Bath Birdwatcher

  This week’s bird spotting trip was almost another non event for me as on Saturday we noticed our boiler programmer was not working and the boiler was permanently on, so we had to switch it off on the boiler when heat or hot water were not needed. On Monday I rang Worcester because as well as the programmer problem the boiler also needed a service and I was offered the following day, I could hardly say no as its my spotting day so I resigned myself to go another week without any birding. But when I had the confirmation of the visit I was offered a PM appointment which allowed the 3 Amigos a few hours to do some spotting. As Bryan needed a bird watching permit for the hides at Chew Valley Lake and as the weather was again very inclement this was our best option. On the journey we spotted Rook, Red Kite and Jackdaw. 1 st stop Herriotts but with the rain blowing into the car spotting was very difficult but we did find Coot, Mallard, Great Black Back Gull, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Can...

  Mute Swan - Bittern Trail (Bath Birdwatcher) The trip this week was to be on Wednesday as Brian could not make Tuesday but as it transpired he was unable to make Wednesday either so at the last minute David and myself reverted to Tuesday, going to Chew mainly to buy our new Bird Watching Permit which as well as giving us access to all the hides at Chew it also allows access to Blagdon, Cheddar and Barrow as well as free parking at Woodford and the 2 picnic areas at Chew. We started the day at Herriotts but on the way picked up Rook, Buzzard, Jackdaw and Woodpigeon. At Herriotts on the pool were Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Pintail, and Shelduck. Also here were 100+ Black Headed Gulls with a few Common Gulls and a lesser amount of Great and Lesser Black back Gulls. On the main lake the only extras were Great Crested Grebe and Blue Tits flying over the reeds. Next stop Herons Green hoping for the Smew that has been here for a long time but we had no luck ...

  For our birding walk today David and Tony were joined by Kirsty, Bryan was otherwise engaged. As I only had a few hours in the morning I picked the others up and we had a morning at Newton St Loe. On arrival we parked by the farm shop and walked towards the church passing overhead were several Rooks and in a hedge chirping away were many House Sparrows, also noted were Collared Dove, Jackdaw and Robin. As we approached the turning to the church we heard the distinctive call of a Greenfinch and I found at least 3 in the top of a fir tree several other birds were seen in the same area, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Long Tailed Tit and a Mistle Thrush. As we approached the church 2 Magpies flew past and as we entered the field beyond the church Woodpigeons were sat in the trees. Kirsty then spotted a Green Woodpecker on the trunk of the tree, which she was excited to see and she had only previously seen them in flight. Our next sighting was a Stock Dove the first of about half a dozen we saw...

  Green Woodpecker - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher) Today and yes its Wednesday, David and Tony paid a half day visit to Newton St Loe. I parked by the farm shop in the village and while I was changing footwear a flock of Rooks flew over and as we walked towards the village shop a Lesser Black Back Gull flew past. At the cottage opposite the shop Blue Tits and House Sparrows were in the bushes we then noticed 2 Buzzards overhead soon another joined them, during the morning we saw several more but feel these sightings were probably 5 individuals. Walking through the churchyard we noted a few Goldfinch in the Yew’s. Entering the field David spotted a Red Kite flying over the church, we saw that or other Kites several times during the morning. Our next sighting for the day was a Great Spotted Woodpecker in one of the large trees, a Wren, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw and Blackbird were all logged as we walked through the field. On the Send a Cow road 2 Collared Doves were in a tree it was then I spotte...