Tuesday 21st November 2023 - Barrow Tanks / Chew Valley Lake

 

This week the 3 Amigos had decided to go to Barrow Tanks as 2 species that would be new for the year had been recorded there. On arriving at the tanks we parked by tank 3 which is wooded with a lot of bushes and shrubs hence plenty of small birds including Great, Blue, Coal and Long Tailed Tits as well as Goldcrest and Wren. Blackbirds and a Song Thrush were eating berries. As we reached Tank 3 Great Crested Grebe and Mute Swan were the 1^st 2 species of water bird seen we soon added Mallard and Coot and at the northern end of the tank lots of Cormorant, I didn’t count them but there must have been 50+. A Pied Wagtail flew over and at the top of the lake Bryan spotted a Little Grebe also seen were a few Tufted Ducks and Coots. Looking to the east over the A38 into the fields beyond was a large flock of gulls containing Black Headed, Common and Lesser Black Back. Nothing more was seen and as we walked towards Tank 2 Carrion Crow and Magpie were seen. Tank 2 was very quiet with just fly over Starlings added. Tank 3 was a little more promising here Pochard were with the Tufted Ducks and while looking through them I spotted our 1^st hoped for sighting a male Long Tailed Duck,

Long Tailed Duck - Bath Birdwatcher

I have been told that it’s the same bird that has been wintering here for 7 years in which case it was the bird we saw in the same place in 2021. A Great Black Back Gull was loafing on the water and a Grey Heron was on the bankside. After having out fill of the duck we made our way back to the car noting Mistle Thrush and Great Spotted Woodpecker as they flew over. But the second bird that we were hoping to see a Great Northern Diver was nowhere to be found. Back at the car as we were preparing to leave a Raven passed overhead bring mobbed by a Carrion Crow. Next Stop Herons Green, Chew Valley Lake here we bumped into a fellow birder who we know, who excitedly told us that 5 Dark Bellied Brent Geese had flown up and down the lake but did not stop, perhaps because the lake is so full, but would have been a good site tick. While there we spotted all 3 species of Egret, Great While, Little and Cattle, also seen were Canada Geese, and a female Goldeneye, we did see a lovely male later by the dam. A flock of about 30 Lapwing flew over another species we have not seen recently due to the height of the water. A male Chaffinch flew onto the dam wall below us which proved to be the last new sighting here. We moved on to Stratford hide where we added Redwing and Robin as we walked to the hide. Once in the hide we scanned the water while eating and scanned again with our telescopes but we were unable to find anything new for the day. Next stop Herriotts and here we added 7 more birds Jackdaw, Shelduck, Marsh Harrier, Teal, Moorhen, Jay and Herring Gull. Retracing our steps we drove to The Lodge ticking Collared Dove, At the Lodge we did the walk to the main Dam and back and on the way saw at least 3 Goldcrest but were unable to find a Firecrest that had been reported but we did add Dunnock as we walked. At the dam Bryan spotted a female Goosander and we also found a male Goldeneye that I mentioned earlier.

male Goldeneye - Bath Birdwatcher

 Walking back to the car I spotted a male Kingfisher fly into a bush and sat there nicely so we could all enjoy it. Time to call it a day and set off home and leaving the lodge we spotted 5 Fieldfare sat in the top of a tree, and at the Globe Rooks were sat in the trees by the rookery. A good days spotting with a year tick this late in the year was a bonus.