Tuesday 7th June 2022 - Monkton Combe to Midford

 

The 3 Amigos were back together this week and were joined by Kirsty for a circular walk from Monkton Combe to Midford and back via Tucking Mill. We parked at the bottom of Summer Lane just outside Monkton Combe where a Buzzard was drifting over the valley also flying around were House Martin and Swifts with a few Goldfinch in a dead tree. Walking through the Churchyard a Small Tortoiseshell was on the wing and a Sparrowhawk flew through. Feral Pigeon were on the village roofs. Turning into Mill Lane we headed towards Midford Brook, Blue Tit, Swallow, Lesser Black Back Gull, Magpie, House Sparrow and Carrion Crow were soon seen. We crossed the brook and turned into the fields to follow the footpath to Midford. Wood Pigeons were seen regularly and a male Blackcap and a Stock Dove were our next sightings. As we stood looking over the stream where Banded Demoiselles seemed to be everywhere a Goldcrest called from very close and appeared in the tree next to us, a great view was had by all of us. A Blackbird and a Peacock butterfly were next, and a we reached a wooded area Bryan spotted a Nuthatch which showed nicely giving Kirsty her 1st good view. Robin and Great Tit were soon ticked off and 2 Treecreepers were working their way through some trees. A Speckled Wood Butterfly landed on a sunlit leaf in the wood. We reached an open area where I could hear Long Tailed Tits and a family party was found with the young still being fed by the adults. Meadow Brown and Red Admiral Butterflies flew past and my 1st Jackdaws of the day flew over, the others had seen them in the village. A  Green Woodpecker flew over the field and behind a tree before everyone saw it. The footpath led to Midford Lane here a Painted Lady was noted. In Midford we followed the footpath to Tucking Mill here our next new sighting for the day was a Song Thrush followed shortly by a Jay. A Brimstone butterfly was flying at the bottom of the bank and shortly after a family of Wrens was seen. A Grey Wagtail was sat on a fence post by the Brook and a Chiffchaff was working through a bush. At Tucking Mill a Dunnock and a male Chaffinch were our last bird sightings of the day but a Red-Headed Cardinal Beetle was on the road as we neared the end of the walk.


Red-Headed Cardinal Beetle (Bath Birdwatcher)


 

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