Tuesday 18th August 2026 - Chew Valley Lake.

 

LBB Gull - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Like last week Bryan and Tony spent 6 hours at Chew for the same reasons as before. Unlike last week I started my list at Herriotts where there were no birds on the wall of the pool as grass cutting was taking place, but birds were out on the pool, Coot, Mallard, Canada Geese and Teal found along with Moorhen, Gadwall and lots of Black Headed Gulls that we checked to see if anything unusual were amongst them, but with no luck. Lapwing, Green Sandpiper and Snipe were the only waders we could find. Several Mute Swans were spread out over the pool and House Martins were flying overhead. On the pool other gulls included Herring and Lesser Black Back were spotted. Several Pied Wagtails were on the mud along with a Carrion Crow, Woodpigeons flew over the pool and some Shovelers were feeding at the back of the pool between the islands. On the main lake were many Great Crested Grebe but nothing else that we hadn’t seen on the pool. Time to move on to Stratford but unusually nothing was seen in the lane or walking to the hide. From the hide we added Great Black Backed Gull, Great White Egret and Grey Heron. All of a sudden ducks flew past panic stricken all put up by a passing Marsh Harrier. Andy then spotted a flock of Swifts flying over the opposite hillside. A large raft of mainly Coot were out on the lake with a few Tufted Ducks with them. Cormorants were on the bank of Denny Island and several Little Egrets were around the lake. Two birds of prey were spotted out to our right the 1^st a Buzzard and the second soaring high above a Red Kite. Next we decided to pop over to Blagdon where we drove and parked close to the top hide, again the majority of birds seen had already been found at Chew but 3 Greenshanks were new for the day, we also found Magpie, Little Grebe and one of the best sightings of the day a group of Wigeon our first of the winter. Driving back to Chew we passed a farm where Swallows were circling also seen was a Collared Dove. We stopped at Herons Green for lunch and here we spotted Cattle Egrets. But again, nothing else was seen but we had been told a Glossy Ibis had been found at the 2^nd picnic area, so we drove over for a look but after a search nothing was found but with reed growth it was hard to see the shore and thought we might get a better view from picnic area 1, the path between the two giving us the best view. It did but we were unable to find the Ibis but we did spot a Common Sandpiper. Back in the car park by the dam was 10+ Egyptian Geese. 

Egyptian Goose - CVL (bath Birdwatcher)

These proved to be the last birds of the day or were they as on the drive home a Kestrel was hovering over a field.

Egyptian Geese - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)

Canada Goose - CVL (Bath Birdwatcher)