Tuesday 23rd August 2022 - Chew Valley Lake

 

Two Amigos (Bryan is on holiday) had a choice to make do we do Chipping Sodbury Common or Chew Valley Lake. In the end we decided on Chew and do Chipping Sodbury next week. Driving to Chew we noticed signs saying that the road was closed to West Harptree and although our first stop was short of there we were unsure exactly where the road was closed, it turned out that it was closed just beyond Herriotts Bridge so did not effect our starting point. Herriotts Pool was still very low but still birds to be seen with Jackdaw and Mallard on the dam. Waders were visible on the area of mud or wading in the shallow water these included Black Tailed Godwit, Snipe and Lapwing. A couple of guys who were scoping the main lake called us to say that 2 Knot were with Black  Headed Gulls so we went over to look at them quite a rare bird for Chew so was great to see. While there we also saw Gadwall and Teal, Back to the pool here Green and Common Sandpipers were found while we searched for a Wood Sandpiper that the guys had told us were there and David needed it for a year tick, eventually I found it through the telescope  preening and was able to show it to Dave. 2 Grey Wagtails were on the dam wall in front of us being seen through the weed growth, while scoping the pool we could hear Canada Geese and with that a flock flew in. A Shoveler found amongst the Mallards and a Herring Gull was on the outlet, Little and Great White Egrets were also on the pool. Back to the main lake and where the overflow from the pool joins the main lake a Water Rail ran out of the reeds to immediately turn round and run back in there were also many and I mean in excess of 20 Moorhens in the same channel. Magpie, Carrion Crow and Grey Heron were also seen from here. Time to move on but because of the road closure we were forced to circumnavigate the lake in the opposite direction to what we would normally do, but we wanted to get to Stratford Hide for our next stop, on the way Collared Dove and Wood Pigeon were seen, A Great Spotted Woodpecker that flew into the top of a tree was quickly followed by another, a juvenile bird and as we walked towards the hide a 3^rd was seen. 

Great Spotted Woodpecker-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)

A Great Tit was also logged. In the hide Coot, Mute Swan, Great Black Back Gull, Great Crested Grebe and Cormorant were the only new sightings for the day. Herons Green was the next stop here were lots of Pied Wagtails and an adult Yellow Legged Dove. Over the road on the pond were several Little Grebe and in a distant tree was a very light phase Buzzard, Also flying overhead was a flock of House Martins plus a single Swallow. Back on the main lake House Sparrows were on the dam and a female Tufted Duck was found in amongst the Coots. Our final stop was in the main Picnic Area here 5 Egyptian Geese were our only new sighting. On the way back to Bath 2 Stock Doves were seen from the car. A good morning but with a lack of the smaller birds that was very surprising, is this a sign of global warming or just a one off.