14th November 2023 - Aust & Chew Valley Lake.

 

Today the 3 Amigos were doing a recce for the Bath RSPB’s fieldtrip on this coming Saturday to Severn Beach and Pilning Wetlands. Setting off from Bath in the rain we hoped by the time we reached the Severn Estuary it would have passed, as that is the way it looked on the forecast. Traveling along the M4/M48 to the Avonmouth junction it was very wet with lots of spray but as we got to the M48 the weather brightened up and as we were passing Aust we decided to start the day here. Collared Doves were the first birds of the day soon followed by a male Blackbird, Carrion Crow and Magpie. After safely parking we followed a footpath towards the 1st Severn crossing at first things appeared very quiet but we soon ran into a tit flock containing Great, Blue and Long Tailed plus one of many Robins. Next we could hear the call of Stonechat’s  which sounds like 2 pebbles being hit together and found a male and female and maybe another pair but they were so active it was hard to keep track on them. A Song Thrush flew along the cliff tops above us sadly missed by Bryan. Dunnock and Wren were seen before we decided to turn back as we could see bad weather approaching, the 2nd Severn crossing started to disappear in cloud, we had only walked a few 100yds before the rain came with a vengeance and by the time we reached the car the front of our legs were soaking so there and then we decided the recce was over and decided to head for Chew Valley Lake where we could spot in the dry from the hides. We did stop at Barrow Tanks on the way hoping the rain would relent and let us find the Great Northern Diver that was on Tank 2 but as it was still heavy rain we drove into Tank 1 car park had a scan from the car with no sign of the Diver and moved on, but while there we did add a Mistle Thrush to our sightings. At Chew we stopped at Herons Green where it was still raining so spotting from the car we ticked Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Coot, Mute Swan, Pochard, Mallard,  Black Headed Gull and Grey Heron. Next stop Stratford hide where it had stopped raining so we took our lunch with us into the hide. On arrival the hide was empty so lots of room for the 3 of us. When we opened the viewing slats a lovely male Kingfisher was sat on a perch occasionally hovering over the water before diving for a fishy morsel, we saw it catch at least one while we were there.

Kingfisher - Stratford (Bath Birdwatcher)

 Also while watching the Kingfisher a Little Grebe appeared from out of the reeds. We then sat and had lunch and a male Marsh Harrier flew by causing havoc with the Coots and Tufted Ducks a little later a second female/ juvenile flew over. After lunch we were joined by 2 Ladies who were delighted when we pointed out the Kingfisher. Canada Goose, Teal, Gadwall, Lesser Black Back and Herring Gull were added to our lists. A Great White Egret and Great Black Back Gull flew through and while scanning the Coot and Tufted Duck flock I found a pair of Wigeon. As we were getting ready to leave a Moorhen swam in front of the hide and from the reeds to our right 5 Little Grebe’s appeared. We then drove round to Herriotts but nothing new was found here and on the drive back to Bath Jackdaw, Starling and Woodpigeon were our last sightings of the day. As I said in the beginning we are supposed to be doing a field trip on Saturday but the forecast for then is, shall I saw TERRIBLE, and as the whole area has no cover it may be we will have to cancel the trip. So will have to keep an eye on the weather and a decision will have to be made in time to let people know if the trip is off.

another picture of the Kingfisher (Bath Birdwatcher)


 

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