Monday 9th May 2022 - Quantocks

 

This week the 3 Amigos plus 1 went on a recce to the Quantocks, before the Bath branch of the RSPB,s monthly field trip there next Saturday. The plus 1 was Tom who will be leading the trip on Saturday. We were to meet a local birder was going to show us some places where target birds could be seen. Leaving Bath a 08.00 we picked  up Bryan and while driving there we spotted our 1^st Swifts of the year flying over the Oval. After picking up Bryan we headed out to Radstock to pick up Tom and set off for Bowling Green Car Park in Holford going via Wells, Street and Bridgewater, on the way logging Buzzard, Collared Dove, Rook, Lesser Black Back Gull, Swallow and Starling. Unfortunately due to the traffic and road works we arrived at 10.15, 15 minutes after the arranged meeting time but luckily our guide was still there waiting for us. Robin, Blackbird and Goldcrest were soon seen and as we walked along the track through the trees a Song Thrush was seen on a grass bank. As we headed on a familiar call came through the trees, the 1^st of our target species a Wood Warbler what a bird its whole body seems to tremble as it makes its trilling call. Next was 2 Grey Wagtails in the stream we were following, soon our 2^nd target species a Pied Flycatcher seen better by some but only in flight by me as it flew away not to be seen again, this was the only one we saw all day although the guide told us 42 nest boxes had been placed in the wood for them. We continued on to a point where the trees started to thin leading to a huge area of heath, here we saw our first sighting of our 3^rd target this time a male Redstart a very handsome bird. Following a very steep path up to the heath our next sighting was a pair of Stonechats soon followed by a small group of Linnets that flew over. At the top of the slope our guide as agreed left us so the had a rest and a drink, it was here we had our first of many sightings of at least 2 Red Kites. As we continued through the heath a Tree Pipit flew on the top of a small shrub, We soon added Carrion Crow, Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Kestrel to the days list along with 3 species of Butterfly Small Heath, Speckled Wood and Green Veined White plus 3 species of moth but only one could be identified a Small Heath Moth. It was approaching lunch and we were looking for a direction marker taking us back to our starting point when a bird flew on the gorse in front of us but just to far away to get a confirmation of its identification but as we approached it flew away showing its white rear a Wheatear another year tick for me and again the only one we saw all day.

Wheatear- Quantocks(Bath Birdwatcher)

We found the direction marker and stopped for lunch here we overlooked Watchet with Minehead in the distance. After lunch we headed down off the heath and as we approached the trees a bird we had heard a lot during the day was singing and this time we spotted it a Willow Warbler also seen at the same time was a male Chaffinch. Our next sighting was a Green Woodpecker sat on a dead tree trunk. A Raven flew over and a Dunnock flew into the undergrowth. Back in the woodland we added Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Coal Tit, a female Redstart and Blackcap.

Female Redstart-Quantocks(Bath Birdwatcher)

Next a male and female Pheasant was noted and our final bird of the woodland was a Blue Tit seen earlier by the others but missed by me. On the return journey to Bath Magpie and Wood Pigeon were added to our days total. In all we covered just over 8 miles and my feet told me we had walked a long way and today my legs have come out in sympathy.