Bath Birdwatcher

  Before I tell you about today’s walk I must fill you in about a pleasant surprise I had Tuesday tea time. I was looking out of the kitchen window looking at the House Sparrows and Goldfinches on the feeders when I noticed a bird I have not had in the garden since before the pandemic a lovely Greenfinch, then 2 and in the end a total 4. Even in the past to see a single bird was a highlight but 4 was outstanding, then the next day at the same time just 1 returned. Today no sign.   Ok today I visited Newton St Loe with my wife to meet one of her ex work colleagues they just wanted to chat but no not me a great excuse for a bird spot. We met at the church but I must say apart from a Lesser Black Back Gull, Woodpigeon and Goldfinch plus Green Veined White and Speckled Wood it was spookily quiet until Butterfly Alley here lots of butterflies flitting about mostly Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper plus a few very small Skippers but they just refused to stay still long enough to be id...

  For this week’s birding trip the 3 Amigos were asked to lead a Bath Nats field trip to the Somerset Levels. I was slightly apprehensive as the Nath are interested in more than birds and butterflies, subjects like insects especially dragonflies something we have always looked at but as for the names well that eludes all 3 of us. However all was well and the day went very well and we as leaders learned a lot. We all met at Westhay where we were to spend a couple of hours, on arrival it was rather overcast and thought that insects would be hard to find and so it proved for the first hour but birds kept us going with House Sparrow, Blackbird and Magpie seen before we arrived and Swallow, Black Headed Gull, Moorhen, Mallard Mute Swan, Coot, Blue Tit, Great Crested Grebe and Lesser Black Back Gull all noted. young Great Crested Grebe(Bath Birdwatcher)  It was now starting to brighten up and our first 2 butterflies of the day were seen, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral. David ...

  A few of the moths I have caught. The 1st one the blomer's rivulet is not a common moth so I was very pleased to get it. This jersey tiger was found in the garden on a pot of flowers. I also had 2 in the trap the other night Jersey Tiger-Moth This horse chestnut leaf miner is a tiny moth if you have seen brown lines on chestnut leaves these are made by the caterpillar of this moth. One of the more colorful moths this brimstone is very common and found regularly in the trap The v-pug is recognized by the V marking on each wing. Canary shouldered thorn is another of the more colorful moth. Elephant hawk-moth is a big moth but beautiful with its pink coloration.   elephant hawk-moth Just a few of the many moths i have caught, hopefully enough to wet your appetite to give moth trapping a go.

  It was far too hot to go birding on Tuesday with temperatures forecast to reach into the high 30’s and as it has now cooled to a rather more manageable low 20’s today was the day for a morning visit to NSL. Parking as usual by the farm shop we wanted to visit the lanes as 2 special butterflies, Purple and White Letter Hairstreak had been seen recently however we dipped on these. Anyway as we walked towards the lanes we spotted Swallows, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Jackdaw, House Martin and Woodpigeon. As we reached the lanes a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over the fields and while looking at it Swifts were also seen. The 1 st 2 butterflies were next to be seen, Gatekeeper and Ringlet. Ringlet-Bath Birdwatcher 2 Carrion Crows flew towards the village then Bryan spotted a bird of prey towards the north as we looked we realised we were looking at a Hobby quite a rare sighting for the area. As we walked up the lanes a few birds kept flying in front of us but not in sight for long enoug...

  Just back from a few days away in David’s caravan in Weymouth, here we had many walks around the area. We arrived on Monday and after having lunch we had a walk around the site which overlooks the fleet we then walked along the Rodwell Trail to Sandsfoot Gardens hoping for a cup of tea but unfortunately the tea shop was closed. On the walk we did see a few birds Cormorant, Buzzard and a Kestrel all noted, but probably the best was a Whitethroat feeding on the ground. Ferrybridge proved very good for Little Tern that nest there, and must have been a good year as there were lots about. Common Tern were also abundant and they were very noisy, you would be hard pressed to miss them. Common Tern-Bath Birdwatcher Mediterranean Gull were also about in large numbers in excess of 100 I would guess.  Mediterranean Gulls-Bath Birdwatcher Waders were in very short supply with just Oystercatcher seen on an evening walk. Butterfly numbers were good with Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Red Admiral...

  This month’s local branch RSPB trip was a full day starling at Wentwood for the morning followed by Newport Wetlands and Goldcliffe. We set off at 8.30am foe a 10am rendezvous at Wentwood, when we arrived three member were already there and a forth arrived soon after and with the three of us we had just seven members. Normally we would expect double that so not sure what put others off from attending. As we stood chatting in the car park it was very quiet with a few birds singing in the distance and this proved to be the same during the walk with a Spotted Flycatcher proving to be the highlight of this part of the walk we did also see Chiffchaff, Blackbird, and Blackcap. We did hear a Wood Warbler but it was so deep in the trees we could not find it and also Crossbills that called from the top of trees but again kept out of sight. The second part of the walk was to a much more open area where we were hoping to find Tree Pipits but they also proved elusive, but we did add Whitethr...

  Buzzard - Bath Birdwatcher The 3 Amigos were together for the first time for a while and today were on a half-day walk along the river Avon from Newbridge towards Saltford. We parked in the Newbridge park and ride car park from here we walked to the riverside public footpath. On the way starting our list with Woodpigeon and Blackbird. As we walked over the river we noted Mallard, Mute Swan with 4 cygnets and a Moorhen while in the field were lots of adult and young Rooks with 3 Herring Gulls and just a few Carrion Crows. As we continued I noticed a Jay but it flew into the back of a tree before the others could get on it, but 2 Magpies on the river bank were seen by all 3 of us. Next sighting was a Cormorant flying up river and later another was seen flying in the opposite direction. A Buzzard was seen flying in the 7 Acre Wood direction as were a few Swifts. A small flock of Jackdaw flew over, then David spotted a small brown butterfly which was settled in the grass which I mana...

  Bath Birdwatcher David and Hazel plus Mary and myself Tony arranged to have a walk at Newton St Loe my first visit since the 14 th of June. We met at the church. Walking through the field at the far end of the church a Lesser Black Gull, Magpie and a Woodpigeon flew over, we could hear a Greenfinch singing which we found right in the top of one of the tall trees on our right. On the road to Send a Cow House Sparrow, Goldfinch and Blackbird were seen. Walking down the footpath beyond Send a   Cow a Blackcap was singing on an exposed branch. As we reached butterfly alley the field on the right was full of cows where lots of Swallows were quartering the field obviously attracted by insects that themselves were attracted by the cows. As we watched a Grey Heron flew by as did Carrion Crows and Jackdaws above the trees were Swifts circling. Up to the bottom lake where the 1st bird seen was a Moorhen on our bank while on the lake was 13 Mallard one female had 2 small ducklings. Ho...