31st January

Here is a photo of the Herring Gull seen on saturday and sunday in the gull roost in Weston bay. The bird was the same size as Herring. The closest match I can find is 2nd winter L.a.argentatus

30th January

Photos: Presumed Yellow-legged Gull. A large bird with slightly darker mantle than argenteus, no mirror on P9, extensive black on P5 and yellow legs although admittedly only pale yellow. The dark patches on the bill would make this bird a fourth winter and may account for the paleness of the yellow legs.

Quiet around Weston. A gull id'd as Yellow-legged coming to bread this morning. The gull roost this evening not very productive but better views of the presumed L.a.argentatus. Will upload video stills tomorrow.

29th January

Photo: Grey Seal Brean Down.

Brean Down: 1 Grey Seal in waters south of the fort. Mute Swan herd up from last weeks 45 to 60.

Axe Estuary: 51 knot, 2,000 teal (numbers here were considerably less during the week. They sometimes sit half a mile out to sea in Weston bay when flushed), 20 snipe.

Weston bay: Gull roost difficult to count but estimated numbers 5,000 Black-headed Gulls, 3,000 Herring Gulls, 1,500 Common Gulls, 300 Lesser Black-back Gulls. In the flock a bird similar to the one on the end of Brean Down with a dark hood and breast ending with a breast band. In flight it had a white tail with a dark band which was thicker towards the outer edge of the tail. The upper wing pattern was also distinctive with contrasting pale grey inner primaries to the darker outer primaries. The bill was pinkish with a dark tip. The mantle was darker having a more glossy look. My conclusion so far is second winter argentatus.

25th January

Photo: Some of the many Dunlin on Brean Beach this morning. Dot count software on several photos came up with 5,000 on a two dimensional photo but the flock looked to be more like 6-7,000. You can get the software here Dot Count. Beware though, the background has to be plain for an accurate count.

Brean Beach: 5,000+ Dunlin, 50 Sanderling, 150 Oystercatcher. Last night a Black Redstart roosted at Warren Farm in the reception building roof.

Sand Bay all per P.Gregory: c60 Curlew, 11 redshank, 2 grey plover, 1 Barwit, c12 snipe, 1 jack snipe, 1 water rail, c20 skylarks, c10 reed bunts and 2 GBB Gulls.

Weston STW: 450 Redshank, 80 Dunlin, 1 Knot

River Axe: 12 Goosander (2 Drakes), 1 Green Sandpiper

Weston: 3 Waxwing still at Appsley Close

Bleadon: 3+ Woodcock

22nd January

River Axe: 5 Goosander

Axe Estuary: 2,000 Teal

Weston STW: 75 Pochard

16th January

Anchor Head: No sea birds this morning but a good southerly passage in a 13mph SSW wind. Heading south were: 2,000 Dunlin, 400 Herring Gull, 20 Lesser Black-back Gulls, 30 Common Gull, 25 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 50 Knot and 200 Black-headed Gull. A further 80 BHG flew north close in but could have been local movements.

Weston: 3 Waxwing still at Appsley Close (P.Gregory)

15th January

Weston: 3 Waxwings still at Appsley Close mid-day, an adult and 2 immatures.

11th January

Weston: 4 waxwings on house of 1 Appsley Close at 9:30am and feeding on Rowan in back garden.

9th January

Photos: Turnstone, Long-tailed Tit

Weston Bird and Moth report 2010 now online, includes photos of Lapland Bunting, Honey Buzzard and the 3 Shags: Weston 2010

Weston STW: 23 Golden Plover, c.1,500 Woodpigeon, 780 Lapwing (using dot count), 30 Stock Dove

Anchor Head: 2 Turnstone, 7 Purple Sandpiper, 1 female Blackcap.

Sand Bay: 1 Water Pipit, 1 Knot, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Grey Plover. A female Pheasant has been flushed from the marsh a couple of times this year.

Weston: 12 Waxwings commuting between trees on the playing field by Wigmore Gardens and Appsley Close (P.Gregory).

8th January

Brean Down: A moderate westerly wind this morning starting off cloudy but clearing by late morning. Teal numbers up slightly with 1,950 present. The count was confirmed using photos and dot count software. Nearly all thrushes have gone from the down with just 2 Song Thrush and a Fieldfare seen. Predictably, gull passage has started with a moderate 130 Herring Gulls heading west.
Axe Estuary: c.3,000 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling.
Weston: 2 Waxwing remain at the main Tesco in Weston town.

7th January

Photo: Waxwing

Weston: 11 Waxwings still present at the Tesco car park in Weston town.

2nd January

Photo: Rock Pipit

Around Weston 3 Brent Geese, 3 Knot, 15 Grey Plover. No sign of yesterdays Water Pipit.