Bird News: October 2025

There was welcome news of a Kingfisher on 30 September at Congresbury bridge reported by one of our new Congresbury members and a single Fieldfare was observed near to Clevedon Craft Centre on the 2nd. Another Kingfisher was on the south end of Kenn Moor. Two Wheatears, a Mistle Thrush and a flock of Meadow Pipits were by the Little River, Yatton also on the 2nd.

A Little Owl observed in Wemberham Lane ( my ‘patch’ – but not observed by me….) was the first that I am aware of there. Nearby (6th) there were small flocks of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits with a couple of Green Sandpipers, one unusually on a field not by the river. On the same day four late Swallows were noted from the Strawberry Line at Congresbury and a day flying bat, a Mistle Thrush, Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher were by Osmond Bridge and Crossman’s Pond, Wemberham Lane.

Ploughing and rotovating a field by Wemberham Lane attracted 500 Herring Gulls, several Linnets and Pied Wagtails and on the following day (13th), 18 Skylarks. Whilst I was scanning the field a wailing call heralded  the arrival of a Peregrine being chased by half a dozen Feral Pigeons! The Peregrine landed on the pylon I was standing directly beneath, the Pigeons flew off (back to Yatton) and the Peregrine headed off in the opposite direction.

Flocks of 90 Linnets and 40 Greenfinches at Wemberham (13th) were notable as was a Kingfisher flying across Smart’s car park on the 15th. 300+ Starlings with Herring Gulls and Pied Wagtails were on the tilled field. Three Fieldfares and two Wheatears by Wemberham Lane on the 18th.were respectively my first and probably my second last of the Autumn. By the 21st the Wemberham Linnet flock had increased to 200 birds and was active around the pylons and two days later one Wheatear was still present.

A check of some of the Owl boxes on Congresbury Moor (27th) produced two Barn Owls ,(hopefully a pair) and a single Snipe. Two Snipe had also returned to the Kenn Moor Reserve. Tawny Owls were heard from Stowey Road and Wemberham Lane. A Kingfisher was being seen regularly from Wemberham Lane.

Your bird sightings and photos are always very welcome, please send them to [email protected].

Trevor Riddle