Saturday 24th May 2025 - Chew Valley Lake.

 

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 one when he said that there was one behind the gulls that we eventually found, a year tick for both of us. Before we left a Blue Tit flew past and a Marsh Harrier was seen flying over the reeds on the main lake. Moving on to Stratford Hide, walking from the car park we added Wren and Chiffchaff, but nothing was found from the hide although we did hear a calling Cuckoo, so we decided to walk towards Moreton, but the call continued but much further away. We then decided to drive to Moreton hoping to find the Cuckoo there. We parked the car in the parking spaces, and the Cuckoo was calling in front of us, but we were unable to find it then it called again in the direction of the hide, so we walked there only for the bird to call just to our left so close but out of sight, an almost tick but a miss. 

Great Crested Grebe - Moreton (Bath Birdwatcher)

Nothing seen from the hide that we hadn’t already seen. Herons Green was the next stop on the dam were Chaffinch, House Sparrow and several Pied Wagtails. Walking across the road a Little Grebe was on the pond and a Magpie flew past. I heard the call of a Reed Bunting which I found in the top of a tree being buffeted as it sang, another bird a Sedge Warbler started calling and as we looked for it a Reed Warbler was in the base of a bush with the calling Sedge higher in the same bush, so good was the view that its red lining to the inside of the bill was clearly visible. 2 Starlings flew over and Bryan spotted a Pheasant in the fields behind the farm buildings. Nothing more seen here but we did add a Jay on the drive home.

Great Crested Grebe - Moreton (Bath Birdwatcher)


 

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