Birds and Moths

 of Burnham-on-Sea

Birds

2003 Sightings

December 2003:

• 31st December: The Yellow-browed Warbler is still present. And the Black Redstart put in more of a show being seen for most of the day. There were two Grey Wagtails on the roof of the house opposite ours this morning and still plenty of Blackcaps, Fieldfares, Redwings and Song Thrushes in the surrounding Sea buckthorn bushes.
  
  

• 29th December: The Yellow-browed Warbler is still present, and the Siberian Chiffchaff was seen again at Berrow, albeit briefly. The Black Redstart put in another brief appearance at the back of our house.
  
  

• 25th December: The Yellow-browed Warbler is still present in the same patch of bushes, also here were 7 Blackcaps and 2 Chiffchaffs. A Black Redstart was seen briefly in the morning, on my garden fence and a Peregrine flew over.
  
  

• 14th December: The first major surprise of the day was that the sun was shining, albeit with a howling north-westerly wind. The second, and biggest surprise of the day, was a YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER found by James Packer at the northern end of the golf course. It took quite a long time to get good views and hear it calling, but eventually showed well off and on for most of the afternoon. Other birds seen here included several Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Blackcaps. Just up the road, the Siberian Chiffchaff showed well today, in the same garden as the 9th.
  
  

• 13th December: Yet another dismal day when it never really gets light, with persistent rain virtually all day. In the only brief interlude, a drake Red-breasted Merganser was found at Apex, very unusual here. Also at least 3 Chiffchaffs in the willows surrounding the ponds and a female Ringed Teal (full winged and unringed) tried to brighten the day.
  
  

  
  
  Ringed Teal at Apex 14th December 2003 (© P. Gay)
  
  

• 9th December: A 'tristis-type' Chiffchaff spent ten minutes in a Berrow garden today, but was not seen despite searching.
  
  

  
  
  Pied Wagtail at Berrow 10th December 2003
  
  

• 5th December: A brief look at various sites in Burnham before work, produced 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps and a Siskin.

November 2003:

• 30th November: Yet another wet weekend! This morning's highlight was a PIED WHEATEAR on the seafront at Burnham, watched feeding on the seawall. There are now thousands of birds in the Parrett Estuary, with around 20,000 Dunlin circling over Steart Point, and hundreds of Shelduck and Curlews here. Other birds seen in the estuary today include 3 Avocets, 2 Brent Geese (dark-bellied), 52 Oyster Catchers, 3 Little Egrets, 35 Wigeon (good numbers of ducks were seen up river but were too far to identify in the gloom), 25 Grey Plover, 150 Turnstone, 350 Redshank and 3 Spotted Redshank. While at Apex there were 2 Chiffchaffs.
  
  

  
  
    Pied Wheatear and a Spotted Redshank at Burnham on 30th November 2003
  
  

• 23rd November: The very quiet period continues, mostly due to a lack of any chance to go birding on my part. During the only dry period of the weekend, a short walk from my house at Burnham produced 11 Blackcaps, which seem to have returned within the last week, many of the males are singing. Also today there was a Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrests, 16 Fieldfares and 16 Redwings.
  
  

• 9th November: A watch at Burnham this morning from dawn until 1030GMT saw heavy diurnal passage south. 1600 Chaffinches, 700 Starlings, 650 Wood Pigeons, 77 Brambling, 63 Fieldfare, 11 Redwing, 3 Song Thrushes, 35 Alba Wagtails, 16 Meadow Pipits, 41 Linnets, 11 Goldfinches, 7 Redpoll, 3 Siskin, 4 Reed Buntings and 25 Golden Plover. Also present were 5 Blackcaps and 3 Goldcrests.
  
  

• 8th November: At Berrow 1200 Starlings, 165 Chaffinches, 7 Brambling and a Redpoll flew south this morning in 2½ hours. Highlight of the morning was a ringtail Hen Harrier which flew south being being mobbed by a Peregrine. Waders numbers included 1000 Dunlin, 300 Knot, 200 Oyster Catchers, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Little Egret. Whilst the bushes produced just a single Chiffchaff and two Goldcrests. 
  
  

• 5th November: Heavy passage again today, 800 Chaffinches, 500 Wood Pigeons, 1500 Starlings, 36 Greenfinches, 15 Brambling, 6 Redwings, 2 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Fieldfare and 5 Meadow Pipits flew south in 2 hours.
  
  

• 4th November: In just a quarter of an hour before work this morning 65 Wood Pigeons, 300 Chaffinches, 100 Starlings, 30 Greenfinches, 6 Brambling, 5 Redpolls and 2 Skylarks flew south over my garden in Burnham.

October 2003:

• 27th October: A RICHARD'S PIPIT was seen on the golf course by a birder trying to play golf, it was flushed and heard calling at close range.
  
  

• 12th October: The first good diurnal passage of the autumn today. The totals for a 3 hour count at Berrow were: 2000 Chaffinches, 339 Greenfinches, 349 Starlings, 12 Siskins, 47 Alba Wagtails, 26 Skylarks, 15 Goldfinches, 6 Swallows, 17 Redwings, 1 Mistle Thrush, 14 Meadow Pipits, 3 Brambling, 2 Grey Wagtails, 30 Carrion Crows and 10 Bearded Tits all flew south.
  
  

• 11th October: Numbers recorded on the Brue Estuary were 472 Redshank, 145 Turnstone, 330 Oyster Catchers ( Stert Island), 5 Knot, 4 Little Egret, 1 Brent Goose and 3 Grey Wagtails flew south.
  
  

• 5th October: The first Redwing of the autumn was seen today at Berrow, but not much else, only 1 Siskin and 10 Chiffchaffs otherwise.  

September 2003:

• 28th September: At Berrow today there was a bit more variety, but no great numbers of anything. Today's highlight was 2 Avocets which flew north only to return south 15 minutes later. Also present were 3 Gadwall, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Knot, only 50 Dunlin, 4 Goldcrests.
  
  

  
  
  Avocets at Berrow, 28th September 2003.
  
  

• 21st September: In a 2½ hour watch at Berrow this morning 600 Meadow Pipits, 75 Linnets, 25 Swallows, 6 Grey Wagtails, 5 'Alba' Wagtails, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Siskins and 5 Reed Buntings flew south.
  
  

• 16th September: An excellent bird for Berrow was seen today. A juvenile PECTORAL SANDPIPER spent ten minutes flying up and down the beach with a small party of Dunlin, landing occasionally, only to be flushed off by some dogs. Also today there was an Arctic Tern on the beach and at least 3 Curlew Sandpipers.
  
  

• 15th September: Today saw more variety and numbers of birds at Berrow. The highlights being an Arctic Skua which flew south, and an adult Yellow-legged Gull on the beach. Wader numbers were 700 Dunlin, 150 Oyster Catchers, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Sanderling and 35 Ringed Plover. Diurnal migrant numbers included 100 Meadow Pipits, 5 Tree Pipits, 9 Grey Wagtails and 2 "Alba" Wagtails all flying south. While a Great-spotted Woodpecker was trapped and ringed in the reed bed.
  
  

  
  
  Great-spotted Woodpecker at Berrow, 15th September 2003 
  
  

• 12th September: On the beach at Burnham and in the Brue there were 600 Redshank, 50 Turnstone, 300 Dunlin, 80 Ringed Plover, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Little Egrets,  5 Wigeon and a Curlew Sandpiper, with a further 3 Curlew Sandpipers at Berrow.
  
  

• 10th September: The weather today was decidedly autumnal, with a fresh westerly wind and blustery showers. Seawatching for an hour and a half in the morning produced 8 Manx Shearwaters, 4 Fulmars, 7 Kittiwake, 1 Gannet and 2 "commic" Terns.
  
  

• 8th September: There were similar numbers of grounded migrants, but no sign of the wryneck today. 9 Grey Wagtails and 5 Tree Pipits flew south. While on the beach at high tide the years second Little Ringed Plover was discovered amongst 150 Ringed Plover.
  
  

• 7th September: There was a small fall of migrants today, with best bird being an all too brief WRYNECK. It showed once early morning on the Golf Course to one lucky observer, and was not seen again. There was also one Redstart, 25 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat and several Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.
  
  

August 2003:

• 31st August: On the high tide at Berrow today there were 3 Common Scoter, 1 Curlew Sandpipers, 130 Sanderling, 102 Knot, 150 Dunlin, 60 Ringed Plover and 100 Black-tailed Godwits, Med Gull 78T was also still in residence. There were also more passerine migrants about with 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaff, 4 White Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Wheatear.
  
  

• 30th August: The only report today came from the Brue Estuary and Apex, where 10+ Chiffchaffs, a Swift and a Kingfisher were seen. Wader numbers included 800 Redshank,  113 Turnstone, 2 Little Egrets. But the most unusual sighting was of 4 adult Snow Geese (3 white: 1 Blue) flying north.
  
  

• 21st August: A quick look along the beach at Burnham today produced a single Little Tern and 23 Black-tailed Godwits, while 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Tree Pipit flew south
  
  

• 17th August: The warm weather continues, and wader numbers are still increasing at Berrow. Today there were 151 Black-tailed Godwits, 198 Oyster Catchers, 59 Sanderling, 354 Ringed Plover, 500 Dunlin, 6 Knot and 10 Whimbrel on the beach at high tide, and 78T Med Gull was also present. Passerine migrants were more in evidence with 2 Tree Pipits, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Swift, 77 Swallows, 60 House Martins and a Wheatear.
  
  

  
  
  Cetti's Warbler at Berrow 15th August 2003
  
  

• 12th August: At Berrow today Med Gull 78T is still around. The highlight today however was a Great Crested Grebe, which flew past in the morning, they are unusual here on the sea and normally associated with spells of cold of weather. Other birds of note included 1 Greenshank , 1 Common Sandpiper, 97 Sanderling and 150 Ringed Plover.
  
  

  
  
  Bearded Tit ringed at Berrow 12th August 2003

• 3rd August: The Mediterranean Gull (78T) was still present at Berrow. Also here there was 1 Greenshank and 2 Knot.
  
  

• 2nd August: There were 72 Sanderling today with 12 Whimbrel and 27 Ringed Plovers on the beach at Berrow.
  

July 2003

• 24th July: Very little to report, just 91 Oyster Catchers, 23 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, and an Adult Mediterranean Gull at Berrow. The gull (different to the 21st) has a green ring with 78T in white writing on it, this bird was seen for around two months Aug/Sept 2001.

Adult Mediterranean Gull, Berrow, 24th July 2003

• 21st July: The numbers of returning birds continues to increase. Today there were 104 Sanderling, 9 Whimbrel, 7 Dunlin and an adult Mediterranean Gull on the beach at Berrow while  8 Gannets were offshore.
  
  

• 19th July: High tide today there were 46 Sanderling, 10 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 4 Whimbrel and 80 Oyster Catchers.
  
  

• 17th July: Today saw the end of the very hot weather and a return to traditional summer fair of wind and rain. This change produced 21 Manx Shearwaters and a Black Tern off Burnham.
  
  

• 15th July: On this morning's high tide at Berrow there were just three waders, 1 Little Ringed Plover (very unusual here), 1 Whimbrel and 1 Oyster Catcher. Also 1 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Grey Wagtail flew south.
  
   

• 9th July: 3 Little Owls are often seen daily in Berrow now, with excellent views of an adult interacting with a juvenile at dusk this evening.
  
  

• 7th July: Local Bullfinches have recently fledged young and can be regularly seen and heard feeding in the Sea Buckthorn. Also the Sparrowhawks are busy carrying food to their offspring.
  
  

• 5th July: Waders are beginning to return with 350 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers and 14 Little Egrets in the Brue Estuary.
  
  

• 2nd July: An Arctic Skua was an unseasonal find, seen flying south towards Steart on the evening high tide.
  
  

June 2003

• 27th June: A Little Owl was seen viewing the world from a telegraph pole in Berrow.
  
  

• 26th June: One Yellow Wagtail flew south this morning whilst I was emptying the moth trap.
  
  

• 25th June: One Grey Wagtail flew south, otherwise very quiet.
  
  

• 14th June: A very quiet spring continues, today's highlight was a Sandwich Tern flying north. Most resident birds are busy feeding young, many of which have fledged.
  
  

  

         Sedge Warbler 14th June 2003

• 12th June: 5 Manx Shearwaters were seen early morning

May 2003

• 28th May: The only new migrants were a Spotted Flycatcher and a Whinchat in the dunes,  one Bar-tailed Godwit and a Grey Plover were feeding on the mud.
  
  

• 21st May: The only interest today was a Spotted Flycatcher in the dunes.
  
  

• 20th May: Very strong west winds today saw around 500 Manx Shearwaters circling off Burnham. Also there were 11 Gannets, 6 Fulmars and 50 Kittiwakes.
  
  

• 19th May: 2 Arctic Skuas
  

• 18th May: Calm but misty conditions brought a  passage of 150 Manx , but very little else.
  
  

• 13th May: Strong westerly winds meant that attention was concentrated on the sea. 3 Arctic Skuas, 6 Gannets, 8 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Fulmars and 3 Kittiwakes were seen in a one hour sea-watch.
  
  

• 5th May: The highlight today was a singing male Wood Warbler at Apex. In the morning 30 Kittiwakes were lingering offshore along with 5 Sanderling, 11 Whimbrel and 4 Bar-tailed Godwits on the beach. There were signs of migration today with 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Redpoll, and 65 Swallows all flying south.
  
  

• 1st May: A moderately strong south-west wind produced 1 Kittiwake and 3 Gannets. Whilst on the beach there were 24 Sanderling,  20 Whimbrel, 1 Whinchat and a sprinkling of Swallows and House Martins moving south.
  

April 2003

• 21st - 30th April: Summer migrants have arrived! Good numbers of Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps can now be heard singing from the bushes and the reed bed is alive with Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers. Passage birds included 2 Tree Pipits flying south and a solitary Wheatear was spotted on the beach on the 22nd - only the 2nd sighting so far this spring! The only notable sighting on the 25th was a Fulmar flying north along the beach. The first Swift of the spring arrived on the 26th, followed by 7 more on the 27th.
  
  

• 14- 20th April: 3 Tree Pipits, 1 Redpoll and 2 Sedge Warblers were seen on a warm, sunny day on the 15th along with 400 Common Terns, 10 Arctic Terns, a Black Tern, Arctic Skua, 3 Little Gulls and 8 White Wagtails. 200 Common Terns with 3 Black Terns, 5 Sandwich Terns and a Little Tern were seen again in the Estuary on the 16th. The first Grasshopper Warbler of the year was heard singing in the dunes on the 17th. A male Pied Flycatcher visited a local garden on the 18th. Sunny weather on the 20th produced 4 Gannets, 5 Sandwich Terns and 2 Black Terns in the Bristol Channel.
  
  

• 7- 13th April: Although cold, 2 Short-Eared Owls and a Tristis Chiffchaff were seen on the 8th in clear and sunny conditions. The 9th brought a light easterly wind, but 1 Ruff and 1 Spotted Redshank were seen in the Brue Estuary. The easterly wind remained on the 10th with cold cloudy conditions, but the 1st Swallow of the year was seen over the sand dunes. Bearded Tits have been showing well on several occasions throughout the month so far.
  
  

  
  Bearded Tit (10th April 2003)
  

• 1- 6th April: On the 1st, very strong north-westerly winds produced 2 Gannets and 125 Kittiwakes. From the 2nd - 6th, the wind turned to a light, cold easterly, with plenty of sunshine. 150 Redshank with 1 Spotted Redshank amongst 35 Turnstone and a Little Egret were seen at high tide on the Brue Estuary, whilst at Apex, 5 Willow Warblers, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap were singing on the 4th. Overcast, but calm conditions on the 5th produced 3 Common Scoter, 1 Sand Martin and a White Wagtail.