Wednesday 10th July 2024 - Lansdown

 

Looking East from Lansdown - (Bath Birdwatcher)

Bath RSPB's final field trip of the season was a local walk on Lansdown. Nine members arrived at Lansdown Park and Ride to be greeted by light rain so we sheltered under the eves of the toilet block and it was here we sighted Carrion Crow and Robin. The rain wasn't heavy but enough to get you wet. As it looked as if it was going to dry up we set off but one member decided not to come in the end so we were down to just 8. As we walked through the playing field our 1st sighting of the day was a Muslin Footman moth, a new species for me and we found 2 more during the walk. At the racecourse Swallows and House Martins were searching for insects and a small flock of Goldfinch were in the gardens opposite the pub and a Collared Dove and Blackbird were also seen. Heading towards the entrance to the Golf Course a flock of Rooks flew over and a Greenfinch sang from the top of a tree. From here we headed across fields where lots of Skylarks were seen and heard some very close on fence posts. Jackdaw flew over, and a male Pheasant was noted in a distant field. Our next new sighting was a singing Yellowhammer that I found by its call, it sounds as if the bird sings "a little bit of bread and no cheese". We passed a field where Herring and Lesser Black Back Gulls were loafing. A Pied Wagtail was on a stone wall with its beak full of insects obviously for some chicks hidden away somewhere in the wall. Our first butterfly of the day was a Meadow Brown the 1st of many on the wing. We stopped for a short break at the spot where the 17th century Battle of Lansdown took place and here our 1st Swift of the day flew over with a Magpie flying in the valley below. Here we also found our 2nd and 3rd butterflies of the day Marbled White and Large Skipper. 

Marbled White - Lansdown
(Bath Birdwatcher)

Large Skipper - Lansdown
(Bath Birdwatcher)
Time to move on this time towards Sir Bevil Grenville's Monument on the way finding Great Tit and Chiffchaff. The area around the monument is one of the best places on Lansdown for butterfly's and as well as seeing all the species previously seen we also added Ringlet to the list, and an area good for butterflies is also good for moths and here we found several 6 Spot Burnett and a Silver Y along with many grass veneers all unidentified. We crossed the main road and picked up a footpath tree lined on our right and at one point we came across a mixed flock of birds containing Coal Tit, Treecreeper, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Goldcrest and Chaffinch. Approaching the end of the walk a flock of Starlings flew over and a Red Admiral Butterfly was the last sighting of a day that started dull and wet but finished in sunshine. I'm sure everyone enjoyed the morning even though nothing exceptional was found but we did find something for everyone.

4 Spotted Chaser - Lansdown
(Bath Birdwatcher)


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