Tuesday 4th March 2025 - Marshfield

 

A bit f a last-minute decision was to go to Marshfield for this week’s birding trip mainly as we could only spare a half day. Parking at the Bath end of Marshfield we set off towards Bond’s Lane spotting Robin, House Sparrow and Goldfinch. Crossing the A420 we set off down the lane where Jackdaw and Woodpigeon flew past and in a field to our left were 2 Ravens feeding on something unknown in the grass, they flew away and a Carrion Crow flew in taking their place. As we continued David spotted movement in a hedge to our right but looking into the sun made it difficult to identify the birds but one flew up into a bush to our right enabling up to identify it as a lovely male Yellowhammer, a year tick. 

Yellowhammer - Marshfield (Bath Birdwatcher)

A Dunnock flew down onto the side of the road and a flock of Rooks flew past. A Skylark was singing in the sky above us but hard to find against the blue sky but with binoculars I did find it year tick no2. A Blue Tit and a few Linnets (year tick no3) flew into a tree we continued into Castle Road where we found 3 species of gull Herring, Black Headed and Common, a Starling was on a roof and a Magpie was in a field. As we continued we spotted a Buzzard sat in a tree and a Red Legged Partridge (another year tick no4) in another field. A Mistle Thrush flew over and as we walked into Rushmead Lane David spotted a small flock of Fieldfares in the top of a tree with just 1 Redwing. I spotted 3 Stock Doves in the valley below us in a tree, a Chaffinch in a bush and a Pied Wagtail in a yard were soon added to the mornings total. Quite a walk before we found our next new sighting a Stonechat , but the birds of the day followed at the end of Rushmead Lane where we could hear the distinctive call of Corn Buntings and although we knew they were there we couldn’t see any as they were well hidden in the undergrowth but eventually 3 gave themselves up by flying on top of a bush (another year tick no5). We had walked as far as time would allow so set off back to the car adding Pheasant, Blackbird, Kestrel and Grey Wagtail. A nice walk in beautiful sunny and calm conditions and to add to that a few new birds for the year.

Buzzard - Marshfield (Bath Birdwatcher)


 

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