Tuesday 23rd April 2024 - Newton St Loe

 

Bryan is on Holiday so it was just David and Tony so we decided to visit Newton St Loe for the morning. We parked by the farm shop and as I changed my shoe’s a Buzzard and a Rook flew over while a Swallow was sat on the wires. Heading towards the lanes a Dunnock was singing from a bush and House Sparrows were on a rooftop. Jackdaw and Carrion Crow were seen as we entered the lanes where a Robin was on the top of the hedgerow. A Blackbird flew up the lane in front of us and a small flock of Goldfinch flew over. Next sighting was a distant Lesser Black Back Gull and a singing Skylark was difficult to find high in the sky. Nothing more here so back to the village adding Grey Heron, Pheasant and Magpie were seen, David then spotted a Red Kite over 7 Acre Wood. Woodpigeon and Stock Dove were also noted before we reached the village. Nothing added as we walked through the village, through the churchyard and into the field beyond here a Sparrowhawk and a pair of Ravens flew by. Walking the footpath through the woods we found a Chiffchaff and Long Tailed Tit. In Butterfly Alley a Mistle Thrush flew over calling, up to the bottom lake where we counted 8 Mallard’s. Nothing more until we reached the top lake where we found 2pr of Tufted Ducks this was unusual as in the past we have only had either a single female or just 1 pair. 

2 Male Tufted Ducks - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Tufted Duck - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Moorhen, Little Grebe and Coot were also seen. The pair of Mute Swan are nesting with 1 bird sitting. Great Tit, Goldcrest and Blackcap were also found.

Male Blackcap - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Time to retrace our steps and in Butterfly Alley a Red Kite was seen which could easily be the same as seen earlier. Another bird of prey a Kestrel was hovering over the field to our  right. At the bottom of the footpath by the Bathampton Anglers carpark David found a Marsh Tit an unusual bird especially where it was found. A Nuthatch was found at the top of the footpath and a Collared Dove in the village. This proved to be the last sighting of the morning.

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