I found a had a free morning and, as I didn’t have much time to prepare a birding sortie,  I decided to go down to the Severn Estuary again. It only takes 20 minutes to get there and there’s always something to see.

I didn’t even know what the tide times were. Luckily the tide had not gone too far out and I was still able to see lots of waders on the shore line (even if they were a bit too far away for decent photos). More knowledgeable birders were seeing all sorts of waders but I was quite happy to pick out redshank, oystercatchers, ringed plover, widgeon, a single curlew and two little egrets.

Oystercatchers

Redshank

Widgeon

Curlew

Cormorant racing oystercatcher

As I made my way along to the Pilning Wetlands I saw lots of meadow pipits, pied wagtails and even two yellow wagtails. There were big flocks of starlings forming too.

Big flocks of starlings forming

Starlings having a bath

Pied wagtail

More widgeon in flight

On the wetlands there was a big flock of black-tailed godwits but (once again) the sun was in the wrong direction for me (with my amateur eyes) to pick out much else.

So, I contented myself with getting photos of the meadow pipits and 3 wheatears.

Wheatear

Meadow pipit

There were quite a few birders down on the estuary and meeting a few of them made the morning even more pleasurable.