American Golden Plover
A juvenile American Golden Plover was found this afternoon, it was initially very distant on the Severn at just over a km away and feeding on the sands. The tides are very low but it was enough to move the bird to the Dumbles, it flew overhead at Middle Point where the dark underwing was seen well before dropping onto the flooded salt pools. Unfortunately it was rather mobile and took flight circling the area and was lost to view but it sounded like it settled over inland of the seawall, maybe the Tack Piece or more likely the Top New Piece. We will look for it tomorrow.
Only the seventh record for Gloucestershire (subject to acceptance) all have been on the New Grounds, the first in 1967 and the last was in 2007.
A Leach's Petrel was reported off Middle Point by someone unknown but there were no further sightings despite observers searching very soon after the two reports.
