Bird News: November 2025

Members Rosy and Danny spent time looking over Congresbury Moor (1st and 2nd) and reported a Kestrel, a pair of Stonechats and a singing Cetti’s Warbler. The next day I was pleased to have two sightings of a Kingfisher in Wemberham Lane, a big female Peregrine flying over the  nearby River Yeo, and a Little Owl inhabiting a YACWAG box.

At Congresbury a Mistle Thrush was at the Millennium Green with a Green Sandpiper on the river by Congresbury Moor. The Congresbury section of Strawberry Line produced a handful of Redwings and Fieldfares on the 6th and perhaps more surprisingly three or four in trees at the Congresbury precinct.

A few more Redwings and Fieldfares inhabited the orchard at Wemberham on the 10th but seem to have moved on subsequently. A Song Thrush was singing unconvincingly on the Strawberry Line in Moor Lane. At Wemberham Lane two Grey Wagtails and a Green Sandpiper has almost certainly been displaced from the main water courses by the very high water levels. A Water Rail in brambles on the 15th near Congresbury Bridge was an unusual record.

Goblin Combe attracted 30 Redwings on the 17th, along with Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and a daytime calling Tawny Owl. The following day 20 Lapwings flew over the Strawberry Line at Congresbury, a notable record these days. 

The 20th was a lovely crisp winter’s day so several birders were out and about. Emily was back at Goblin Combe (20th) and she  recorded nine Siskins and a Crossbill. The same morning saw four Green Sandpipers by the river at Wemberham but only a handful of Redwings and Fieldfares in the nearby orchard (TR).. Meanwhile Mark spotted two Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest (all insectivorous species) on the Strawberry Line at Yatton along with a Reed Bunting and five Linnets, both seed eating species. Then in the afternoon Peter heard a Little Owl from the Congresbury section of the Strawberry Line.

A Heron spent some time fishing under the main road bridge at Congresbury on the 26th and on the same day a Blackbird and a Kingfisher were having an altercation by Wemberham Lane. Another Kingfisher flew along Stock Lane ahead of Sue’s car. The first count of the winter yielded 13 Snipe on the 30th at Congresbury Moor. when several Song Thrushes were singing along the Strawberry Line.

Thanks to the photographers and everyone who sent in sightings. Please send pictures and sightings to [email protected]

Trevor Riddle