Tuesday 7th July 2026 - Chew Valley Lake

 

Canada Geese - Herons Green (Bath Birdwatcher)

This week it was a half day at Chew Valley Lake the first time we have visited since the 23^rd of April. I decided not to start listing until we reached Chew but a Collared Dove at Bishop Sutton was worth recording. At Herriotts the list really began to grow with Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot and Gadwall all seen as we found a parking space. Once out of the car and telescope set up we found 8 Green Sandpipers and a Lapwing in the shallow water and in the deeper water Tufted Ducks and on the overflow at least 2 Egyptian Geese with the Canada Geese. House Martins swooped down over the pond drinking and a Pied Wagtail walking along the wall. On the main lake was a Great White Egret, Shelduck and Grey Heron with Woodpigeon Jackdaw and Black Headed Gulls flying over. Back on the pond were a pair of Teal. Moving on Stratford was the next stop with House Sparrows seen as we drove down the lane and from the car park a Cattle Egret flew over. Once in the hide the lack of birds on the lake was striking but a Hobby did fly past. The sighting of the day was a Lesser Emperor Dragonfly which was enjoyed by everyone in the hide I did attempt to photograph it but as it was perched in the reeds my camera refused to focus on it. A Great Black Gull was on a buoy in the middle of the lake but nothing else so we moved on to Moreton here driving to the hide David spotted Chaffinch feeding on the ground with Long Tailed Tits in the tree above and just beyond a Robin. Nothing new from the hide but driving out a Blackbird and a Buzzard that exploded from beside the road was a good close view. Herons Green was again poor but on the pool we found the resident Little Grebes and a group of Swallows drinking as they flew over the water a Stock Dove flew over and David spotted a Red Kite drifting over nearby hills. On the main lake were several Lesser Black Back Gulls and flying past we logged 2 Magpie. The Lodge was our last stop and as time was quickly running out we just had enough time for a short walk towards the dam. We soon found a singing Wren we had heard plenty during the morning but this was our 1^st sighting a Chiffchaff was next and as we were walking back to the car the call of a Garden Warbler, rang out, luckily we found it working its way through the trees. This proved to be our last new sighting of the morning.

During the morning we did see several species of Butterfly, Red Admiral,   Peacock ,Meadow Brown, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper  and a single species of moth Silver Y.