Bath Birdwatcher

  This time of the year can be quiet with most of the winter visitors having departed and the arrival of summer visitors still not in full swing, and having consulted the local birding news, and nothing special reported anywhere, we chose another day at Chew Valley Lake, if something is likely to turn up then Chew is as good as anywhere. Binoculars scopes and the all-important food and drink we set off. On the way to Herriotts our spotting started almost immediately with Woodpigeon, Rook, Jackdaw, Buzzard and Collared Dove all seen. At Herriotts as we climbed out of the car a Common Sandpiper flew along the wall a great start as it was a year tick. On the pool were Mute Swans, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Black Headed Gull. along with both Great and Lesser Black Gulls. Shelduck were on the far side of the pool along with Canada Geese. 2 bird spotters we know were over the road searching the main lake so we joined them and we could all hear Reed Warblers singing from deep inside the ree...

  The last day of March so it was decided a return trip to Chew Valley Lake would be the ideal venue especially a couple of duck species have been spotted and they would be year ticks. Instead of starting at Herriotts we went to Picnic area 2 to walk the Bittern Trail hoping it would be quieter earlier in the day which proved the correct decision. After parking the car, we immediately spotted a Grey Heron and Cormorant flying over, as we set off a Wren sang from a bush and as we looked David spotted a Treecreeper on a Silver Birch Tree and a Chiffchaff was singing in a bush close by. As we continued we soon added Robin, Great and Blue Tit. Next sighting was a Cetti’s Warbler as it flew in the undergrowth but just a few yards away we found another singing in the open which is very unusual. Mute Swans were in the reeds and a Woodpigeon was sat in a tree and a Blackbird flew across the path. A Coal Tit was in a fir tree and 2 Mallards flew towards the lake. 2 Carrion Crows were in the...

  Dower House (Bath Birdwatcher) Another Tuesday and this week just David and Tony. We chose to do a morning in North Bristol starting at Snuff Mills where we park the car then a walk up the hill to Duchess Pond and finally a walk to Eastville Park. At Snuff Mills the 1 st bird of the day was a Moorhen on the river Frome then a Sparrowhawk high in the sky, walking up the river I spotted 2 Grey Wagtails wandering over a gravel bed. Carrion Crows were our next sighting followed by both Blue and Great Tits, a Mallard was stood on a log in the river.  Mallard - Snuff Mills (Bath Birdwatcher) Several Blackbirds were in an ivy-covered tree we then heard the call of a Kingfisher that flew into a tree on the far side of the river.  Kingfisher(m) - Snuff Mills (Bath Birdwatcher) Nothing more was seen so we walked back to the car park and on towards Duchess pond adding a Jackdaws sat on chimneys and   a Dunnock singing in a bush. As we entered Stoke Park 2 Magpies were in the...

  Top Lake - Newton St Loe (Bath Birdwatcher) The 1 st of August 2025 was the last time Mary and I went for a walk at Newton St Loe together so today we packed up 2 coffees with a bun to eat and set off we parked by the church and made our way through the churchyard into the field beyond and here I saw my 1 st birds of the day Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow in the grass with Rook and Jackdaw in the field by Send a Cow. Walking down the footpath through the wooded area 2 Blue Tits were   in a sapling and I could hear the call of a Greenfinch which I found in the top of a tree. Mary spotted a Robin singing in a bush and while looking a Wren flew away from us. In butterfly alley most of the footpath has been covered with chippings, much better than it was previously, and in the field to the left was a male Pheasant. On the bottom lake were 6 Mallard and 2 Moorhens.  Moorhen - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher) In the wooded area between the lakes were 2 Long Tailed Tits. On the top lake ...

  Somewhere a little different was chosen for this week’s birding trip, Uphill as it’s been many years since our last visit. The 3 Amigos were back together for this visit, as we have to pass Chew Valley Lake it would be rude not to stop for a quick scan, but before that we did see a Red Kite on the way. At Chew we saw Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Shelduck, Black Headed Gull, Teal, Gadwall, Lesser Black Back Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Tufted Duck and Great Crested Grebe. As we continued we pass 2 small ponds and on one we saw a Moorhen, a few roofs and chimneys hosted Jackdaw and Woodpigeons were a regular sighting. A male Pheasant was spotted in a field as we passed. Parking at Uphill House Sparrows were chirping in the bushes , we walked along the sand to the Axe estuary where Bryan found a Little Egret that disappeared up a channel before we could see it but it did reappear shortly after, a Common Gull was resting on the beach and 2 Oystercatchers were seen on the...

  This week’s birding trip was a half day visit to Newton St Loe, only our second visit of the year. Today it was just Bryan and Tony as David was away. On the short journey there we spotted Buzzard, Red Kite and Magpie. We parked by the farm shop where a Carrion Crow was calling and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over, walking towards the church we added Jackdaw and Woodpigeon and making a slight detour to look over the Globe we saw Goldfinch, Robin and both Great and Blue Tit. As   we continued, in the tall trees with the mistletoe was a Mistle Thrush. Mistle Thrush - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)  Nothing more was seen even after checking the Yew trees in the churchyard   until the field beyond where 2 Jays flew past, these turned out to be year ticks. At the bottom of the field a Blackbird flew off and a Lesser Black Back Gull circled overhead. In the field by what was Send a Cow were Rooks and a Green Woodpecker flew towards the village landing in the top of a tall t...

  Acres Down was the destination for this months Bath RSPB field trip but as we were hoping to find Lesser Spotted Woodpecker we had been advised to get there as early as possible so 8.45 was when we were to meet which meant a 6.35 start, a long time since I have been awake and out this early. On the journey to our meeting point we noted 3 birds we thought were unlikely to see there,  Red Kite, Pheasant and Mute Swan. When we arrived, Tom was already there so while waiting for the whole group to arrive we spotted Blackbird, Chaffinch, Robin, Raven and Blue Tit. We all set off and the first birds we found were 3 Redpolls feeding in a tree with a couple of Blue Tits. As we continued movement was seen up in a tree which turned out to be a Marsh Tit, 2 good birds to start the day. We arrived at a point where the woodpecker had been seen in previous years but nothing was seen so we waited adding Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Stock Dove and Long Tailed Tit. Other birders were all searchin...

  Bryan and Tony were just 2 of the 3 Amigos as David was away opening up his caravan. As its now March we needed to buy our new Birding Permit for Chew Valley Lake so that was todays destination. We headed straight for the lodge and 1 st thing was go and pay for the new permit as we intended visiting the hides during the morning. Permits purchased we did a short walk towards the dam where a Collared Dove was cooing from the top of a tree. Collared Dove - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher) Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow flew over and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in a tree which we did find, Jackdaw, Blue Tit and Blackbird were soon spotted. Canada Geese we spotted as we looked out over the lake and a Great Tit flew into a bush and 2 Magpies were in a field. Robins were in full song and a Redwing flew out of an ivy-covered tree. Several Chiffchaffs were found some in song as was a Wren booming out its song. Again, looking over the lake lots of Black Headed Gulls maybe in there 100’s we...

Grey Wagtail - Canop Pond (Bath Birdwatcher) Do we go to Pilning Wetlands for the Hooded Merganser or The Forest of Dean. The Merganser would not be a lifer as we saw the one at Radipole Lake in Weymouth some years ago so it was the forest. Driving up to the motorway a Red Kite was eyeing some roadkill and a Buzzard was seen from the motorway. The road from Lydney to Parkend was closed so we had to take a detour via Bream where we added Jackdaw. 1 st stop was Parkend where we were hoping for Hawfinch and talking to a fellow birder he had seen one high in a Beech Tree. We failed to find any during the time we were there but we did see Herring Gull, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Greenfinch, Pied Wagtail, Great Tit, and Coal Tit. Time to move on to New Fancy viewpoint, as we got out of the car 2 Carrion Crows flew over and Blue Tits were in the trees, walking up to the viewpoint a Robin was singing. From the viewpoint Ravens flew over calling and a Blackbird flew by but the bird we were hoping to ...

  Saltford Weir - (Bath Birdwatcher) Saltford was chosen for this Tuesdays 3 Amigos birding trip as we only had a half day to spare. Another reason for choosing Saltford was 3 species had been reported that would be year ticks for Bryan and 2 for David and Tony. We parked in the car park by the river Avon and started walking towards the Jolly Sailor with Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Mistle Thrush, Robin and Jackdaw soon found, we arrived at a spot where the 1 st species   we hoped to find a Little Owl is regularly seen but even after a wait it was not showing but we did see House Sparrow and Goldfinch. We moved on   and a Blackbird, Magpie and a singing Song Thrush were seen. Across the river Carrion Crows were in the fields along with a single Black Headed Gull, a Cormorant and a Grey Heron flew upriver the heron landing on the opposite bank, and as we looked at it 2 Moorhens swam across the river. As we continued a Dunnock was spotted and Herring Gull and Collared Dove flew o...

  Robin - Ham Wall (Bath Birdwatcher) Not only was last Saturday Valentine’s day but also Bath RSPB’s monthly field trip, this month to The Somerset Levels and just for a change a dry and sunny day was promised. 25 members made it to the meeting place at “Ham Wall” for a 10am start. A few of the group went to Avalon Marshes hoping to locate American Wigeon and Green Winged Teal that had been reported in the area but as it turned out they failed to find either. While waiting for the rest of the group we spotted Blackbird and Redwing in an ivy-covered tree. Magpie, Cormorant and Carrion Crow all flew over. We all set off heading for Viewing point 1 (VP1) and soon spotted a male Chaffinch, Great and Long Tailed Tit. As crossed over the bridge down to our right a male Pheasant was in a field and the first of many Robins was singing in a bush,  Robin - Ham Wall (Bath Birdwatcher) Coots were seen in the distance as was the 1 st Marsh Harrier of the day and a Great Crested Grebe was...

  This week the 3 Amigos had planned to spend a day at Chew and Blagdon but in the end Bryan was unable to come with us as his wife was feeling unwell so it was Just David and Tony. As it has been over the whole country the weather has been diabolical, day after day of rain and today was no different with light rain falling as we left. Driving to Chew the day started with a field full of gulls but it was so gloomy we could only identify a Herring   Gull and as we continued a Skylark flew across the road in front of us. Carrion Crow and Jackdaw also flew over and a Starling was seen on a telegraph pole. Approaching Chew a Blackbird flew by. At Herriotts on the pond were Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard and Coot. A Pied Wagtail was walking along the waters edge   and out on the pond were Shelduck, Teal, Moorhen and Tufted Duck. David spotted a Marsh Harrier flying across the main lake. Back on the pond a Grey Heron was on the far side of the lake with a Cormorant drying it...

             My 2025 Birding Year Highlights.   January. The year started for me on the 2 nd with a half day at Newton St Loe and amongst the usual sightings the highlight was 5 + Hawfinch a great start to the year, also Greenfinch, Nuthatch and a single Wigeon the first I have seen here. On the 7 th at the same venue a Little Egret was unusual. The 14 th took us to East Harptree woods and Chew Valley lake, at the woods were Siskin, Crossbill and Lesser Redpoll and at Chew a Red Breasted Merganser was a bird rare. On the 19th was the years 1 st Bath RSPB field trip, this one being to Blagdon and here a Ringed Neck Duck and female Scaup being the pick of the day’s sightings. The 21 st took us to Slimbridge lots of year ticks but the standout sightings were Whooper Swan and Water Rail. The last outing of the month was a return to Chew where Glossy Ibis and Goosander were year ticks Ring Necked Duck - Blagdon Whooper Swan...