Tuesday 14th March 2023 - Chew Valley Lake

 

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 finding it, but later when I looked at Avon Birds website it had been seen during the day. We did however add Great White Egret and Herring Gull to our list. The lake is very high in fact as we were to find out later full right up as the water is spilling out over the overflow at the dam end. Next stop Woodford Lodge to buy our permits.

Chew Valley Lake from Woodford (Bath Birdwatcher)

 While we were here we decided to walk the new cycleway to the dam as we have not used it before and it proved to be a good choice as lots of smaller birds were seen. Robin, Blackbird, Magpie. Dunnock. Wren, Song Thrush, Redwing, Chaffinch and Long Tailed Tit all seen in the 1st 100 yards or so. As we continued we found Coal Tits, Carrion Crow, Jay, and Ravens flying overhead. In this area a Firecrest had been seen but we were unable to find it but we did find several Goldcrests and some at quite close quarters, a lovely little bird. As we approached the dam a Grey Heron and 2 Little Egrets flew over and David spotted a Nuthatch unusually in a bush. A pair of Goldeneye were by the dam and a Cormorant was fishing just off shore. Nothing new was seen as we walked back to Woodford but at the back of the carpark David spotted a male Bullfinch. As it was almost lunch time we decided to drive to Picnic area 2 and after lunch walk the Grebe and Bittern Trails as we hoped would be more productive than the hides as apart from many hundreds of gull the lake seemed very devoid of bird species. Nothing to add on the Grebe trail except some lovely bunches of Primroses.

Primroses - Grebe Trail (Bath Birdwatcher)

 Once on the Bittern trail we soon added Great Tit and Moorhen. The sight and sound of the day was 2 singing Chiffchaffs our 1st of the year and always something that tells you warmer weather is not far away. I heard a bird call familiar but couldn’t put a name to it then a bird flew into a tree in front of us and gave itself away a Treecreeper. Reaching the lookout point at the end of the boardwalk a Greylag Goose was at the back of Denny Island, and walking back to the car our last sighting of the day was a Pheasant.

Mute Swan on Bittern Trail (Bath Birdwatcher)


 

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