Bath Birdwatcher

  This week it was still only David and Tony and we had decided to visit Marshfield as we were likely to find 3 year ticks, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting and Red Legged Partridge with a couple more possibilities but as it turned out Monday had been horrendous with one of the named storm passing through and we were left with high winds so when David arrived we quickly decided the change locations to Chew Valley Lake as there are certain parts that would be more sheltered than the wide open expanse of Marshfield. It was just a morning visit with Herriotts our first stop on the way we started our list with Jackdaw, Magpie and Blackbird. At Herriotts the pond was quite busy with Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Coot, Tufted Duck and Mallard all very close. Out on the shallower part of the pond was a Great White Egret and a Grey Heron with several Black Headed and Lesser Black Back Gulls. As we walked across the road to view the main lake a small flock of Starlings flew over and David spotted a Ma...

  Whooper Swan - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher) It’s always great to get the year off to a good start and after a very successful day out on Sunday we decided to visit Slimbridge as we knew there were several species that would be year ticks for us. Even before we got to Slimbridge we saw Buzzard, Pheasant and Collared Dove, and driving down the road to the centre a flock of at least 10 Cattle Egrets were in a field by the sharp double bends. Once in the car park we started to pick up species flying over such as a huge flock of Lapwing numbering several 100 at a guess. Walking to the entrance a Robin was singing in a bush with a Goldfinch in another, also flying over were several very noisy Greylag Geese . Once in the grounds we headed for the Peng Observatory adding Jackdaw and Dunlin who were flying with another large flock of Lapwings. From Peng we overlook the Rushy which was full of birds including Black Headed Gull. Golden Plover, Wood Pigeon, Mute Swan and a Black Swan that w...

  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...

  Another Tuesday and this week for our day out we chose Chew Valley Lake and East Harptree Woods. Being early in the year it’s good to get your year list off to a good start and knowing that 3 of the slightly more difficult species to see had been seen there, it seemed silly not to try for them, there were also another 3 species at Chew that would be good to get early in the year. Our first stop was Herriotts at Chew Valley Lake as we had to pass this point on the way to East Harptree and here, on the pond were Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard and Coot. A Cormorant was stood by the outlet giving a good photo opportunity.  Cormorant - Herriotts (Bath Birdwatcher) A Tufted Duck was another species on the pond, we then heard a strange call coming from the reed bed on the main lake so we walked over to investigate but we never found the culprit but David spotted in the left hand corner between the wall and the reedbed a Great White and Little Egret, and as we were watching 10+ Sn...

  It was a return to Newton St Loe alone as Bryan is still recovering from his operation and David was under the weather. The day started very cold, and it took a long time too unfreeze the car and then I made a mistake by taking the main road to NSL as I thought it was the safest with the conditions as they were. BIG mistake 3way traffic lights at Windsor Bridge with the traffic queueing back to Brougham Hayes. Well, I did eventually arrive and park by the church, nothing in the churchyard but in the field beyond a small flock of Woodpigeons feeding in the grass and many Jackdaws flying over. On the bottom road Blue Tits were in the hedgerow and Lesser Black Back Gull and Magpie flew by, 2 Dunnocks were feeding by the side of the road with Great Tit and Robin visiting the feeders, and Carrion Crows in the top of the tallest trees. Nothing more until Butterfly Alley where a Grey Heron was by the side of the stream. The bottom lake was quiet with just a single Mallard 2 Black Headed...

  My birding year 2024 started on Monday 1 st with what was seen in the garden, and I managed 13 species including a wintering Blackcap and a Redwing which is very unusual after the holly berries have been eaten which was way before Christmas. My 1 st field trip was on Wednesday when we made our 1 st visit of the year to Chew Valley Lake where nothing out of the ordinary was found on the lake but Kingfisher and Treecreeper were the highlights. A week later on the Tuesday we again visited Chew but like the previous week nothing special was seen, although Shelduck were a nice find. On Thursday 11 th I had a short walk on Lansdown with my son where a flock of Golden Plover was found. The 20 th was the years 1 st local RSPB field trip to West Sedgemoor but as it was cold and frozen the expected number of birds was a real disappointment, but 9 Cranes was a good start to the day otherwise nothing special was found. The last bird spotting field trip of the month was to Newton St Loe...

  Its 2025 and my 1 st birding trip of the year was a morning at Newton St Loe, Only me Tony as Bryan is still not well enough to venture out and David is away for a few days. Driving into the village a Collared Dove flew in front of the car but nothing more until after I had parked the car. I had a message on Bath Birders saying the Hawfinches were in the usual place so I set off heading there hoping they would hang around. I walked into the churchyard here working their way through the Yew trees were Blue and Great Tits. Walking through the field beyond Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon and Rooks all flew over. Then the next sightings were on the wires by the cottages here a few Goldfinches were waiting for the feeders to be free. House Sparrows were in the hedges and Jackdaws were in the top of a tree at the top of the footpath, a Lesser Black Back Gull flew towards the village. Next sighting was from the top of butterfly alley where in the field by the stream was a single Grey Heron...