Tuesday 17th May 2022 - Newton St Loe

 

This week’s birding trip was only a half day and with just Bryan and myself, David is away for a few days. As time was against us we decided the only option was Newton St Loe so I picked up Bryan and off we went parking outside the farm shop. There seemed to be lots of birds flying about and the 1st we spotted was a Blue Tit. House Martins and Swallows were abundant, as were a flock of about 8 Lesser Black Back Gulls circling over the village, Jackdaws were constantly flying over along with the odd Woodpigeon. House Sparrows were in the Holly outside the church hall and 3 Starlings were on a roof. Heading out of the village to the lanes Rooks were seen flying towards the fields. Walking up the lanes a Twin Spot Carpet Moth was seen on a leaf and a Whitethroat was heard but it wasn’t until we reached the lookout and one parachuted that we saw one, we did hear at least 3 more. Walking towards 7 Acre Wood a Jay was seen, and a female Yellowhammer was spotted with a beak full of insects so we suspect it must have a nest of chicks close by. A Chaffinch and a Magpie flew over and the first of 4 or 5 Skylarks were seen.  As we got to the woods Bryan spotted a Mocha Moth that had flown to the ground close to him.

 

Mocha-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)

 As we walked around the outside of the wood. Blackbird, Great Tit and Wren were logged along with a Speckled Wood butterfly. Walking back through the village a Dunnock was in a garden, nothing new until we reached Send a Cow where a family of Long Tailed Tits was seen along with a Coal Tit. Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Robin were noted also a buck Roe Deer. 

Roe Deer-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)

As we walked to the bottom lake along with a buck. Here the 1st of 2 Orange Tip butterflies were seen, on the lake 10 Mallards were seen with just one duckling, on the top lake was another 2 adults with 5 ducklings.

mallard and duckling-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)


 The male Mute Swan was on the bottom lake with the female on the top. 1 Moorhen was at the top of the lake with 3 more on the top lake. As we reached the top lake a Carrion Crow flew past and I then spotted the bird of the day a Red Kite that slowly drifted over. The Canada Geese that had been present for a while we’re on the bank at the top end of the lake and a single Coot appeared from the reeds. 5 Grey Herons were seen 3 at the top end of the lake and one on each nest. Time to turn back and as we walked Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest and Blackcap were seen and as we drove home 2 Swifts over Englishcombe Lane was the last sighting of the morning.


Grey Heron-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)


 

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