Birds and Moths

 of Burnham-on-Sea

• 28th December: A male Black Redstart is still in the cove at Brean Down.
  
  
• 19th December: There were 7 Pochard on Apex today.
  
  
• 14th December: A male and a female Black Redstart at Brean Down this morning.
  
  
• 9th December: A brief visit to Apex today produced 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Redpolls and 2 Siskin.
  
  
• 7th December: There were two Common Scoter sat on the sea off Berrow. Also there were several Blackcaps and 2 Chiffchaffs between Berrow and Brean.
  
  
• 6th December: There is still a male Black Redstart at Brean Down.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Black Redstart, Brean Down, 6th December 2005
  
  
  
• 4th December: There are still two Black Redstarts at Brean Down,  the unringed male and a female type. Around Berrow church there were at least 11 Blackcaps and 150 Fieldfares.
  
  
• 2nd December: There were two stunning male Black Redstarts at Brean Down this morning. One of the birds bears a metal ring.
  
  

• 29th November: Several jays are currently visiting our bird table.
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  Jays, Burnham, 29th November 2005.
  

  
  
• 26th November: A quick look around the reedbed at Berrow produced a Yellowhammer and a Teal.
  
  
• 25th November: There was a sprinkling of snow this morning with a bitterly cold north-west wind. The only notable sighting was a Pale-bellied Brent Goose on Stert Island.
  
  
• 24th November: Strong and very cold north-west winds blew 250 Kittiwakes into the Parrett Estuary off Burnham this afternoon.
  
  
• 23rd November: The two Dartford Warblers were still in the coastal scrub at Berrow.
  
  
• 20th November: Reported today from Berrow were two Dartford Warblers, a Chiffchaff and a Bittern was flushed from the reedbed.
  
  
• 18th November: There was a Black Redstart at Berrow church this lunchtime. Surprise sighting of the day was the fact that an observer watching from Burnham seafront was able to spot two of the Richard's Pipits being flushed from the tidal bank at Huntspill (thanks to mobile phones). There have been three Richard's Pipits in the fields at Huntspill since the 5th of November.
  
  
• 12th November: Not much to report from our patch. But 15 miles up the coast at Kingston Seymoor there was an Upland Sandpiper.
  
  
  
  Upland Sandpiper, Kingston Seymoor, 12th November 2005.
  
  
• 10th November: Seen from Berrow this lunchtime was a Great Northern Diver which flew north and the Arctic Tern is still patrolling the Coast.
  
  
• 7th November: A pleasant morning spent searching for a much hoped laughing gull produced the following from Burnham seafront: 3 Little Gulls, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 10 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 20 Avocets up the river and an Arctic Tern. Overhead about 1400 Chaffinches flew south.
  
  
• 5th November: There were five Pale-bellied Brent Geese a Common Tern and an Arctic Tern in the Parrett Estuary this morning.
  
  
• 4th November: A strong westerly wind with blustery showers this morning produced 3 Leach's Petrels, a Pomarine Skua and 65 Kittiwakes off Burnham. Other birds noted included 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a Merlin.
  
  
• 3rd November: Gale force southerly winds are not a lot of use when it comes to birding in our area and today was no exception. It was not until late afternoon when the wind veered to a more south west direction that anything was seen. In the hour before dusk there were around 120 Kittiwakes lingering off Burnham, and these were being harassed by 2 Arctic Skuas.
  
  
• 2nd November: There were another 2 Hawfinches seen at 0750, flying south over Burnham today. But apart from that there was only a trickle of  150 Chaffinches, 62 Greenfinches, 50 Fieldfares, 34 Lapwings, 13 Song Thrushes, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 5 Brambling, 24 Wood Pigeons, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Redpoll and 500 Starlings.
  
  
• 1st November: There was far less on the move today, after very heavy overnight rain. An hour of counting at Burnham saw 83 Redwings, 82 Wood Pigeons, 45 Chaffinches, 7 Song Thrushes, 1 Fieldfare, 68 Starling, 33 Rooks, 3 "alba " Wagtails, 3 Meadow Pipits and a single Crossbill all fly south. Visible, albeit fairly distant , from Burnham seafront were a flock of 30-40 Avocets, which have returned to their favourite spot up the river Parrett.

• 31st October: Overcast conditions with a fresh south-easterly wind saw plenty of visible migration. Over my house from 0720-0850 I had the following: 1854 Chaffinches, 236 Greenfinches, 50 Brambling, 17 Hawfinches, 10 Siskin, 6 Redpoll, 10 Bullfinch, 5 Linnet, 5 Goldfinches, 111 Starlings, 136 Wood Pigeon, 1 Stock Dove, 38 Redwings, 5 Mistle Thrushes, 21 Fieldfare, 4 Song Thrushes, 5 Reed bunting, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Skylark, 4 "alba" Wagtails and 3 Meadow Pipits all flying south.
  
  
• 28th October: Bird of the day was a Lapland Bunting which flew south at Berrow in the morning. Other birds seen flying south were: 574 Woodpigeons, 1570  Starlings, 1540 Chaffinches,  120 Greenfinches, 74 Redwing , 4 Skylark, 38 Siskin, 10 Meadow Pipits, 5 Redpolls, 15 Brambling, 16 Linnets, 7 Reed Buntings, 3 Song Thrushes, 10 Fieldfare and a Mistle Thrush.
  
  
• 27th October: Watching from the garden this morning for half an hour I saw: 400 Redwings, 85 Fieldfares, 12 Brambling, 300 Chaffinches and 350 Wood Pigeons flying south.
  
  
• 25th October: Strong south west winds today produced a Little Auk off Burnham seafront.
  
  
• 23rd October: There was no repeat of yesterdays good birds, but there was a heavy passage of Chaffinches. An hour and a half watch from the dunes at Burnham produced the following totals flying south: 2355 Chaffinches, 92 Greenfinches, 20 Brambling, 15 Siskins, 26 Linnets, 3 Redpolls, 1 Bullfinch, 14 Redwings, 8 Song Thrushes, 8 Fieldfares, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Blackbird, 104 Meadow Pipits, 12 "Alba" Wagtails, 109 Wood Pigeons, 2 Stock Doves, 1120 Starlings, 22 Skylarks, 5 Reed Buntings, 6 Carrion Crows, 43 Lapwings and 2 grey geese which were thought to be Pink-feet.
  
  
• 22nd October: The day started very damp with heavy showers, but brightening up by mid morning. There were two surprises today. The first was two Hawfinches flying over Apex in the rain. The second was a Richard's Pipit which flew over our house after the sun had come out. 
  
  
• 20th October: An adult Black Tern was at Cheddar Reservoir today.
  
  
  
  Adult Black Tern, Cheddar Reservoir, 20th October 2005.
  
  
• 17th October: A brief stop at Apex produced 3 Brambling and 30 Siskin.
  
  
• 16th October: Drizzle at dawn did not see the huge passage of migrants here. Surprisingly though thousands of birds passed locations only a few miles further north. At Berrow an hour count produced 108 Redwings, 200 Starlings, 114 Chaffinches, 14 Siskins, 11 Meadow Pipits, 3 Redpolls, 20 Song Thrushes, 8 Brambling, 47 Greenfinches, 5 Reed Buntings, 7 Linnets, 6 Skylarks, 21 Jackdaws, a Swallow, a Yellowhammer and a Fieldfare mostly flying north.
  
  
• 15th October: Today was a glorious calm sunny October day. There were plenty of birds on the move today. Chaffinches were passing south all day. Totals passing the Brue Estuary this morning included 300 Chaffinches, 43 Greenfinches, 12 Redwings, 16 Song Thrushes, 11 Brambling, 1 Siskin, 2 Mistle Thrush, 6 Blackbirds, 13 Lapwings, 19 Meadow Pipits, 37 Wood Pigeons, 3 Stock Doves, 16 Skylarks, 17 Linnets, 11 "alba" Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 150 Jackdaws and 13 Carrion Crows. At Apex there were 4 Goldcrests and a Firecrest. Tamest bird of the day was a Snow Bunting at the fort on Brean Down.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Snow Bunting, Brean Down, 15th October 2005
  
  
• 7th October: The two Yellow-browed Warblers are still present at Brean Down.
  
  
• 6th October: There are now two Yellow-browed Warblers on the east end of Brean Down.
  
  
• 5th October: Today's highlight was the discovery of a Yellow-browed Warbler at Brean Down. other migrants here were 312 Meadow Pipits,  58 Chaffinches, 48 Goldfinches,  47 Linnets,  64 "alba" Wagtails, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Siskin, 1 Grey Wagtail, 62 Swallows, 26 Song Thrushes, 15+ Blackbirds, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 4 Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs and 10 Goldcrests.  
  
  
• 4th October: Sightings from Berrow this morning included: 1 Teal, 5 Grey Plover, 600 Dunlin, 600 Knot, 4 Snipe. Passage included 60 Swallows, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 33 "alba" Wagtails, 40 Chaffinches and 150 Meadow Pipits flying south.
  
  

• 29th September: The only sighting reported today was a Guillemot off Burnham seafront.
  
  
• 28th September: There was a little bit of a sign that things are moving today with 354 Meadow Pipits, 70 Swallows, 3 Grey Wagtails,  21 'Alba' Wagtail, 15 Chaffinches, 17 Linnets, 5 Skylarks and a Great-spotted Woodpecker flying south this morning. The Brue Estuary still has 5 Curlew Sandpipers, a Spotted Redshank and a Black-tailed Godwit amongst the Redshank. Surprise bird of the day was a Red-legged Partridge wandering around a housing estate in Berrow. 
  
  
• 27th September: There were two Leach's Petrels lingering off Burnham seafront this afternoon. There was also an Arctic Tern seen here.
  
  
• 25th September: It is still very quiet. Brean Down today produced just a sprinkling of Meadow Pipits flying south and 2 Chiffchaffs.
  
  
  
  Peregrine, Brean Down, 25th September 2005.
  
  
• 24th September: A quick look at the east end of Brean Down this morning produced 15-20 Chiffchaffs, 4 Siskin and 2 Blackcaps. While on the Brue Estuary there were 6 Curlew Sandpipers.
  
  
• 23rd September: There are still 5 Curlew Sandpipers on the Brue Estuary. Also here were 400 Redshank, 175 Turnstone, 17 Dunlin and 2 Black-tailed Godwits.
  
  
• 17th September: The only notable sighting today was a Whinchat at Berrow.
  
  
• 16th September: The bird of the day was an Alpine Swift which was reported on the pager services and flew southeast over Edithmead at 0730 this morning. On the Brue Estuary at low tide there was still at least 20 Curlew Sandpipers and 3 Knot amongst the Redshank. In the evening a Hobby flew north east over Apex.
  
  
• 15th September: The roosting wader flock on the Brue Estuary at high tide this afternoon contained 750 Redshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 73 Turnstone, 7 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers and 28 Curlew Sandpipers.
  
  
• 14th September: High tide on the Brue Estuary today there were 27 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin, 750 Redshank, 67 Turnstone, a Spotted Redshank and a Whimbrel.
  
  
  
  Whimbrel, Brue Estuary, 14th September 2005.
  
  
• 13th September: There were 24 Curlew Sandpipers on the Brue Estuary this afternoon, also here was a Spotted Redshank and 24 Black-tailed Godwits.
  
  
• 7th September: A very peasant day today with plenty of interest. At Berrow this morning the Little Ringed Plover was still on the same patch of sand as yesterday. Also at Berrow there were still 6 Curlew Sandpipers, while offshore there two Common Scoter. But probably the best bird got away before it could be identified, when a marsh tern flew north-east, and it was almost certainly the White-winged Black Tern that turned up at the Axe Estuary at midday.
  
  
• 6th September: Today's sighting from Berrow produced 2 Pintail, a drake Tufted Duck, a Teal, a  Whimbrel, 182 Sanderling, a  Juvenile Little Ringed Plover,  6 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Grey Wagtails flew south and a single Wheatear. 
  
  
• 5th September: The number of Curlew Sandpipers at Berrow has risen to 21. Otherwise there were similar numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Sanderling to yesterday. There were 10 Wheatears on the beach and Golf Course, while 7 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Grey Wagtails flew south.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Curlew Sandpipers, Berrow, 5th September 2005.
  
  
• 4th September: There was a good selection of birds on this mornings high tide at Berrow. The best of which were 13 Curlew Sandpipers with 126 Ringed Plover, 400 Dunlin, 112 Sanderling, 10 Knot and 2 Redshank. On the sea there were 5 Pintail and 8 Teal amongst the Mallard and flying over were 3 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Grey Wagtails.
  
  
• 3rd September: Waders on the Brue Estuary this morning numbered 823 Redshank, 175 Turnstone and 2 Knot.
  
  
  
  Turnstone, Brue Estuary, 3rd September 2005.
  
  
• 2nd September: A Juvenile Mediterranean Gull came to bread for while at Apex around lunch time (for a photograph click on the link www.somersetbirder.fsnet.co.uk).

• 29th August: There were 120 Black-tailed Godwits and 38 Sanderling on Stert Island this morning. Overhead movement included 2 Tree Pipits, 3 Yellow Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail.
  
  
• 25th August: A quick look at the Brue Estuary produced a single Curlew Sandpiper. In the evening the wind had increased and off Burnham there were 2 Fulmars and a Manx Shearwater. Conditions however meant that most interesting looking birds were too far away and directly in line with the sinking sun.
  
  
• 19th August: During a bright and breezy morning a quick look at Berrow Beach produced 11 Knot, 17 Whimbrel, 150 Ringed Plover, 300 Dunlin and a Little Stint. High tide on the Brue Estuary saw a  Peregrine harassing the flock of 800 Redshank, 65 Turnstones and 3 Common Sandpipers. In the evening the breeze persisted, and at Berrow there were 125 Knot, a Curlew Sandpiper and 78T Mediterranean Gull present.
  
  
• 17th August: The only news today came in the form of 37 Black-tailed Godwits on the Parrett Estuary. While at Berrow there were 104 Sanderling, 45 Ringed Plover, 76 Dunlin and 23 Knot.
  
  
  
  Swallow and Ringed Plover, Berrow 17th August 2005.
  
  
  
  
  Sanderling and Knot, Berrow, 17th August 2005.
  
  
  
• 16th August: It was a clam and sunny day today and the morning started with an autumnal feel to it. At Berrow  a Greenshank flew north and a Common Sandpiper was on the golf course pond briefly. Overhead migration included 12 Tree Pipits, 4 Yellow Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail, with plenty of House Martins and Swallows milling around the reed bed.
  
  
• 13th August: The Yellow-legged Gull was present at Berrow this morning before it flew off inland. Also here a single Tree Pipit and and a Yellow Wagtail flew over.
  
  
  
  Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Berrow, 13th August 2005.
  
• 12th August: Today's highlight was an adult Yellow-legged Gull on the beach at Berrow.
  
  
• 11th August: A single Greenshank was on the Brue Estuary this morning. Surprise of the day was a Great Skua which flew down the Parrett Estuary disturbing the Gulls.
  
  
• 7th August: A glorious morning, with clear blue skies and a light northerly wind. On the Brue Estuary there were 800 Redshank, 35 Turnstone, 20 Dunlin and 2 Common Sandpipers. A single Tree Pipit flew south.
  
  
  
  Skylark, Brue Estuary, 7th August 2005.
  
  
• 5th August: The only report today was of two Gannets off Burnham this morning.
  
  
• 2nd August: A male Crossbill flew north-east over Berrow this afternoon.
  
  
• 1st August: At Berrow today there were 231 Oyster Catchers, 16 Whimbrel and a Little Tern.