Tuesday 5th March 2024 - Marshfield, Corsham Lake, By Brook.

 

On Tuesday Tony and David went to Marshfield, no Bryan as he was not feeling very well. Parking just outside the village we spotted Goldfinch, Starling, Collared Dove and Jackdaw before walking to Rushmead Lane. On the way we added Blackbird, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon and 2 species of gull Herring and Lesser Black Back. As we reached the 1st lot of houses in the garden we found Robin, Redwing and Chaffinch. In Rushmead Lane David found a Buzzard sat in a tree and a Pied Wagtail was on a rooftop. By the small pond we added Long Tailed and Great Tit. As we continued a Kestrel flew over and we found the 1st of many Skylarks. Common Gulls were plentiful and less so Magpie. David then spotted a Red Legged Partridge sat on a wall which turned into 3 as we scanned the wall. All was then quiet with only the song of Skylark until we spotted movement in a bush that turned out to be a Dunnock, with other birds flying into the bush from the field most were Linnets but also seen were a few Yellowhammers with at least one being a beautiful male. As we continued 2 flocks of Fieldfare flew over we estimate c70 birds. As we neared the end of the lane a Mistle Thrush flew over and a Red Kite drifted past in the distance. We reached the end of the lane and found a Wren in the hedgerow. Time to retrace our steps and we had only walked a few hundred yard, when we spotted 2 Corn Buntings in a bush. 

Corn Bunting - Marshfield (Bath Birdwatcher)

A few steps on we saw movement in a hedgerow and David found the culprit a Stonechat and again on closer observation we found at least 4. The final sighting of the morning was a flyover Rook. We sat in the car and had our lunch before we moved on to Corsham to visit Corsham Lake, a place I haven’t been to before and here we added Canada Goose, Goosander, Grey Heron, Moorhen and a single Black Headed Gull. Our last stop of the day was another place I have not been too before By Brook in Box here we were hoping to find Dipper but the brook was running too fast and the only new bird for the day was a Nuthatch. We walked about 6 ½ miles and by the end my legs knew it !!!! but all worthwhile as I had 6 year ticks taking me to 92 species for the year.

Corn Bunting - Marshfield (Bath Birdwatcher)



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