Bath Birdwatcher

  Snowdrops - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher) A change of venue this week, WWT Slimbridge as it’s a good place to see lots of wildfowl   with numbers of geese that we would be hard pushed to find locally. Bryan was unable to join us, so it was just David and myself, Tony. On the way driving over Lansdown we spotted a field full of gulls some flying, these were easily identifiable as Common Gulls we also spotted 2 Red Kites as we were about to join the A46 plus another in the Kingscote area. 2 Ravens flew over the A46 in front of us. Driving up the approach road to Slimbridge Collared Doves were seen and in a field by the sharp S bend was a Little Egret. Nothing new until we were in the grounds where Coot and Moorhen were everywhere, making our way to the Decoy Hide Mallards were in the water and Goldfinch called from the trees above our heads and our first of many Cormorants flew over. From the hide we watched Tufted Duck, Gadwall while David pointed out a huge flock of Lapwing ...

  Another wet day with little promise that conditions would improve so another trip to Chew Valley Lake was on the cards. Our local WhatsApp group has been reporting several good bird species at Lordswood,   Crossbill and Redpoll being just 2 and with it sort of being on the way to Chew we decided to take a look checking out mainly parking. On arrival at the main gate entrance there was just 2 spaces with a large puddle in the middle, we did tuck the car off the road but not in the puddle to have a look but this is a working wood and the track was all cut up and very muddy so we moved up the lane 100yards or so to a footpath entrance but again it was very muddy but we did venture out of the car for a look here we saw Dunnock, Pheasant, Magpie and Carrion Crow. Realising Wellington Boots were needed we headed for Chew. First stop Herriotts Bridge but it was very unpleasant with rain falling heavily so birding from the car was the order of the day but with the rain   blowin...

  Today was the 3 Amigos first trip of the year the weather was freezing cold but not to mis out on an opportunity to bird spot we decided on a local half day outing to either Saltford or Newton St Loe. In the end we chose Newton St Loe mainly because it was closer and we had a better chance to start the year with more species than at Saltford. Waterfall NSL note the lack of water (see previous photo's) also the icicles hanging from the tree on the left. (Bath Birdwatcher) We parked in the village where we spotted Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Woodpigeon. As we continued heading for the church lots of Redwings were flying over, we must have seen many 100’s during the morning. Making a short detour to look over fields a Robin was on a gate and Rooks and Magpies flew past. A Tit flock flew by including Blue, Great and Long Tailed, and in the tall trees covered in Mistletoe we found a Mistle and Song Thrush. In the Churchyard at the rear in the Yew trees were several Coal Tits and Goldc...

  Lots of water flowing off the lakes (Bath Birdwatcher) Bird spotting this week was a half day visit to Newton St Loe, a favourite place of mine but one we have not visited since July. It was just the two brothers as David had other things to do. We parked outside the farm shop and set off walking towards the church and soon spotted Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Blue Tit, Collared Dove and Jackdaw. As we turned into the road leading to the church I spotted a Mistle Thrush in the tall trees covered with mistletoe, it was the 1 st of many we saw during the walk also in the same trees were at least 2 Blackbirds. Nothing mote until we entered the field beyond the church here were several Carrion Crows and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over. Walking down towards the main road a Goldcrest and Robin were in a fir tree and at the main road some House Sparrows were by the roadside. In the field to the side of the footpath were lots of corvids in the distance but too far away for them to be ident...

  Chew Valley Lake from West Harptree Wood (Bath Birdwatcher) For this months Bath RSPB field trip, a new site was chosen with a half day at West Harptree Woods followed by an afternoon at Chew Valley Lake. This is my account of the day and birds I saw although many did see the same   but some saw less and others saw some birds I missed. The day started by picking up one of our members in Saltford before setting off, the traffic was quite light for a Saturday morning so we were well ahead of schedule meaning we were able to made a short stop at Herriotts, here we noted Mallard, Black Headed Gull, Coot, Moorhen, Shelduck, Great White Egret, Canada Goose and Mute Swan. Moving on to the woods we spotted Magpie, Jackdaw and Collared Dove. On arrival at our destination Tom was already there and while waiting for others to arrive we added Robin and Chaffinch to the days list. Once all 16 of us arrived we set off but at first it was very quiet with not a bird call heard. Soon we were...