Tuesday 13th January 2026 - Chew Valley Lake

 

Another wet day with little promise that conditions would improve so another trip to Chew Valley Lake was on the cards. Our local WhatsApp group has been reporting several good bird species at Lordswood,  Crossbill and Redpoll being just 2 and with it sort of being on the way to Chew we decided to take a look checking out mainly parking. On arrival at the main gate entrance there was just 2 spaces with a large puddle in the middle, we did tuck the car off the road but not in the puddle to have a look but this is a working wood and the track was all cut up and very muddy so we moved up the lane 100yards or so to a footpath entrance but again it was very muddy but we did venture out of the car for a look here we saw Dunnock, Pheasant, Magpie and Carrion Crow. Realising Wellington Boots were needed we headed for Chew. First stop Herriotts Bridge but it was very unpleasant with rain falling heavily so birding from the car was the order of the day but with the rain  blowing onto the car visibility  was very poor so here we only logged Mallard, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Black Headed Gull, Shelduck and Coot. Bryan decided to scope the pond sheltering under the hatchback. A Little Egret was in the far corner with several pairs of Teal and a fishing Cormorant. Bryan also pointed out a Gadwall in amongst the Mallards. As the rain was showing no sign of stopping we moved off heading for a dry hide on the was adding Rook, Jackdaw and Wood Pigeon. Driving down Stratford Lane a Blackbird flew off in front of us and at the car park a Coal Tit was in one of the bushes and Redwings were flying all around some on small flock while others were fairly large. Walking to the hide we spotted Great Tit, Chaffinch, Robin and Blue Tit, David found a Great Spotted Woodpecker climbing a dead tree trunk. From the hide there was just a small island remaining from when the lake was lower and it was almost covered in Cormorants there was also a Grey Heron and 2 Great Black Back Gulls, but can you see the 14 Lapwings, the pair of Mallards and the Tufted Duck. 

Cormorant etc - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)

David then found the sighting of the day an Otter that swam into the reed bed on our left and not seen again.

Otter - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)

A Great White Egret flew by up the lake and a lady who was also in the hide pointed out some Snipe by the reeds on our right. The lake was a lot quieter than normal making new water birds hard to find but with the telescope we were able to find Great Crested Grebes far out across the lake. The final sightings from the hide was a Herring Gull and Stock Dove both fly pasts. Next we did a short walk along the lane we did find a flyover Pied Wagtail and a flock of Goldfinches new for the day. Next stop a wet Herons Green for lunch in the car, we did find Canada Geese and a Lesser Black Back Gull in amongst the many Black Headed Gulls. 

Black Headed Gull - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)

After lunch the rain had almost stopped allowing us to spot from out of the car and with the telescopes we found Pochard and on the pond a Little Grebe. Next Moreton where 50+ Canada Geese were in the field behind the car park and in amongst them was a single Cattle Egret. Looking out from the hide the lake was almost empty with just the odd Coot so we cut our losses and headed for the Lodge for a walk along the path towards the dam. We soon found a flock of Long Tailed Tits with other tit species amongst them but we had already seen them earlier in the day. A Song Thrush was singing but was proving very elusive until Bryan found it on the side of a bush much lower than it sounded, as we walked on I spotted a Common Gull flying up the lake by this time we could feel rain in the air and decided to make our way back to the car finding a Sparrowhawk that drifted past. As we walked back the heavens opened so we were all slightly wet by the time we got to the car. Last stop was the picnic area but nothing new here so we set off home. The weather didn’t spoil the day but its always better to be out when its dry and sunny and as we only tend to go out on a Tuesday it’s a case of take it or leave it !!