Tuesday 1st April 2025 - Chew Valley Lake

 

For our trip out this week, we decided to visit Chew Valley Lake, believe it or not the last visit was the 28th of February more than a month ago. We started spotting from the off noting Collared Dove, Rook, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, and Jackdaw all before we reached Herriotts our 1st stop. On the pond was Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Mallard, Coot, a few Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler and Shelduck. On the lake we added Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe  and Great White Egret. The sun was shining from the east making it difficult to cover the pond easily plus a very cold wind was blowing again from the east, so we decided to move on to Stratford Hide. Driving down the lane 3 Chaffinches were feeding in the lane and a Blackbird flew away. Walking to the hide Great Tits were visiting the feeders and a Chiffchaff sang from a tree luckily in a place that we could see it. Wren, Blue Tit and Moorhen were also seen before we entered the hide. In the hide were 3 birding pals who quickly put us on a group of 4 Little Gulls a year tick and one I have not seen since 2023, a Marsh Harrier drifted over the hide and David spotted a soaring Buzzard. A Little Egret flew up the lake and one of the guys spotted a male Scaup asleep amongst a flock of Tufted Ducks. Again, it was very cold as the easterly wind was blowing straight off the lake into the hide, so we decided to move on and as we walked to the car park I found a singing Blackcap. We then decided to walk the lanes to Moreton Hide soon adding Dunnock and Long Tailed Tit, but the most unusual sighting was 2 Egyptian Geese ( a year tick) in a field with 2 Shelduck, we also spotted a Robin and Stock Dove. From the hide which again faces east we only added Great Black Back Gull before the cold wind forced a hasty retreat. Walking back to the car at Stratford we added a single flying Great Spotted Woodpecker. We drove to Herons Green for lunch here 2 Lesser Black Back Gulls were on the lake and a Little Grebe was on the small pond. After lunch we drove to The Lodge and walked to the dam but only added a Pied Wagtail until a Sparrowhawk flew by as we returned to the car. Last stop picnic area 2 for a walk along the Bittern Trail no new birds were seen although we did see and hear several Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, 

Blackcap - Bittern Trail (Bath Birdwatcher)
We did see our 1st butterflies of the day with 2 Brimstone, 5 Peacock and a single Holly Blue. Nothing more seen new for the day either walking back to the car or driving home.

Peacock - Bittern Trail (Bath Birdwatcher)

Brimstone - Picnic Area 2 (Bath Birdwatcher)

 

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