Bath Birdwatcher

  This week was the last time for a few weeks that the 3 Amigos will be able to get out as a threesome so we chose to visit the Somerset Levels and what a great choice it was, as we had some of the best bird watching that we have had in years, in fact the best in decades. Our first stopping point was going to be Westhay and to get there we drive over what is no more than a single track road and it was here we started our days list with Stock Dove, Blackbird and Pheasant seen. As we approached a field with one of the small drainage channels running down it we noticed a flock of about 20 Egrets and on closer examination they were all Cattle Egrets (year tick no1). Great Crested Grebe, Greylag and Canada Geese as well as Mute Swans were all logged before we reached the Westhay car park. As we set off on our walk up Dagg’s Lane Drove Great Tits were in the trees to our left and a single Coot was in the water at the end of the car park, a Blue Tit and a Buzzard was our next 2 sightings ...

  It’s been a while since the 3 Amigos had the opportunity for the 3 of us to get out together for our regular Tuesday birding session, but this week we were able to make it, and a day at Chew Valley Lake and a visit to Blagdon was decided upon. As is often the case bird spotting began as we were driving with Rook, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Blackbird, Jackdaw and House Sparrow all seen before we reached Herriotts. As we pulled in to park we could already see Mute Swan, Mallard and Canada Goose, and before we got out of the car Tufted Duck and Coot were added. Spread around the pool were 10 + Shelduck a species we do not usually see in these numbers. A flock of hirundine were flying over the pool mostly Swallows but with a few House Martins with them, which was a year tick for me. Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal and a single male Goldeneye were also seen. A Cormorant flew over and a Moorhen was in the top corner of the pool. 2 gull species were also seen Herring and Lesser Black Back. The only ...

  Blakehill Farm Yesterday was our monthly RSPB field trip and this trip was two part, firstly we visited Blakehill Farm with a later visit to Cotswold Water Park. Blakehill Farm is a former military airfield that is being turned into hay meadows and pasture farmed especially for wildlife, and is run by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and the whole site is in excess of 263 hectares. Blakehill Farm site map. On arrival Tom our leader for the day pointed out a Mistle Thrush bring food to a nest in a tree at the entrance to the car park, and while waiting for others to arrive we saw Magpie, Robin, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Chaffinch and the 1 st of several Red Kites we were to see during the morning. We set off to the call of Skylark which is one of the species profiting from the site management with many see or heard and we walked around the site. A rookery in the distance was well represented with Rooks, and at this point we noted Roe Deer we were to find about 10 during the morning. A Brown...

  Royal Crescent from Victoria Park. A nother Tuesday with no birding as Bryan and David were unavailable so I thought I would post a few pictures of moths I have caught this year but as I have only put my trap out 5 times and on the 1 st try on the 2 nd of February the trap was empty. So far this year I have managed to catch 9 different species and if I were to tell you I managed 198 species last year, then I have a fair way to go to even match last year’s total.   Brindled Beauty March Moth March Dagger Oak Beauty Chestnut Hebrew Character We had a walk through Victoria Park this morning hoping to see or hear some summer visiting birds but to no avail but a few of the flower borders were looking lovely as you can see above and below.   Victoria Park- Royal Avenue

  The 3 Amigos had to abort our usual Tuesday trip as David was at his caravan and Bryan was collecting his daughter from the airport. But that was not the end of it as my wife joined me on a short walk from the Church to the top lake and back before we had to do some shopping. Driving towards the village a Buzzard was circling above the Seven Acre Wood area. Parking by the church Jackdaw and Woodpigeon flew over as we were changing footwear. On the Send a Cow road (which is not called that any longer) Sparrows were in the hedgerow and visiting the cottage feeders. At the top of the woodland footpath a Nuthatch was calling which I managed to locate high in a tree. Also in the same tree was 2 Blue Tits and in a close by fir tree was a calling Goldcrest. As we continued down the footpath a Great Tit flew up from the stream and a Dunnock was singing from a bush. At the bottom of the footpath I could hear the call of a Chiffchaff but took quite a while before I noticed movement at th...