Tuesday 13th December 2022 - Newton St Loe

 Today the 3 Amigos made visit to Newton St Loe parking by the farm shop and here before we set of, we noted many Redwings flying over and during the morning saw in excess of 100 and may have been over 200 birds. Carrion Crows were sat in a nearby tree and Jackdaws flew over. Walking towards the church we saw a few Blackbirds, and a Fieldfare while in the tall mistletoe covered trees seen from the road to the church was a Mistle Thrush the first of several we were to see or hear. Blue Tits were in the same rank of trees with several Woodpigeons. A Black Headed Gull flew over the field beyond the church and 2 Magpies were in the field and some Rooks flew over. A Robin was sat on the fence at the bottom of the field with Chaffinches seen before we reached the road to Send a Cow. On the wires by Send a Cow were many Goldfinches and in the hedgerow were House Sparrows cheeping as they tend to do year-round. Great Tits were beyond Send a Cow, and a Nuthatch was found in the top of a tree by the footpath and here a Dunnock was also spotted. Nothing extra until we were walking through Butterfly Alley and here David spotted a flock of c30 Lapwing flying in a south westerly direction. On the bottom lake were 14 Mallard and a minimum of 4 Moorhen.

Moorhens - NSL (bath Birdwatcher)

A Wren flew along the bank and 3 Goldcrest were in the Alders, a Grey Wagtail flew over and at the top end of the lake a Grey Heron was sat on the far bank.

Grey Heron - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

In the wooded area between the lakes a Song Thrush was seen. On the top lake was the resident pair of Mute Swans, 2 Coot, 3 Little Grebe, another 21 Mallard some of which were in the stream which runs into the lake. Also seen were another 9 Moorhen and the female Tufted Duck. Walking up the path towards the playing field we found our only Coal Tit of the morning. Walking through the playing field we found a Stonechat, Red Kite, Herring and Common Gulls and a Pheasant. David had his sky looking eyes on and found another flock of c20 Lapwings. Walking through the University a Pied Wagtail was on a roof and a Buzzard flew by. In a tree behind the Keep was about 10 Greenfinch the largest flock I have seen in a while. The day ended with a Lesser Black Back Gull and a Starling added on our return journey. 

Song Thrush - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)


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