Friday 31st May 2024 - Chew Valley Lake

 

This week’s field trip was going to be a day trip to Nags Head in the Forest of Dean but Bryan could not make Tuesday and I was not free Wednesday or Thursday so Friday it had to be BUT on Friday morning Yvonne called me all in a panic as water was running through a kitchen light from the bathroom above so I made my way to their house and when I arrived they had managed to turn off the water but as the leak was in the floor with little or no access there was nothing I could do, but it meant that Bryan was unable to join us as an emergency plumber was required. Well David and myself decided not to go to Nags Head instead we went to Chew Valley Lake and on arrival at Herriotts Mute Swan. Mallard and Coot were all by the dam wall. When we scanned around we added Tufted Duck, Shelduck with 5 ducklings, Canada Goose and a single Shoveler by the lefthand reed bed. Jackdaw and Lesser Black Back Gull were flying over the pool and a Buzzard was soaring in the distance. On the lake was a Great Black Back Gull and in the reedbed we heard the call of a Reed Bunting and Reed Warblers and managed to find both. A Raven flew over and as I was looking at it I spotted a few Swifts flying high in the sky, a House Martin was another fly over and just before moving on we found a Moorhen. Next Stop Stratford and driving down the lane we found a Blackbird and Pied Wagtail. Walking to the hide a flock of Long Tailed Tits were working their way through the bushes and trees. From the hide we watched Marsh Harrier and Hobby over the opposite side of the lake, and this Great Crested Grebe was on a nest of 3 eggs just outside the hide. 


Great Crested Grebe - Stratford (Bath Birdwatcher)

As we sat looking and chatting to other birders a few Swallows passed by, and a Cormorant surfaced not far from the hide, a single Jay flew by. Walking back to the carpark a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew from a tree and a Blackcap was found in another tree, From the car park we had a walk along the lane towards Moreton and soon added Mistle Thrush, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, and Carrion Crow. We had heard several Chiffchaffs without seeing any, but here I spotted a bird flying into a bush and on looking it was feeding a chick and 2 others were also there, a Chiffchaff family. I also found a new moth for me a Silver-Ground Carpet. Next Stop Moreton here we found a male Chaffinch a Blue Tit and a Speckled Wood butterfly. Next stop was Herons Green where a Little Grebe was our only day tick. Last stop was the Lodge where we walked to the dam and back and here we added Great Tit and  Song Thrush to our list. On the way back to Bath House Sparrow, Collared Dove and Rook were all seen. Not a day that we expected but still great to get out watching nature, and we have re-scheduled our trip to Nags Head for next Tuesday.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Saturday 11th November 2023 - Newton St Loe.

Image
  NSL Boathouse with the lonely Mute Swan - Bath Birdwatcher When we woke up on Saturday it was such a beautiful day we decided to go for a walk at Newton St Loe as we have not visited since the 26 th of October and we were interested not only in the bird life but the autumn colour’s of the trees. We arrived parking as usual by the church where in the field beyond the church we found our first sightings Magpie, Jackdaw and Rooks all flyover. In the hedgerow opposite the cottages were Blue Tits and Woodpigeons and Long Tailed Tits were in the trees by Ripple Effect. On the footpath were Blackbird and Robin and on reaching Butterfly Alley a Grey Heron was in the trees above the stream, and a Wren flew into the hedge to our right. The lake outlet was a real torrent over the waterfall which was expected due to the amount of rain we have had recently. Waterfall NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)  Up to the bottom lake where 2 Kingfishers were playing chase and I thought I heard a possible 3...
Read more

Sunday 19th January 2025 - Blagdon Lake

Image
  The first, Bath RSPB’s field trip of the year was a visit to Blagdon lake where Nigel Milbourne the site warden led our group of 14 members. When we arrived having seen a Red Kite on the way we were waiting for others to arrive, so I scanned the lake and found Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Moorhen and Black Headed Gull. As others arrived we all got together, and David introduced us all to Nigel and we set off to walk the length of the dam looking for an overwintering Common Sandpiper but unfortunately it didn’t show but we did find Mute Swan, Cormorant, Common Gull, Great Black Back Gull, Pied Wagtail and Herring Gull. Walking back to the cars we added flyover Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon and Starling plus our 1 st Great Crested Grebe of the day. We then drove inside the confines of the lake where we parked and from here our 1 st new bird of the day was a calling Chaffinch and on the lake in front of us were Teal, Pochard and Gadwall. We also looked at a strange duck which had caused...
Read more

Tuesday 4th March 2025 - Marshfield

Image
  A bit f a last-minute decision was to go to Marshfield for this week’s birding trip mainly as we could only spare a half day. Parking at the Bath end of Marshfield we set off towards Bond’s Lane spotting Robin, House Sparrow and Goldfinch. Crossing the A420 we set off down the lane where Jackdaw and Woodpigeon flew past and in a field to our left were 2 Ravens feeding on something unknown in the grass, they flew away and a Carrion Crow flew in taking their place. As we continued David spotted movement in a hedge to our right but looking into the sun made it difficult to identify the birds but one flew up into a bush to our right enabling up to identify it as a lovely male Yellowhammer, a year tick.  Yellowhammer - Marshfield (Bath Birdwatcher) A Dunnock flew down onto the side of the road and a flock of Rooks flew past. A Skylark was singing in the sky above us but hard to find against the blue sky but with binoculars I did find it year tick no2. A Blue Tit and a few Linnets...
Read more