Tuesday 7th April 2026 - Chew Valley Lake.

 

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 reeds plus a Reed Bunting singing but we were unable to get a sighting of any of them, so a dip. We did find Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe and Grey Heron. A group of 5 Great White Egrets flew in and as I was looking a Swallow flew through my field of view (another year tick) we did see4 more later in the morning by the Blue Bowl. Carrion Crows flew over and a Pied Wagtail flew across the road towards the pool Cormorants were across the lake sat in trees, then Andy spotted 4 Greylag Geese that flew in and landed on the lake, we do see the odd 1 now and again but 4 was very different. A pair of Goldeneye were found and a Herring Gull flew out in the lake. Time to move on so we all made our way to Stratford and driving down the lane we passed our 1^st butterfly of the day a Brimstone, A Blackbird flew in front of us and as we parked the 1^st of many Orange Tip butterfly fluttered past. The only new daily sighting from the hide was a few Coot, But while we searched one of the other birders had a call to say a Redstart was at Moreton in the field with the cow trough, well I don’t think that the hide had ever emptied as quickly as we all made our way to Moreton most drove but we walked hoping for more sightings on the way so it proved with a Robin on a fence wire and a male Pheasant in a field then a Peacock butterfly flew past. We had heard many Chiffchaffs singing but this one was the first to show, another butterfly a Speckled Wood was a year first we also saw Chaffinch and Long Tailed Tit  before we met up with the other birders, as we joined them a Marsh Harrier flew along a reed bed and a Raven flew by calling, but no sign of the Redstart but time was not an issue as we waited hoping it would show, then Rich spotted it on a barbed wire fence a beautiful male Redstart we watched it what seemed like ages as it flew down into the grass and flew back to mainly fence post tops, another year tick. 

Redstart - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)

It was now approaching lunch time so we set off to walk back to the car and on the way Bryan found an Egyptian Goose  (another year tick)malone in a field and we also added Blue Tit, Wren and a pair of Blackcaps to our growing list. Next stop was Herons Green for lunch where we added two more species Common Gull and Little Grebe. After lunch we moved on to the Lodge and one of the 1^st new sightings was a Holly Blue butterfly. We started a walk towards the dam where a Goldcrest showed well, also the bird we were hoping to see was calling a Bullfinch which we managed to find in fact a pair showed. A Little Egret was by the lake and a Dunnock was in the undergrowth. Walking back to the car a Jay ended our sightings at Chew but driving home we spotted 2 Red Kites.

Redstart - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)