My Birding year 2024 Part 2 April to June

 

My 2024 birding year continues in April and on the 3^rd we visited Barrow Tanks in the hope that the Long-Tailed Duck would still be present, but it must have moved on as it was not there, but we did see our 1^st Swallow of the year. We then moved on to Chew Valley Lake where another 1^st for the year was seen Cattle Egret, we also spotted Great White Egret and we had already seen a Little Egret at Barrow Tanks, so all 3 Egrets in a morning. Sunday the 6^th was our local RSPB Branch field trip to Salisbury plain and Langford Lakes. Our meeting point was in the village of Enford where Land Rovers had been arranged for the drive to see Great Bustards lots were seen but at such a distance a photo was impossible, these birds were expected but a female Hen Harrier was not and was the day’s highlight, nothing special was seen at Langford. The 11^th was our next trip this time to Westhay and Ham Wall driving to Westhay car park we spotted 11 Cattle Egrets in a field. The best bird at Westhay was our 1^st Hobby of the year and we also saw Willow Warblers which are always good to see. Ham Wall gave us 2 more-year ticks with 4 Glossy Ibis and a beautiful male Garganey. 

Great Crested Grebe with chick - Ham Wall
(Bath Birdwatcher)

Butterflies were also on the wing with lots of Orange Tip and Brimstone seen amongst the more common species. From the 17^th until the 21^st my wife and myself spent a few days with her sister in their lodge nr Brixham I walked to Broadsands on the 18^th hoping for Cirl Buntings but not seen and nothing else exciting was found the following day we spent the morning in Brixham where Turnstones were in the harbour ( a year tick ). The highlight of the few days for me was a visit to Berry Head where I managed 3-year ticks Guillemot, Cirl Bunting and House Martin. On the Sunday the day were leaving I was watching from the Lodge when 2 Sandwich Terns flew by. 

Wheatear - Armchair Cove (Bath Birdwatcher)

The last outing of the month was a half day at Newton St Loe on the 23^rd  where the only sighting of note was 2pr of Tufted Ducks on the top lake.

MAY

Wednesday 1^st we visited Hoders Combe on our local RSPB field trip the weather was not ideal, overcast with light rain so the hoped for birds we not seen but a few Pied Flycatchers was a year tick otherwise nothing of note was seen. 

Pied Flycatcher - Hoders Combe (Bath Birdwatcher)

On the 7^th we went to Oldbury Power Station where Reed Warbler, Whitethroat and Whimbrel were all year ticks also seen amongst the butterflies were a few Small Tortoiseshell that seem to be going through hard time with not as many about as there were just a few years ago. The following day 1 had my 1^st Swifts of the year over the house. The 14^th we visited Newton St Loe but as on the last visit nothing really exciting but lots of cute Mallard ducklings. Next trip out was on the 24^th when my wife and I had a walk at Newton St Loe but again nothing exciting, but a family party of 7 Ravens was unusual. The 31^st was the last trip of the month, a visit to Chew Valley Lake 42 species were seen but no year ticks but a Shelduck with 5 ducklings was a bit different, also a Silver Ground Carpet Moth was a good find.

JUNE

On the 4^th the 3 Amigos visited Nags Head RSPB in the Forest of Dean where a disappointing 31 species were seen but a Redstart which I was the only one to see and a Spotted Flycatcher were year ticks, and a singing Firecrest was another great find. The 14^th to the 21^st Mary, Tony, Bryan and Yvonne spent a week in North Devon based at Mortehoe visiting many places such as Morte Point, Ilfracombe, Tapley Park, Fremington Quay, Valley of the Rocks. Marwood and Tarr Steps all in beautiful weather just a single year tick Manx Shearwaters from Morte Point but some of the male Wheatears at the Valley of the Rocks were stunning. On the 25^th we did a circular walk from Monkton Combe to Midford  nothing special bird wise, but a Garden Tiger Moth was a very nice find. The last outing of the month was our local RSPB field trip this time to Avebury 30 bird species and 5 butterfly species were seen, Corn Bunting was the best of the birds and Common Blue the best butterfly.