Tuesday 15th April 2025 - Newton St Loe

 

NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

This week the 3 Amigos were unable to meet, with Bryan still recovering from his operation and David on his way back from a few days in the Netherlands, so Mary and Tony paid a short visit to Newton St Loe. We started at Haycombe Cemetery where we put some flowers on my parent’s grave while there we also saw Jackdaw, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon and Great Tit. Driving into the village a Swallow was on the wires later we saw another. We parked in our usual place by the church and walked through the churchyard into the field beyond where a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the top of a tree and was only seen when it flew away. A Wren flew in front of us and a Blackbird was in the bushes to our left. Nothing more until the woodland footpath here a Robin and a Dunnock were on the ground in front of us, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were singing but staying well hidden. A very pale Buzzard was in the trees viewed from Butterfly Alley, on the bottom lake were 6 Mallards all males with a least another 6 males on the top lake but we didn’t see a single female. A Grey Heron was on the righthand bank with 2 more on nests  

Nesting Grey Heron - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

We sat on a bench drinking coffee and a Blue Tit, and a Goldcrest flew from the Yew Trees behind us and a Moorhen swan in front of us. 

Moorhen - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Out on the lake were 2 Mute Swans one being a juvenile 4 Coots, and 3 Little Grebe. 

Juvenile Mute Swan - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

2 calling Ravens were flying around with 1 landing on the top of the tall fir tree calling all the time. I walked over the dam, and a Grey Wagtail flew from the lake down to the overflow. As I walked back to the bench 2 Lesser Black Back Gulls chased a Grey Heron before landing on the lake. Walking back to the car a Chiffchaff was between the 2 lakes and a Nuthatch and Long Tailed Tit were at the top of the slope by the end of the bottom lake. These proved to be the last new sightings of the morning.

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