Saturday 26th April 2025 - RSPB Field Trip to Nagshead/Canop Ponds

 

Bath RSPB members at Nagshead

This month’s Bath RSPB,s field trip was a visit to RSPB Nagshead followed by an afternoon at Canop Ponds.

13 members met at Nagshead for a 9.30 start, we headed for the lower hide stopping at the top pond on the way our 1st birds were a Blackbird and Woodpigeon. Nothing on the pond but as we continued the call of a Garden Warbler rang out, it showed well allowing us all to have a good view. Lots of singing Song Thrushes some easier to see than others, Our next sighting was one of our target species Pied Flycatchers there was more about than the previous week. From the hide we spotted Treecreeper, Mallard, Nuthatch, Mandarin and Blue Tit plus our second target species a pair of Redstarts not such a good view and not sure if everyone saw them. A Great Tit and Wren were also seen and while I was watching the Redstarts a Wild Boar walked past in the background and out of sight before others could see it. Retracing our steps back heading for Campbell hide a Goldcrest and 2 Stock Doves were seen. Only 1 new bird was seen at Campbell Hide a lovely marked male Siskin, We moved on for a few 100yds along the short trail hoping to find Firecrest and although we had heard them at the car park they remained well hidden, but we did see about half a dozen Roe Deer running through the woods. Walking back to the cars for lunch we added Coal Tit, Blackcap and Long Tailed Tit to the days total and while having lunch an Orange Tip Butterfly flew past.

After lunch we headed for Canop ponds parking at the stone works here were many more birds than we had seen earlier with a Mute Swan being very aggressive towards a Greylag Goose, 

Greylag Goose - Canop Pond

Both Grey and Pied Wagtail were seen plus Herring Gull, Dunnock and Coot.

Dunnock - Cannop Pond

We decided to walk a trail that we had not walked before but thought it was a bad idea as no new bird species were found until someone spotted a few female Crossbills in the top of a fir tree eating the seeds from pine cones an unexpected bonus bird especially when a little later we found a stunning male on the top of another tree, a Robin and Goldfinch were also seen as we made our way back to the pond where a Marsh Tit was visiting the feeders along with Siskins, House Sparrow  and Chaffinch. As we prepared to leave a Moorhen was seen swimming by the reeds.

The most unusual sighting was a day flying Bat quite a large species but unidentified.

Everyone commented how much they had enjoyed the day and many had lifetime firsts amongst the 30+ species we had seen during the visit.

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