Wednesday 23rd February 2022 - Newton St Loe.

 

Just a half day walk today to Newton St Loe. Parking at the Farm Shop we noted a Magpie as we drove in. Walking towards the church David spotted a male Blackcap in a bush opposite the post office along with several House Sparrows, Jackdaws were flying over and a Blue Tit was in a tree. Before we turned into the road which heads to the church we noticed a footpath that headed towards the Globe here we saw Dunnock and Great Tit, the path led into a field where a Pheasant and Jay were seen. The rookery by the Globe was full of Rooks and a large tree contained a few Woodpigeons, a Blackbird flew along the hedgerow and a Buzzard and a few Herring Gulls were spotted flying in the distance. All the time we could hear a Song Thrush but was unable to find it until it flew into an ivy covered tree where it was seen by everyone. Continuing through the church yard into the field beyond a Lesser Black Back Gull flew over and as we walked to the road to Send a Cow 2 Mistle Thrushes flew away and a Robin sang from a bush. Redwings were in the trees by Sand a Cow and a goldcrest was singing loudly from a yew tree, Goldfinch and Long Tailed Tits were also seen. As we walked down the woodland path a Nuthatch sang out and David found it high in a tree as we walked on I found a Wren and a male Chaffinch which I pointed out to the others. From Butterfly Alley 3 Grey Herons could be seen by the stream (3 more were seen later) and while looking 2 Carrion Crows flew by. Up to the bottom lake where 6 Mallard were seen along with a pair of Tufted Ducks a female had been seen several times over the winter but this is the first time for a while that I have seen a male here. A Coal Tit flew into a yew tree at the bottom end of the lake. Walking along the lakeside 2 Moorhens were on the bank and another was swimming by the far bank. A Black Headed Gull flew towards the top lake but was not seen again. On the top lake the dredging work is still being carried out with work near the boathouse and in the top right hand side where a lot of material has been removed making that end look much wider. Even with all the work going on water birds were still evident with 2 Mute Swan, 16 more Mallard, 3 Teal 2m1f, 2more Moorhens and 3 Cormorant sat in their usual tree. 2 Stock Doves were in a tree behind the Cormorants and walking down the drive back towards the village were 50+ Common Gulls with a similar quantity of Jackdaws.

Nothing else different from what we had already seen was logged but we did hear Greenfinch which we were unable to locate.


Grey Heron-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)


Cormorant-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)
                             

Dredging NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)





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