Tuesday 31st March 2026 - Chew Valley Lake

 

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 grass and after we crossed the bridge Goldfinches flew over and David spotted a Sparrowhawk drifting high over. A Dunnock sang from a bush and 2 Magpies were in a tree. On the path to the Bernard King Hide we found Long Tailed Tits, Goldcrest and a male Blackcap. From the hide the lake was quite quiet the Great Crested Grebe was looking magnificent in its summer finery several Coots were in and out of the reeds and Tufted Ducks, Gadwall and Canada Geese were by Denny Island. Walking back to the car a pr of Gadwall were in a channel of water by the footpath. 

Gadwall - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)

A few Jackdaw flew over and 2 Jays flew through the trees, as we approached the bridge myself and David simultaneously said Willow Warbler as on sang very close to us, it was in the top of a bush in front of us and we all had a great view, one of the day’s highlights and a year tick. Having arrived at the car we drove to Herriotts for stop no2 and immediately David spotted a Marsh Harrier drifting over the lake while above our heads a Buzzard was soaring high. On the pool were many Teal in the far right-hand corner and Shoveler were swimming between the islands. Black Headed, Lesser Black Back and Comdmon Gull were all seen while over on the main lake Shelduck were spotted and a Little Egret back on the pool being our last new sightings of the day here so off to our next stop at Stratford. Walking from the car park to the hide we added Chaffinch  and from the hide a Goldeneye was very close. We ha chosen Chew today as a pair of Lesser Scaup had taken up residence, we were told they were on the far side of the lake close to the reed beds and with the aid of our telescopes were able to find them a year tick all round. We ate our lunch whilst in the hide but found nothing new so we moved on finding a Great Spotted Woodpecker that flew across the field by the car park. As we drove to More

(f) Scaup front right and (F) Tufted Duck back left
(Bath Birdwatcher)

ton our next stop we passed a Brimstone Butterfly and our 1^st Orange Tip Butterfly always a sign that summer isn’t far away. From the hide a flock of Tufted Ducks many sleeping were outside the hide and while looking through them Bryan spotted one that was sleeping but looked different from the Tufties we then realised it was a female Scaup another year first and 2 scaup species in the same day. A Moorhen was another day tick as was a Raven as we walked back to the car. Next and final stop was Herons Green and on the way we saw a Rook and at Herons Green our final day tick was a Little Grebe giving us a very respectable 50 for the day.

Tufted Ducks - Moreton (Bath Birdwatcher)