Thursday 1st September 2022 - Newton St Loe

 

My wife and I visited NLS this morning a day earlier than usual as the weather looks decidedly unpleasant for tomorrow so it had to be today to make the most of the better weather. Driving into the village House Martins were flying around and 2 Swallows were sat on the wires. We parked at the church and as we got out of the car we heard the contact call of Long Tailed Tits that were in the trees above us. Walking down through the field beyond the church a Woodpigeon flew over and a Lesser Black Back Gull was sat on the chimney of the cottage with that a Green Woodpecker flew up from the field and a Rook circled the field and headed off towards the village. A large flock of Goldfinch were in the trees and on the wires as we walked towards Send a Cow and at the top of the lane a Nuthatch was climbing high in a tree. All was quiet until we reached the bottom lake and here we ran into a mixed bird flock containing mainly Long Tailed Tits but also Willow Warbler, Coal Tit, Chiff Chaff, Coal and Blue Tits, as we were about to move on another bird moved which was a Goldcrest. On the lake was 11 Mallard nothing more until the area between the lakes where a Song  Thrush flew away. On the top lake the 1st bird seen was a small flock of Jackdaw flying over and in the  dead tree a Stock Dove was sat, another was seen later in the dead tree in the top corner of the lake. On the lake was 2 Adult Little Grebe with 3 young and later we found another 2 adults in the bottom RH corner. Also on the lake were the pair of Mute Swans and a total of 6 Coot spread all over the lake. As we sat on a bench on the dam a Grey Heron flew into the trees to our left and as we walked around the lake 15 + Moorhen were counted with 9 in a small area at the top end of the lake. We decided to return via the University and while walking above the lake through the Yew trees a Robin flew into one of them and a Spotted Flycatcher was seen flycatching from the top of one of the Yews.

 

Spotted Flycatcher-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)

 Great Tit and Carrion Crows were added as we returned to the car and a as we drove home a Magpie was logged.

Mute Swan-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)

Little Grebe-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)



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