Bath Birdwatcher

  This week David and Tony, unfortunately no Bryan, made a trip to Slimbridge where a Collared Pratincole had been present for a few days so we hoped it would still be there but if not, it is always a good place for seeing lots of different birds. You read about all the Pheasants that get released this time of the year well it was apparent this had happened as we saw many in the fields as well as lots in the road dead. We arrived at Slimbridge and from the car park saw flocks of Lapwing flying over must have been 100+. We checked with staff in the entrance if the Pratincole was still on site, to be told it was on South Lake so that was to be our first stop. Once in the grounds Mallard, Moorhen and Coot were soon noted and on arriving at South Lake we were told the Pratincole had flown off 2 minutes earlier. We decided to wait to see if it would return and while waiting, we spotted Shoveler, Teal, Ruff, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Pochard, Grey Heron, ...

  This week’s birding trip was a visit to Chew Valley Lake unfortunately Bryan was unable to come so it was just David and Tony. Spotting started as soon as we set off with Kestrel, Collared Dove and Woodpigeon seen in transit. First stopping place at Chew was Herriotts where we firstly covered the pond and here were Canada Geese, Black Headed Gulls, Shoveler, Teal, Common Gull, Mallard, a single Shelduck, Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Snipe, Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, and a Grey Wagtail. Then all the gulls took off and we suspected a bird of prey was about and yes, a Peregrine flew through. A cracking male Pintail was upending, and a Stonechat landed on top of a patch of tall weeds right in front of us but flew off before I could get the camera out. On the main lake which is the lowest I can remember a Great White Egret was stood on the mud, but most birds were so far away even with a telescope it was hard to identify the smaller ones. A flock of tits flew over the reeds from one tree ...

  I expect you are all wondering where I have gone with no blog since our South Devon holiday at the end of September. Well, on our return it was covid booster time on the following Thursday. In the past the jab has gone well with no after affects and so it appeared this time until Saturday PM when I came down with a very heavy cold, something I do not usually suffer with, I am sure I picked it up at the vaccination center where we had to queue, and quite a long wait. The cold has over the weekend finally gone and I feel more like my usual self, so when Mary suggested a walk at Newton St Loe, I jumped at it.   Parking at the church we walked through the churchyard and into the field here I saw Herring Gull, Magpie and Rook. On the road by send a cow Goldfinch were on the wires, down the footpath where Wood Pigeon and a Jay was added. Several were heard during the morning, but this was the only one seen. On the Bottom Lake were 16 Mallard and fly over Jackdaws and a Grey ...

  A week in South Devon was hopefully a chance to catch up on a few birds we have missed during the year. 4 of us Bryan and his wife Yvonne and Tony (me) with my wife Mary, we booked a house in a village just outside Salcombe called Marlborough and proved a great base to explore the area. Our accommodation was fantastic with far views over open fields to Dartmoor bird wise it was poor with plenty of Corvids especially Rooks one day there were 37 on the wires. Other birds seen were Black Headed Gull, and Herring Gulls mostly flyovers heading for or away from the coast, along with Wood Pigeon, Buzzard and Yellowhammers. Most days Swallows and House Martins were seen on migration. On Saturday our first full day we ventured into Salcombe and the tide was low, as it was all week so with plenty of shore and mud exposed water birds and waders were expected, the only waders found were Oystercatchers that we were to find every day, also Redshank which again were very common and a single Com...

Today the 3 Amigos went on a recce to Brean Down as Bath RSPB local group are having a field Trip there on Saturday, making as sure as possible that roads are open and access to the site is not restricted. As it was an all-day trip lunch needed to be carried. We were to pass Chew Valley Lake on our journey so stopped for a quick look. On the way we noted Buzzard and Collared Dove. At Chew we ticked Mallard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Lapwing, Black Headed Gull, Teal, Pintail, Shelduck Green Sandpiper and Coot, all these being on the pond while on the main lake Carrion Crow, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Moorhen, and Great Tit were seen. Driving from Chew to Brean Rook, Woodpigeon,   Jackdaw and Herring Gull added to the days total. Parking in the National Trust car park we started our walk making our way towards the river Axe estuary on the way Magpie, House Sparrow, Swallow, Starling, Mute Swan, Lesser Black Back Gull Goldfinch, Robin and Little Egret were seen. Scanning the Axe estuary ...

  Today Mary and I decided to have a walk at Newton St Loe, this is the first time Mary has been out since Monday as she had not been feeling too well. We parked by the church but followed the road to Send a Cow as the field would probably be wet with overnight dew. Goldfinch on the wires followed by flyover Jackdaw and Woodpigeons were our first sightings. In the fields by Send a Cow were a few Carrion Crows and although there was some bird calls down the footpath nothing was found. In butterfly alley a calling Chiffchaff was seen in one of the small trees. Up to the bottom lake here a flock of Long Tailed Tits were in the trees by the lake and 17 Mallards were spread over the lake. A Grey Wagtail flew towards the top lake where I saw 2 later in the morning. Walking up to the top lake at least 3 Mistle Thrushes were in the Yew trees eating the berries. On the lake 4 Little Grebe were showing well as well as at least 12 Moorhen seen around the lake edges. A good count of 7 Coot wa...

  This week the 3 Amigos made another trip to Chew Valley Lake as a rare North American wader has been present for a few days, more of that later. The 3 Amigos driven by Bryan left Bath heading for Chew and on the way picked up Buzzard, Jackdaw and Woodpigeon. At Chew our first port of call was Herriotts, the first birds seen as we pulled in, to park were Black Headed Gull and Mallard. Black Headed Gull - Bath Birdwatcher Scanning the pool with the telescope Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Green Sandpiper and Snipe were soon ticked off and a Kingfisher was heard, and it was seen flying low over the pool. Continuing scanning the pool Lapwing, Little Egret and Moorhen were picked out. David then spotted 13 Cattle Egrets that flew in and landed in the shallow water but didn’t stay long before they flew away, seen later flying over the main lake. Back to the scan when Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper were added to the days list. David then spotted the Osprey that had already spent a few days...