Thursday 9th December 2021 Newton St Loe

 

My wife and myself decided that the weather was suitable for us to get out for a walk and some fresh air after being more or less housebound due to the weather, it’s been very wet and windy recently and when not it’s been cold, and I hate being cold. Also, the water authority has been working in our road replacing all the stopcocks and the mains pipe to our house making parking impossible, so I have not moved the car for over 2 weeks.  Now the work has been completed we have been able to drive and park up for a country walk Newton St Loe being a favorite place. On arrival we had to park by the church, I walked through the churchyard while Mary walked on the road, I managed to spot Rook and Carrion Crow flying over the fields and a Robin singing from a bush, as we reached Send a Cow a Blackbird flew from the field and a Nuthatch was in one of the tall trees and a House Sparrow was on the wires. Nothing was seen in the woodland, so it was on to Butterfly Alley where 6 Grey Herons were sat by the stream, but what is the large white bird with them, a Little Egret only the second I have seen here the 1st being 17th August 2017, so and exciting sighting.

Little Egret-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)

 Also in the field were 2 Moorhens. Walking on towards the bottom lake Jackdaws were very prominent chattering in and flying over the trees and the 1st of many Woodpigeon and a Magpie flew by. Redwing were our next sightings and on the bottom lake 16 Mallard with just 5 being female, another Moorhen flew over the lake and 2 Black Headed Gulls were floating on the lake. The piping call of a Kingfisher rang out as it flew low to the water down the lake. The dredging work on the top lake is coming on with most of the top end completed but there is still bird life to be found with another 23 Mallard here they seemed to be 50/50 male and female, also still here 11 Teal and another 6 Moorhens. We stopped for a coffee we had brought with us when a Cormorant flew over. Retracing our footsteps back to the car a Wren was by the bottom lake and back on the road by Send a Cow we added Blue Tit, Goldfinch, and Dunnock. And almost back at the car the chuck chuck call of Fieldfare was heard as a small flock flew from one of the trees.



Teal-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)

Back home in the garden Redwing are taking a toll on the holly berries and a male Blackcap is a regular visitor.

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