Bath Birdwatcher

  David and Tony today visited Slimbridge as over the weekend Whooper Swan and Little Stint had been reported. Both would have been year ticks. I didn’t start logging species until we got into the grounds and walking to the Peng Observatory Greylag Goose, Coot and Moorhen were our 1 st three sightings. From the Peng lots of wildfowl were seen including Shelduck, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Bewick’s Swan, Mallard and Teal. While we were looking out something put up a huge cloud of waders including many hundreds of Lapwings and Golden Plover along with smaller numbers of Dunlin. A Carrion Crow was by the water and a Redshank was on an island on the lower pond, a Mute Swan and Canada Goose were in the duck trap and a few Pintails were scattered around the bank. A small flock of Starlings and a few Jackdaws and Rooks flew over. Moving on to Martin Smith hide Wigeon were on the bank in front of the hide. Wigeon - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher) Shoveler were also seen and on the Tack Piece w...

  For this week’s trip out, it was again just 2 Amigos and likely to be for many weeks until Bryan is not only better but feels up to it. Chew Valley Lake was chosen as a few good birds had been reported during the last week and they would be year ticks for me. We set off at the usual time heading for Herriotts and whilst in transit noted Magpie, Buzzard and Carrion Crow. On arrival the 1 st thing that struck me was the lack of birds on the pool Mute Swans sticking out being white against the dark colour of the water. Once out of the car searching with binoculars we added Mallard, Shelduck and a Great White Egret the 1 st of many we were to come across during the day. Also found were Teal, Tufted Duck, Pintail a Grey Wagtail and a Moorhen. David then spotted a Marsh Harrier gliding over the reed bed where it disturbed a Grey Heron that quickly flew off. Ravens made their presence known by calling as they flew over, we also saw a Woodpigeon in flight Cormorants have become very co...

  Most of you probably know that the 3 Amigos will temporarily down to 2 David and Tony as Bryan will be unavailable for a while, Best wishes to you Brov and get well soon. This week we paid another visit to Newton St Loe as Hawfinches had been found there this week, this being the first time since 2017/18 when the country had the last big influx of these birds. We parked by the farm shop and set off towards the church spotting Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon and Robin as we walked. In the field beyond the church Jackdaw and Lesser Black Back Gull flew over and a Buzzard was found sat on a post. Walking down to the road several Rooks flew over as did a Mistle Thrush. Towards the cottages a Blackbird was in a garden and a small flock of Stock Doves flew past. Goldfinch, Blue Great and Coal Tits were all in and out of the feeders, and as we walked closer a Dunnock flew away. Walking down the footpath we added Nuthatch and Goldcrest and as went down butterfly alley a Grey...

  This week the 3Amigos decided to re-visit East Harptree Woods as on our last visit it was so foggy that we were unable to find any of the species we were hoping to see, so as the weather was perfect, we were giving it another go. To get to the woods we had to pass Chew Valley Lake so our first point to stop was Herriotts. On the drive to Chew we spotted Jackdaw, Collared Dove, and Wood Pigeon. At Herriotts were Mute Swan, Mallard, Moorhen, Teal, Shelduck and 3 species of gull Black Headed, Common and Herring. A Grey Wagtail flew in and landed on a railing by the outlet. On the main lake we added Coot, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe and Great Black Back Gull. In the trees on the far side of the lake were in excess of 40 Cormorants, and at least 6 Great White Egrets seen. A small flock of Goldeneye were in with the Coot and Tufties, 3 Canada Geese flew in, and Bryan spotted a Marsh Harrier flying over the reeds. A Grey Heron was by the far side reeds and a Carrion Crow ...

  This months Bath Branch RSPB field trip was a visit to Newton St Loe and was organised as 2 visits Saturday the 15 th and Tuesday the 19 th of November. We hoped by visiting twice it would allow more people to attend. I was coming home from Devon on Saturday so was only able to join todays visit but what awful weather we had wet all morning with rain sleet and at times wet snow, if it had been a 3 Amigos day out, we would have cancelled or visited Chew because of the bird hides. The visit was arranged for a 9.30 start at the farm shop and while waiting for others to arrive we started the day with a Pied Wagtail and a Woodpigeon sitting on various rooftops. We set off through the village heading for the church and in the garden opposite the village store we found Blue Tit, Robin, House Sparrow, Great Tit and Coal Tit. In one of the trees smothered in mistletoe was a single Mistle Thrush a Dunnock flew onto the top of a wall. Walking through the church yard a Magpie flew throug...

  On Friday all 4 of us visited Berry Head for me it was a chance to spend 90 minutes bird spotting while the others visited the café for coffee. While getting a parking ticket a Robin was running under cars while a Carrion Crow was shouting its call from a large lump of rock. Leaving the others I walked towards the warden’s cottage and looking along the footpath opposite I noticed a Dunnock and Chaffinch in amongst my prize find 6 Cirl Buntings I knew there was a good chance they would be there as seed is put out for them and I have seen them many times in the past but even so they are always good to see as they are not seen where we live.  Cirl Bunting - Berry Head (Bath Birdwatcher) Walking on I met another birder and while chatting saw a Blackbird eating berries and a flock of Long Tailed Tits that flew through with a single Goldcrest. Time to get to the café and meet up with the other 3 but as I arrived, they were still chatting, so I walked to look at the cliffs and here...

  Torquay from Broadsands (Bath Birdwatcher) J ust spent a few days in South Devon staying with Mary’s sister and brother-in-law in their lodge on a site between Brixham and Paignton here I spent many hours watching Gannets plunge diving for fish. On Friday the 13 th of November I walked from their site along the coast path to Broadsands and on the way I found Magpie, Oystercatcher, Gannet, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Kestrel, Robin, Dunnock and Blue and Great Tit. Once at Broadsands the lack of birds on the beach was noticeable probably due to the number of dogs, in fact a Carrion Crow was the only bird on the beach. Walking around the unused car parks it was very quiet perhaps due to an easterly breeze blowing straight in off the sea, I did find a small flock of House Sparrows with a Chiffchaff in the same bushes. As I walked around for the second time a Grey Wagtail flew onto the ground, a Stock Dove was sat in a tree and several Woodpigeons flew over with a flock of Jackdaws...

  Tuesday again, they seem to come round so quickly. This week we decided to mix it up slightly by starting the day at Herriotts, Chew then visit East Harptree Wood and ending the day back at Chew. Driving to Herriotts Buzzard and Starling were our 1 st sightings, at Herriotts the list started to swell with Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail, Cormorant and Moorhen all seen. 5 species of gull Black Headed, Herring, Common, Greater and Lesser Black Back all present. Also seen were Great White and Little Egret plus Grey Heron. A more thorough search with the telescopes added Shoveler and Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron and Carrion Crow were flyovers. Next on to East Harptree Wood adding Pheasant on the journey. Tuesday was a very misty day and as we drove up on the Mendips it became quite thick and remained the same at the woods hampering our search for birds so much so that only 3 species were found, Robin, Redwing and Woodpigeon, we were hoping to see Crossbill, Siski...

  The 3 Amigos back together this week and as always where shall we go, looking at the local birding sights nothing special had been reported so we decided on Chew Valley Lake as there is always a chance that something out of the ordinary can turn up. On the way to our 1 st stop at Herriotts we started our days list with Starling, Jackdaw, Pheasant and Carrion Crow. On arrival I noticed the large number of Mute Swans although I didn’t count them, there seemed to be many more than you would normally see. Also on the pool were Pintail, Teal, Gadwall, Cormorant and Mallard, and of note was the quantity of Great White and Little Egrets not only in the water but in surrounding trees. Grey Heron was also present.  Grey Heron - Moreton (Bath Birdwatcher) 5 species of gull were also seen with Black Headed, Herring, Great and Lesser Black Back plus many Common Gulls. A single Moorhen was in with the gull flock and a few Shovelers were also seen. Blackbird, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Gr...

  M4 Severn Bridge viewed from Severn Beach (Bath Birdwatcher) Today was the Bath RSPB,s monthly field trip, David was our leader on a visit to Severn Beach and Pilning Wetlands. 19 members met at Severn Beach where Starling, Jay, House Sparrow and Woodpigeon were seen before we strolled to look over the Severn Estuary where the tide was low but coming in. Here we added Mallard, Wigeon, Black Headed Gull, Grey Heron, Oystercatcher, Great Black Back Gull, Little Egret, Curlew and Redshank. On our way to the venue David was driving and we went via Pilning to checkout parking, and we decided that 5 cars could easily park. Back at Severn Beach it was time to move on and next stop was Pilning, so we all piled into 5 cars and made our way to Pilning. At the entrance to the wetlands a stream which takes the overflow from the wetlands into the sea was a good spot to observe all the birds on the riverbank with the tide still rising but lots of mud still exposed and here amongst the many Wig...

  ·       Another dilemma where shall we go this week, just Bryan and Tony as David is still on holiday, shall we go to the coast and try for one of the many Yellow Browed Warblers that have been seen BUT the weather could be a little iffy showers forecast for the morning and as you will now if you have read many of these, we do not go birding in the rain. Well in the end we decided on Chew Valley Lake because of the shelter the hides give us. Starting as usual at Herriotts we soon ticked off Mute Swan, Mallard, Great White Egret, Herring Gull and Black Headed Gull. A Grey Wagtail flew in and landed on the dam and a flock of Canada Geese also flew in landing on the pool. Telescopes set up we found Teal, Pintail, Common Gull, Lesser Black Back Gull and Moorhen, a Grey Heron was on one of the small islands and a Cormorant was sat on a post. A Shoveler was our next find and on the main lake very little was close enough to identify except Tufted Ducks. Next st...

  Just Bryan and Tony for our weekly birding trip and as I needed to be home for lunch it was a morning at Newton St Loe. Driving into the village we started the day with Magpie, Jackdaw and Woodpigeon. We parked by the church and walked through the church yard to the field beyond and here we saw a Blackbird but nothing more until we reached the bottom road and here lots of Goldfinches were in the treetops and on the wires, some visiting the feeders at the cottages. A Robin sang from a bush and then I spotted 3+ Redwings flying towards the village my 1 st for the autumn. Rooks were constantly flying too and from the fields and 2 Long Tailed Tits were spotted on the wires by Ripple Effect and as we moved closer we could see and hear that there were many more and with them I found a Chiffchaff along with several Blue Tits a Coal Tit and Great Tit, a real mixed flock. House Sparrows were in the bushes by the last cottage and in the fields beyond Ripple Effect were lots of Common Gull...

  Today was the last day of our break but not the end of the holiday as today we were going to visit Yvonne’s cousin Susie and Mike her husband at a little village called Harpford. At our cottage earlier in the week we found a bird feeder and the local store sold peanuts, so we filled up the feeder and during the week a few birds mainly Blue/Great Tits had visited also the local Squirrel, this morning Coal Tit was new for the week. At Susie’s we had coffee overlooking the River Otter and earlier in the day Mike had seen Dipper and Goosander but during our stay they did not reappear but on their feeders were Blue, Great and Coal Tits and Goldfinch while Chaffinch, Robin and Dunnock were under. Mike took us for a walk along the riverbank which all belonged to them, and we logged Magpie, Mallard, Great Spotted Woodpecker Jay and Blackbird. At the end of their property on the opposite side of the river was a stubble field and here we watcher many Skylarks flying too and fro before drop...