Tuesday 26th August 2025 - Chew Valley Lake.

 

This week another visit to Chew Valley Lake but on this occasion for a specific reason, a White-Tailed Eagle from the Isle of Wight reintroduction has been seen there for the last few days so a chance to see a bird that I have never seen before. Today it was just David and Tony as Bryan was otherwise engaged. On the way driving through Bishop Sutton, we spotted House Martins, Magpie and Jackdaw with several Woodpigeons on top of telegraph poles. As we arrived at Herriotts Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot and Woodpigeon were all close in on the pool. As we got out of the car some fellow birders were on the other side of the road searching the main lake so we joined them to see if they had found anything special, a Peregrine sat on a tree stump was as good as it got, we did also see a Grey Wagtail and a few Pied Wagtails. I then heard the call of a Kingfisher in the overflow channel so went to see if we could find it and luckily another birder was there and pointed it out hanging on to a reed stem, a family of Moorhens were also in the channel. Back looking over the pool we found Common and Green Sandpipers, Lapwing, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and Grey Heron. While scanning the lake with the telescope I found 2 Wigeon our 1st of the winter. Carrion Crows were also seen. A group of Swallows flew over the pool and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew past. Lots of Black Headed Gulls were about with smaller numbers of Herring and Lesser Black Back Gulls. We then moved on to Stratford Hide and once inside and scanning with the telescope we found at least 4 Greenshank and 10 Black Tailed Godwits  then panic set in the White-Tailed Eagle was found on the ground on Denny Island but where, I had trouble finding it but when I did I had a good view of it on the ground and also when it flew around eventually landing in a tree. A lifer for both of us. Next David spotted a fly past Hobby and as I did another scan of the lake I found Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Little and Great Crested Grebe. Lots of both Great White and Little Egrets were seen in all the areas of the lake we visited.

Little Egrets - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)

 A Great Black Back Gull was stood on a buoy in the middle of the lake and a Pochard was with the Tufted Ducks. Next stop Moreton and here Stock Doves were our only new sightings. Time for lunch and we stopped at Herons Green lots of birds here but a Kestrel and a Buzzard were both 1st for the day. 

Buzzard - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Last stop The Lodge where we walk to the main dam and back. Dunnock and Robin were close to the car park and Blackbird and Chiffchaff were found as we walked. When we got to the dam David spotted a group of Egyptian Geese by the picnic area and walking back to the car 2 Ravens flew over and a Wren was seen on a fence. Nothing more was seen on the way home but even so we had a great day especially seeing the Eagle.

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