Port of Bristol (Avonmouth) Tide Times Low 04:46 1.84m High 10:30 12.63m Low 17:08 2.05m High 22:53 12.04m

A cold and breezy walk to Battery Point an hour before high tide this morning, and a wander along Woodhill Bay (Portishead). Nice to see all 5 Purple Sandpiper close together. Also; 2 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 2 Snipe, 2 Pied Wagtail, c10 Rock Pipit (07.01.26) #avonbirds #ukwildlife

Seven Turnstone spied on the rocks and beach at Clevedon this morning. Here are six of them... #UKbirding - Clevedon, 7 January 2026.

Port of Bristol (Avonmouth) Tide Times Low 04:13 1.48m High 09:50 13.10m Low 16:38 1.63m High 22:16 12.59m

Purple Sandpiper is a very scarce bird on the Severnside patch, but a small population can be found in most winters at nearby Battery Rocks, Portishead. I managed to catch up with two of these visitors from the north over the high tide this morning #ukbirding

New Year's resolution Thinking of giving something back to birds in 2026? A wide range of BTO surveys needs volunteers, writes Chris Harbard, and there's something suitable for every birder, whatever your level of experience:

Three Purple Sandpipers spied this morning on the rocks. #UKbirding - Portishead, 6 January 2026.

Port of Bristol (Avonmouth) Tide Times Low 03:33 1.27m High 09:08 13.37m Low 16:01 1.34m High 21:36 12.98m

3 penduline tit at Aust Wetland again today. Unfortunately they flew off after I'd been there for just 10 minutes - leaving me with 1 decent photo 😂 @severnsidebirds.bsky.social @bristolbirding.bsky.social

A Great Spotted Woodpecker, male in the garden this afternoon at Writhlington

Brambling is usually a late Autumn migrant on Severnside, encountered on vismig sessions. Finding one in a mixed finch flock in mid-winter is notable to say the least. One seen today with c250 Chaffinch and c500 Linnet at Aust. Too brief for a pic - here's one from a few years ago #ukbirding

Question for more experienced birders: when snipes fly at height is it more relaxed than their manic wingbeats and swerving when flushed? Saw 3 long-beaked birds flying very steadily at height over some fields. More likely to be woodcocks?

Our local nature reserve at Uphill, Weston-S-Mare and a great opportunity to see a Red-breasted Merganser at close range. It seems happy feeding and diving on a small ‘boating lake’, nice to get a chance to see all those feather details. #avonbirding #ukbirding

Rare close up of this Common Buzzard in Kingsgate Park, Yate this afternoon. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirds #ukbirding

Also in Kingsgate Park today were Blue Tits, Robin, Wren, Great Tit & Long-tailed Tits. @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Common Buzzard in Kingsgate Park, Yate this afternoon. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirds #ukbirding

Port of Bristol (Avonmouth) Tide Times Low 02:47 1.27m High 08:22 13.42m Low 15:17 1.26m High 20:52 13.16m

Male Red-breasted Merganser showed very well on Uphill Boating Lake this afternoon. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirds #ukbirding

Another pic of this Male Red-breasted Merganser at Uphill Boating Lake this afternoon. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirds #ukbirding

Kingfisher at Uphill Boating Lake this afternoon. Plus Sparrowhawk & Little Egret. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirds #ukbirding

Common Redshank at Uphill this afternoon. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirds #ukbirding

I've started 2026 with a great day's patch birding in excellent company. Russian white-fronts at dawn, an excellent wader roost, Pintail, Pendulines, a flyover GW Egret (not easy here) and 1,300 finches in a field of Chicory. w/ @matthall95.bsky.social & @kidphotographer24.bsky.social

1 of 2 Whooper Swans on a great morning out at Chew Valley Lake. @bristolbirding.bsky.social

January 3rd: The S. Glos 2026 year list got off to a cracking start with 109 species logged so far! Highlights: Bewick's Swan, White-fronted Geese, Cattle Egret, Firecrest, overwintering Whinchat and our first ever January record of Penduline Tit. 📸 @severnsidebirds.bsky.social #UKbirding

The River Avon (Bristol) Avocet were a little more dispersed yesterday. Super to find that three had strayed further from the main flock, and to the north side of the river. (03.01.26) #avonbirds #ukwildlife #birds @btobirds.bsky.social

First trip of the year to Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve and such a glorious day. I saw my first water rail! A lot of the water was frozen over. Saw a beautiful bullfinch glowing in the sun light, lots of tits (LT, blue, great) ducks (gadwall, wigeon, mallard, shelduck, shoveler) and more #UKBirding

Beautiful crisp morning and stacks of birds at New Passage with @j-dunning.net - 16 White-fronted Goose still, 2 Pintail, 4 Golden Plover, 5 Knot, 400 Blackwit, 3000 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, male Marsh Harrier and Redpoll. Brambling behind Aust Services. Dodgy phone scoped video of the dawn scene

Although their population stats show an upward trend, Whooper Swan remains a real scarcity in Avon. So, to have two of these graceful birds wintering at Chew Valley Lake feels significant. Also connected with the ultra-smart drake Ring-necked Duck on a crisp dawn visit. Pic: Bri Thompson #ukbirding

Port of Bristol (Avonmouth) Tide Times Low 01:56 1.47m High 07:33 13.23m Low 14:27 1.40m High 20:04 13.13m

Three Penduline Tits at Aust made for great start to birding year this morning. Later trip to Slimbridge produced 55 Bewick's Swan, 80+ Russian WF Goose, 15 Tundra Bean Goose, Water Rail, 500 Golden Plover, 300 Dunlin, surprise Bittern & good views of Cetti's Warbler. @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Red Breasted Merganser, male on boating Lake at Uphill this afternoon

bonus Blackbird blep 😜

Birding-by-bike: * brown Blackbird blocked by berries; * black Blackbird + berry; * Blackcap; * blurry Bullfinch. #UKBirding - Portishead, 3 January 2026.

Yellow browed Warbler in Frome this morning! #ukbirding

Three Penduline Tits (at least two in this pic), Water Rail, Two Jack Snipe, Kestrel and Common Sand all seen at Cake Pill, Aust, Bristol.

Port of Bristol (Avonmouth) Tide Times Low 01:02 1.85m High 06:43 12.80m Low 13:32 1.71m High 19:13 12.87m

Wintering Whinchat, 9 Jack Snipe, 8 Rock Pipit and Common Sandpiper at the north end of Northwick Warth/Cake Pill. And bonus Firecrest at Aust STW! #ukbirding

Full day out on the Severnside patch produced a bonkers array of species: 2 Bewick's Swan first thing then flew NE, 16 White-fronted Goose, 4 Pochard, Cattle Egret, Barwit and 2 Blackwit at New Passage/Pilning Wetland. The 3 Penduline Tit continue to draw a crowd, plus Barn Owl at Aust Wetland.

Bit of excitement took me by surprise today so wasn't ready with camera - a Sparrowhawk caught a Dunlin, tried landing on a harbour wall and dropped it into the sea. #UKbirding - Portishead, 2 January 2026

Here's a Redshank in the mud with its shadow. #UKbirding - Portishead, 2 January 2026.

Despite missing 2 early morning Bewick's Swans, a flyover drake Red-breasted Merganser and a Firecrest, it was still an excellent #patchbirding day with wintering Whinchat, Common Sandpiper & 9 Jack Snipe including one found with a thermal imager within stepping distance. All comer year list now 86+

Black Redstart and Common Sandpiper at the entrance to Portishead Marina this afternoon.

The ever delightful Stonechat (female) at Lamplighters Marsh NR (Bristol). 31.12.25 #avonbirds #ukwildlife #birds

Port of Bristol (Avonmouth) Tide Times Low 00:03 2.39m High 05:49 12.15m Low 12:35 2.19m High 18:20 12.41m

After a pointless traipse down to Kenfig looking for the Bufflehead I managed a bit of casual birding there followed by a trip to Severnside to see the Pendulines at Aust and a few other commons inc Whitefronts. It has begun. When will it end..

White-fronted Geese on Northwick Warth this afternoon. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirds #ukbirding

Turnstone at New Passage late afternoon. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirds #ukbirding

Who needs fireworks, eh! Much better. I got this footage standing on top of the bench in the back garden in Filton a short while ago. I nearly lent back too far! @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Patch thrash highlights; Portbury Wharf - Marsh Harrier and 2 Water Rail Weston Big Wood - 120+ Raven (new record count) Channel View - 3k Dunlin, 2k Lapwing, GWE Clevedon lanes - Cattle Egret Blind Yeo - 2 Goosander 72 Species in total with @howardtaffs.bsky.social

The New Year patch birding got off to a flying start this morning and I managed to see my 3 target species. The White-fronted Geese had increased to 16, the 3 Penduline Tits were very showy and the wintering Cattle Egret was with it's friends.