Bath Birdwatcher

  This week the 3 Amigos had planned to spend a day at Chew and Blagdon but in the end Bryan was unable to come with us as his wife was feeling unwell so it was Just David and Tony. As it has been over the whole country the weather has been diabolical, day after day of rain and today was no different with light rain falling as we left. Driving to Chew the day started with a field full of gulls but it was so gloomy we could only identify a Herring   Gull and as we continued a Skylark flew across the road in front of us. Carrion Crow and Jackdaw also flew over and a Starling was seen on a telegraph pole. Approaching Chew a Blackbird flew by. At Herriotts on the pond were Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard and Coot. A Pied Wagtail was walking along the waters edge   and out on the pond were Shelduck, Teal, Moorhen and Tufted Duck. David spotted a Marsh Harrier flying across the main lake. Back on the pond a Grey Heron was on the far side of the lake with a Cormorant drying it...

  Chew Valley Lake from West Harptree Wood (Bath Birdwatcher) For this months Bath RSPB field trip, a new site was chosen with a half day at West Harptree Woods followed by an afternoon at Chew Valley Lake. This is my account of the day and birds I saw although many did see the same   but some saw less and others saw some birds I missed. The day started by picking up one of our members in Saltford before setting off, the traffic was quite light for a Saturday morning so we were well ahead of schedule meaning we were able to made a short stop at Herriotts, here we noted Mallard, Black Headed Gull, Coot, Moorhen, Shelduck, Great White Egret, Canada Goose and Mute Swan. Moving on to the woods we spotted Magpie, Jackdaw and Collared Dove. On arrival at our destination Tom was already there and while waiting for others to arrive we added Robin and Chaffinch to the days list. Once all 16 of us arrived we set off but at first it was very quiet with not a bird call heard. Soon we were...

  Tufted Duck - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher) Friday was a beautiful and sunny day, so Mary and I decided to go for a walk at Newton St Loe. On arrival we parked by the church and walked through the churchyard which was very quiet but once we reached the field beyond then the bird spotting began with a Carrion Crow in the field followed by flyover Woodpigeon, Magpie and Jackdaw. A Dunnock was singing as we walked to the bottom road where Blue Tits were visiting the feeders and a Robin was sat in a bush, nothing in the woodland but walking through Butterfly Alley a calling Raven flew over, the 1 st of several we saw and all very vocal. 5 Mallards and a Moorhen were on the bottom lake with a small flock of Goldfinch in the Alders. The top lake was not as busy as usual, but we did add Coot, Little Grebe and a pair of Tufted Ducks plus a single Black Headed Gull and 2 Common Gulls. An old mate then came by Wayne and as we chatted we located a Goldcrest, and a Cormorant flew into their usual ...

  Today Bryan and Tony were joined by our wives for a coffee and a walk at Newton St Loe. After coffee in the farm shop we walked via the drive towards the university and immediately noted 3 covid species Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Rook the last outnumbering the other 2 by at least 20 to 1.  Rook - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher) We then noticed a few gulls circling above and we were able to identify Common and Black Headed, It was a bit chilly and breezy so for that reason not many small birds were seen. At the top lake 39 Mallards were counted plus 6 Moorhens and 6 Coots. 2 Cormorants were sat in their usual tree along with a single Wood Pigeon. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into a tree by the Temple and a Raven flew from a tree in the same place and while watching the woodpecker we noticed several Coal Tits working their way through the trees. On the lake the single Mute Swan was under the trees on the far bank along with 4 Teal. Next were Blue and Long Tailed Tits in the trees abo...

  Yesterday Mary and I met one of her friends Sue, a fellow birder at Newton St Loe for a few hours bird spotting. We met at the Church where there was a lot of bird activity starting with flyover Rooks, The trees by the gate were alive with birds Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Long Tailed Tit, Great Tit and Goldcrest the latter a bird Sue was hoping to see but with this one high in a tree Sue was unable to find it. While she was searching 2 Starlings flew over. Through the churchyard and into the field beyond a Lesser Black Back Gull was sat on the chimney of the cottage at the bottom of the field Jackdaws and Carrion Crows were constantly flying over and when we reached the bottom of the field a flock of about 6 Mistle Thrushes flew by, a Magpie was in the gardens and Goldfinches were on the wires. Woodpigeons were seen on and off all morning and a few House Sparrows were in the hedges. Walking down the footpath I could hear Goldcrests calling and eventually found one but again ...

  Saturday is usually a stay at home day but this week Mary and myself needed some fresh air and a walk, so chose NSL. We parked by the church and set of via the road as we were unsure how muddy it would be through the field. As we started a Blackbird flew past and on reaching the road to Send a Cow Jackdaws were making a lot of noise in the treetops, a Robin was singing from a shrub and a Herring Gull flew over. A Woodpigeon flew as we approached the cottages where a Collared Dove was on the top of a pole and Goldfinches were on the wires. A Dunnock sang from the top of a bush and Blue and Great Tits were on the feeders. Dunnock - NSL (Bath Birdwatcher)  Walking  on towards the footpath Magpie and Rooks were spotted. Nothing new for the day was seen until we reached the bottom lake here, even though there were lots of anglers at least 7 Mallard and 2  Moorhens were counted. On the top lake were just 7 more Mallard a very low count for here, but a least another 6...

  NSL Church - (Bath Birdwatcher) I like to try and visit Newton St Loe at least twice a month and today marks my 24 th visit this year but as I have mentioned on the last few visits bird numbers and species have been disappointing. Walking through the Church Yard and into the field beyond and here we found the 3 most common corvids Carrion Crow, Rook and Jackdaw. Continuing through the field a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from one of the large trees on the left and I located it right in the highest point of one of the trees before it flew across the field in front of us. Nothing else until we reached the footpath through the woods here, we added Robin, Long Tailed and Blue Tit. A Grey Heron was sat by the stream looking from butterfly alley with 2 more sat in the field on the far side of the bottom lake and a Woodpigeon that flew over. Grey Heron-NSL(Bath Birdwatcher)   Nothing more until we reached the bottom lake but did look at the waterfall which was gushing. Waterfal...

  This blog is slightly later than normal as I have had trouble with my laptop, and it’s been in the menders for a new screen but now all up and running. The last walk Tuesday 8 th February took the 3 Amigos to Burnett, where we had been told was a large flock of finches including Brambling a species I have not seen since 2019 so it would be great to get this one on our year list. We parked in the village but had no idea where the birds had been sighted, but I had received a message on a WhatsApp birding sight which made no sense to me although David realised it was a what3words location. Realising this I was able to download the app which duly marked the spot where the birds had been seen. As the app was new to us all we were still unsure exactly how to use it, so we set off back to the main road logging Collared Dove, Blackbird, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw. We were getting no closer to the location, so we returned to the car and set off in the opposite directi...

  A return visit to Newton St Loe and most likely our last visit of the year. Parking by the farm shop we noted Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Rook while we were changing footwear. Walking towards the church we spotted House Sparrow, Blue Tit and Goldfinch in the garden with the feeders and as we walked on a Magpie and Lesser Black Back Gull was seen. As we approached the left turn to the church a flock of small birds was seen flying back and forwards across the road the flock contained Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Great Tit and Goldcrest. In the tallest tree sat a Mistle Thrush and a Blackbird flew by. Continuing on a Greenfinch was singing from a smaller tree. On through the churchyard and field down to the road with nothing to add. A Robin was our next sighting, and a Grey Heron was on the edge of the field next to Send a Cow, the 1 st time I have seen one here, also in the field were several Common Gull I guess we saw some 50+ in the fields. In the hedgerow were 4...