30 August 2014: New Passage and Frampton on Severn, Severn Estuary, Gloucestershire.

I spent most of today on the Severn estuary, visiting New Passage first of all, not long after the high tide had passed. First sight off the seawall were a group of Turnstone.

Further on at the entry to the saltmarsh meadows, a Grey Wagtail.

Amongsthe catlle, there were plenty of Pied Wagtail flitting about

as well as someYellow Wagtails, the first I have seen in this location this year.

A Sky lark appeared from nowhere.

Over the Pilning Wetlands, a Kestrel was hunting

Then I came across a surprising number of people who said they were waiting to see a juvenile Wood Sandpiper, which had apparently been visiting over the last couple of days. Bumper bonus time as I had only ever seen one at a distance at Slimbridge. Sure enough it turned up and proceeded to feed in a shallow grassy pool no more than 20-30 feet away - a very confiding little bird.

I think at this stage it realised it had an audience(-:).

Yellow Wagtail following the munching if the cattle, catching any insects that were disturbed

Meadow Piits out in force too

Then all of a sudden the Wood Sandpiper headed off into the flashes and landed behind the reedbed.

On the return journey a pair of Whimbrel flew over, beeping away.

The canada gese started to leave the flashes and return to the saltmarsh to feed.

Back at the estaury where the tide was now well out, Curlew were investigating the mudflats,

as were Dunlin, Redshank and Ringed Plover.

Heading back to the sea wall, I came across this Wheatear - there had been several on the saltmarsh but really to far away - not so this one, it just kept about 20 yards away in front.

A Little Egret also dropped in just as I was leaving.

 The group of people viewing the Wood Sandpiper told me of a juvenile Marsh Sandpiper at Frampton on Severn - given that this was on my way home I decided to call by and have a look. It was in with a number of Greenshank but was very distant, so these are purely record shots, rather poor ones at that but it is a new tick for me.

There were also some Ruff, again very distant.