My Birding Year 2022 Part 1 - January to June

 

Top Lake - Newton St Loe (Bath Birdwatcher)

The year started well with 20 species seen in the 1^st 3 days but nothing unexpected. On the 4^th of January the 3 Amigos had a Trip to Weston Super Mare as a Penduline Tit had been seen at the old Airfield and as it would be a lifer for the three of us we decided to go for it and on the way our 1^st Red Kite of the year was seen, We stopped at Herriotts at Chew Valley Lake and year ticked all the usual suspects which included a Great White Egret. Between Chew and Weston  more usual fare was logged including a nice Kestrel. At Weston we soon found where the Penduline was by the number of people looking for it, and talking to the 1^st person we met, he said it had been seen earlier but he had not seen it, so we stood and waited but no sign so we decided to wander along the reedbed to a different viewing point but again nothing but Meadow Pipits so another move which this time proved fruitful when we found 2 Penduline Tits feeding on the heads of reed mace, so you can imagine how excited we were,

Penduline Tit - WSM (Bath Birdwatcher)

 After our fill of the bird we moved on to Uphill and collected a few extra year ticks. We had been told that a Black Necked Grebe was at Blagdon and as we pass it on our way home we decided to stop there in the hope of finding it. Looking from the Dam no sign but a guy told us that the grebe was by one of the landing stages and on arriving at the spot  the Black Necked Grebe was soon found the day ended with us on 63 year ticks. Next Trip was to Newton St Loe where another 6 species we added to our year list including a Greenfinch a species that is getting harder to see. The 16^th was the years 1^st Bath RSPB field trip, this one too The Forest Of Dean. On our way to the meeting point of Speech House we stopped at Parkend and here under the trees we found 2 Hawfinch a bird its always great to find and probably the closest to Bath where they can be fairly easily found. During our walk in the forest we found many Crossbills a lot were singing and showing signs of mating. Another good tick was Siskins. At Cannop Ponds we added Mandarin to our year list.

Mandarin - Cannop Ponds (bath Birdwatcher)

The 21^st was another trip to Newton St Loe but nothing new was seen. On the 27^th we went to Stanton Prior again to try and find a bird that can be tricky to find in the area and we were lucky to find the target species in a hedgerow after walking around the village looking. The birds in question were Yellowhammers. A Red Kite was also seen, a bird that is becoming increasingly common in the area. This was the last trip of the month and I ended up on 100 species a very good start to the year.

The 1^st of February we went to Oldbury Power Station as a Black Redstart had been reported as being present but trying to find one bird in such a large area defeated us but Oystercatcher and Sparrowhawk were year ticks.

Bullfinch - Oldbury PS (Bath Birdwatcher)

 Tuesday the 8^th saw us visiting Burnett to try and find another of the rarer winter species and this time we were in luck finding Brambling. 23^rd was another visit to Newton St Loe the highlights being 3 Teal and a female Tufted Duck the tuftie has been about for most of the year on and off. The 25^th was again a trip to Newton St Loe where the Teal numbers had raised to 6 and there were a pair of Tufted Ducks. Just 3 year ticks were added during the month bringing my total to 103.

Just 3 trips out in March, The 1^st the 24^th again to Newton St Loe where nothing was added to our year lists but we did see our 1^st Small Tortoiseshell butterfly of the year. The 29^th March saw us doing a circular walk from Monkton Combe to Midford and back just a single year tick a Chiff Chaff plus a Muntjac Deer the closest to Bath I have seen one. A single tick year total 104.

13th of April a trip to Chew Valley Lake where new summer arrivals included House Martin, 2 male Garganey, and Sand Martins one of the rarer ducks a Lesser Scaup. But one that got away was a possible Baltic Gull (Fuscus intermededius) but identification could not be proven. The next trip was on the 19^th to the Somerset Levels where we started at Westhay  here Swallow, Cetti’s Warbler, Whitethroat and Willow Warbler were all ticks and later at Ham Wall we added Hobby  and Ruff, But the bird of the day was a Glossy Ibis, we also had 5 species of butterfly. The 25^th was another trip to Chew Valley Lake where Common Sandpiper, Reed and Sedge Warbler were added to our lists, but most frustratingly we heard a singing Grasshopper Warbler but it did not show so could not be added to our sightings list. The last trip of the month was a return to Newton St Loe but again nothing new and no real highlights. The month ender with my year total on 120.

May began with a trip to Newton St Loe but again nothing new for the year but Orange Tip and Brimstone Butterflies were on the wing. On the 9^th the 3 Amigos did a recce to the Quantocks in preparation for the Bath RSPB field trip the following Saturday it was a great day with several year ticks including our 1^st Swift of the year, Also ticked were Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and Wheatear. On the Saturday RSPB trip we were able to find most of the birds listed above and added Dartford Warbler,

Dartford Warbler- Quantocks (Bath Birdwatcher)

A Green Hairstreak was a great butterfly to find. The 17^th was another trip to Newton St Loe with good number of birds seen a female Yellowhammer was the star bird with 3 pair of Grey Heron nesting above the top lake. On the 24^th we made another visit to Newton St Loe another good list of birds but again nothing new for the year, the 27^th we did the same trip with the same outcome except the small flock of Coot on the lake usually only 2 pair, had 2 young. The 31^st saw us make a return day trip to the Somerset Levels starting at Westhay, on the journey we encountered 3 Red Kites while at Westhay a singing Cuckoo was a year tick, Hobby and Marsh Harrier were also nice to see. The afternoon was spent at Ham Wall here a flyby Bittern was a year tick bringing my year total to 129 species.

June began with a walk from Monkton Combe to Midford the same walk we had done earlier in the year, nothing new was found but watching a Treecreeper running up a tree searching for food then flying down to the bottom of the next tree repeating its food search was fascinating to watch. We also saw 7 species of butterfly which was lovely to see.

Robin - Midford (bath Birdwatcher)

 On the 16^th Mary and I went to stay with her sister in their lodge nr Paignton and being right next to the sea I managed to add Shag, Gannet and Fulmar to my year list, and on the 19^th I walked to the Clennon Valley  somewhere I have not visited before although I added nothing to my year list it was great to visit as I know it’s a better winter site and maybe I might get there later in the year one day. Back at the lodge during the rest of the visit I managed to tick Rock Pipit and Mediterranean Gull. The last field trip of the month was on the 29^th with a midweek RSPB visit to Pewsey Downs, while waiting in the car park we were entertained with a Red Kite  showing well. During the day we ticked Corn Bunting and a pair possibly 2 Yellow Wagtails. A few Dark Green Fritillary and a Common Blue Butterfly plus a Spotted Longhorn beetle were also found. My year total now stands at 136.