Tuesday 19th November 2024 - Newton St Loe

 

This months Bath Branch RSPB field trip was a visit to Newton St Loe and was organised as 2 visits Saturday the 15th and Tuesday the 19th of November. We hoped by visiting twice it would allow more people to attend. I was coming home from Devon on Saturday so was only able to join todays visit but what awful weather we had wet all morning with rain sleet and at times wet snow, if it had been a 3 Amigos day out, we would have cancelled or visited Chew because of the bird hides.

The visit was arranged for a 9.30 start at the farm shop and while waiting for others to arrive we started the day with a Pied Wagtail and a Woodpigeon sitting on various rooftops. We set off through the village heading for the church and in the garden opposite the village store we found Blue Tit, Robin, House Sparrow, Great Tit and Coal Tit. In one of the trees smothered in mistletoe was a single Mistle Thrush a Dunnock flew onto the top of a wall. Walking through the church yard a Magpie flew through the field beyond, and a Carrion Crow was sat in a tree. A Blackbird was in the orchard and a Buzzard was seen sat on the top of a post. On the bottom road a Wren was in the hedge and Goldfinches were visiting the feeders by the cottages and a Black Headed Gull flew over. Nothing more until butterfly alley where I spotted a Grey Heron in a distant tree and 2 Mallards flew towards the bottom lake. The bottom lake was very quiet with just 3 Moorhen and the 2 Mallard seen. The top lake gave us a little more with 6 Little Grebe, 2 Coot and 3 Mute Swans, one being a juvenile, and a female Tufted Duck.

Mute Swan in the snow - NSL (bath Birdwatcher)

Also on the lake were 3 gulls, 2 Black Headed and the 3rd an immature Common Gull, this gave us the chance to point out the differences between the two species. 

immature Common Gull in a snow storm - NSL
(Bath Birdwatcher)

Walking through the University grounds a few Redwings flew over and walking down the drive were 100’s of corvids plus more Black Headed and Common Gulls plus a single Herring Gull and a few Lesser Black Back Gulls. This gave us the opportunity to now point out the differences between the four species. At the end of the drive a Green Woodpecker flew past, but it was missed by most of the group as was a Great Spotted Woodpecker that flew into the top of a tree and out again almost immediately. Quite a poor day with just 30 species seen but the weather had a lot to do with it. It did appear that most enjoyed the visit and would visit again, so well done everyone,

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