Tuesday 28th March 2023 - Chew Valley Lake.

 

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.

1st 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, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shoveler and Black Headed Gull. From the car on the other side of the road Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron and Cormorant were ticked. Next Stop Herons Green on the way Wood Pigeon was added.

Black Headed Gull - Chew (Bath Birdwatcher)

At Herons Green we were hoping for the female Smew that had been present for a long time but 2 weeks ago we could not find it. The rain was much less heavy so we could stand at the back of the car under the hatch where I could use my telescope to go through the flock of ducks mainly Tufties and found the Smew. As we were watching it David found a bird of prey being mobbed by Carrion Crows and Herring Gulls, it was a lovely Osprey carrying a large fish. It landed in a tree on the far side of the road and as I set the camera for a record shot it flew off over our head heading towards Nunnery, so no luck with a picture. Looking back from where the Osprey came a Buzzard was drifting over the trees. We had already seen a Marsh Harrier flying across the lake towards Moreton. A Gadwall, Great White Egret and Pied Wagtail were also seen here. Next Woodford Lodge for Bryan to get his permit. A Blackbird was on the road to the Lodge and later on in the car park we added Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, and Robin. Walking along the cycle path David spotted a Sparrowhawk which I managed to get on before it disappeared behind trees. Dunnock, Chaffinch and a singing Song Thrush were our next day ticks soon followed by Great Tit, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, and Wren. Rain was again threatening so back to the car which proved a very good idea as it pored down as we drove to Stratford. Walking towards the hide a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into a tree. From the hide a female Scaup was found by David, also seen were Pochard, 100’s of Sand Martins with a few Swallows amongst them, also seen were a pair of Goldeneye. We had seen on the Avon Birds Web Site that a Little Gull had been seen at the lake and talking to a couple of guys in the hide, we were told that it was out on the lake but had settled on the water and impossible to find, but it must have been our lucky day as Bryan found it flying around with a lot of Black Headed Gulls although it was quite far out it was smaller than the other gulls and having black under wings was easy to find. The last sighting of a fantastic morning with 44 sightings and 7 year ticks, The little gull was my 1st since 2018.

Great Crested Grebe - Chew (Bath Birdwatcher)

Coot - Chew (Bath Birdwatcher)


 

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