Bath Birdwatcher

  For this week’s birding trip, it was just David and Tony, and we could only make it a half day, so it was again Chew Valley Lake. Driving there we spotted Woodpigeon, Buzzard, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie and House Martin. At Herriotts we started by scanning the pool and here was Grey Heron and Mute Swan. Mute Swan - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher) Also on the pool were Mallard, Coot, Canada Geese and Tufted Duck. On the far side beyond the area of mud was a Great White and Little Egret along with Teal and Mallards. 4 species of Gull were on the mud, Black Headed, Great Black Back, Lesser Black Back and a single immature Common. 2 birding palls were over the road looking out over the main lake, so we joined them finding Great Crested Grebe and Reed Bunting. Nothing more so we all walked back to the pool where I spotted 2 Little Ringed Plovers and Ian pointed out a male Garganey.  Garganey - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher) As we chatted a Swallow flew over and 2 Pied Wagtails were on the lake...

  Golden Valley - Wick (Bath Birdwatcher) On Friday Yvonne and Bryan, Mary and Tony decided to go for a walk at Golden Valley, Wick we started at the pub where we all had a coffee and while we sat and chatted a Greenfinch was calling from the top of a fir tree, a Goldfinch flew over calling and a Buzzard circled high above. Setting off towards Golden Valley Jackdaws were on some chimneys and a Blackbird flew past. Lots of bird song as we walked up the valley but hard to find with all the leaves on the trees, but we did find a flock of Long Tailed Tits containing both adults and young also a Blue Tit with them. We walked as far as the waterfall where we sat taking in all the sounds including that from the quarry. Time to make our way back the return trip proving better with a flyover Magpie a female Mallard in the stream and a Treecreeper climbing a tree trunk. A Lesser Black Back Gull flew over and a Mistle Thrush flew into a tree as did one of many Woodpigeons. Walking back up t...

  This months Bath RSPB field trip was a visit to Pewsey Down looking mainly for farmland birds, butterflies and moths plus anything else of interest. 14 members arrived for a 10am start and while waiting we spotted a Red Kite circling and 2 Starlings that flew past. Skylarks were singing high above but took some finding. A Kestrel was hovering over the fields, we saw it or another many times during the morning. As we set off several Woodpigeons flew over as did a small flock of gulls containing both Herring and Lesser Black Backs. A House Sparrow was perched in the weeds besides the footpath and 2 Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies were on the nettles. A Blue Tit was our next sighting then Anne spotted a small moth in the vegetation which was a Yellow Shell Yellow Shell (Bath Birdwatcher) F ollowed quickly by another moth this time a Common Carpet. Common Carpet Moth (Bath Birdwatcher) We then heard the call of one of our target species a Yellowhammer which showed very well in the to...

  Yesterday the 3 Amigos paid another visit to Chew as the weather was not good (raining when we set off). We had intended to go to Pilning Wetlands but as there in no shelter that idea was shelved and Chew was chosen. Driving to Chew a Red Kite was our 1 st sighting of the day followed by House Martin, Woodpigeon and Jackdaw all before we arrived at Herriotts. On arrival 2 Egyptian Geese with 3 goslings were in the outflow with some Canada Geese close by. Lots of Mute Swans were on the far side of the pond and Gadwall were spread all over the pond.  Gadwall - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher) A male Garganey was wading through the mud and a pair of Mallard were upending. Swifts and House Martins were circling overhead, Moorhen, Coot and Tufted Duck were also seen. Black Headed, Lesser Black Back and Herring were the only species of gull seen.  Lesser Black Back Gull - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher) A Marsh Harrier was over the main lake and Cormorants were flying about. Back on the pond B...

  The 3 Amigos were back together and a visit to Chew Valley Lake was decided upon, and we took lunch so we could take our time getting around all the places we like to visit. I decided to wait until we arrived at Chew to start my days list but a Red Kite on the way had to be included. First stop Herriotts where a pair of Egyptian Geese with 3 goslings were seen.  Egyptian Goose c/w goslings - Herriotts (Bath Birdwatcher) Mallard, Canada Goose and lots of Gadwall were also spotted. With all the dry weather the water level in the pool was low enough for lots of mud to be exposed and on the mud was a Ringed Plover (a year tick for me) and at least 3 Little Ringed Plovers along with several Pied Wagtails. In with the Gadwall, I found the male Garganey that has been here for several weeks. At the back of the pond was a few Mute Swans and a Grey Heron flew over from the main lake. A flock of gulls were on the exposed mud including Black Headed, Lesser Black Back, Herring and Grea...

  Water Lillie's - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher) On Friday my wife and I decided to go for a walk at Newton St Loe, so coffee and a bun prepared we set off and as we entered the village a Blackbird flew across the road. We parked by the church and walked through a quiet churchyard to the field beyond where Carrion Crows and Woodpigeons were on the ground and a Magpie flew over, walking to the road a Robin was on   the ground and on the wires by the cottages were Goldfinches. A House Sparrow was in the hedgerow and as we walked past Ripple Effect Jackdaws and Rooks flew by. The footpath through the trees was full of birdsong but with the trees now in full leaf birds were very hard to spot, we did find a Blue Tit and a Blackcap. As we approached the fisherman’s car park a bird moved in the bush in front of us and I could make out a small warbler that constantly dipped its tail a Chiffchaff , I was also aware of movement to my left where a Treecreeper was climbing a small tree just a fe...