Tuesday 12th March 2024 - Chew Valley Lake

 

The 3 Amigos were down to just 2 this week David and Tony as Bryan is away in Cornwall and can you believe it he has already seen a Spoonbill and a few Chough, but as for us we decided that on the morning we would decide where to go. The weather recently has been abysmal especially on Tuesdays and this Tuesday was no different waking up to heavy rain and as it was still raining when David arrived it was decided that Chew was the only place to visit. Our 1^st stop was Herriotts but it was still raining so we had to spot from the car and the list started with Mute Swan, Mallard, Cormorant, Carrion Crow, Shoveler, Tufted Duck. Canada Goose and both Black Headed and Herring Gulls. It being stupid to get out of the car to spot we headed off to Stratford as here we had the hides to watch from and on arrival the rain was now just a drizzle, and on the short walk to the hide we found a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tits visiting the feeders and a singing Chiffchaff my 1^st of the year, and also a Robin. Once in the hide we noticed how few water birds were on the lake outside the hide with just a Coot to our right a Goldeneye just beyond the reeds and also a Great Crested Grebe.

Female Goldeneye - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Great Crested Grebe - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Scanning the lake with the telescope we were able to watch a large raft of water birds towards Herriotts end of the lake where amongst the 100’s of Tufties and Grebe were several Pochard. 2 Great Black Back Gulls were floating in the middle of the lake and David then spotted a Marsh Harrier that flew up the lake followed a little later by a Great White Egret and a Common Gull. To start with we were the only people in the hide but someone else came in so we chatted about what he had seen and where and he said at Moreton were 4 Scaup 1 male and 3 female types and this was one of the days target birds and a year tick for both of us, so we set of for Moreton adding Dunnock, Magpie and Redwing on the way. Driving along Moreton Lane we noted Great Tits a Buzzard and a Little Egret. In the field behind the hide with lots of Canada Geese were 2 Shelduck with another in another field further along the lane. Once in the hide initially we had trouble finding the Scaup as most of the ducks were sleeping and a female Scaup resembles a female Tufted Duck . But David found the male Scaup at first asleep, but with the grey back easily distinguishable from a male Tufted Duck. I wanted a picture of the male duck but as I scrabbled to get the camera out of my bag and set up the duck drifted out of sight.  We also spotted a Raven that gave itself away by calling as it flew over and a few Teal that flew past. By now the rain had stopped so we walked along the lane adding Wood Pigeon and a Grey Heron. We also spotted a Fox sat by the side of the lane but it soon moved off when it realised we were about. Next stop Herons Green for lunch but it had started to rain again so we had to eat in the car but we did add Lesser Black Back Gull, Pied Wagtail and a Chaffinch the last 2 on the dam wall. Final stop of the day was the Lodge and by this time the rain had stopped so we could walk to the dam and back. A Wren was our 1^st sighting we had heard many singing earlier. Jay was next followed by another singing Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest also in song. A male Blackcap was  spotted, we also found a female later on our return walk along with Goldfinch and a Song Thrush. On the trip back home we also added Collared Dove, Pheasant (that almost ended up under the car) and a few Rook in the rookery by the Globe.

Rabbit - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)