Wednesday 1st March 2023 - Newton St Loe.

 

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 spotted a Raven overhead, 2 more were one of our last sightings of the morning. Long Tailed Tit was in the send a cow woodland. On reaching Butterfly Alley 2 Magpies were seen in the distance and a Dunnock was in the hedgerow. A Herring Gull flew over followed by a Black Headed Gull, I later counted 39 on the top lake. Walking by the bottom lake we could hear Goldfinch calling in the trees and as I looked at them I found a Siskin when David looked he found a second plus a Chaffinch. On the lake were 14 Mallard and a female Mute Swan the male was on the top lake. 2 Grey Herons were in the field opposite with 2 more in trees on the top lake with 1 on a nest. Also seen here were 2 Moorhen. On the top lake 3 Cormorants were in their usual tree.

Cormorant - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

2 Little Grebes and 8 Coots were on the lake. Walking to the Temple we added Robin and Goldcrest to the mornings total. Here I had my coffee and while scanning the edge of the lake I found 3 Teal. As we walked to the far end of the lake we added 3 tit species to our list Coal, Marsh and Great, also seen here was a Nuthatch. Time to turn back and on the lake was the female Tufted Duck and David found a Song Thrush. A Carrion Crow was sat in a tree and walking back by the bottom lake a Green Woodpecker flew onto a fence designed to protect trees.

Female Tufted Duck - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

A good morning with more species seen than on my last few visits with more birds in song.  I saw a total of 40 species but missed a Mistle Thrush seen by David and we both missed a flyover Pied Wagtail which we heard but could not find.