Monday 9th October 2023 - Newton St Loe

 

Yesterday Mary and I met one of her friends Sue, a fellow birder at Newton St Loe for a few hours bird spotting. We met at the Church where there was a lot of bird activity starting with flyover Rooks, The trees by the gate were alive with birds Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Long Tailed Tit, Great Tit and Goldcrest the latter a bird Sue was hoping to see but with this one high in a tree Sue was unable to find it. While she was searching 2 Starlings flew over. Through the churchyard and into the field beyond a Lesser Black Back Gull was sat on the chimney of the cottage at the bottom of the field Jackdaws and Carrion Crows were constantly flying over and when we reached the bottom of the field a flock of about 6 Mistle Thrushes flew by, a Magpie was in the gardens and Goldfinches were on the wires. Woodpigeons were seen on and off all morning and a few House Sparrows were in the hedges. Walking down the footpath I could hear Goldcrests calling and eventually found one but again Sue could not get on it, and while searching I spotted a Treecreeper running up the trunk of a tall fir tree but disappeared around the back of the trunk before Sue could find it, her second miss of the day. Nothing more until we reached the bottom lake where a Black Headed Gull was on the water and a Grey Heron was hiding under a bush on the far bank. As we continued I heard the call of a Kingfisher which zoomed past as we watched seen by all three of us. (unfortunately it did not show a few weeks ago the we took Mary’s cousin Jean to NSL hoping to find her one). Nothing more until we reached the top lake and here we spotted Coot, Moorhen, Mallard at least 5 Little Grebe the single Mute Swan and female Tufted Duck. As we walked around the lake we could head the calls of Skylark as they flew overhead and managed to see c10. A first for the season was a single female Teal on the far side with the Mallards. We walked on to the new pond and here tucked into the bank was another Little Grebe so close, an amazing view.

Little Grebe - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)
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This area contained another flock of birds more tit species but did include Coal Tit and at last a Goldcrest that Sue was able to find. As we walked back a Nuthatch was calling from above us which we were all able to see as it flew to the next tree. Walking back up Butterfly Alley a Red Admiral butterfly was sunning itself on a leaf and a Buzzard was soaring out to our left. Our last sighting was a Robin as we made our way back to the car. Nothing unexpected was seen during the morning but 30+ different species was a good count and I think we all enjoyed the walk.

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