Bath Birdwatcher

  The first 3 months of the year proved to be very similar to 2022 with 105 species seen against 104 in 2022, so the hope was that the following 3 months would continue in the same vein. April. This month started with a visit to Newton St Loe but nothing new for the year was found but a Kingfisher is always a bird that is good to see. Our next birding trip was the monthly RSPB field trip on the 16 th , this month was a visit to Blakehill Farm and Cotswold Water Park. Blakehill is a reserve aimed at farmland birds but on the day (maybe it was a little early in the year) proved to be somewhat underwhelming we did manage Skylark and Meadow Pipit and probably the best sightings were Curlew, and here they are hoping the birds will stay and breed. We also found a singing Willow Warbler, a year tick plus Red Kites. On to the water park where Red Crested Pochard, Reed Bunting and Oystercatcher were all year ticks. The 18 th was the Amigos next trip this time to Chew and Blagdon Lakes ...

  Sometimes when birding you can have good and bad days, a few weeks ago we had a day to remember when we visited the Somerset Levels and this week we made a return visit to the same place and to say we had another good day is an understatement. Bryan was unable to join us having only returned from a week’s holiday the previous evening. We were hoping for a few summer visitors that in past years the Somerset Levels have proved to be a reliable place to see them. On the way to Westhay our first stop we started our lists with Blackbird, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Starling, Rook, Lesser Black Back Gull, Collared Dove, and Pheasant. Driving across the levels we added Swallow, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Magpie and Kestrel. Also 4 Cattle Egrets in the same place as we saw double figures on our last visit. Walking along Dagg’s Lane Drove Mallard, Buzzard and Chiffchaff were quickly logged, then David spotted a bird in the distance only having the briefest of views   before flying behind ...