Friday 8th March 2024 - Newton St Loe.

 

On Saturday Mary and myself decided to go for a walk at Newton St Loe as its been a while since our last walk there due to the inclement weather. Walking boots were the order of the day as we knew it would be muddy along the bottom lake. We made the usual start parking at the church and walking through the churchyard to the field beyond and here Rook and Woodpigeon flew over. When we got to the bottom road a Dunnock was singing on the top of a bush and Jackdaws were in the tall trees by Ripple Effect, As we walked down the footpath through the woods Blue Tits were calling above our heads and a Wren flew on to a wooden bar on out left and let out its loud song. A Robin was the only other bird seen before we reached the road but we could hear a singing Song Thrush in the distance. From Butterfly Alley we could see 2 Grey Herons in the field by the stream and a Great Tit was in the hedgerow. Lots of fishermen we on the bottom lake and as I thought its was a muddy walk along the bank just 1 male Mallard was on the lake, but on the far bank at the top end of the lake a Moorhen and more unexpected a Coot were feeding. Not sure I have ever seen a Coot on the bottom lake!! A lot more Moorhens on the top lake with 4 together in the reeds by the dam with another 4 or 6 spread around the lake and 7 more Coot counted. 

Moorhen - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Little Grebe numbers are still quite high with at least 7 seen. Ravens were calling from the treetops before 2 flew over the lake towards the University. The now two Mute Swans were on the far bank preening and I counted 12 Teal all on the bank. We sat on a bench on the dam to drink our coffee and while there a Red Kite flew over and a little later 2 Buzzards were over the trees to our right before drifting away. A Grey Wagtail perched on the railings by the overflow great for a picture but just as I was about to press the button a gust of wind took my hat and I feared it would blow into the lake but luckily I was able to rescue it right on the brink, but the distraction meant when I turned around the Wagtail had gone. We walked through the University and down the drive adding a Lesser Black Back Gull to our sightings. Walking back through the village a Blackbird flew by and a Goldcrest showed well in a tree above the road. As we approached the car a Magpie was on a rooftop and 5 Herring Gulls flew past making one hell of a noise. This proved to be the final sightings of the morning although back at home the male Blackcap is still terrorising the House Sparrows.