Tuesday 4th January 2022 - Weston Super Mare. Blagdon. Chew

 

The start of a new year and the hope that 2022 will be a better year than 2021. To start the new year the 3 Amigos decided to go on a twitch to Weston Super Mare and try to find the 3 Penduline Tits that had been reported there, a European species that is a fairly rare winter visitor to these isles, but in saying that they were reported at the same site last year, covid restrictions prevented us visiting. They had been reported on local bird sights for a few weeks so were confident they were still there.

The way to WSM took us past Chew Valley Lake, But, as we drove through Marksbury having already logged Rooks Bryan spotted a Red Kite flying towards us. Also, while driving we also noted Carrion Crow and Jackdaw. We stopped at Herriotts and here we saw Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Pintail, Gadwall, Black Headed Gull, Great White Egret, Shelduck, Wigeon, Herring, Common and Great Black Back Gulls. Driving on to Weston we added Magpie, Pheasant, Starling and Collared Dove to the days list.

The birds we were hoping to see were on the airfield at WSM and we were advised to arrive via Hutton and into Moor Lane where we could park at the far end, and we safely arrived following these directions. Wellies we the order of the day as we were told it was very muddy where the birds were to be found so fully booted, we set off we soon noted Stock Dove, Reed Bunting, Woodpigeon and Kestrel before we reached the muddy path, and it was muddy but easily passable with care. We could see bird watchers in the distance and headed towards them, a Pied Wagtail flew over. On reaching the 1^st guy we inquired if the birds had been seen, he had not seen them but said they had been seen earlier, we stood chatting to him keeping an eye on the Bullrushes but all we saw was a group of Teal and a Grey Heron flying over. The wind was perishing so we decided to have a wander farther along the reed beds spotting a Meadow Pipit as we went, and a Blackbird flew by. As we approached the guy we had been chatting too earlier, who had also decided to have a wander he spotted one of the Penduline Tits on the Bullrushes and as we looked, we could see all 3 quite close together. We called all the other birders to let them know where the birds were while we enjoyed looking at them. A lifer for Bryan and Me and a UK first for David.

Penduline Tit-WSM (Bath Birdwatcher)

 Feeling pretty chuffed with ourselves we wandered on doing a circuit back to the car and added Robin, Redwing and a flock of about 15 Fieldfare. A Lesser Black Back Gull was on a mud bank, and a male Stonechat flew onto the top of some brambles. As we approached the car our final two sightings here were a single Shoveler and Little Grebe. Back at the car as we were changing our footwear a flock of Lapwing flew over.

Next it was on to Uphill where we had lunch and a short walk here, we added House Sparrow, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Dunnock and Feral Pigeon to the days list.

Next stop was on the way back home was a short detour to Blagdon another of the Bristol Water reservoirs we knew that a Black Necked Grebe was there but such a small bird in a large reservoir we knew it wouldn’t be easy. Parking by the dam we soon spotted Pochard, Great Crested Grebe and a Wren all new species for the day but no sign of the Grebe we were after. A guy then stopped his car and asked if we were after the grebe and told us where it was, so we drove into the grounds and walked to the pontoons where it had been seen and within a few seconds there it was a Black Necked Grebe feeding, another great sighting for our first trip out for the year. A Chaffinch and a Cormorant were our last new sightings here.

Well with things going so well what chance of us moving on to Chew and adding the Jack Snipe to the days total. We first stopped at Herons Green as we had been told a Barn Owl was sitting in a tree in broad daylight, but no such luck it had gone before we got there but we did see a Buzzard. Off to Stratford and in the lane were Cattle and Little Egrets in the field of cows and as we walked from the car park towards the hide we spotted 2 Bullfinch one of our prettiest birds, A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the trees by the feeders but when we got to the hide although we were told Jack Snipe were there they are so well camouflaged that unless they move they are impossible to find, they didn’t, so we dipped on those, but we did seen 10 possibly more Common Snipe and also a female Marsh Harrier. The last sightings of the day were Blue Tits on the feeders and a Song Thrush beneath.

A fantastic start to the year with 61 species seen in the day so hopefully a good year to follow.