Friday 30th April/Thursday 5th May - Newton St Loe

 

Two short visits to NSL the first on the 30th April when 24 species were seen which included 4 Coot on the top lake and 3 Grey Herons nests in the tall trees on the left of the lake with only 2 nests seemingly occupied with 2 birds at each plus a single Heron at the top end of the lake. Mallards were in short supply with just 8 seen in total on the top and bottom lake although one of the female ducks on the bottom lake had 4 ducklings. 


Female Mallard with 4 ducklings-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)

Just 3 Moorhens were seen with many I guess concealed in the reeds, the 2 Mute Swans were also present but with no signs of them nesting. 2 Buzzards flew fairly low over the lake heading towards the bottom lake and a single Cormorant was sat in its usual tree. A single Blackcap was seen in Send a Cow woodland with many more heard during the walk but very few Chiffchaff heard but none seen. Back in the village 3 Swallows were on the wires by the Farm Shop but nothing else of any significance was seen except a few Orange Tip Butterflies.

 

Coot-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)

The second visit was Thursday 5th May but again very poor numbers with only 21 species seen. Again Swallows were on the wires by the farm shop but a surprise was a male Roe Deer in the old car park below send a cow. The bottom lake was pretty much devoid of bird life with just 3 Mallard and 1 Moorhen seen with another between the lakes and a third on the top lake. The 2 Canada Geese I had seen several weeks ago were back but only 2 Coot remained, the 2 Mute Swans were still present with only another 7 Mallard which included one with 3 ducklings. The same 2 Grey Herons nests were still occupied with 2 birds on each and while we watched a 5th bird flew to the top end of the lake. A Stock Dove and a male Blackcap were worth a mention as were 2 Goldcrest in the Yews by the top lake. As for butterflies 4 Brimstone about 10 Orange Tip and a similar amount of Speckled Wood were seen.

Mute Swan-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)

Canada Goose-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)


 

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