Bath Birdwatcher

    We have recently returned from a short break in South Devon we stayed with Mary’s sister in their lodge at Waterside Holiday Park which overlooks Torbay and the Dartmouth Steam Railway, which was operating during our stay. On arrival on Sunday, we just unpacked and settled in,   Monday was a wet day so I was able to watch from in the dry and see many Gannets feeding in the bay   a Kestrel was hovering over the cliff tops. We needed shopping so a trip to Morrisons was made and on return again scoping the bay 3 Common Scoter flew through my field of view heading towards Torquay a year tick and the only time I saw any all week. Tuesday I was dropped off at Berry Head and walking from the car park towards the cottage at the top of the lane, the field by the car park had parts ploughed and a local named Bill explained that it was being turned into a wildflower meadow, so I look forward to seeing it in the years to come. In the field were Magpie, Herring Gulls and ...

  On Friday all 4 of us visited Berry Head for me it was a chance to spend 90 minutes bird spotting while the others visited the café for coffee. While getting a parking ticket a Robin was running under cars while a Carrion Crow was shouting its call from a large lump of rock. Leaving the others I walked towards the warden’s cottage and looking along the footpath opposite I noticed a Dunnock and Chaffinch in amongst my prize find 6 Cirl Buntings I knew there was a good chance they would be there as seed is put out for them and I have seen them many times in the past but even so they are always good to see as they are not seen where we live.  Cirl Bunting - Berry Head (Bath Birdwatcher) Walking on I met another birder and while chatting saw a Blackbird eating berries and a flock of Long Tailed Tits that flew through with a single Goldcrest. Time to get to the café and meet up with the other 3 but as I arrived, they were still chatting, so I walked to look at the cliffs and here...

Brixham from Waterside Holiday Park (Bath Birdwatcher) Mary and myself have just spent a few day’s in Torbay staying with my sister in law at Waterside Holiday Park. We traveled down on Wednesday and while on the A303 4 Crane’s flew over. After settling in I walked to Armchair Cove noting Carrion Crow, Buzzard, Herring Gull, Robin and Woo d Pigeon. A set of steps leads down to a rocky shore and I found it best to stop on a bend in the steps for the best view. Great Black Back Gull and Shag were seen but nothing else so decided to make my way back finding Blackbird and a Chiffchaff. The lodge where we were staying overlooks the sea and from here I spotted a Gannet and a Magpie.  Thursday I walked over the clifftop to Broadsands which was very tiring with 50+ steps at the Waterside end to climb but at Broadsands there is 120 steps not too bad on the way but it can’t be said to be the same on the return. I was only counting birds new for the week so Chaffinch was the 1st new...

  Portland Obs & Lighthouse (Bath Birdwatcher) At this point last year my total was 136 sightings against 140 this year and was hoping this quarter would bring many more year ticks and with a bit of luck some lifetime ticks or as we call them lifers. July Our 1 st trip of the month was a visit to Chew Valley lake where 49 bird 8 butterfly and 3 moth species were seen the highlights were 2 ticks Spotted Redshank and Kingfisher. Also of note was an Essex Skipper butterfly and a Shaded Broad Bar moth. Next trip was a half day on the 13 th to Newton St Loe taking in the lanes as well as the lakes nothing new was seen but Yellowhammers in the lanes and Little Grebe with chicks was great to see. The highlights of the day was 9 species of butterfly with White Letter Hairstreak a standout and a Scorched Carpet moth a close 2 nd .  Scorched Carpet moth (Bath Birdwatcher) On the 25 th we joined a Bath Nats walk on Lansdown mainly searching for butterflies and 15 species wer...

  Coleton Fishacre - Bath Birdwatcher Mary and Tony spent a week with her sister and brother-in-law at their lodge at Waterside Holiday Park which is between Brixham and Paignton. The site is next to the South Devon Railway and overlooks Torbay with Torquay to the left and Brixham Harbour and Berry Head to the right. We arrived late afternoon and after having something to eat I walked to the clifftop which has a flight of steps giving access to the rocks and small beach which is available only at low tide. Halfway down the steps is a good vantage point to view the surrounding rocks and another beach which has access at the other end of the small bay. Bird life was not abundant, but I did manage to see a year tick in the form of a Kittiwake also seen were Gannet, Herring Gull, Cormorant, Black Headed Gulls and a single Mediterranean Gull. Fishing in the bay to my left was a Little Egret with 2 Magpie’s close by. On Monday we both walked to the local Post Office and as we walked ...