Saturday 15th November 2025 - Bath RSPB's trip to Portbury Wharf.

 

This month’s Bath RSPB’s field trip was a visit to Portbury Wharf  where 14 members met at the reserve’s small car park. David and Tony being joint leaders arrived early only to find Tom was already there. While waiting for the group to assemble we started spotting and the 1st bird of the day was a Wood Pigeon, this was followed shortly after by a flock of Long Tailed Tits that also contained a few Blue Tits. A Blackbird was in a bush eating berries and a gaggle of Canada Geese flew over then a Jay was found in another bush. Black Headed Gulls were continually  flying by in small numbers as were small groups of Starlings. One of the group then found a Robin high in the top of a tree, I then heard the contact call of Redwings and found a flock flying high over, we did have closer views during the day of Redwings eating berries. Another group member found a bird in the distance in the top of the tree and Tom with the aid of a telescope was able to confirm it was a Mistle Thrush. We all set off down the lane and soon added Magpie and 3 Greenfinches which are becoming a scarce bird. At this point  we all had to wade through a very large, flooded area to reach the main reserve adding Carrion Crow before we reached the first hide. From the hide Moorhens were in the pond and a Pheasant was on a bank of mud that had been dredged from the pond, A small flock of Linnets flew over and a Snipe was seen in the reeds which we were all able to see through the telescope. 5 Roe Deer were seen around the pond. 

Roe Deer - Portbury Wharf (Bath Birdwatcher)
Moving on a Cormorant and Grey Heron flew past. The middle hide proved better than the previous hide here we added Wigeon, Mallard, Herring Gulls, plus a single Lapwing these being extra to birds to what we had already seen. We then walked on to a point overlooking the Severn and here a Sparrowhawk flew by and Great Black Back Gulls were on the river. We then all retired to the nearby hide, here one of our ladies spotted a female Blackcap and looking back over the pond we had been looking at from the previous hide we noted 4 Gadwall and a flock of Shoveler that flew in while we were looking. Time for a lunch break so we headed for Portbury adding House Sparrow and Redshank on the way. After a visit to the coffee shop and loos spotting a Pied Wagtail, we all joined up by the entrance to the docks where we looked at a Curlew and Oystercatchers, a Grey Wagtail flew over calling. Our next new sighting was a flock of Goldfinch. We headed back via the housing estate to another part of the reserve and in one of the ponds were a family of Mute Swans 2 adults and 3 young. 

Mute Swan family - Portbury Wharf
(Bath Birdwatcher)

2 Little Grebes were also in the same pond with a single Coot. The day ended with Jackdaw, Buzzard and Rook all seen as we travelled home.

Grey Heron - Portbury Wharf  (Bath Birdwatcher)


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