Friday 18th November 2022 - Newton St Loe.

 

NSL Church - (Bath Birdwatcher)

I like to try and visit Newton St Loe at least twice a month and today marks my 24th visit this year but as I have mentioned on the last few visits bird numbers and species have been disappointing. Walking through the Church Yard and into the field beyond and here we found the 3 most common corvids Carrion Crow, Rook and Jackdaw. Continuing through the field a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from one of the large trees on the left and I located it right in the highest point of one of the trees before it flew across the field in front of us. Nothing else until we reached the footpath through the woods here, we added Robin, Long Tailed and Blue Tit. A Grey Heron was sat by the stream looking from butterfly alley with 2 more sat in the field on the far side of the bottom lake and a Woodpigeon that flew over.

Grey Heron-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)

 Nothing more until we reached the bottom lake but did look at the waterfall which was gushing.

Waterfall NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Goldcrests were in the trees by the lake, saw lots today more than I have seen
 for months perhaps it’s a sign that winter is not far away. 3 Moorhens were around the lake with a single Cormorant diving looking for a meal, just 3 Mallard were on the lake 2 male and a female. A Wren was working its way through the tree roots before it saw us and flew across the lake and disappeared. Up to the top lake here the first bird seen was the female Tufted Duck that has been present for months also another 40+ Mallard and at least another 8 Moorhen. 2 Coot were seen today which were not seen last week on our visit, and the resident pair of Mute Swans were also seen. A flock of gulls were loafing on the lake 23 being Black Headed and 2 Common. Also seen on the lake were the 3 Little Grebes which were there a week ago. We walked back to the village via the University grounds and down the drive here I spotted the Jackdaw that has a lot of white feathers I have posted a picture before but this time it was too distant for my bridge camera. We also added Magpie and Pied Wagtail to our morning total.

 

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