker. A drake common scoter in weston bay.

13th November
brisk westerly wind and partly cloudy sky. At sand point 1 merlin, 6 brambling, 4 stock dove, 4 siskin, 15 redwing, 150 chaffinch, 200 starling.

At weston stw 1 green sandpiper. 1 Golden plover with lapwing on bleadon level. On axe estuary 1 knot and 10 dunlin.

12th November
light variable wind and clear sky. At sand point this morning 10 brambling, 250 chaffinch, 500 starling, 450 woodpigeon, 20 redwing, 1 fieldfare, 4 siskin and 3 lesser redpoll. A chiffchaff calling by the car park.

10th November
partly cloudy with a brisk westerly wind. 2 purple sandpiper, 1 common scoter and 1 kittiwake at birnbeck. 2 knot, 30 dunlin and 18 ringed plover at the axe estuary.

9th November
13mph NW wind and clear sky. 1 knot, 1 brent goose and 4 dunlin at the axe estuary. 1 green sandpiper and 1 chiffchaff at weston stw.

7th November
17mph westerly wind and cloudy but bright. at axe estuary 1 spotted redshank, 1 brent goose, 25 dunlin, 11 ringed plover.

6th November
8mph north westerly wind and clear sky. 1 dark bellied brent goose at axe estuary and 1 golden plover with lapwing on bleadon level.

2nd November
Light NW wind and clear sky. Sand Point vis mig: 2 mistle thrush west, 1 merlin north, 2 brambling, 20 jackdaw west, 300 chaffinch, 14 siskin, 1 redpoll.

At the Axe estuary 1 dark bellied brent goose.

1st November
At sand point vis mig counts: 540 chaffinch, 150 redwing, 1 rock pipit, 20 fieldfare, 6 siskin, 5 brambling, 100 starling, 10 greenfinch, 15 goldfinch, 2 reed bunting, 1 grey wagtail, 90 woodpigeon.

At axe estuary the dark bellied brent goose still present

A Brick moth on the wall of my house yesterday afternoon.

29th October
clear with a 10mph WNW wind. At sand point 1 yellowhammer (PAG), 500 chaffinch, 1 brambling, 10 siskin, 20 redwing. At Axe estuary 1 dark bellied brent goose.

28th October
16mph SSW wind with showers. A day of frustration as 3 birds looked potentially interesting but escaped identification. Otherwise 49 dunlin and 34 ringed plover in weston bay. A slight increase in common gulls and a few chaffinches still moving south.

27th October
9mph southerly wind and cloudy. At uphill 2 brambling south, 250 chaffinch south, 70 starling south, 5 redwing, 20 blackbird, 1 redpoll, 2 grey wagtail south, 2 siskin east. At brean down 2 blackcap, 2 chiffchaff and 80 sanderling, 20 dunlin on brean beach.

In the moth trap 1 green-brindled crescent, 1 red-line quaker and a cypress carpet

26th October
high cloud with a 6mph ESE wind. A yellow-browed warbler at sand point car park (PAG).

25th October
2nd update. heavy cloud with a 9mph NE wind. At the axe estuary 225 redshank, 20 dunlin and 3 mute swans. 1 male blackcap behind the yacht club and a siskin east. 14 siskin over weston stw and 18 ringed plover on weston beach plus 3 adult common gulls. a flock of 20 small waders beyond the ringed plover were too distant to id.

24th October
2nd update. Cloudy with a south easterly wind. at uphill 1 merlin north, 19 redwing, 35 chaffinch, 2 redpoll, 2 song thrush, 2 brambling, 150 starling, 1 bullfinch, 1 fieldfare, 8 siskin, 1 blackcap. This afternoon at the Axe estuary 1 black-tailed godwit, 45 dunlin plus 1 bar-tailed godwit and 20 small waders in weston bay.

23rd October
10mph south easterly wind and a clear sky. At sand point by 11am 1 Richards Pipit flew west along middle hope and hovered by the broken wall above the car park briefly before heading SSE inland towards Kewstoke. Also a House Martin lingered around the point for 5 minutes before heading off east. 2 wheatear at the point. Vis mig included 50+ siskin, 10 pied wagtail, 18 fieldfare, 200 chaffinch, 6 lesser redpoll, 3 rock pipit and a common gull east. 3 blackcap (2 male, 1 female) at the car park and 2 chiffchaff. One of the chiffchaff had the "tswee-oo" call normally associated with the race that passes through in late summer. A Little Owl was calling from the middle hope nature reserve.

Richards Pipit

22nd October
2nd update. 70% high cloud cover rolled in over night and wind picked up to a 10mph south-easterly as the current high starts to move away. At uphill by 9am 10 fieldfare, 1 yellowhammer, 6 siskin, 1 redpoll, 2 brambling, 100 chaffinch, 500 starling, 15 woodpigeon, 2 grey wagtail, 4 pied wagtail. At the axe estuary 6 dunlin and a first winter common gull. An adult common gull, 29 dunlin, 50 teal and 2 ringed plover counted at the axe estuary this afternoon. Also per AH At uphill, around 100 Chaffinch, 1 blackcap, a group of 18 long tail tit, 2 swallow south, 2 redwing south, 24 Fieldfare. Juvenile great crested grebe at Brean sluice & a green sandpiper & grey wagtail at the STW.

21st October
At sand point 1 yellow-browed warbler briefly at the nature reserve at the east end of middle hope heard only. A firecrest at sand point car park (PAG), 30 fieldfare, 30 meadow pipit, 100 starling, 3 chiffchaff, 20 brambling, 5 redpoll, 70 siskin, 600 chaffinch 3 blackcap.

At uphill 10 redwing, 3 redpoll, 100 chaffinch, 1,250 starling including an impressive flock of 900 about half a mile wide, 10 song thrush, 1 blackcap, 3 brambling, 60 fieldfare, 16 greenfinch, 2 yellowhammer, 15 siskin, 185 woodpigeon, 6 skylark, 1 coal tit, 1 mistle thrush, 1 chiffchaff, 1 reed bunting, 20 linnet.

200 finches coming to the seeded area at uphill including this Brambling.

20th October
2nd update. Clear sky with a 6mph NE wind. At uphill 80 fieldfare, 12 redpoll, 1 chiffchaff, 10 song thrush, 50 redwing, 4 goldcrest, 1 blackcap, 18 siskin, 115 woodpigeon, 11 pied wagtail, 3 reed bunting, 51 chaffinch, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 3 house sparrow, 105 starling, 5 blackbird, 10 meadow pipit, 1 bullfinch, 4 brambling, 2 rock pipit, 2 coal tit. At weston stw 1 water rail, 25 pochard, 1 house martin, 2 swallow, 1 common gull. At axe estuary 29 dunlin. This evening at uphill 10 fieldfare dropped into bushes. At weston stw 1 green sandpiper over, 22 wigeon, 6 shoveler, 7 gadwall, a second water rail heard calling at the wildfowl lagoons, 200 starlings roosted at the uv pools.

19th October
2nd update. Same weather as yesterday. at uphill 3 skylark, 10 fieldfare, 11 siskin, 1 chiffchaff, 2 redpoll, 24 redwing, 7 song thrush, 4 blackbird, 20 chaffinch, 2 brambling, 155 starling, 1 reed bunting, 66 greenfinch, 43 linnet, 13 woodpigeon, 1 stock dove south with 3 woodpigeon, 8 goldfinch, 1 great spotted woodpecker east, 1 mistle thrush and 3 wigeon. A common sandpiper at brean cross sluice and a wheatear at uphill.

18th October
2nd update. Clear sky with a light variable wind in both direction and strength. Quiet early morning at uphill with just 6 siskin, 1 redpoll,1 brambling, 5 song thrush, 1 redwing, 2 reed bunting, 1 jay, 10 woodpigeon, 100 starling and 1 sparrow sp over. 1 blackcap in subsong and a chiffchaff. At the axe estuary 30 dunlin and an adult common gull. 3 wheatear at uphill late afternoon.

17th October
2nd update. 8mph north-westerly wind and clear sky. At uphill 23 siskin north in 3 groups was the best of the vis mig. 10+ blackbirds in the bushes. 1 black-tailed godwit at the axe estuary. At weston stw 7 swallow flew ESE over the model racing circuit. A large brown falcon sp with strong head markings flew north towards uphill quarry being mobbed my a much smaller peregrine. At axe estuary 3 brent geese flew off west over brean down and 29 ringed plover on the beach. 110 redshank and 25 lapwing roosted on black rock.

16th October
3rd update. 5mph southerly wind and intermittent light drizzle. Very little vis mig this morning. Only birds of note at uphill were 1 male blackcap, 1 wheatear, 1 chiffchaff and a flock of 9 redpoll south. At weston stw late morning 28 swallow and 6 house martin moved quickly through south-east, 1 green sandpiper at brean cross sluice, 15 blackbirds along the approach road by the wildfowl lagoons, 2 chiffchaff, 7 skylark south and 4 rock/water pipit high south. A water rail was calling from the UV pools.

15th October
2nd update. cloudy with a 5mph SSW wind. Vis mig at uphill 60 redwing, 14 song thrush, 2 redpoll, 430 chaffinch, 1 reed bunting, 30 woodpigeon, 40 siskin, 250 starling, 2 skylark, 2 swallow south east together, 1 yellowhammer and a flock of 9 blackbird flew into the buckthorn behind the sailing club. grounded migrants included the 2 wheatear present yesterday, 1 blackcap in subsong, 1 coal tit, 3 goldcrest. 12 dunlin amongst the redshank at the axe estuary. at weston stw a green sandpiper and 3 grey partridge at brean cross sluice.

14th October
2nd update. Slightly windier today around 7mph south-easterly which dropped mid-moring and became variable. At uphill a twite flew over the church south towards weston stw calling several times. The bird appeared to be on its own although there were other birds flying over at the same time. Other vis mig 3 brambling, 200 chaffinch, 25 redwing, 1 fieldfare, 1 mistle thrush, 2 reed bunting, 380 starling, 3 redpoll, 45 siskin, 30 greenfinch, 50 goldfinch, 12 song thrush, 30 golden plover high south, 26 meadow pipit and 12 skylark. 2 wheatear grounded near the church, both birds had very different plumage tones. Highlights from the BOC watch at sand point were 1,500 chaffinch, 150 siskin, 3 fieldfare, 6 redwing, 2 yellowhammer and 9 redpoll. 110 lapwing came into roost on black rock this morning but there was no sign of any golden plover sp with them. At the axe estuary late afternoon low tide counts 135 teal, 20 black-tailed godwit, 34 ringed plover 1 dunlin and a common gull.

In the moth trap 1 sallow, 7 cypress carpet, 1 feathered ranunculus, 5 blair's shoulder knot, 1 common marbled carpet, 1 garden carpet.

13th October
2nd update. cloudy with reduced visibility and light 3mph variable wind. Vis mig at Uphill included 1 grey wagtail, 30 siskin, 215 chaffinch, 400 starling, 1 redpoll, 2 brambling, 50 meadow pipit. Grounded migrants included 1 wheatear, 5 goldcrest and a female blackcap. At the axe estuary 17 black-tailed godwit and 2 knot. 27 ringed plover and 2 dunlin on weston beach this evening.

12th October
2nd update. Cloudy with a light variable 2mph wind. A the axe estuary a Golden Plover sp flew in with c.100 lapwing and then flew south with 25 lapwing. It had a dusky grey underwing and a double note "clu-ee" call. At uphill flyovers included 1 swallow, 40 redwing, 50 goldfinch, 40 woodpigeon, 80 chaffinch, 2 brambling 4 siskin, 1 redpoll and 3 song thrush. At the axe late morning, 1 bar-tailed godwit, 13 dunlin (9 flew SW) and 2 ringed plover with more in the distance in weston bay.

11th October
3rd update. 5mph variable wind with fog this morning. At uphill a first winter male redstart showing well at times through the fog. 1 little owl heard at the quarry at first light. An influx of thrushes, mostly redwings plus 4 fieldfare and several blackbirds and song thrushes. At the axe estuary early afternoon 1 curlew sandpiper, 1 bar-tailed godwit and 3 golden plover were viewable during low tide.

10th October
3rd update. Mainly cloudy with a 10mph northerly wind. At the axe estuary 3 Pintail and 4 wigeon were new in. Long stayers included 1 bar-tailed godwit, 1 curlew sandpiper and 1 ruff. 3 common gulls on the beach briefly before flying up the axe. lapwing numbers up to 90. No sign of any Yellow-browed Wablers in a brief search this afternoon. 4 Swallows east were the only birds of note. At the axe estuary this evening a black-tailed godwit present.

9th October
2nd update. Light southerly wind with rain. At the axe estuary this morning 1 ruff, 1 curlew sandpiper, 1 bar-tailed godwit, 6 dunlin, 1 ringed plover. Flyovers inlcuded 5 golden plover south, 3 wigeon south, 20 pied wagtail south, 1 grey wagtail south, 1 siskin east and 4 song thrush.

8th October
3rd update. 100% high cloud and a light easterly wind. at uphill flyovers coming off the back end of brean down included another late tree pipit, 4 siskin, 3 redpoll, 14 swallow, 2 reed bunting, 10 meadow pipit, 1 redwing and 4 song thrush. At the axe estuary 1 ruff, 19 dunlin. 2 common sandpiper at brean cross sluice. 1+ yellow-browed warblers at sand point this morning (KJH) and this afternoon (PAG). 1 Bar-tailed Godwit at the Axe estuary this afternoon. At brean down a probable mealy redpoll with lesser redpoll this morning. The bird was noticeably larger with distinctive white wing bars and rump.

7th October
light north-east wind and 100% high cloud cover. A yellow-browed warbler was at sand point this morning (PAG) which became apparent later on that 2 were present, a bright bird and a slightly duller one. Also here 1 Merlin which eventually flew south, brambling, fieldfare and a small number of mistle thrush and redwing. 2 wheatear at the point were the only other birds of note. Uphill was quieter with 9 swallow, 42 lapwing, 1 golden plover, 27 ringed plover, 15 song thrush, 6 reed bunting. At weston stw (per AH) 3 snipe, 1 green sandpiper, 20 lapwing and 40 swallow on wires.

6th October
3rd update. 100% high cloud and an 8 mph north easterly winds. migrants at uphill this morning, 35 siskin, 2 Redwing, 11 song thrush, 1 mistle thrush, 150 chaffinch, 70 goldfinch, 1 brambling, 1 lesser whitethroats, 1 blackcap, 5 chiffchaff and 15 woodpigeon.
At sand point migrants included 85 Siskin, 2 redpoll, 1 brambling, 2 fieldfare (per PAG), one mistle thrush, eight Skylark, 50 chaffinch, 8 chiffchaff's, 12 pied wagtails and 2 wheatear.
At the axe estuary this afternoon 3 ruff, 1 curlew sandpiper, 250 redshank, 1 golden plover, 1 grey plover, 26 lapwing, 6 dunlin and 60 teal present on the incoming tide.

5th October
2nd update. clear sunny day with a light north east wind. At uphill this morning 11 siskin, 2 coal tit, 6 redpoll, 5 song thrush, 4 chiffchaff, 1 blackcap, 3 pied wagtail, 5 skylark, 8 swallows and a wheatear recorded this morning as migrants. At the estuary a golden plover showing well on the beach amongst black-headed gulls. At weston stw / Axe estuary this morning per AH: 1 little stint, 1 greenshank, 1 golden plover, 1 green sandpiper.

3rd October
cloudy with poor visibility and a 3 mph variable wind. At the axe estuary plenty of visible migration between 8:10 and 9:10

1 Red Kite came up the Axe and towards brean down 1 Tree Pipit east 1,850 Swallow east 9 Rock Pipit east 5 Snipe east 1 Sand Martin east 15 House Martin east 25 Skylark east 30 Pied Wagtail east 4 Siskin east 1 Redpoll east 3 Reed Bunting east 100 Meadow Pipit east 15 Woodpigeon east Small numbers of Linnet, Greenfinch and Goldfinch east

2nd October
2nd update. cloudy with a light north east wind. The lack of rain allowed some new birds through this morning. 2 brambling flew west over walborough. There was a noticeable influx of chaffinches about but few passing over. 250+ hirundines, many lingering. 1 golden plover flew east. 5 grey plover at the axe estuary where a bar-tailed godwit was also present. 4 grey heron here. 2 at the estuary and 2 north. Up to 50 a day have been recorded in moving through north norfolk. at the sluice the ruff still present with 4 common sandpipers plus an adult Mediterranean gull flew across the river and landed in fields behind a caravan park near brean. Vis mig was present here too when a single flock of 19 skylark flew east and a redpoll heard. An influx of chiffchaff noted with 6 birds counted in total around uphill of which 2 were in song. The Mediterranean Gull was relocated at uphill beach this afternoon and has a white ring on the right leg with 34K4 on it. This bird is of Belgian origin and is usually at Berrow.

1st October
2nd update. 100% cloud cover with rain and a light NE wind. The scandinavian influx seems to have largely passed. This morning 1 sedge warbler and a water rail at the sewage works whilst at the estuary 42 lapwing, a 1st winter common gull and 6 dunlin were present. Vis mig reduced by the rain to just 100 hirundines east plus 4 skylarks and 20 meadow pipits. This afternoon at brean cross sluice 1 ruff, 1 green sandpiper and 3 common sandpiper.

30th September
100% high cloud cover with a light easterly wind. at sand bay a corncrake in the short crop juncus on the south edge of sand bay marsh. The views were very brief and obscured. It typically vanished and eluded rediscovery during the following hour and forty minutes. A whinchat and 3 wheatear also in the marsh. on sand point 1 redpoll, 1 siskin, blackcap and 20 chiffchaff. Waders included 4 bar-tailed godwits, 1 knot and 20 dunlin. At the axe estuary late morning 80 teal, 2 bar-tailed godwit and 3 knot.

29th September
100% cloud cover and a light northeasterly wind. a productive morning with a plenty of common birds around. At the axe estuary this morning 2 ring ouzel by the boat yard amongst a small influx of blackbirds. Also, 12 dunlin, 23 ringed plover, 600 shelduck, 20 skylark, five chiffchaff, one female blackcap, one wheatear. 8 Golden plover and 4 snipe east. At Brean Cross sluice, amongst the 380 redshank were three ruff, one curlew Sandpiper, one little stint, 4 common Sandpiper and a flyover green Sandpiper heading north. at their axe estuary on the ebbing tide three knot, one bar tailed godwit and 20 teal. Plenty of hirundines around with many heading east and some north. Parties of meadow pipts going through.
At sand point (per PAG) highlights included a Firecrest and six crossbills.

28th September
3rd update. 100% cloud, light drizzle and northerly wind. 5 lapwing at brean cross sluice along with 2 great black-back gulls (adult and 1st winter) and 119 canada geese. 500 swallow hawking over the salt marsh during a very high tide. Amongst the swallows was 1+ sand martin. 40 house martin north. A few Blackbirds around the estuary bushes appeared to be downed migrants. On the ebbing tide at the axe estuary 10 golden plover, 9 dunlin, 2 ringed plover and a bar-tailed godwit. This afternoon a ring-tail Hen Harrier flew north over weston bay putting up the shelduck. Also an adult yellow-legged herring gull on the beach along with 2 adult winter common gulls. A chiffchaff present near the boat yard. Hundreds of hirundines about including the odd sand martin.

27th September
clear sky with a light northerly winds. A brief search of the axe estuary this evening on the incoming tide produced a bar-tailed godwit and a first winter common gull.

26th September
3rd update. clear sky and 10mph northerly wind. At the axe estuary this morning 1 curlew sandpiper with 3 dunlin then flew up river. 450 redshank roosted up river over high tide. 25 ringed plover on weston beach and a 1st winter common gull. 1 sand martin south, 4 redpoll north. 1 wheatear, 1 blackcap and 2 chiffchaff present at walborough. 40 meadow pipit south (a group of 30 followed by a group of 10).

25th September
14mph westerly wind and clear sky. A manx shearwater flew in from the east and low over brean cross sluice. The bird eventually turned and headed over the fields towards the axe estuary. a wheatear also present here. on the uv pools 3 sand martin, 20 wigeon, 12 pochard and 3 gadwall. at the axe estuary 3 arctic tern came in from the south east with c.40 black-headed gulls and made their way along the tideline into weston bay. 4 dunlin, 1 knot, 9 ringed plover were the wader highlights.

23rd September
cloudy with a southerly wind. At the axe estuary this morning. A probable Lapland bunting south towards berrow. the call was a single note that sounded like a cross between a siskin and a golden plover. Also 1 golden plover south-east, three wheatear, one knot, one ringed plover, 23 meadow pipits, 40 woodpigeons, 130 black headed gulls, 4 reed buntings, one sand Martin, 13 house martins, three grey wagtails, 13 Pied wagtails, one collared dove, one redpoll, one Canada to southeast, and dunlin.also, a small passage of Goldfinch and Linnet.

20th September
second update. cloud with a southerly wind. at the axe estuary 8 dunlin, 5 knot and 10 ringed plover. 30 alba wagtails, 10 meadow pipits and a yellow wagtail on the beach. a steady stream of swallow south at lunchtime including a Sand Martin. per AH: 3 Sand Martin, a pair of Kingfisher, three wheatear. At Brean Cross sluice 4 common Sandpiper and two green Sandpiper seen around the sewage works compound

19th September
cloudy with light rain and a south-westerly wind. at the axe estuary this morning 10 dunlin, 5 knot, 150 redshank. A flyover turnstone early morning. 15 alba wagtails south. 2 birds perched were identified as white wagtails. small numbers of swallows south. at lunch time 25 ringed plover along weston beach and a wheatear in the marsh. A juvenile great black-back gull flew in from the south east and landed on the beach.

18th September
2nd update. 7mph NNW wind and mainly clear sky. at the axe estuary this morning 2 pintail present. waders included 1 black-tailed godwit, 1 bar-tailed godwit, 1 juvenile ringed plover, 14 knot and 14 dunlin. the black-headed gull from gdansk in poland is back and i suspect that it arrived prior to today. 2 white wagtails on the axe. I'm struggling to get pictures of any of these birds so far. also a yellow wagtail south. other vis mig included 1 redpoll, 25 woodpigeon, several swallows, meadow pipits and black-headed gulls through.

17th September
2nd update. partly cloudy with a 7mph WNW wind. a black tern flew south along the beach early afternoon and the bar-tailed godwit was still present feeding on the mudflats. At the axe est this morning, 1 black-tailed godwit, 12 knot of which 5 flew high south, 10 dunlin, 15 teal and a juvenile ringed plover. vis mig was sparse with a few swallows and house martins south, 3 reed buntings north and 20 alba wagtails lingered on the beach for 5 mins.

16th September
partly cloudy with a moderate southerly wind. at the axe this morning an arctic tern flew south over weston beach and continued toward berrow. waders were very much the same as yesterday, 2 black-tailed godwits, 1 bar-tailed godwit, 9 dunlin, 5 knot. a trickle through of swallows and house martins towards berrow. further inland a lesser whitethroat in the bushes and 4 yellow wagtails.

15th September
clear sky with a very light variable wind. at the axe est this morning 2 turnstone, 2 knot, 1 black-tailed godwit and 9 dunlin. The Pintail was still present but rather elusive at times. 1 tree pipit flew up the axe early morning. other vis mig involved many black-headed gulls flying up the axe having flown along weston beach although this may just have been local movements. on brean down 1-2 grasshopper warbler, 4 wheatear, 1 whitethroat, 5 blackcap, 1,000+ swallow, 60 meadow pipit, 1 willow warbler in song, 30 chiffchaff, 2+ sand martin, 30 house martin, 1 yellow wagtail, 1 green woodpecker, 1 great spotted woodpecker

14th September
2nd update. cloudy with a 14mph westerly wind. at the axe this morning a female pintail associating with mallard at the estuary, also 6 teal and a wigeon. waders included 1 turnstone, 1 knot, 6 dunlin and 400 redshank. a big clearout of gulls overnight with only around 100 black-headed gulls seen. good numbers of gulls (mainly black-headed) coming in from the south east last night but only a trickle this morning. at weston stw 20 wigeon, 5 shoveler, 5 gadwall counted and a greenshank on the river. 5 common sandpipers on the axe this afternoon.

13th September
2nd update. Clear sky, foggy and a 5mph north east wind. In sand bay a reeling grasshopper warbler was a surprise. 2 sedge warblers were coaxed out of the marsh. 1 tree pipit north. Meadow pipit numbers up suggesting an early icelandic movement. Around 40 in total with some moving up channel, most lingering on middle hope. 250 hirundines collected on wires on middle hope. Amongst this flock was a sand martin. A fall of 30 blackcaps and 15 chiffchaffs noted. At the axe this evening, 1 black-tailed godwit, 1 bar-tailed godwwit, 5 dunlin, close to 400 redshank. also 4 wigeon, the first of the autumn. 11 wigeon at weston stw and a green sandpiper.

12th September
Cloudy with a 5mph northerly wind. At sand point 100 house martin and 70 swallow hawking over sand bay marsh in separate flocks. 1 tree pipit south along sand bay. 45 dunlin east over middle hope. 9 meadow pipit through involving 7 north and 2 east.

11th September
cloudless with light northerly wind. At the axe estuary, no sign of yesterdays Audouin's Gull (seen at Hinkley) but 8 knot, 380 redshank, 2 dunlin, 1 black-tailed godwit.

10th September
3rd update. cloudy with 8mph westerly wind. At axe this morning on ebbing tide 6 knot, 30 ringed plover, 15 dunlin and 300 redshank. 2 common gulls and a common sandpiper at brean cross sluice. 6 Yellow Wagtails near Uphill church (AH). A Pintail has been around Weston STW in recent weeks but no sign today (MSP). News from sand point yesterday per PAG: 1 wheatear, 1 whitethroat, 1 lesser whitethroat, 150 house martins.

7th September
Seen this morning Per AH on the Axe at uphill appx 150 redshank & a Wheatear.  3 more Wheatear on the southern slopes of walborough & a kingfisher on the fence of the nature reserve. Another kingfisher at brean sluice & green sandpiper flying out from the ditch within the sewage works compound. 

6th September
4th Update. Partially cloudy with a light 5-6mph northerly wind. Rather quiet at sand point this morning. 3 common whitethroat in the bay. 4 Grey wagtails north. On middle hope a siskin came in from the south and a greenshank was heard calling from the marsh. Good numbers of blackcaps still with a couple of lesser whitethroats. A tree pipit was heard over sand bay. 2 turnstones at the axe est over high tide. At brean cross sluice this afternoon 4 common sandpipers and a sand martin amongst a group of 50 house martins. 3 shoveler and a gadwall on the uv pools, 6 gadwall on the wildfowl lagoons. 5 black-tailed godwits in sand bay this morning (AH)

5th September
Light westerly wind with 100% high cloud cover. In sand bay 1 knot at the edge of the marsh and a wheatear. 100 house martins feeding high up. On middle hope 4 tree pipits interestingly flew high ESE using a tailwind. 50 swallows feeding over middle hope. A roving flock on sand point was made up of 11+ blackcap, 2 lesser whitethroat, 2 chiffchaff and a common whitethroat. A willow warbler was also in the vicinity but did not appear to be with the group.

4th September
Cloudless with 6mph northerly wind. A reduction in activity this morning with 5 common sandpipers at brean cross sluice. 2 gadwall on the uv pools. Otherwise little else of note.

3rd September
cloudy with a 10mph north westerly wind. 300 Knot counted reeling over the dunes this morning in a brief visit. Further up river, a greenshank flew into the wildfowl lagoons. 3 dunlin flew along the axe and dropped in the UV pools and a ringed plover flew south over brean cross sluice. 200 house martins hawked over the wildfowl lagoons. 2 common sandpiper on the axe plus a kingfisher.

2nd September
mainly cloudy with a 10mph westerly wind. Rather quiet at sand point this morning. 5 ringed plover in the bay along with 80 curlew and 4 redshank. 2 grey wagtails flew south along the bay. Reed warbler, garden warbler and blackcap amongst a roving long-tailed tit flock. 1 tree pipit over (JCG).

1st September
cloudy with a 10mph westerly wind. A good start to the month with the Axe producing an adult Mediterranean Gull briefly along uphill beach before flying up the Axe. 1 imm Yellow-legged Gull lingering around the Axe by the UV pools then flew towards the fields on the somerset side. Other gulls included 3 great black-back gulls by brean cross sluice. Waders at the estuary included 1 greenshank, 16 knot, 4 dunlin, 300 redshank and a Black-tailed Godwit. Waders further up river included 1 snipe, 7 common sandpiper and a whimbrel. 5 Teal at the estuary. On the pools 1 shoveler, 3 gadwall, 10 tufted duck and 5 pochard. A small number of passerines included 3 tree pipits together flying west, 1 lesser whitethroat, 1 common whitethroat, 4 chiffchaff and a yellow wagtail.

24th August
Light NNE wind and 30% cloud cover. Good conditions for migration today. Sand Point produced 2 whinchat (1 in the sand bay marsh and 1 on middle hope), 12 yellow wagtail (5 in the bay and 7 over middle hope including a group of 5 north), 1 wheatear on middle hope, 10 common whitethroat, 1 sedge warbler, 10 willow warbler, 15 lesser whitethroat, 10 chiffchaff, 2 grey wagail, 1 whimbrel on swallow cliff, 400 hirundines (mixed house martins and swallows) all heading north and a tree pipit.

23rd August
2nd update. Clear sky and a 10mph northerly wind. At the the axe in a brief visit 2 common sandpiper and a yellow wagtail at the sluice. 30 teal, 2 shoveler, 6 pochard were amongst the duck on the pools and 4 snipe in the marsh. A Latticed Heath was on the bank of the Axe near the UV pools. A whinchat at brean cross sluice (AH) and 3 more common sandpipers on the axe est over high tide this afternoon bringing the total to 5.

22nd August
2nd update. clear sky and a 15mph northerly wind. 4 Common sandpipers and a common gull at brean cross sluice. A movement in ducks noticed with 5 pochard, 6 teal, 2 gadwal on the uv pools. At high tide the axe est produced 6 sanderling, 2 dunlin and 2 ringed plover.

In the moth trap: garden year ticks included Oak Eggar (garden lifer), Yellow Shell. Other moths of interest included Garden Tiger, 3 Orange Swift, 2 Silver Y, 1 Yellow-barred Brindle.

19th August
Cloudy with a moderate WNW wind. At the axe this morning over high tide 180 canada geese on the beach. waders included a greenshank which flew into the est marsh, a black-tailed godwit feeding on the beach and 3 dunlin. Further up river 3 common sandpipers and more redshank bring the total to around 180. 1 shoveler on the wildfowl lagoons and a teal on the axe bank.

18th August
moderate southerly wind and light rain. quiet today. 11 dunlin amongst the redshank. numbers of teal up to 11. Vis mig included 1 ringed plover, 1 snipe and 2 swallow all south.

In the moth trap, 4 year ticks included copper underwing, cypress pug, yellow-barred brindle and a square-spot rustic.

17th August
12mph WSW wind and partly cloudy. At axe est a drop in black-headed gull numbers was noticeable. No redshank at the axe est but I did locate the flock further up river which numbered around 250-300 which included a single dunlin. 3 common sandpipers still on the axe. The only other birds of note were 4 teal.

16th August
Partly cloudy with a moderate westerly wind. At axe est this morning on the incoming tide 5 knot, 2 dunlin on the beach but flighty. A flock of 140 Canada Geese on uphill beach were likely to have been migrants. Further up river, 3 wheatear nr brean cross sluice.

15th August
Partly cloudy with a 13mph south-westerly wind. On the axe this morning, 250 redshank and 11 dunlin. 2 Black-tailed Godwits were amongst the redshank. Other waders included a Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper briefly on pools on the somerset side eventually flying off high west. 3 sand martin over the uv pools and 2 yellow wagtails were the only other birds of note.

13th August
A quick visit to the Axe est. this morning. Redshank numbers up to 180 and Curlew numbers up to 22. A yellow wagtail heard calling near the golf course.

12th August
The last few days have brought light winds and clear skies which are ideal conditions for migrant birds. However this proves a difficult time for birders as the birds are passing through largely unseen. Today brought a little rain and cloud giving an opportunity to sample some of what has been passing through. At the Axe this morning 2 shoveler were on the uv pools whilst on the river 3 common sandpipers were present. Vis mig included 2 snipe south and 14 black-tailed godwits that came in from the east continuing south. Also a flock of 50 Linnets went south. Towards the estuary a single dunlin was amongst 100 redshank. Passerines included a yellow wagtail and a wheatear.

11th August
3 whimbrel (2 in sand bay and 1 perched on sand point) this morning. Several willow warblers, chiffchaffs and lesser whitethroats present including a few in subsong.

10th August
4 Teal present on the UV pools. A bird which I can only assume was a Coot wandering around on the mudflats on the river axe amongst the redshank.

8th August
A 10mph northerly wind and cloudless sky this morning. On the river Axe the only birds of note were 2 common sandpipers at brean cross sluice. Chew Valley Lake seems to be pulling in the birds at the moment with a Spotted Sandpiper last night at the Dam and a Spotted Crake this morning at Herons Green Pool.

4th August
Overcast with a moderate south-westerly wind. Little of note at sand point. A small passage down channel of Swallows and Black-headed Gulls. A snipe heard over head. The Ruddy Shelduck still cropping up on the Axe from time to time with another sighting this morning.

31st July
A Marsh Harrier flew north over Brean Down mid morning and continued up the estaury (AH)

29th July
A dry and bright day with a light north westerly wind. 25 sanderling, 70 dunlin and 2 ringed plover present in sand bay. in the marsh 2+ whimbrel amongst the curlew. migrants on sand point included 4 willow warbler and an acro calling nr the fort. A few swallows and 2 dunlin were the only vis mig.

28th July
A dry day with an 8mph westerly wind this morning. At sand bay 4 ringed plover, 170 mixed sanderling and dunlin and whimbrel heard calling in the marsh. 1 common gull was amongst many black-headed gulls. On middle hope a long-tailed tit flock contained 4-5 willow warblers, 2 chiffchaff and a blackcap. A single sand martin flew east with 2 swallows. Brushing up on my pishing skills produced excellant views of a lesser whitethroat.

24th July
3 common sandpipers and a single sand martin along the axe (AH)

21st July
3mph variable wind this morning. Migration at sand point included 12 sand martin east, 5 whimbrel (4 west, 1 lingering), 1 dunlin south past the point.

12th July
2nd update. Moth trapping at Brean Down last night produced a good variety of moths including Devonshire Wainscot which was the first record for Somerset. A Wheatear was on the track at the east end of the down just after 1:00am. Other signs of passerine movement included a chiffchaff in the garden. At the Axe estuary this evening 2 whimbrel present. One bird had a striking buff neck and throat which i presume was a juvenile.

11th July
3rd update. On the river axe this morning 4 common sandpiper, 12 redshank and a dunlin at brean cross sluice. An interesting sighting of a Turtle Dove on the central reservation of the M5 100-200 yards south of J21 (GD).

10th July
1st update. A brief search along the axe this moring produced 2 common sandpipers at brean cross sluice plus a whimbrel roosting on the axe bank. 2 sand martins were amongst swifts and house martins over the wildfowl lagoons.

7th July
1st update. A brief search at the axe this morning produced 9 redshank and 2 common sandpiper. 9 juvenile black-headed gulls present on the estuary. No sign of the gannet at weston golf course this morning. Hopefully it made its way back out to sea.

6th July
2nd update. strong westerly winds overnight which continued into this morning. off birnbeck between 6:15 and 11:30 4 storm petrel, 600 manx shearwater, 26 gannet, 8 fulmar and a common scoter. The storm petrels were all close in giving good scope views as they flew past. The manx shearwaters became difficult to count as a lot were coming in from both the south and the north then zigzaging out to sea towards flat holm. The peak activity of manx were between 8:30 and 10:00 which is when the storm petrels were seen. A call from HT about a large unidentified sea bird on weston golf course caused a bit of excitement. When I got there it soon became apparent that the bird was a Gannet in adult type plumage.

5th July
1st update. A juvenile kittiwake was the only sea bird of note off birnbeck this morning. at uphill a dunlin was new in.

4th July
2nd update: A sea watch off Birnbeck between 7:30 and 8:45 produced 2 Gannets north. Both were in 3rd year plumage. Also, 2 fulmars (1 north and 1 south). 6 manx shearwater past but very distant (5 north and 1 south). 3 Arctic Skuas were the highlight of the morning when 2 flew north together at 8:00am (1 light phase and 1 dark phase) close in and a light phase south at 8:30am. At the axe estuary a peregrine chasing black-headed gulls put a lot of the birds up making counts difficult but numbers consisted of c.300 black-headed gull, 13 curlew and 2 redshank. Despite good sea watching conditions this evening, the only birds of note were 2 manx shearwater and 2 fulmar.

2nd and 3rd July
1st update: A single fulmar north this evening was the only sea bird of note in difficult viewing conditions (looking into the sun). Yesterdays evening sea watch was slightly more exciting with 2 common scoter (RMA).

1st July
2nd update. A big upset came when news of britains first Yellow-nosed Albatross was released on Brean Down yesterday (30th June) at 4pm following a day in care at Secret World. This follows a record of a Yellow-nosed Albatross at Grip Kristiansund in Norway seen on the 28th June. The albatross was looked for over this evenings high tide all along the coast on both sides of brean down with no searches successful. On a duller birding note, at the axe esturary this morning Curlew numbers were up to 12, 3 common sandpiper were at brean cross sluice and 2 juvenile Black-headed gulls were amongst the black-headed gulls along the axe river.

30th June
1st update: in the moth trap a common footman was the first for the year. also 1 small magpie, 1 light arches, 11 dark arches, 1 spectacle, 1 silver y, 2 bright-line brown-eye, 1 lackey, 1 flame, 1 common emerald, 1 large yellow underwing, 1 common wainscot, 1 lime-spec pug, 5 uncertain and a heart and dart.

25th June
2nd update. 16mph westerly wind veering north westerly by mid morning and heavy rain. past birnbeck between 8:30 and 9:40 5 gannets north (1 juvenile, 1 first year, 2 third year, 1 4th year/adult), 49 manx shearwater (9 north, 40 south).

22mph NNW wind. in a half hour watch off birnbeck 2 common scoter south-west towards steep holm, 11 manx shearwater. most heading north distantly plus a few south closer in.

24th June
1st update. 100% cloud, light rain and a light SSW wind. Little of note on the birding front. Several swifts at sand point and weston sewage works appeared to be grounded migrants rather than local breeders (which seem to be in short supply this year). Black-headed gull numbers back up again with c.200 in weston bay at low tide.

In the moth trap: 1 common emerald was the only year tick. also recorded 1 peppered moth, 2 elephant hawk moth, 1 common wainscot, 1 flame, 1 common pug, 1 lackey, several heart and dart, 3 dark arches, 1 bright-line brown-eye

23rd June
1st update. yesterday the change in wind to a light northerly seems to have cleared out many of the black-headed gulls with just 70 at uphill.

in the moth trap: 1 elephant hawk moth, 2 light arches, 4 dark arches, 5 bright-line brown-eye, 4 buff ermine, 2 angle shades, 20 heart and dart, 2 heart and club, 1 common wainscot, 1 garden carpet, 1 small magpie, 1 ribband wave. 2 large yellow underwing, 1 silver y.

21st June
1st update. several swift trickling south in a brief search this morning at the axe est.

in the moth trap: year ticks included: 1 small elephant hawk moth, 1 lime hawk moth, 1 grey dagger, 1 marbled beauty, 2 lackey. also caught: 1 light arches, 3 dark arches, 3 flame, 1 cypress carpet, 1 scalloped oak, several heart and dart & heart and club. 1 dusk brocade, 2 large yellow underwing, 2 pale mottled willow, 1 vines rustic.

In the moth trap:

19th June
1st update. partly cloudy with 10mph easterly wind. 350+ black-headed gulls with the first juvenile of the year amongst them.

In the moth trap: 1 scalloped oak was the only garden year tick identified.

17th June
2nd update. light variable wind and a partly cloudy sky. 2 whimbrel this morning seen and heard calling regularly with 12 curlew in sand bay marsh. A great black-back and 210 black-headed gulls in the bay whilst the only bird of note on sand point was a coal tit. butterflies on the wing included lots of marbled white, a painted lady, small copper, 2 small tortoisehsell and 2 common blue.

16th June
2nd update. light southerly wind and partly cloudy. a trickle of 40 swifts noted south at axe est this morning. mainly in ones and twos and a flock of 11. First redshank at axe since 28th april flew low up river. 2 curlew present. black-headed gull numbers difficult to quantify but 150+ would be a fairly accurate estimate. No sign of yesterdays mediterranean gull. At weston stw 2 pochard on uv pools. insects recorded are 1 painted lady, 2 common blue, 20 marbled white, 50 meadow brown, 10 large skipper, 1 brown argus, 2 small tortoiseshell.

15th June
2nd update. mainly clear sky with a light south easterly wind. Numbers of curlew have increased to 6. Over this evenings high tide a first winter mediterranen gull was present amongst 300 black-headed gulls

14th June
2nd update. cloudy with light rain and a light southerly wind. at axe est. 1 curlew, 90 mallard and 250 black-headed gull

In the moth trap. 1 single-dotted wave, 2 tawny marbled minor, 1 uncertain, 1 magpie, 60+ heart and dart, 2 heart and club, 3 vines rustic, 1 spectacle, 1 silver y, 3 ribband wave, 2 elephant hawk moth, 3 cypress cartpet, 1 dark arches, 2 common marbled carpet, 1 dusky brocade, 3 garden pebble, 2 double-striped pug, 1 lychnis. 3 large yellow underwing, 1 small blood-vein, 2 buff ermine, 2 common pug, 1 middle-barred white, 2 bright-line brown-eye.

13th June
3rd update. Light southerly wind. Yesterdays birding excitement did not extend to a second day. Just 3 ringed plover on the axe est over high tide. Plenty of black-headed gulls still present with 100+. Yesterday 2 five-spot Burnet and my first Marbled White of the year both at Weston STW.

In the moth trap. 1 sandy carpet, 1 dingy shears, 1 light arches, 1 dark arches. plus freyers pug, common pug, green pug, cypress carpet, common marbled carpet, heart and dart, pale mottled willow.

12th June
2nd update.15mph westerly wind. at axe est over high tide this afternoon an adult mediterranean gull amongst black-headed gulls. unfortunately i was unable to locate it when armed with a camera but found 3 sandwich terns which were eventually flushed by sand yachters. some birds landed on the water and others flew south towards the est mouth. 3 ringed plover were on the tideline. No sign of yesterdays ruddy shelduck.

In the moth trap: 1 elephant hawk moth, 1 eyed hawk moth, 1 currant pug, 1 broad-barred white, 1 dark arches, 1 heart and club, 2 minor sp. 1 treble lines, 2 cypress carpet, 2 common pug, 1 magpie moth, 2 freyers pug, 2 common marbled carpet, 2 buff ermine, 1 green pug, 1 dark brocade, 1 ribband wave.

11th June
3rd update. At Axe est over high tide the Ruddy Shelduck has re-appeared associating with Shelduck at the mouth of the estuary. Numbers of Black-headed Gulls have risen to 100+. A couple of Bee Orchids emerging at Walborough NR.

In the moth trap: 1 Brown Silver-line, 1 small fan-foot, 1 common pug, 1 Peppered Moth, 1 small dusty wave, 3 green pug, 50 heart and dart, 1 flame, 2 elephant hawk moth, 1 orange ladybird, 1 thistle ermine, 1 straw dot, 1 lychnis, 3 magpie moth, 3 riband wave, 1 mottled rustic, 1 willow beauty, 2 double-striped pug, 2 setaceous hebrew character, 3 cypress carpet.

8th June
1st update. cloudy with a light NNE wind. little on the birding front this morning. 7 house martins north plus a probably migrant lesser whitethroat were the only signs of migration. A roe deer half way between the trig and swallow cliff was my first ever sighting on sand point. I have not had a tick on me whilst at sand point but this may be a reality now.

Moth trap highlights: 1 dusky brocade, 1 orange swift, 1 mottled rustic, 1 uncertain, 3 cypress carpet, 1 common marbled carpet, 20+ heart and dart, 1 large yellow underwing, 1 freyers pug.

6th and 7th June
1st update. cloudy with a moderate NE wind on both days. Swifts still on the move with 32 up channel on 6th and 5 up channel on 7th. 9 House Martin upchannel on 6th with just 1 going through on 7th. A single swallow through on both days.
Waders in 6th per AH in sand bay were 6 ringed plover, 5 dunlin and 7 curlew.

5th June
1st update. 10mph NE wind with clear sky. Bird of the morning was a male crossbill that flew in from the south calling constantly ( a loud "glip glip glip..."). The bird flew over the toilet block at sand point heading towards the trig point. The bird was low and gave good views. Other sighings at sand point this morning included 3 siskin in the bushes behind the house that eventually flew east, 1 spotted flycatcher briefly near the ancient fort, 1 swift east and 4 house martin east. In sand bay 1 whimbrel heard, 4 ringed plover, 1 dunlin. 13 canada geese east over sand bay. 170 black-headed gulls scattered along the beach. some were starting to fly east toward woodspring bay.

4th June
2nd update. light northerly wind with a clear sky first thing, becoming cloudy by 9:00am. The weather forecast as of 4th June looks good for producing some good birds this week. At sand point 1 spotted flycatcher came in from the south and landed briefly before heading towards the point. also new in 1 coal tit and 2 goldcrest. 1 whimbrel heard calling from sand bay marsh. count of black-headed gulls still increasing with 90 in the bay this morning.

In the moth trap. 40 heart and dart, 1 large yellow underwing, 1 poplar hawk moth, 2 cypress carpet, riband wave.

3rd June
2nd update. cloudy with a light southerly wind. little recorded today with 1+ whimbrel in sand bay and 1 ringed plover and a dunlin in sand bay at high tide.

In the moth trap: 40 heart and dart, 1 light emerald, 1 pale tussock, 2 common marbled carpet, 2 vines rustic, 1 small magpie, 1 large yellow underwing, 2 cypress carpet, 1 cinnabar, 1 common wainscott, 1 snout, 1 setaceous hebrew character, 2 shuttle shaped dart, 2 freyers pug, 1 knot grass, 1 mottled rustic.

2nd June
2nd update. clear day with light to moderate southerly wind. at sand bay 48 ringed plover, 47 dunlin, 5 sanderling and 44 black-headed gulls in pre-breeding plumage. 1 spotted flycatcher at sand point. also recorded were 2 cuckoo, 1 green carpet, 1 silver y, 1 brown argus and 1 large skipper. no sign of any glanvilles.

In the moth trap: 1 willow beauty, 1 eyed hawk moth, 1 marbled minor, 1 light emerald, 2 treble lines, 1 setaceous hebrew character, 2 cypress carpet, 20 heart and dart, 1 buff ermine, 1 shuttle shaped dart, 2 vines rustic, 1 common marbled carpet.

1st June
2nd update. light Northerly wind with partial cloud. 7+ spotted flycatchers at sand point and 5 whimbrel in the bay. A single house martin in off the sea. at sand point per AH at lunch time, still 5 spotted flycatchers present along with a cuckoo and lesser whitethroat.

31st May
1st update. moderate southerly wind with cloud and rain. The only noteworth sighting was of 90 swift on the somerset side of the axe est slowly drifting south.

30th May
1st update. light easterly wind with cloud and light rain until mid morning when the wind changed to southerly. At sand point 12 yellow wagtails present with 7 on middle hope, 2 in from the north mid morning and 3 east early morning. 5 tree pipits in total with 4 east together and 1 near the trig point. also 70 swallow, 40 house martin, 3 sand martin and 20 swift. 2+ whimbrel in sand bay.

29th May
2nd update. at axe est. 3 curlew, 13 ringed plover and a dunlin were the highlights of the wader fest. a yellow wagtail, 50 swift and 30 house martin lingering. 200+ herring and lesser-black-back west. this afternoons brief search of the axe produced 26 ringed plover and 5 dunlin.

27th May
1st update. light easterly wind with increasing rain throughout the morning. 48 house martin E in 2 flocks through sand point. 70 swift also went east over sand bay in 1 flock. 100 house martin, 20 swift, 30 swallow and 2 sand martin at weston sewage works.

26th May
1st update. light N wind and clear sky. quiet this morning with 3 sand martins north. also small numbers of swift, house martin and swallow N. at axe est 5 ringed plover and 2 dunlin present along with a curlew, 50 mallard and 5 black-headed gull. small heath, 2 wall brown and small numbers of brown argus present on brean down. plenty of yellow shell moth present.

25th May
1st update. 8 ringed plover and 6 dunlin at axe est this afternoon along with 11 black-headed gulls. the ruddy shelduck still at weston stw along with 1 cuckoo, 1 sand martin and 40 swift.

in the moth trap. 20 heart and dart, 1 treble lines, 1 cypress carpet, 2 vines rustic.

24th May
2nd update. Foggy all morning with a light variable wind. 1 whimbrel and 3 ringed plover at the axe est. Further up river a ruddy shelduck present on the somerset side of the axe bank opposite the sewage works.

In the moth trap. new for the year were: spectacle, lime spec pug, pale mottled willow, large yellow underwing, garden pebble, poplar grey.

23rd May
2nd update. 100% high cloud cover with a 6mph WSW wind. At uphill by 9:00am 1 common sandpiper at est mouth, 11 black-headed gulls WSW towards brean, 1 wheatear on axe bank behind walborough and a steady trickly of herring/lesser black-backs off the mendips heading west towards brean down. a whimbrel present at high tide by black rock.

22nd May
1st update. bright sunny day with light westerly wind. little to report this morning. At axe est a flock of 15 black-headed gulls were the first in the area for twenty days. 8 ringed plover, 2 whimbrel and a dunlin also present at the est.

20th May
1st update. bright sunny day with light variable wind. at uphill 4 whimbrel, 1 curlew, 3 dunlin and a ringed plover. at sand point 1-2 spotted flycatcher, 2-3 cuckoo, 2 wheatear, 13 whimbrel, 5 curlew, 4 dunlin and 3 ringed plover. 11+ glanville fritillary on the wing along with 1 wall brown several common blue, 2 brown argus. some yellow shell moth also seen along with a tiger moth sp.

19th may
2nd update. partly cloudy with a variable strength WSW wind. a seawatch of birnbeck between 8:40am and 1pm 400 manx shearwater, 1 pale phase pomarine skua gave good views as it flew slowly north at 11:30, 1 arctic skua north at 11:50, 2 skua sp north at 12:15, 2 tern sp, 8 gannet and a fulmar. 300 swallow, 40 swift and 30 house martin also moved up channel past birnbeck. at axe est this morning 1 yellow wagtail W, 3 whimbrel, 11 dunlin and 2 sand martin and a single curlew. off sand point this morning bonxie, arctic skua, 50 manx and 1 fulmar.

18th May
1st update. a garden warbler singing at sand point car park. at the axe est: 8 dunlin flew towards berrow and 3 whimbrel around the est.

in the moth trap: 1 treble lines, 1 buff ermine, 3 heart and dart, 1 common marbled, carpet, 3 vines rustic. 1 silver y.

17th May
1st update. cloudy, <5 mile visibility and a 13mph WSW wind. an hour sea watch off birnbeck produced a dark phase arctic skua very close in heading south.

16th May
1st update. cloudy with a light W wind. at uphill a cuckoo heard at walborough. passage included 20 swallow and 10 house martin W. a small number of herring and lesser black-back gulls continue to move W. 7 whimbrel present.

In the moth trap 1 elephant hawk moth, 2 cypress carpet, 1 flame, 1 shuttle shaped dart, 3 heart and dart, 2 vines rustic.

15th may
an hour sea watching this evening produced 4 fulmars north. at axe est on the incoming tide 9 whimbrel. many sedge warblers heard all over the place this morning suggesting an influx, coinciding with an influx of 100+ on bardsey.

14th may
2nd update. cloudy with rain and a brisk N wind clearing by late morning. at lunch time today a hobby flew north over the UV pools towards brean down. also, 100+ swift along with several house martins, sand martins and swallows. at axe est. on the incoming tide just 7 whimbrel and 3 dunlin.

13th may
3rd update. cloudy with rain and a light E wind. at sand point by mid morning. 30 whimbrel, 35 house martin E, 10 sand martin E, 140 swallow E, 1 siskin heard, 7 yellow wagtail E, 3 tree pipit lingering around top hawthorns, 1 yellowhammer E, 1 spotted flycatcher on middle hope, 15 swift E, 1 greylag goose circled the bay and flew E later identified as a bar-headed goose from photos. at axe est on incoming tide 61 dunlin, 13 ringed plover, 1 whimbrel. also 40 swift and a steady trickle of swallows through.

12th may
1st update. at sand point per PAG sabines gull past at 9am plus 8 gannet, 25 kittiwake, 6 tern sp and a bonxie. off birnbeck in a half hour sea watch 8:45 - 9:15 7 gannets N, 1 gannet S. at crook peak/wavering down 4 wheatear, 1 yellow wagtail. axe est high tide 4 dunlin, 6 ringed plover, 1 bar-tailed godwit, 7 whimbrel.

11th may
1st update. cloudy with light SW winds and some rain. high tide at axe est during a brief search, 34 dunlin, 3 ringed plover and 8 whimbrel.

7th may
at sand point per PAG: 46 manx shearwater, 1 guillemot, 8 fulmar, 7 gannet

6th may
1st update. cloudy with a moderate WSW wind which was increasing throughout the morning. a 2.5hr sea watch off birnbeck produced 1 pomarine skua, 1 arctic skua, 1 skua sp, 1 manx shearwater, 16 gannet, and 6 fulmar plus a few swifts and swallows N. at sand point per PAG 1 kittiwake, 1 great skua, 1 arctic skua, 17 gannet, 2 fulmar.

In the moth trap: a good catch including a Mullein.

5th may
2nd update. cloudy with a light NNE wind. a rather quiet morning at sand point. 11 dunlin, 2 ringed plover, 4 knot, 25 whimbrel and a barwit for the wader count. other migrants included 3 tree pipits, 2 yellow wagtails, 2 wheatear, 4 garden warbler and a few new blackcaps and willow warblers in. at crook peak 7 wheatear, 1 yellow wagtail, 1 garden warbler and some willow warblers new in. 100+ brown argus on the wing also seen were wall brown, grizzled skipper, common blue and a brimstone. 2 ring ouzels this evening, a well marked male at crook peak and a female at wavering down.

4th may
3rd update. cloudy with 14mph NE winds. waders in sand bay included 35 whimbrel, 4 knot, 15 bar-tailed godwit, 27 dunlin, 1 ringed plover, 1 turnstone, 1 ringed plover and 4 sanderling. other migrants included 1 yellow wagtail on the edge of the marsh, 1 tree pipit N and small movement of sand martins, house martins, swifts and swallows. at weston stw 30 swift along with smaller numbers of swallow, house and sand martin. a cuckoo calling around the uv pools. at crook peak 2 ring ouzels and a wheatear this evening and a grizzled skipper also seen.

3rd may
1st update. slightly lighter NE wind today. cloud cover came in from the east over night. no sea birds recorded past birnbeck in an hour search. at the axe est 8 bar-tailed godwits and a ringed plover. at sand bay 35 bar-tailed godwits and a few dunlin. at crook peak this evening 3 wheatear.

2nd may
3rd update. 16mph? (seemed stronger) NE wind and a cloudless sky. past birnbeck between 7:30 and 9:00 109 arctic tern (99 N and 10 sat on sea), 1 sandwich tern N, 1 kittiwake lingering briefly but distant, 7 whimbrel N, 3 house martin N along with several swallows and a couple of swifts. little to report elsewhere with the highlights being 5 black-tailed godwit still at the uv pools, 50 oystercatcher and a black-headed gull at the axe est. at crook peak this evening 2 male ring ouzel and a wheatear.

in the moth trap: 1 puss moth, 1 pale tussock, 1 frosted green, 2 cypress carpet, 1 common quaker, 2 bright-line brown-eye, 1 angle shades, 2 brimstone moth, 1 early grey, 1 shuttle-shaped dart.

1st may
4th update. 16mph NE wind and clear sky. an hour at birnbeck produced 1 arctic skua N, 24 arctic tern N, 1 imm little gull N, 5 tern sp. N, 1 fulmar S and 20 swift N. at uphill 25 whimbrel, 1 common sandpiper, 40 dunlin lingering briefly before heading N, 2 bar-tailed godwit at est, 5 black-tailed godwit on UV pools, 1 wheatear. On middle hope 2 whinchat this morning (JCG) 2 ring ouzel at crook peak this evening. also a grey partridge on the roadside 1 mile east of christon.

30th april
1st update. mainly clear sky with 15mph NE wind. an hour sea watch off birnbeck produced 1 little tern N, 16 arctic tern N, 10+ tern sp N too far out to be certain of identity, 1 adult kittiwake N close in, 8 black-headed gulls N. 8 common scoter sat on the sea distantly contained 7 male and a female. at the axe a hobby east over the boat yard. 7 whimbrel and 2 ringed plover at the est. at weston stw 3 black-tailed godwits on the uv pools plus 25 swift and 2 sand martin over the wildfowl lagoons.

29th april
1st update. partly cloudy with 15mph NE wind. at axe 3 common sandpiper, 6 whimbrel, 4 swift, 1 yellow wagtail, 2 black-headed gull, 7 sand martin, 5 bar-tailed godwit, 1 ringed plover, 4 dunlin and garden warbler singing by the yacht club. a sea watch off sand point early morning produced c.50 common tern, 3 arctic, 2 little and 1 sandwich tern. also at sand point mid morning 15 whimbrel, 3 swift, 4 wheatear, 1 tree pipit, 1 cuckoo, 1 redstart, 20 arctic tern N and a common tern N. also of note a fem goosander S past birnbeck. the same observer that had the redstart also mentioned a male pied flycatcher on sand point two weekends ago and seeing 2 whinchat recently at the axe. plenty of hirundines up channel this morning.

28th april
2nd update: partly cloudy with a 15mph NE wind. At uphill several hirundines moving north mainly swallows and house martins with 10 sand martins. 36 bar-tailed godwits counted with 8 at axe est, 12 in weston bay, 1 at birnbeck and 15 in sand bay. other waders included 3 redshank new in at axe est (previously non in the last few days), 4 dunlin at axe est. 60 arctic tern counted 6 lingering off birnbeck pier plus 14 N.40 Arctic terns at sand point upchannel. Whimbrel numbers up with 6 at axe est and 20 in sand bay. Other sightings included 1 swift N over axe est, 3 purple sandpiper at birnbeck and a garden warbler singing at the car park at sand point. a small black-headed gull influx included 15 in sand bay and 1 at the axe est.

27th april
cloudy with 15mph NE wind at uphill several house martins and swallows through with a small number of sand martins also. 7 whimbrel north and a yellow wagtail heard calling.

26th april
cloudy with a NNE wind: a brief search at sand point produced 1 tree pipit, 1 wheatear, 2 garden warbler, 8 whimbrel, and a house martin through. at uphill 2 swift N, 1 yellow wagtail heard over, 1 tree pipit heard over, 4 swallow, 1 curlew and 2 black-headed gulls. at weston stw late morning 30 swift, 40 house martin, 1 greenshank.

25th april
100% cloud cover, dry and a S wind. at uphill 1 wood warbler singing by the quarry briefly also a garden warbler there singing. 9 whitethroat, 4 lesser whitethroat, 2 blackcap, 1 willow warbler, 1 chiffchaff. 4 house martin nest building by the boatyard entrance, 15 swallow through W, 4 whimbrel at axe est. a gannet and fulmar flew N in weston bay.

24th april
100% cloud cover with rain and a S wind. An interesting record of a grasshopper warbler seen and heard reeling in a small area of bushes between Tesco and the Odeon cinema. little else to report. a few swallows moving south at axe est and a whitethroat singing by the yacht club. at the stw early afternoon 60 sand martin and 2 reed warbler.

23rd april
100% cloud with rain and a light S wind. An hour at axe est produced 2 wheatear on the beach, 1 yellow wagtail S, 1 whimbrel S, 6 sand martin 5N, 1S, 1 house martin W, 6 swallow 1S, 3N, 2W. At weston stw mid morning 9 swift, 40 hirundines inc mainly house martins over the wildfowl lagoons and a black-headed gull S along the axe.

In the moth trap: 1 herald, 1 spruce carpet, 1 angleshades, 3 double-striped pug, 1 bright-line brown-eye, 1 hebrew character, 4 brimstone moth, 1 common quaker, 2 shuttle-shaped dart

22nd april
partially cloudy day with a S wind. At sand point per PAG 1 arctic skua, 4 wheatear and a garden warbler.

21st april
a cloudless sky with SE wind. at sand point 1 ring ouzel (BB), 1 garden warbler (BB), per PAG: 8 tree pipit, 1 gannet, 1 yellow wagtail, 1 grasshopper warbler, 3 swift, several house martins, 3 whitethroat, 4 lesser whitethroat, 1 whimbrel, 1 sedge warbler.
at uphill: 1 garden warbler, 1 whitethroat, 2 house martin N, 11 black-headed gull S. redshank numbers down to 20, 4 dunlin and a ringed plover SE.
at crook peak: 1 ring ouzel, 2 wheatear, 2 house martin N, 3 swallow N, 2 whitethroat and a lesser whitethroat.

In the moth trap: 1 Lychnis, 3 early grey, 3 hebrew character, 1 brimstone moth, 1 clouded drab.

20th april
a cloudless sky with NE wind c. 11mph at sand point: 2 ring ouzel, 7 tree pipit E, 2 redstart, 2 yellow wagtail E, 4 swift E, 3 grasshopper warbler, 6 lesser whitethroat, 2 siskin, 20 goldfinch E, 3 wheatear, 20 willow warbler, 5 sand martin, 10 swallow E, 2 W.

19th april
cloudless sky with a light SE wind. at uphill 1 cuckoo until mid morning, 1 spotted redshank, 2 black-tailed godwit, 1 greenshank, 2 common sandpiper, 2 whimbrel (MSP), 1 jack snipe (MSP), 1 grasshopper warbler, 1 wheatear, 1 yellow wagtail, 6 lesser whitethroat, 1 reed warbler, 50 sand martin, 5 swallow. also 4 orangetip and a small copper. a hairy dragonfly seen at the wildfowl lagoons (MSP). also dotted bee-fly on walborough NR (MSP).

moth trap: muslin moth, silver y, 2 early grey, hebrew character, shuttle-shaped dart, 2 brimstone moth.

18th april
clear sky and a light NNE wind. at uphill, 1st whitethroat of the year, 1 yellow wagtail, 1 tree pipit, 1 white wagtail, 5 sedge warbler, 1 whimbrel, 1 spotted redshank, 5 common sandpiper, 1 black-tailed godwit, 2 dunlin, 20 swallow N, 20 sand martin N, 3 black-headed gulls N.
This evening at uphill a swift N at 8:10, 2 grey partrdge feeding at the burnt hide area so have now deleted the record of 2 red-legged partridges, 9 dunlin (7 at est, 2 on river), 150 sand martin and 50 swallow over the wildfowl lagoons. 1 green-veined white on walborough NR.
At brean down: 1 redstart, 1 tree pipit, 50 swallow NW, 2 sand martin N, 15 blackcap, 10 willow warbler, 20 meadow pipit N, 1 dunlin over calling.
At sand point (PAG): 1 garden warbler, 1 whimbrel, 1 redstart, 3 lesser whitethroat.

17th april
100% cloud cover with a 10mph NNE wind. at uphill1st yellow wagtail of the year, 1 greenshank, 1 common sandpiper, 15 swallow N, 15 sand martin N,1 dunlin, 14 curlew and 7 black-headed gulls. At sand point 1 brambling (PAG)
An impressive flock of 1,000 swallows and 200 sand martins this evening over the wildfowl lagoons reeling backwards and forwards like a dunlin flock. They eventually roosted in the reeds at 8:45 making a lot of noise. also present 1-2 yellow wagtail.

Moth trap: 1 Streamer, 7 light brown apple moth, 6 hebrew character, 3 brimstone moth, 1 early grey, 1 double striped pug

16th april
a cloudless day again with less fog than yesterday and a light N wind. at sand point: 4 grasshopper warbler, 2 lesser whitethroat were the highlights (PAG) and 5 Purple Sandpipers at Birnbeck (PAG). At uphill this evening a reed warbler singing at the wildfowl lagoons. a single dunlin present with the redshank. a flock of 150 hirundines flew in near dark that were nearly all swallows. 5 sand martins N.

15th april
a cloudless day with fog first thing and a light variable wind. 4 ring ouzels at sand point. 3 together briefly before flying east (PAG, JCG),
1 later at sand point eventually flying off towards middle hope (BB). also 1 grasshopper warbler, 4 tree pipit, 2 redstart, 2 lesser
whitethroat and 7 golden plover over. At uphill 1 avocet (SOS), 1 greenshank, 1 tree pipit N, 1 swallow E, 2 grasshopper warbler, 1 lesser whitethroat, 250 redshank. A good fall of migrants on brean included 150 willow warbler, 2 pied fly, 5 redstart, 5 tree pipit, 50 blackcap (RM) and a richards pipit N towards weston (JJP).

14th april
an evening visit to uphill produced a short-eared owl which flew up from the axe bank and circled near the uv pools but flew inland SE after some hassle from 2 corvids. also a flock of 19 sand martin flew north and a second flock of 120 mixed swallow and sand martin came in from the SE and circled over the wildfowl lagoons near dark.

light ENE wind with some fog much the same as yesterday. at uphill: 1 knot with redshank, 1 ring ouzel flew over the axe and landed in fields on the somerset side briefly before heading off towards brean. 30+ willow warbler, 1 tree pipit, 2 sand martin, 4 swallow, 1 grasshopper warbler, 2 lesser whitethroat, 1 sedge warbler, 7 wheatear, 10 chiffchaff, 10 blackcap. also a gadwall was new in on the wildfowl lagoons. Lots of peacock butterflies and an orangetip.

In the moth trap: 2 light-brown apple moth, 2 common quaker, 2 hebrew character, 1 double-striped pug, 1 early grey.

13th april
12mph ENE wind with some fog at uphill: 1 adult Little Gull over UV pools for 40 mins (MSP), 1 Sedge Warbler (MSP), 1 lesser whitethroat, 10 house martin N, 5 sand martin N, 25 swallow N, 5 willow warbler, 1 black-headed gull.

Axe est this afternoon: 1 partial summer spotted redshank, 140 redshank, 10 teal

In the moth trap: 2 hebrew character, 2 early grey and a wasp.

12th april
90%+ cloud cover all night allbeit high thin cloud. 9mph ENE wind this morning. at uphill 8 willow warbler, 6 chiffchaff, 4 blackcap, 40 sand martin N, 7 meadow pipit N, 5 swallow N, 17 black-headed gull high S. still some herring and lesser black-back gulls going through but numbers are down on previous weeks with only around 200-300 birds passing over.

Axe Est at high tide this afternoon: 3 ringed plover, 1 black-headed gull and 30 redshank

sand point this evening: 50 swallow N, 10 house martin N, 4 wheatear.

11th april
40% cloud cover and a light NE wind. at uphill, 2 grasshopper warbler, 1 lesser whitethroat, 2 swallow, 10 willow warbler, 4 blackcap and 3 chiffchaff.

news from sand point per PG: 1 short-eared owl high north at 8am, 1 tree pipit, 10 swallow, 2 sand martin, 6 willow warbler. also a male goshawk circling over worle for c. 5 mins on monday evening.

sand point this evening: 40 swallow through and a whimbrel in sand bay.

In the moth trap: 5 hebrew character, 1 shuttle-shaped dart, 1 bright-line brown-eye

10th april
90% high cloud cover and a very light northerly wind. at uphill 20+ willow warbler, 10 blackcap, 5 chiffchaff, 1 wheatear, 7 sand martin N, 1 swallow. At the axe est over high tide was a spotted redshank.

9th april
100% cloud cover and reduced visibility produced some birds today. at brean down 1 grasshopper warbler (JT), 1 Red Kite (JT) later headed off over weston. this evening at the sewage works were 20 swallow and 70 sand martin.

8th April
A change of wind direction to a light SE this morning. at brean down: 1 male redstart (RM),1 wheatear, 25 sand martin west, 3 swallow west, 3 blackcap, 3 willow warbler, 4 chiffchaff, 3 great black-back gull east. 15 teal on the axe. Several Holly Blue on the wing.

7th April
light NNE wind. at uphill: 9 willow warbler, 5 chiffchaff, 3 blackcap, 20 sand martin, 2 swallow, 1 redwing, 200 redshank.

at sand point: 11 wheatear, 6 willow warbler, 5 chiffchaff, 1 swallow N, 25 meadow pipit N.

PM update: 180 sand martin over the wildfowl lagoons this evening plus 2 swallow. tufted duck numbers up to 16.

6th April
light NNE wind. At Uphill: 13 willow warbler, 6 chiffchaff, 5 blackcap, 2 house martin, 1 common sandpiper, 1 black-tailed godwit, 350 redshank. At sand point: 2 wheatear, 1 tree sparrow (JCG), 2 house martin, 1 sand martin and 5 swallow. also 1 blackcap and a small number of willow warbler and chiffchaff. also here a ruff flew into the bay late morning with 40 curlew but flew off south without landing having been scared off by a plane or the dog walkers in the saltmarsh. also a stonechat with a white rump that could have been the bird reported during the week. 1 purple sandpiper at birnbeck.

In the moth trap: 4 common quaker, 1 light brown apple moth, 1 hebrew character, 1 clouded drab, Early Grey plus some not id'd yet

5th April
light N wind: at the axe: 3 willow warbler, 2 chiffchaff, 1 wheatear, 1 blackcap, 2 sand martin N, 2 shoveler (new in). waders included: 1 dunlin, 1 partial summer spotted redshank, 1 summer plumage black-tailed godwit, 400 redshank.

PM update: 1 blackcap new in, 10 sand martin, 4 swallow, 1 common sandpiper.

In the moth trap: 4 hebrew character and 1 double-striped pug.

4th April
back to a brisk NE wind. at brean down: 2 wheatear, 120 meadow pipits NE, 10 goldfinch NE, 5 linnet NE, 1,000+ herring/lesser black-back gulls NW, 10 woodpigeon W. Also 3 singing male blackcaps. At weston stw 5 sand martin.

At sand point (per NW)| : 1 little ringed plover, 1 grey plover, 1 black-tailed godwit, 7 wheatear (6 male).

at the axe this evening in light easterlies: new birds in included 1 spotted redshank with 400 redshank, 1 ringed plover, 50 sand martin east and 1 swallow west.

3rd April
much lighter NE winds this morning providing much better migrating conditions. vis mig by 9am consisted only of meadow pipits. birds new in: pair gadwall and 4 black-headed gulls. also present: 20 sand martins. 2 swallows new this afternoon. no gull passage this morning with just a small amount this afternoon.

2nd April
Strong NE winds for the last 3 days inc today. Migration this morning involved a small passage of pipits heading north NE over the axe, a chiffchaff came in from the SW and landed in the saltmarsh briefly, a steady trickle of herring and lesser black-backs from the S and ESE.

drake green-winged teal still present this morning at the mouth of the Axe.

this afternoon at the river axe, 2 LRP's and 30 sand martins present.

a report of a possible siberian stonechat at sand point this morning. no sign late afternoon and evening. 1 wheatear, on middle hope with 30 meadow pipits NEand a flock of 25 hirundines NE.

LNY: male Marsh Harrier flew over M5 just after 3pm on 1st (PAA)

30th March
100% cloud and light rain early morning had halted any migration. No passage recorded although large thrush sp flying high north over uphill at 9:00am that could have been either a mistle thrush, fieldfare or ring ouzel. 25 meadow pipits grounded at uphill. A kingfisher was heard a couple of times around the boat yard.
Late morning was a different story with 15 sand martins, 2 swallows and a male wheatear all new in at weston stw.

29th March
9mph NW wind this morning. Around the Axe 80 sand martin through west with some lingering for a minute or two over the wildfowl lagoons. 500+ herring/lesser black-back gulls coming in from the south east heading towards brean. The passage started just after eight and was still in full flow when i left at 9:00am. The shoveler, gadwall and most of the tufted duck seen last night were gone this morning with pochard numbers unchanged. 3-4 singing chiffchaff at uphill. 1 Common Sandpiper and 3 White wagtails nr the sluice.

28th March
Virtually windless conditions over night produced fog all morning. Developing westerlies cleared out the fog from mid-day. 4 Dunlin and a Common gull were the only migrants found on the axe est over high tide. This evening the herring and lesser black-back gull passage resumed with 2,000+ heading ENE. 120 sand martin at weston stw which included a single swallow. also 60 alba wagtails around the STW buildings. wildfowl included a dozen tufted duck, half a dozen pochard, 3 shoveler, 1 gadwall and 2 wigeon.

27th March
A 12mph NE wind was not as productive as expected. Brean Down produced: 110 meadow pipits NE, 1 Lesser Redpoll N, 9 alba wagtails N, 10 chiffchaff (some singing and some moving through the top bushes quickly), 8 goldfinch N, 3 Collared Dove W, 30 woodpigeon. Also a small influx of Goldcrests noted. 70 teal on the shoreline in weston bay which included the drake green-winged teal. 2 sand martin feeding over the wildfowl lagoons at the STW. 7 Black-headed Gulls north along the River Axe and 3 Great Black-back Gulls at the est (2 adult + 1 second winter).

PM update: 1 Swallow, 1 Sand Martin and 1 hirundine sp hawking around uphill quarry this evening. A flock of 35 meadow pipits went to roost in the salt marsh.

26th March
Only managed to get out for a few minutes this morning but there was a noticeable movement of meadow pipits and chiffchaffs. 40+ meadow pipits and 30+ alba wagtails grounded on the banks of the axe. Other migrants included 6 common gulls at the axe estuary (2 adult and 4 second winter). 45 teal counted at the axe est. No sign of the green-winged teal.

24th March
During a lengthy search of brean down this morning in a moderate NNE cold wind: 2 Fieldfares on wires at brean, 65 meadow pipits NE towards weston, 1 male wheatear at the trig point feeding actively, 2 chiffchaffs turned up late morning at the bottom of the diaganol track.

23rd March
2 Sand Martins lingering over the wildfowl lagoons at weston stw. A red kite for half an hour over brean down this morning plus 5 sand martins through there (per SOS).

In the moth trap: 4 light brown apple moth and 1 hebrew character.

21st March
At sand bay/point this morning: 1 partial summer littoralis rock pipit in the marsh then flew north, several singing chiffchaffs and several redwing nr sand point car park. migrants included a siskin east, 3 skylark north, 8 black-headed gulls north west.

17th March
2 Wheatears on Brean Down this morning (JT).

16th March
5mph westerly wind with clear skies. At Weston STW: 750 herring/lesser black-back gulls over from the ESE heading towards steep holm. A small influx of chiffchaffs. Other migrants included 4 woodpigeon high south and 2 curlew high west.

PM update. 1,000 herring/lesser black-back gulls moving west in a 18mph westerly wind this evening.

14th/15th March
A quiet couple of days so far. A spinkling of chiffchaffs, common sandpiper on the axe and a small passage of herring/lesser black-back north.

PM update: The gulls are back on the move with 2,000+ counted moving west in just 3/4 hour. Still haven't managed to pick out an Iceland yet....

13th March
Light westerly wind. Little to report this morning. 3 chiffchaff and 3 goldcrest at the axe. Few herring and lesser black-backs west.

12th March
A reduction in wind speed this morning with more cloud and light rain started around 8:45. On brean down this morning: 1 jack snipe flushed from the down and then headed east, 4 chiffchaff, an influx of 15 goldcrests from the south. 3 redwings north over weston early morning.

11th March
strong southerly winds this morning. Only 250 gulls west by 9:15 over brean down. Otherwise little of note other than a migrant flock of 30 woodpigeon bombing around the trig point.

10th March
Male Goshawk west over worle early morning (PG). At brean down this morning: 2 sand martins west, 1 siskin over (heard only), 1,700 Herring/Lesser Black-back Gulls west, 2 Great Black-back Gulls west, 1 White Wagtail north, 1 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. Drake Green-winged Teal still present on the Axe with 52 eurasian Teal. 8 Wigeon also present.

9th March
At river axe between 8:15 and 9:00: 1 drake green-winged teal, 30 teal, 8 wigeon, 450 herring/lesser black-back gulls moving west.

8th March
On Brean Down: 1 wheatear (BES), 850 Herring Gull west, 250 Lesser Black-back Gulls west, 250+ Meadow Pipits north-west over the east end of the down, 40 black headed gulls west and 10 common gulls west.
2 great crested grebes on the uv pools and the drake green-winged teal still present at the axe est.

7th March
Drake Green-winged teal present this morning. Yesterday a sand martin and short-eared owl reported here. 310 redshank, 50 dunlin and a common sandpiper roosting on the river axe at high tide.

8th Feb
Little movement recorded in recent days. On the axe 350 dunlin, 120 redshank. 99 mute swans on bleadon level.

3rd Feb
An adult Yellow-legged Gull on weston beach plus 2 Great black-backed gulls. Also 280 Dunlin, 320 Lapwing, 40 Teal and 10 Wigeon.

2nd Feb
At the axe, some overnight duck passage with a drop in teal numbers. only 6 could be found. wigeon numbers up to 12. 100 redshank counted.

1st Feb
On Weston beach: 450 dunlin, 20 ringed plover. Further down the beach at axe est: 165 lapwing and 50 teal. The spotted redshank still present on the tidal side of the axe. A diurnal movement of black-headed and herring gulls recorded coming in from the south east.

Moth trap: 2 Light Brown Apple Moth and 1 Chestnut.

31st January
A quick look in at weston beach this morning. A influx of black-headed, lesser black-back and herring gulls noted. More dunlin and ringed plover on the beach and a reduction in teal numbers also noted.

PM update. 300 small waders plus plenty of bh gulls and common gulls on weston beach.

27th January
12 snipe, 60 teal, 70 skylark, 20 rock pipit and 1 jack snipe at the axe est this morning. 67 mute swans on bleadon level with a further 21 on the somerset side of the axe. A woodcock flew over weston airfield this evening.

26th January
No sign of 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull last night or this morning. 400 dunlin south along weston beach.

25th January
The 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull present yesterday and today coming to bread. 2 herring gulls ringed from the Gloucester or Stoke Orchard landfill - numbers 773 and BDK. The polish ringed Black-headed Gull present on 24th.
Spotted Redshank on the tidal river axe. At the estuary: 50 dunlin, 65 teal and 7 wigeon.

23rd January
1 Green Sandpiper on the non-tidal side of the axe. 1 common sandpiper on the tidal side of the axe. An influx of 90 Herring gulls included an oiled juvenile bird.

2nd update: 2nd winter/summer yellow-legged gull still present on weston beach at lunch time coming to bread. 22 ringed plover on weston beach.

3rd update: 2 probable 2nd winter/summer yellow-legged gulls present this afernoon. The birds both look very similar but the new bird has a more yellow bill and a complete tail band whereas the tail band on the other bird has is broken ie large areas of white. I would say that this rules out a hybrid.

22nd January
The ringed adult meditarranean gull was present on weston beach this afternoon. Also an oiled black-headed gull could be a victim of the oil spillage on the south devon coast suggesting a movement north of this species. A possible 2nd winter yellow-legged gull coming to bread this afternoon.

19th January
At the Axe this morning: 30 Teal, 15 Wigeon, 95 Oystercatcher, 130 redshank, 30 dunlin, 100 lapwing. At weston stw: 20 pochard, 1 spotted redshank of tidal side of axe. 20 redwing appear to be new arrivals lingering near the stw entrance.

16th January
95+ Teal still present on the shoreline of the Axe this morning with a further 30 in the river. 2 immature mute swans at the mouth of the estuary on the shoreline. Another Red Admiral in the garden. 27 Ringed Plover on weston beach.

15th January
A rather worn Red Admiral in the garden at lunch time is my first butterfly of the year.

13th January
No sign of gw teal in a brief search this afternoon. An adult med gull was seen flying from the est and lost behind black rock.

12th January
Green-winged Teal present this morning with 90 teal and 13 Wigeon. No sign of the gull feeding frenzy this morning. I'm wondering if it only occurs in windy conditions and the food source is pushed into the estuary mouth. 20 ringed plover weston bay.

11th January
No sign of any teal by lunch time at the axe est. an adult winter med gull and adult kittiwake amongst 500 black-headed and common gulls. 4 ringed plover on the beach and 100+ dunlin.

10th January
No sign of the green-winged teal in a brief search at lunch time although plenty of teal still present. An adult winter med gull in the gull roost on weston beach this afternoon along with hundreds of black-headed and common gulls.

9th January
Drake green-winged teal still present with 70 teal. 180 shelduck, 300+ dunlin. half an hour sea watch between 8 - 8:30 from birnbeck produced 3 auk sp flying south towards brean at 8:15 and 50 small waders south.

8th January
Drake green-winged teal still present this morning with 70 teal at the axe est. also present: 500 dunlin, 1 knot, 150 redshank, 70 lapwing, 50 oystercatcher.

7th January
1 drake Green-winged Teal present all day. Initially in the estuary but was refound feeding on the tideline with 100 mallard and 6 teal in the afternoon. 70 teal present in the bay. 25 ringed plover also reported.

5th January
6 Purple Sandpipers roosting at Birnbeck. Green Sandpiper on the river axe. 1 common sandpiper on the tidal side of the river axe. 25 mute swans located on bleadon level. 90 canada geese. wader numbers are down with 150 lapwing and no large dunlin flocks located.

3rd January
A 1st winter Med Gull at Uphill beach briefly before flying east over the golf course. 80 Mallard, 300 Dunlin counted. An increase of Wigeon from 6 to 17 noted. Teal numbers seemed to be down but were difficult to count this morning. 1 Green Sandpiper present on the river axe was the only bird of note inland. The mute swans off accomodation road seem to have dissappeared. Redwings heard moving through over weston at night but none seen this morning.