Friday 25th February 2022 - Newton St Loe

 

Another chance to visit NSL as my wife and my brother’s wife wanted to have a walk in the countryside so we met at the church for a couple of hour stroll.

The first bird of the day was a Lesser Black Back Gull sat on the flag pole on top of the church soon followed by a Wren as we walked through the field. On the road a Robin was singing from a bush and Jackdaws were flying around. Walking towards Send a Cow Blue and Great Tits were seen. From Butterfly Alley 5 Grey Heron were sat by the stream and 2 Moorhens were in the field. Still a lot of water coming through the lakes.


overflow from bottom lake-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)


 On the bottom lake was a single Black Headed Gull and another 3 Moorhens plus 6 Mallards. A Woodpigeon was sat in a tree opposite and a Blackbird was on the bankside. Carrion Crows flew over. On the top lake 2 Cormorants were in their favorite tree and another 3 Grey Herons were seen on of which seems to be building a nest on the top of a tree above the footpath on the far side of the dam. The pair of Tufted Ducks were on the top lake today, and a Mistle Thrush flew into mistletoe in a tree to our right. The pair of Mute Swans were swimming around 1 visiting us at the bottom end of the lake as we sat drinking coffee.


Mute Swan-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)

 2 Stock Doves were in one of the tall trees ( we saw a flock of 5 later as we walked down the drive) We had been scanning the lake for a while looking for the Teal without any luck until I spotted 6 sitting in the reeds 3m3f, a Magpie was in the field below the dam. Walking through the University above the lake a Greenfinch was singing from the top of one of the tallest trees and a Nuthatch was in a Yew. Looking down on the lake a Grey Wagtail was by the boathouse. Walking back to the village down the drive Rooks were seen amongst the many Jackdaws with the odd Carrion Crow also seen. As we approached the cattle grids 2 Buzzards appeared over the fields to our right and as we reached the road Redwings were seen in an Ivy covered tree. The last sighting of the day was a small flock of fly over Goldfinch. Bird spotting was not at its best but with the sun shining it was a beautiful day to be out and about.


Male Mallard-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)





Stock Dove(record shot)NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)


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