Description
The town of Clevedon has been a 'seaside' location since the Victorian era and a popular place for the visiting people of nearby Bristol. Typical of the era it has a pier (various opening times - charge incurred) that stretches out into the estuary. On the estuary the low tide mark can be half a mile from shore, birds can be spread over a wide area, 3+ hours before/after high tide is best. Havasi partfutó sometimes numbering 5,000+, Piroslábú cankó, Nagy póling, kőforgató, Csigaforgató, Ezüstlile, Sarki partfutó, Kis sólyom, Vándorsólyom, Északi búvár and small numbers of Örvös lúd, Fütyülő réce, Csörgo réce, Nyílfarkú réce, Hegyi réce, Pehelyréce, Örvös bukó, Fekete réce, Kerceréce and occasionally Nagy bukó. Kis kócsag, Kárókatona, vörös vércse, cigánycsuk, Kuvik, Réti pityer, parti pityer and Bütykös ásólúd are regularly seen throughout the year. Freezing/cold weather conditions elsewhere may bring in larger flocks of Bíbic and Aranylile. During Spring/Autumn migration Parti lile, Kis goda, Nagy goda, Kis póling, Hantmadár, barázdabillegető, Kormos légykapó, Kerti rozsdafarkú regularly pass through.
The wet areas behind the sea wall can hold a lot of birds, pushed off the estuary mud by high tide or the Severn Bore (following a new or full moon - depending on weather conditions) and Blackstone Rocks are all worth checking out (Press STARS on map), birds of prey actively hunt when birds are concentrated at roost sites.
The sea wall is a popular walking area and can be busy mostly in the afternoons, a morning visit with suitable tide times may be best. If you have time be sure to check further up the Blind Yeo for birds.
Details
Access
The M5 motorway is on the Eastern edge of Clevedon, leave M5 at junction 20 signed Clevedon/Nailsea B3133. On large roundabout take exit signed Clevedon/Nailsea B3133, get in Left hand lane. At next roundabout take first exit signed Yatton/Congresbury (B3133)/Sports Center/Sea Front. Continue on this road (Central Way), at next roundabout continue straight ahead (second exit). Road is now Southern Way but soon becomes Old Church Road, Salthouse Fields car park (Fee Payable) is on the Left by some large trees.
