Tuesday 29th March 2021 - Monkton Combe to Midford

 

Today the 3 Amigos had their first trip out together for a month and as we only had a spare morning it was decided that a return trip to Monkton Combe and walk the Midford Brook to Midford and return to Monkton Combe via Tucking Mill. Parking at the bottom of Summer Lane we walked to the Wheelwrights Inn, noting Blackbird, Goldfinch, Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Woodpigeon and Lesser Black Back Gull, We headed down a side road to meet a bridge over Midford Brook leading to the footpath to Midford. On the way we added Pheasant, Buzzard, Jackdaw Great Tit and 2 flyover Mallard. House Sparrows were calling from the hedgerows and 2 Greenfinch were seen working their way through a tree a Song Thrush flew into a tree and started singing along with a Robin. Entering the footpath we spotted a Goldcrest, Blue and Long Tailed Tit. Walking by the brook a Wren was seen singing on the far bank. As we continued Bryan spotted a Kingfisher which flew around a bend before David and I saw it, but luckily it returned and perched in a tree before heading off not to be seen again. A pair of Magpies flew over the treetops and a Chiffchaff called from a bush but until it flew across the path in front of us I was unable to find it. A little later a Mistle Thrush flew into the top of a tall tree and a pair if Mandarin Ducks flew downstream towards Monkton Combe. We saw 2 more later and presumed they were the same birds. Now at Midford we added Rooks to the days list before heading back towards Monkton Combe on the opposite side of the brook. Only a short distance from Midford I spotted a female Goosander stood on a sand bar but when it spotted us it flew off downstream. Next Stop Tucking Mill where there is a small lake and here we found 2 Moorhen and a single Little Grebe, a coal tit sand from a fir tree behind us and a Grey Wagtail flew up the lake. Returning to the road Bryan found a Muntjac deer on the bank to our right before it shied away over the top and before I could get a photo. At the feeders we added Marsh Tit, Chaffinch and Nuthatch to the list giving us a total of 33 species, which I considered to be good for the time of the year.


Robin-Tucking Mill(Bath Birdwatcher)

Bank of spring flowers -Midford(Bath Birdwatcher)

Pheasant-Tucking Mill(Bath Birdwatcher)


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