Wednesday 1st February 2023 - Newton St Loe

 

Snowdrops - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Today David and Tony visited Newton St Loe a day later than usual as on Monday my wife had a cataract operation and it was only right that I looked after her yesterday. We parked by the farm shop and walking towards the church a Lesser Black Back Gull flew over and Jackdaws were in one of the tall trees. A Long Tailed Tit and Blue Tit  were in a bush and a Blackbird flew through a garden. On the road leading to the church is a line of tall trees some covered with mistletoe here a Mistle Thrush and Redwing were seen, next a Goldfinch flew over and in the field beyond the church was a Magpie and 2 Carrion Crows. Walking to the bottom road a Black Headed Gull flew over and later 4 more were in the Cormorant tree on the top lake. In the hedgerow were House Sparrows and as we approached what was Send a Cow a Stock Dove flew over the 1st of 3 we saw the other 2 overflew the top lake. Wood Pigeon were seen regularly and a Robin was singing at the top of the woodland footpath while 6 Common Gulls were in the field to our left. A Great Tit was seen as we walked down the footpath and a Buzzard flew through the trees. From Butterfly Alley 2 Grey Herons were by the stream, on the bottom lake were just 4 Mallard with another 26 on the top lake. Next the top lake here were the resident Mute Swans with 6 Moorhens, 5 Coots and the female Tufted Duck.

Coots Fighting - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Scanning the lake from the Temple we found 3 Little Grebe and 14 Teal. We came across a mixed flock of small birds which contained Long Tailed Tits, Blue Tits and a single Nuthatch, and Treecreeper. 

Treecreeper - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Also 2 birds were whizzing around so fast it was impossible to identify them until they stopped and started mating, they were a pair of Coal Tits. Walking back to the car down the drive the fields were full with 150+ Rooks.

Rook - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)


 

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