Tuesday 21st July 2026 - Chew Valley Lake


Gadwall - CVL (library Picture) 

Another half day is all we could spare this week so Chew was chosen as the chance of seeing something different is greater here. Just two of us David and Tony. Setting off heading for our 1st stop at Herriotts we spotted Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Blackbird and Jackdaw on the journey. At Herriotts Mute Swans stood out against the dark water, Lots of Black Headed Gulls were in the water by the island but checking through them no other species of gull was found. Coot, Gadwall and Teal were spotted and 11 Green Sandpipers were counted along with 3 Lapwings. Mallards in eclipse plumage plus a single Cattle Egret in full summer plumage were noted. Moorhen, Little Egret, Grey Wagtail and Dunnock soon followed. On the main lake a Great Black Back Gull flew away in the distance and a flock of House Martins circled high above us. On the side of the lake, we noted Great White Egret and Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe were the only other water birds we could find. Where the overflow from the pond flows into the lake a Reed Warbler was picking insects from the weed fully exposed which was unusual. We were chatting to a fellow birder who told us he had seen a Dartford Warbler on the Grebe Trail so we decided to make that our next stop adding Carrion Crow On the way. We parked in no2 picnic area and started walking the Grebe Trail finding Robin, Garden Warbler a flyover Buzzard but no Dartford. On towards the Bittern trail we added Wren, Blackcap(f), Long Tailed Tit and Goldcrest. We ended at Bernard King Hide here we added Tufted Duck and Lesser Black Back Gull. Time to turn back with some spare time to have another look for the Dartford but all we added was a Great Tit. We did bump into Andy and Rich who were also looking for the Dartford but with no luck.

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