Tuesday 29th April 2025 - Newton St Loe.

 

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 corner of the lake and I only spotted it as it was sat with its beautiful blue back facing me which stood out in the sunshine, When I returned an hour later it was still in the same place but showing its orangey chest. A Moorhen was at the top end of the lake and a Lesser Black Back Gull flew past towards the top lake, where it was when I arrived there. Also, on the top lake I saw 3 Coot one had 2 chicks and only 2 Little Grebe but I’m sure more were hidden in the reeds. 2 Ravens flew from the tall fir trees.

Raven - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

  A male Tufted Duck was under one of the overhanging trees on the far bank. An Orange Tip Butterfly flew past and at least one of the Grey Herons nests were occupied. The Mute Swans nest on the top corner had 1 egg but no swans and it wasn’t until I walked a little further that the 2 adult birds plus last years youngster were sat on the bank preening. Its unusual that at this time of the year that a previous year’s young are still with its parents, usually they are chased off to look after themselves.

Mute Swan family - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Mute Swan nest 1 egg - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

 As I watched the swans a pair of Canada Geese flew over an unusual sighting here. Walking back to the car I spotted a Grey Wagtail

Grey Wagtail - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Between the lakes i watched 2 male Blackcaps trying to out sing each other plus a Long-Tailed Tit. As I walked back up butterfly alley a Red Kite drifted past and higher in the sky 2 Buzzards were circling. A Speckled Wood Butterfly was along the footpath. Walking back through the churchyard lots of people were outside the church so I realised something was going on and on reaching the car I realised I had lost the keys, so I was in a real panic and rang Mary to tell her what I had done and tell her that I was going to retrace my steps and hopefully find the keys. I got back to between the lakes where I had been watching the Blackcaps when I noticed a bit of blue poking out of the weeds and realised it was my key fob so panic over, but how lucky was I. When I got back to the car I found that a funeral was taking place, and I was blocked in by a hearse and another car so had to sit and wait for an hour until it was all over. 2 lessons learnt, 1 look after the car keys and 2 don’t park by the church where you can be blocked in.