Bath Birdwatcher

  Severn Bridge - Bath Birdwatcher T his week the 3 Amigos were down to 2 as David was away, so Bryan and I had a chat and decided to go to a new place for us (Aust Warth) as we had noted from Avon Birds website that interesting bird do turn up from time to time. We used google maps to direct us to the area and found Passage Road would be the best road to use. When we arrived we found the road was closed but decided to use the road and see where the closure was. The road was closed just short of a bridge that was part of a flood prevention scheme. We did see a footpath so parked up to explore this path. We found the path led to a road leading to the 1 st Severn bridge, bird wise it was a bit disappointing having started well with 2 different Green Woodpeckers but back up with just Woodpigeon, Kestrel, Curlew, Lesser Black Back Gull, Jackdaw, Great Black Back Gull, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit and Canada Goose. Walking back to the car in a garden that had a pond we watched 3 Moorhens. Du...

  On Monday the 3 Amigos joined Bath Nats for a field trip to Langford Lakes followed by a visit to Westbury White Horse. On the way we spotted a few Red Legged Partridge at the edge of a roadside field. At Langford we started off by walking on the main path and stopping at the first lake on our left, and on the way noted Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Swallow, Lesser Black Back Gull. On the lake we saw almost 100 Canada Geese with a few Cormorant on the dead branches on the far side of the lake, a few Mallard and a pair of Mute Swans were also seen. We then spotted a flock of Lapwing in flight and these, a Coot appeared to our left. Someone then spotted a Kingfisher on a branch on the far bank and while watching, it made 2 successful fishing dives coming up with a small fish. Walking on a Grey Heron was on the corner of the lake and several Rooks flew over. On another lake a single Tufted Duck was spotted lots of Woodpigeons were seen in flight. As we approached the far hide we passed an ...

  Coleton Fishacre - Bath Birdwatcher Mary and Tony spent a week with her sister and brother-in-law at their lodge at Waterside Holiday Park which is between Brixham and Paignton. The site is next to the South Devon Railway and overlooks Torbay with Torquay to the left and Brixham Harbour and Berry Head to the right. We arrived late afternoon and after having something to eat I walked to the clifftop which has a flight of steps giving access to the rocks and small beach which is available only at low tide. Halfway down the steps is a good vantage point to view the surrounding rocks and another beach which has access at the other end of the small bay. Bird life was not abundant, but I did manage to see a year tick in the form of a Kittiwake also seen were Gannet, Herring Gull, Cormorant, Black Headed Gulls and a single Mediterranean Gull. Fishing in the bay to my left was a Little Egret with 2 Magpie’s close by. On Monday we both walked to the local Post Office and as we walked ...

  Kingsgate Park - Yate This week’s bird spotting was a trip to Chipping Sodbury Common as migrating summer visitors have started to appear there. The 3 Amigos were together for the 1 st time in a while. We arrived and parked by the side of the road, and any of you who know the place will also know that lots of cows graze here. WELL as soon as we opened the car door lots of cows made a beeline for us and surrounded the car making it very uncomfortable for us, we managed to get back in the car and move a few 100yds down the road leaving the road blocked with the cows that surrounded the car. Parking again by the side of the road we got out and started to ready ourselves for the walk only to look up and find we were again being approached by many more cows, deciding the better part of valor we would go somewhere else but while we were there we did see a few Swallows. Bryan knew of a place close by, Kingsgate Park in Yate so we made our way there but by this time it had started to ra...

  Portland Obs & Lighthouse - Bath Birdwatcher On Monday 31 st July Mary and Tony were due to go with Hazel and David to their caravan in Weymouth but Mary had been feeling unwell for a few days and did not feel she would be able to keep up with the rest of us so agreed I should go and she would stay with her sister while I was away. The caravan is sited on the edge of Weymouth a 10 Minute walk from Ferrybridge and the   Chesil Wildlife Centre. The Fleet and Portland Harbour being visible from the caravan. Traveling down on Monday 31 st we decided after settling in to have our first walk to Ferrybridge. Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling and Goldfinch soon being seen. The choice of time was not conducive with birding as it was high tide so any species of wader had flown off to find other feeding opportunities all except a few hardy Oystercatchers. Walking by the fleet and looking towards Chesil Beach we could see Little Terns my 1 st year tick of the week. Great Black Back...