Tuesday 5th November 2024 - Chew/West Harptree Wood

 

Tuesday again, they seem to come round so quickly. This week we decided to mix it up slightly by starting the day at Herriotts, Chew then visit East Harptree Wood and ending the day back at Chew. Driving to Herriotts Buzzard and Starling were our 1st sightings, at Herriotts the list started to swell with Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail, Cormorant and Moorhen all seen. 5 species of gull Black Headed, Herring, Common, Greater and Lesser Black Back all present. Also seen were Great White and Little Egret plus Grey Heron. A more thorough search with the telescopes added Shoveler and Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron and Carrion Crow were flyovers. Next on to East Harptree Wood adding Pheasant on the journey. Tuesday was a very misty day and as we drove up on the Mendips it became quite thick and remained the same at the woods hampering our search for birds so much so that only 3 species were found, Robin, Redwing and Woodpigeon, we were hoping to see Crossbill, Siskin and Redpoll but the conditions were against us. So, after an hour or more we decided to call it a day and drive back to Chew adding Jackdaw to the days list. Next stop Stratford where a Pied Wagtail was in the lane. Walking from the carpark a Blackbird flew away and the Tawny Owl was roosting in its usual tree. Once in the hide it was coffee time, while searching with binoculars a small flock of Snipe were asleep amongst the cut reed stems. A large flock of Coot were in the centre of the lake with lots of Tufted Ducks. 2 Marsh Harriers flew passed up the lake and later flew back again with one seen quite regularly while we were in the hide. 

Marsh Harrier - Moreton (Bath Birdwatcher)

Searching with the telescope we added Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe, and a flock of Canada Geese flew over. As we were unable to find anything else new, we decided to move on to Moreton, driving to the parking spot a Great Tit was seen, and from the hide just Pochard and 2 male Goldeneye were logged. 

male Goldeneye - Moreton (Bath Birdwatcher)

Dinner time so we headed for Herons Green finding Long Tailed and Blue Tit plus a Chaffinch. While having lunch a Jay flew over the road. Lunch over a single Wigeon was with a flock of Tufted Ducks and a Magpie flew over. While looking over the pond I found a Goldcrest by its call. Last stop The Lodge here we walk to the dam and back a Song Thrush was the 1st sighting with a Dunnock soon after, then a lull until we found a spot with lots of action most already seen but we added Goldfinch and Coal Tit. As we walked on Bryan spotted a single male Goosander our 1st of the autumn. 

Goosander - Walley Bank (Bath Birdwatcher)

As we approached the dam a flock of Rooks flew over and in a bush besides the water, we could see 2 birds flitting around but were hard to pin down but after a while they did show well enough to be identified the 1st a Chiffchaff and the second a Blue Tit. Walking back to the car we spotted a flock of Goldfinches and amongst them was a single Siskin again the 1st of the autumn.

 

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