Bath Birdwatcher

  Great Crested Grebe - Moreton (Bath Birdwatcher) Bryan had a spare few hours on Saturday afternoon so he asked me if I would like to go to Chew Valley Lake with him well I jumped at the opportunity. On the way we started our day list with House Martin, Collared Dove, Blackbird and Woodpigeon. Coot, and Mallard were soon spotted along with several gull species including Lesser Black Back, Black Headed, Herring and a single Common. Many Swifts were flying overhead, and an Egyptian Goose was also seen, and a small party of Canada Geese flew in. A Grey Heron was in the far corner and a Great White Egret was wading in the shallow water. On the main lake we spotted Great Crested Grebe and Cormorant. Back on the pool I was scanning with the telescope and found a pair of Garganey, and a Carrion Crow was on the exposed mud. We were about to move on when another birder arrived, and we pointed out the Garganey and mentioned that Little Ringed Plover had been seen but we had failed to spot o...

  For the first time in over 6 months the 3 Amigos were back together starting with a trip to the Somerset Levels. This was chosen as Bryan is still regaining his strength and unable to do lots of walking especially if hills are included, but the levels are what it says on the packet, LEVEL. Our starting point was going to be Westhay and making our way in that direction we saw Red Kite and Pheasant that we felt we might not see later in the day. At Fenny Castle we use the droves to cross the levels and here birding starts in earnest with Carrion Crow, House Sparrow and Woodpigeon soon spotted, as we drove on a Swallow flew by, and 2 Cattle Egrets were at the edge of a field. Further along the road 2 Collared Doves and a Chaffinch were logged, and a Buzzard flew low across a field. As we approached Westhay we came across a big flock of Greylag Geese far too many to count but must have been 100+ we saw more of these than Canada Geese. Mute Swan and Great White Egret were also seen as...

  Poole from RSPB Arne (Bath Birdwatcher) 35 Bath RSPB members gathered for this month’s coach trip to Arne RSPB. Unfortunately, a 34-seater was sent so David the leader had to sit in the small seat by the driver. I sat in the back with Tom Rogers, and we spotted 4 Red Kites on the journey unseen by the rest of the party. At Arne we were welcomed by a member of staff, and we all went to the welcome area to show our passes or pay the entry fee. As we gathered together a Chiffchaff was singing above our heads and Swallows were overhead hawking insects. We started the walk heading for Combe Heath and we soon found a singing Robin, 2 Stock Doves flew past, and a Chaffinch sang and flew from one tree to another. Carrion Crows flew by on a regular basis. As we continued we added Blue, Long Tailed and Coal Tits. On reaching the hide at Middlebere Lookout a Whitethroat was singing from the top of a tree .   From the hide we watched Shelduck and Oystercatcher plus a group of Spoonbill...

  Angel Fish - Monkton Combe (Bath Birdwatcher) Today the 3 Amigos got together for the 1 st time this year along with our wives for a walk from Monkton Combe to the Angel Fish Café to celebrate David’s wife Hazel’s birthday. Of course, bird spotting was included while the girls Mary, Yvonne and Mary could chat. We parked in the pull-in at the bottom of Summer Lane seeing a Blackbird in the lane, and while waiting for David a Carrion Crow and Pheasant were seen in a distant field. With all 6 of us now ready we set off through Monkton Combe village finding Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Swallow, Greenfinch and Goldfinch. Walking past the school we saw many House Martins that nest under the school eves. A Herring Gull drifted over and as we followed the footpath through the school a Magpie flew by, and 2 Ravens and a Buzzard were seen high in the sky. On reaching the lane a Blue Tit and Goldcrest were found, and a Lesser Black Back Gull flew over the sports ground, and David spotted 2 Swifts ...

  Goslings (Greylag) - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher) Today Yvonne,   Bryan, Mary and Tony visited WWT Slimbridge the 1 st time Bryan has undertaken an all-day bird spot. We did split the day down in sections with coffee on arrival, lunch at the Tudor Arms and afternoon tea before leaving. The only bird worth recording on the drive to Slimbridge was a Kestrel hovering besides the motorway ( we went via the motorway as it was Badminton Horse Trials and thought it would be busy) Driving through the village of Slimbridge Bryan spotted a Red Kite , luckily I was able to see it out of the back window. From the Car park we noted flyover Swifts   and House Martins with Rooks in a tree, walking to the reception a Collared Dove was on the roof. We sat in the window in the café watching a Shelduck in the pond outside.  Shelduck - Slimbridge (Bath Birdwatcher) W oodpigeon and noisy Greylag Geese flew past, and a Moorhen and Jackdaw were enjoying seed that had been thrown down b...

  Another week for me to go somewhere alone and again I chose Newton St Loe as I only had half a day and being so close you don’t waste bird spotting time driving. This week I parked by the farm shop spotting a Collared Dove as I parked and a Swallow on the wires as I got out of the car. I decided to do the lanes as I have not walked there for a long time, on the way saw Jackdaws and my 1 st House Martins of the year. In the lanes 1 had only walked a few yards when I heard the distinctive call of a Whitethroat, but I wasn’t until I reached the viewing point that I found one singing in the top of a bush with at least one other singing somewhere behind me another year first. Plenty of singing Wrens but not showing and in the distance I heard a Skylark but again a no show so I walked back to the village and added 2 flyover Stock Doves and a Blue Tit. The village was very quiet bird wise but walking towards the church a Lesser Black Back Gull flew past heading towards the lakes. Walki...

  This week I was alone, David is on holiday and Bryan is still not ready for walking any distance. Newton St Loe was the choice of venue but as you will read later perhaps not the best place today. At NSL I parked in the shade by the church as it was a hot and sunny start to the day and I walked through the churchyard into the field beyond here I spotted flying over Rook, Woodpigeon and Magpie and in the field were Jackdaw and Carrion Crow. Walking to the road I added Goldfinch, Blackbird and Robin. House Sparrows were in the hedge and a Dunnock sang from the top of a large rose bush. Lots of birds were singing all along the footpath but remained hidden until the car park where a Blue Tit and Chiffchaff showed well. My 1st Small White Butterfly of the year was along Butterfly Alley but no new birds, on the bottom pond were 11 male Mallards with just 1 female. m/f Mallards - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)  The best bird so far was   a Kingfisher in a bush in the far-right hand c...