Saturday 11th July 2026 - Blashford Lake (Bath RSPB field trip)

 




RSPB Bath members

For the final Bath RSPB field trip of the season, we visited Blashford Lakes Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing turn out with only 6 members attending. It turned out to be a near perfect day with bright sunshine but a cooling breeze blowing and with tree cover for the morning part of the visit giving plenty of shade. As we all assembled in the car park our 1st bird of the day was a fly past Red Kite followed by 2 Stock Doves that flew into the trees and started calling which enabled us to point out the different call against Wood Pigeons. Walking towards the Woodland hide a Robin was on the footpath and a Grey Heron was on a fallen tree on the far side of the right-hand pond. Nothing from the hide so we made our way to the next hide adding Woodpigeon as we went. From the hide were many Common Terns with fewer Black Headed Gulls. Mallards were the only visible ducks, a Cormorant was fishing and I then spotted a Hobby away to our left, not sure how many of us managed a sighting. Swifts were flying over the lake and Magpies were in the top of a group of trees. Just outside the hide Jessica spotted these Elder Beetle Lava. 

Elder Beetle Lava, note the fly on its back
Or is it a FLY ??
(Bath Birdwatcher)
This hide overlooked a part of Ivy lake with another in the opposite corner and that was our next stop. On the way a Blackbird flew across our path and at least 2 Treecreepers were found. From the hide we added Mute Swans that were not visible from the previous hide. Reed Warblers were flying over the reeds and a Jay flew across the lake. Time for lunch so we made our way back to the car and we all had lunch together which was very nice as nobody felt left out which can happen with larger groups. After lunch we headed for Ibsley Water on the way I got a bit left behind from the group as I was listening for bird song and found both Long Tailed and Great Tits plus a single Mistle Thrush. I made my way to the Tern Hide where I met up with the rest of the group here we were amazed to see the huge numbers of Egyptian Geese I’ve never seen so any in one place. 

Egyptian Geese courtesy of Jessica Farr
The odd Lapwing was about and was the only wader we saw all day, Greylag and Canada Geese were also seen. A Pied Wagtail was in front of the hide and a Coot not far away. A large flock of gulls we on the far side of the lake containing both Herring and Lesser Black Back Gulls with a single Great Black Back Gull seen flying over the far side of the lake. Ducks were in very short supply but I did find a pair of Tufted Ducks on one of the shingle banks. A flock of Sand Martins were flying over the lake with a few Swallows drinking. A Little Egret flew along the far side of the lake unusually the only egret species we saw all days. The last new sighting of the day found by David was a Whitethroat in a bush besides the hide. I’m sure we all enjoyed the day the weather was great as was the company. Roll on next season.

 

Common Tern - Blashford (Bath Birdwatcher)

Great Crested Grebe swallowing
a Bream - courtesy of
Jessica Farr.

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