Sunday 19th January 2025 - Blagdon Lake

 

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 1st Great Crested Grebe of the day. We then drove inside the confines of the lake where we parked and from here our 1st 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 a lot of discussion between birders as to what it was, in the end it was decided that it is a Tufted/Scaup hybrid. We then set off to walk the length of the lake 2miles plus and remember we had to walk the same distance back. Reaching a bird feeder we all stood around to see what would come to feed, Coal, Blue and Great Tits plus Goldfinch and Robin were all seen, as we continued a male Pheasant was walking through the undergrowth. A tree in the distance held Rook and Jackdaw and on the edge of one of the bays we found a Great White Egret which flew off as we got closer. Scanning the lake Nigel found one of the days star finds, a Ring-Necked Duck. It had been on the lake for a few months but had not been seen since the previous Tuesday and thought to have moved on. Later in the day on our return we found it again this time much closer and I managed this photo. 

Ring-Necked Duck - Blagdon (Bath Birdwatcher)

While admiring this duck we also found several Goldeneye the males being stunning birds with their white face patch. A Song Thrush was our next new sighting followed closely by a flock of Canada Geese in a field on the opposite side of the lake. A pair of Wigeon and a Blackbird were seen, and a Buzzard flew from a tree being chased by a Carrion Crow. A flock of Fieldfares flew over landing in the top of a tree giving everyone a good view of its plumage, we also saw a few Redwing but not in as much detail as the Fieldfares. Walking through a wooded area with a lot of Alder trees we found a mixed flock of Goldfinch and Siskin, our next new bird was located as I was able to hear its call a Treecreeper that worked its way up a tree in front of us joined by a second bird. Walking on a Sparrowhawk flew past landing in a tree in the distance and a Wren flew across the roadway. We stopped at a vantage point looking over the lake when 2 Jays flew up from the ground into a bush and disappeared so I’m not sure how many of us saw them. We reached the top end of the lake where Nigel was hoping to spot our second highlight, but it was David who found it a wonderful female Scaup. Like the Ring-Necked Duck they were lifers for many of the group. While looking at the Scaup lots of Snipe flew off down the lake. Time to turn back and on the return we added Long Tailed Tit  and Little Grebe to the days total. Arriving back at the cars David and myself Tony sat in the car for a bite to eat and a well-earned rest after 5 hours on our feet. We all went our separate ways, we drove back around the lake to exit at the top entrance where we found a Little Egret, We also stopped at Herons Green on Chew Valley Lake where we added our final bird of the day a Marsh Harrier giving us a total of 51 birds for the day.

Tufted Duck - Blagdon (Bath Birdwatcher)

Ring-Necked Duck - Blagdon (Bath Birdwatcher)


 

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