Tuesday 12th September 2023 - Chew Valley Lake

 

This week is the 1st time since the 8th of August that the 3 Amigos have been able to get out together due to other commitments so we were looking forward to a good day, the weather was looking a bit iffy so good old Chew Valley Lake was chosen as we are able to shelter in the hides or bird spot from the car if needed. Heading to our 1st stop at Herriotts we noted Jackdaw, Woodpigeon and Starling and on arrival the pond was full of birds but our first sighting was a Marsh Harrier that scattered most of the gulls as it flew over but they soon settled down. Mallard, Moorhen, Canada Goose and Coot were all on the dam wall with a Carrion Crow on the outlet. On the pond were Shoveler, Teal, Pintail and Snipe. The shallower part of the pond had 3 Snipe and 4 Green Sandpipers plus several species of gulls including Black Headed, Herring, Great and Lesser Black Back Gull plus a juvenile Yellow Legged Gull also a scattering of Gadwall now in full plumage. 

Gadwall (Bath Birdwatcher)

Over the last week or more there had been a lot of Osprey sightings so we were hoping one could be still around and over the road looking over the main lake were several birders looking at something so we wandered over and an Osprey was sat in a tree at the far side of the lake. While we were there we scoped the lake and found Great White Egret, Little Egret, a flyover Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Great Crested Grebe and Grey Heron. 


Great White Egret (Bath Birdwatcher)

Bryan noticed a bird in the top of a tree in the distance and when we scoped it found it was a Stock Dove. David noticed hirundines flying above us which turned out to be mainly Sand Martins with a few Swallows. Time to move on and Stratford was our next stop where a Robin was seen on the way to the hide and inside just Pochard and Cormorant were new for the day. From the hide we could see the Osprey in the same tree as we saw it from Herriotts and while watching it flew off only to return after only a few minutes with a fish which it took back to the same perch only to be harassed but 2 Crows and flew off and we didn’t see it again. The Marsh Harrier was seen again scaring everything as it flew over. Nothing more was seen so back to the car where a Magpie was in the field. Moreton was next stop and getting out of the car I could hear birds in the trees so we went to investigate and found a flock of mixed species containing Long Tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Great and Blue Tit also a fly over Raven. Nothing more was seen and as it was time for a bite to eat we drove to Herons Green where we could eat looking out over the lake. As we ate only Pied Wagtail was new for the day but when we had finished we looked at the pond over the road and here Little Grebe was found, and back on the lake side I spotted a small group of Jays. A Common Sandpiper flew past and landed on the dam wall.

Common Sandpiper - (Bath Birdwatcher)
Next stop was Woodford Lodge and here we started to walk on the new cycle/footpath towards the dam and found another mixed flock this time Willow Warbler, Goldfinch and Chiffchaff were new for the day and we also ticked a Dunnock and Blackbird new for the day. Last stop was the Picnic Area but noting new was noted but on the journey home a Buzzard was our final sighting of the day. 53 species were seen with Osprey being the highlight.

(Bath Birdwatcher)


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