`4th June 2022 - Newton St Loe.

 

This week it was just Bryan and myself as David is away and our recent guest Kirsty was at work. Today was just a short morning session and Newton St Loe was the preferred destination. I picked up Bryan at 9am and we parked in our usual spot by the farm shop. Here we started our days list with Woodpigeon, Swallow, Blackbird, Jackdaw and House Martin. As we walked by the Farm Shop heading for the lanes we scanned the surrounding fields where we found a Mistle Thrush in the same field that we saw one on our last visit. Walking up the lane Goldfinch flew over and a Skylark was on the top of a hedge and as we approached it flew down into the field beyond. A bird was on the top of the telegraph pole by the entrance to 7 Acres but as it was silhouetted, we were unsure of its identity and as we crept forward a Yellowhammer flew up on top of the hedge it soon flew towards the telegraph pole and was joined by the bird on top another Yellowhammer. They flew down the lane behind us landing on the hedge where we had great views. Not much to see at 7 acre just Magpie and Herring Gull flying over and Blue Tit and Robin in the trees. As we walked out of the wood we heard the cronk call of Ravens and looking up 3 flew over very high in the sky. A family of Long Tailed Tits was our next sighting, and as we neared the end of the lane a Whitethroat flew to the top of a bush and started singing. Looking towards the Globe a Buzzard was circling and while looking at it 2 Swifts flew past. Back in the village a Carrion Crow flew into the tree by the Post Office and a House Sparrow flew past. A Great Tit was on a garden feeder while a Dunnock was on the ground below. A Lesser Black Back Gull flew past  as did a Collared Dove. Nothing new until we reached the field beyond the church here a Jay flew over and in the distance I spotted a bird of prey and as it flew closer we were able to say it was a Red Kite  flying towards Bath. We were now heading for Send a Cow and we passed a Greenfinch singing in the top of a tree. Nothing more even though we heard Wren, Chiffchaff and Blackcap, until the field by butterfly alley here the farmer was mowing the field and 5 LBB Gulls were following the tractor and 2 Buzzards were dropping down onto the cut grass and flying up with mice or voles. Up to the bottom lake where there is no fishing is currently as the fish, mainly Carp are spawning but even with it being so quiet there were just 6 Mallard on the lake, one with 5 now near adult size ducklings. A Stock Dove was on the ground in the top corner which flew into a tree on the opposite side of the lake.

Stock Dove-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)

The top lake had much more going on with another 25 Mallard one with 4 small ducklings and another with 10 tiny ducklings, not that old I would say. We sat and drank our coffee and whilst doing so we noted a baby Coot on the lake then a second came into view followed by 2 adults. In all there were 5 on the lake, a Moorhen appeared out of the reeds, we counted another 2 while we were there. A Coal Tit started calling from the trees to our right which we watched feeding a youngster. We walked across the dam and Bryan spotted a pair of Tufted Ducks. A Peregrine flew down the lake and over our heads heading for the village. The 2 Mute Swans were also at the top of the lake and a Grey Heron was sat on the bank. We were just about to leave when I spotted a Little Grebe that must have been hiding in the reeds. Time to return to the car and walking back up butterfly alley a Kestrel flew over. During the morning we noted 4 species of butterfly Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Green Veined White. Our last bird of the day was a Pheasant  in the Cemetery.