Tuesday 25th July 2023 - Bath Nat's field trip to Lansdown

 

Gatekeeper - Bath Birdwatcher

David is back from France but Bryan is on holiday, so David suggested we joined the Bath Nat’s field trip to Lansdown. We all met at the Park & Ride car park and when we had all assembled we set off towards the racecourse. This walk was not solely about birds but our first 2 sightings Swallow and Magpie were both birds soon followed by Linnet, Greenfinch and Buzzard to the day’s list, we then found our first butterflies of the day Large White, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral and Comma next our 1st moth of the day a Nettle Tap. 

Nettle Tap - Bath Birdwatcher
On the main road by the cottages were many House Martins which had or still are nesting a Pied Wagtail was on the ground by the road. As we continued a flock of 100+ Starlings flew overhead, we then spotted a Silver Y moth, we found several during the walk Common Grass Veneers was another moth we saw in large numbers. A Great Tit was flitting through the trees on the golf course. Next another moth a Shaded Broad Bar we saw 3 during the walk. Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Rook, Woodpigeon and Meadow Pipit were all seen as we walked to the far end of Lansdown close to the Sir Bevil Grenville’s monument. Here we stopped for a drink and found a pair of Yellowhammer’s a Meadow Brown and a Marbled White. After our short stop we headed for the monument and in a patch of wild flowers were many different butterflies including new for the day Marbled White, Comma, Green Veined White, Brown Argus, Small Copper, Speckled Wood and an Essex Skipper plus a new moth for me Yarrow Plume,

Essex Skipper - Bath Birdwatcher

Yarrow Plume - Bath Birdwatcher

plus a Six Spot Burnet. Time to set off back to the cars finding a Wren, Holly Blue and 2 very bedraggled Ringlet butterflies. Walking on a footpath through the golf course we found a Whitethroat followed shortly after by our last new species of butterfly for the day a Small Skipper. Herring Gull and Lesser Black Back Gull ended a great day and a special thank you to Glen who led the walk.

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