My Birding Year 2022 Part 2 - July to December

 

Our 1^st trip in July was a walk along the river Avon from Newbridge towards Saltford most of the birds seen were expected although a singing Reed Warbler was I nice find as was a Kingfisher, An Essex Skipper butterfly was unexpected as was a Scarce Chaser Dragonfly. On the 9^th of July was the Bath RSPB monthly field trip to Wentwood/Newport Wetlands, a Spotted Flycatcher at Wentwood was our only year tick at Wentwood and nothing new seen at Newport Wetlands but when we moved to Goldcliffe Green Sandpiper, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover were all new year sightings. At Newport Wetlands we were entertained by a Bittern which flew from one reedbed over open water to disappear in another. On Monday 11^th July Mary and I joined David and his wife Hazel for a few days in their caravan at Weymouth we had a fabulous few days, with brilliant weather and 4-year ticks, Common and Little Tern at Ferrybridge plus Guillemot and Kittiwake at Portland. In the Portland quarries we found 9 species of butterfly including Silver Studded Blue and Grayling which were both lifetime firsts, it was also nice to see many Chalkhill Blues. The 21^st of July was a morning at Newton St Loe looking for Butterflies where 11 species were seen including Marbled White, Red Admiral and Essex Skipper being the pick

Red Admiral - Bath Birdwatcher

On the 26th of July, the 3 Amigos led a Bath Nats field trip to the Somerset Levels where everything from plants to insects and birds were of interest. As far as birds were concerned nothing new was seen but we were all interested in watching a Hobby lots of Bee species and Grasshoppers were seen along with 9 species of Butterfly. A Black Tailed Skimmer was a new species of Dragonfly for me. On the 29^th we made another visit to Newton St Loe with nothing new for the year seen but I did find that the Little Grebes had bred and has 2 chicks, as far as I know a first for the site.

Into August and on the 2nd, we went to Slimbridge and on the day saw 53 Species including Spotted Redshank and Curlew Sandpiper being year ticks. On the 9^th we made another visit to Newton St Loe nothing new, but the Little Grebe now had 4 chicks and a Spotted Flycatcher was a nice find.

Spotted Flycatcher - Bath Birdwatcher

Chew Valley Lake was our next outing on the 16^th, with all the hot weather the lake was getting low and in places mud was beginning to show so it was no surprise that Wood Sandpiper and Greenshank were found these two species not regular at Chew, 7 more species of wader were also seen and Little Ringed Plover being another Chew rarity, but one I had already seen this year. Our only other year tick was a Yellow Legged Gull.

Yellow Legged Gull - Bath Birdwatcher

August 19 another trip to Newton St Loe another nice walk but no new species although a Green Woodpecker is always good to see. 23^rd saw a return to Chew as the water level being so low there is always a chance of something out of the ordinary turning up and yes a Knot was present and also the Wood Sandpiper seen the week before we also added Egyptian Goose to our year list. The 30^th saw us back once again at Chew and as before lots of wader species were seen 13 in all including Oystercatcher and Spotted Redshank which again are not common here, but it was a White Wagtail that proved to be the only year tick but Peregrine and Cattle Egret were nice sightings and a Red Kite driving back to Bath is always a highlight.

1^st September a patch walk to Newton St Loe no new ticks but 4 Little Grebe and 3 chicks was great and a Spotted Flycatcher another highlight. On the 6^th we again went to Chew as we had read that a Little Stint had been found, which we did find  and proved to be the only tick of the day but 12 wader species was great to see as was a migrant Wheatear. The 13^th it was Chew again as more birds we needed for the year had been found and yet again we found both the first an Osprey and the 2^nd a Pectoral Sandpiper. 13 Cattle Egrets in the fields at Herons Green was a good count. On the 16^th another patch walk to Newton St Loe nothing new but a female Mandarin was a first here for me. On to the 20^th when the 3 Amigos did a recce at Brean Down for the Bath RSPB field trip the following weekend, no year tick but a Dartford Warbler was only our 2^nd sighting of the year and Clouded Yellow and Small Copper were butterfly year ticks.

Clouded Yellow - Bath Birdwatcher

Friday 23^rd Bryan Yvonne, Mary and Tony were away for the week in Devon and on the 25^th we walked to Start Point and here we ticked Common Scoter and Balearic Shearwater and 2 days later at Saltrum a few Ring Necked Parakeets were firstly heard and later found.

Ring Necked Parakeets - Bath Birdwatcher

On the 28^th we found Turnstones at Thurlstone and on our way home on the 30^th we stopped at Yvonne’s cousin and here on the river outside their house a Dipper.

My 1^st trip in October was a patch walk but nothing worth reporting and 2 days later yet another trip to Chew with David we found a male Scaup and even better 2 Lesser Redpolls. On the 25^th just myself and David headed for Slimbridge where a Collared Pratincole had been around for a few days and if we could find it ,it would be a lifetime tick (lifer). 

Record shot of Collared Pratincole - Bath Birdwatcher

 When we arrived we were told it was on South Lake but when we arrived we were told we had missed it by seconds so after a bit of a wait and no return we headed to Zeiss hide and while there David Spotted the Pratincole flying to our right and as nothing else of interest was seen we returned to South Lake and here it was on one of the small islands on the scrape.

Later in the day from the Tower Hide we spotted the Ross Goose of unknown origin. The last outing of the month was another patch walk to Newton St Loe but nothing new was found but 100+ Redwing was a good count.

The 1^st of November brought another trip to Chew, but for the 1^st time this year nothing was added to our year list and Marsh Harrier and Red Kite were the highlights of the day. The 11^th/18^th and the 25^th were patch visits to NSL again little of note except for on the 25^th when a Wigeon was on the top lake, my 1^st here.

December started with a Nats trip to the Somerset levels where an American Wigeon was found, it had been in the area for quite a while but we were lucky to find it as it was in a flock of Eurasian Wigeon and only its head which differs was showing. 54 species were seen during the day but the above was the only tick and only the second I have ever seen, so quite special. The 10^th was Bath RSPB’S final field trip of the year this time to Oldbury Power Station it was a freezing cold day but the sun shone all day making it quite pleasant. Just 1 year tick Grey Plover. On the 13^th was the last patch walk of the year to NSL where nothing new was found but out of the ordinary was 50 flyover Lapwings in 2 flocks of 20 and 30, also a flock of at least 10 Greenfinch a good count for this site. The last outing of the year was another trip to Chew as a female Smew had been found we saw 57 species during the day including the Smew at Herons Green my 1^st since about 2007. I ended the year on 168 species beating my previous best by 2.

L-album wainscot moth - Bath Birdwatcher
my rarest moth of the year.