Tuesday 26th November 2024 - East Harptree Woods

 

This week the 3Amigos decided to re-visit East Harptree Woods as on our last visit it was so foggy that we were unable to find any of the species we were hoping to see, so as the weather was perfect, we were giving it another go. To get to the woods we had to pass Chew Valley Lake so our first point to stop was Herriotts. On the drive to Chew we spotted Jackdaw, Collared Dove, and Wood Pigeon. At Herriotts were Mute Swan, Mallard, Moorhen, Teal, Shelduck and 3 species of gull Black Headed, Common and Herring. A Grey Wagtail flew in and landed on a railing by the outlet. On the main lake we added Coot, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe and Great Black Back Gull. In the trees on the far side of the lake were in excess of 40 Cormorants, and at least 6 Great White Egrets seen. A small flock of Goldeneye were in with the Coot and Tufties, 3 Canada Geese flew in, and Bryan spotted a Marsh Harrier flying over the reeds. A Grey Heron was by the far side reeds and a Carrion Crow flew over and a Reed Bunting was found sitting on the top of a reed stem and a Magpie was sat on the top of a distant fir tree.

Time to move on next stop East Harptree Wood, as we arrived, we were greeted by a Blackbird as we drove to the car park. We had been told that there was a circular walk so we set off from the car in a clockwise direction and soon spotted Robin and Wren, but the path was a dead end, so back we had to go and set off in the opposite direction. To our dismay all was eerily quiet but eventually we heard bird calls which we recognised at Goldcrest and Coal Tit which we duly found, walking on the first of a few flocks of Starling flew over. We reached an open area where below in the distance we could see Chew Valley Lake and also in the far distance we could also see the grandstand on Bath Racecourse, it was surprising how clearly it could be seen. Continuing our walk David found a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the top of a fir tree. We then met a fellow lady spotter who like us was searching for Crossbill, we had heard them in the distance but they stayed well out of sight and this lady also had not seen then, but unbelievably just a few steps on one called right above us and David found it and another eating seed from pine cones, I hurried back to tell the lady our find and she was very grateful that we had found them. We spent quite a time watching them and while doing we noticed lots of Coal Tits in the same tree taking seeds from the cones and flying off with them, probably to stash them for another time. Moving on we had hardly moved 50 yards when we found a stand of Alders and in them were 30 to 40 Siskins, we also found Chaffinch and Goldfinch. 

There are at least 3 Siskins in this photo
(Bath Birdwatcher)

We spent far longer here than intended so time to get back to the car spotting a fly over flock of Fieldfare on the way. We were only out for the morning, so we had to set off home adding Rook, Buzzard and Pied Wagtail on the way.

Very good morning as we found a spot where we can see Crossbill usually, we find them in the Forest Of Dean much further away.

 

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