My Birding year 2024 Part 1 January to March.

 

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 with a female Tufted Duck a nice find, this duck decided NSL was the best place to be as I found it on almost all of my visits during 2024. The 28^th was the RSPB’s Garden bird watch and I found 8 species in my hour watch, nothing close to the number I usually get.

February started with the 3 Amigos paying a return visit to Greylake as 2 very special ducks had been found there. When we arrived at the hides both ducks were showing  the 1^st a life tick, a Baikal Teal along with another rare duck a Green Winged Teal.  

Baikal Teal- Greylake (Bath Birdwatcher)
it refused to look at me.

Green Winged Teal - Greylake (Bath Birdwatcher)

Also seen was an Egyptian Goose. Back in the car park 9 Siskins were in the trees. Monday 12^th was the 1^st of 2 visits to the Forest Of Dean the first a recce for the upcoming RSPB field trip. Our 1^st stop was Parkend by the cricket ground where a pair of Hawfinches were found, a year tick. Next stop Speech House and here we embarked on a long walk in the forest it did prove worthwhile as we located both Redpoll and Crossbill our target species. The day ended at Canop Ponds where Mandarin, Goosander and Marsh Tit were all great finds if not unexpected. 

Mandarin - Canop Ponds (Bath Birdwatcher)

The 23^rd was the Bath RSPB’s field trip where we all met at Speech House to do the same walk as on the earlier Reece. The sightings were very similar to what we found before, but a calling Treecreeper was special. We thought we were going to dip on the Crossbill but as we walked back to the cars a small flock flew over. 

Robin - Canop Ponds (Bath Birdwatcher)

Next trip was on the 27^th to Chew with Goldeneye, Cetti’s Warbler and Firecrest being the highlights especially the Firecrest as it had been seen at the Lodge regularly but we had been unable to find it on all our previous visits, as with a lot of the birds we see this one was found by its call, so its worth learning calls as you never know when this knowledge will come in handy.

Goldeneye - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Our 1st trip in March was to Marshfield and Corsham Court on the 5^th it was just Tony and David for this one, I think Bryan was away. At Marshfield we had 6-year ticks Skylark, Red Legged Partridge, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Corn Bunting and Stonechat. Corsham lake was less profitable, but 11 Goosander was nice to see. The 8^th I had a walk to NSL with my wife nothing new for the year, but a Red Kite was the highlight. Tuesday 12the March another visit to Chew, our 1^st Chiffchaff of the year is always a sign that summer is on the way. 3 Scaup 1m and 2f was a year tick. Tuesday 19^th we visited Slimbridge well just Tony and David not sure where Bryan was this time. Slimbridge proved to be a great day as I had 12-year ticks taking my total to over 100 for the year. Whooper Swan was a real highlight as its often difficult to find this swan in our area. Spotted Redshank, Spoonbill, Bewick’s Swan and White Fronted Goose were also good finds. 

Whooper Swan - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher)

Wednesday 20^th was the next trip a return to NSL where a Green Woodpecker was a year tick and 2 calling Tawny Owls was unusual. The 1^st Brimstone Butterfly of the year was pleasing. Saturday 23^rd was our monthly Bath RSPB field trip, this time a coach trip to Portland, these trips are organised well in advance so we have to put up with the weather and on this trip it was strong wind that scuppered and chance of seeing lots of migrants a single Wheatear the only sighting, wintering Purple Sandpipers  and a single sheltering Willow Warbler along with the expected auks and gulls we all we found. Next stop Ferrybridge but again it proved very difficult birding in the wind we did find Dunlin and Ringed Plover  but soon called it a day here and moved on to Lodmoor here it was more sheltered and were able to enjoy our birding. Marsh Harrier were showing well, and several Mediterranean Gulls were with the other gulls and as we about to leave Bryan found a flock of Sand Martins. 13-year ticks were less than expected. The final trip of the month was to NSL on the 26^th nothing new was seen but 38 species was a good total. A male Tufted Duck had joined the female, 5 Grey Hares was an unusual find. The 1^st 3 months ended with 120 species seen 15 more than this time last year.

Mediterranean Gulls - Lodmoor (Bath Birdwatcher)
the Med gulls have the dark heads the others are black
headed gulls that at this time of the year do not show
the black head.