Bath Birdwatcher

  This week the 3Amigos decided to re-visit East Harptree Woods as on our last visit it was so foggy that we were unable to find any of the species we were hoping to see, so as the weather was perfect, we were giving it another go. To get to the woods we had to pass Chew Valley Lake so our first point to stop was Herriotts. On the drive to Chew we spotted Jackdaw, Collared Dove, and Wood Pigeon. At Herriotts were Mute Swan, Mallard, Moorhen, Teal, Shelduck and 3 species of gull Black Headed, Common and Herring. A Grey Wagtail flew in and landed on a railing by the outlet. On the main lake we added Coot, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe and Great Black Back Gull. In the trees on the far side of the lake were in excess of 40 Cormorants, and at least 6 Great White Egrets seen. A small flock of Goldeneye were in with the Coot and Tufties, 3 Canada Geese flew in, and Bryan spotted a Marsh Harrier flying over the reeds. A Grey Heron was by the far side reeds and a Carrion Crow ...

  This months Bath Branch RSPB field trip was a visit to Newton St Loe and was organised as 2 visits Saturday the 15 th and Tuesday the 19 th of November. We hoped by visiting twice it would allow more people to attend. I was coming home from Devon on Saturday so was only able to join todays visit but what awful weather we had wet all morning with rain sleet and at times wet snow, if it had been a 3 Amigos day out, we would have cancelled or visited Chew because of the bird hides. The visit was arranged for a 9.30 start at the farm shop and while waiting for others to arrive we started the day with a Pied Wagtail and a Woodpigeon sitting on various rooftops. We set off through the village heading for the church and in the garden opposite the village store we found Blue Tit, Robin, House Sparrow, Great Tit and Coal Tit. In one of the trees smothered in mistletoe was a single Mistle Thrush a Dunnock flew onto the top of a wall. Walking through the church yard a Magpie flew throug...

  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...

  Torquay from Broadsands (Bath Birdwatcher) J ust spent a few days in South Devon staying with Mary’s sister and brother-in-law in their lodge on a site between Brixham and Paignton here I spent many hours watching Gannets plunge diving for fish. On Friday the 13 th of November I walked from their site along the coast path to Broadsands and on the way I found Magpie, Oystercatcher, Gannet, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Kestrel, Robin, Dunnock and Blue and Great Tit. Once at Broadsands the lack of birds on the beach was noticeable probably due to the number of dogs, in fact a Carrion Crow was the only bird on the beach. Walking around the unused car parks it was very quiet perhaps due to an easterly breeze blowing straight in off the sea, I did find a small flock of House Sparrows with a Chiffchaff in the same bushes. As I walked around for the second time a Grey Wagtail flew onto the ground, a Stock Dove was sat in a tree and several Woodpigeons flew over with a flock of Jackdaws...

  Tuesday again, they seem to come round so quickly. This week we decided to mix it up slightly by starting the day at Herriotts, Chew then visit East Harptree Wood and ending the day back at Chew. Driving to Herriotts Buzzard and Starling were our 1 st sightings, at Herriotts the list started to swell with Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail, Cormorant and Moorhen all seen. 5 species of gull Black Headed, Herring, Common, Greater and Lesser Black Back all present. Also seen were Great White and Little Egret plus Grey Heron. A more thorough search with the telescopes added Shoveler and Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron and Carrion Crow were flyovers. Next on to East Harptree Wood adding Pheasant on the journey. Tuesday was a very misty day and as we drove up on the Mendips it became quite thick and remained the same at the woods hampering our search for birds so much so that only 3 species were found, Robin, Redwing and Woodpigeon, we were hoping to see Crossbill, Siski...

  The 3 Amigos back together this week and as always where shall we go, looking at the local birding sights nothing special had been reported so we decided on Chew Valley Lake as there is always a chance that something out of the ordinary can turn up. On the way to our 1 st stop at Herriotts we started our days list with Starling, Jackdaw, Pheasant and Carrion Crow. On arrival I noticed the large number of Mute Swans although I didn’t count them, there seemed to be many more than you would normally see. Also on the pool were Pintail, Teal, Gadwall, Cormorant and Mallard, and of note was the quantity of Great White and Little Egrets not only in the water but in surrounding trees. Grey Heron was also present.  Grey Heron - Moreton (Bath Birdwatcher) 5 species of gull were also seen with Black Headed, Herring, Great and Lesser Black Back plus many Common Gulls. A single Moorhen was in with the gull flock and a few Shovelers were also seen. Blackbird, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Gr...

  M4 Severn Bridge viewed from Severn Beach (Bath Birdwatcher) Today was the Bath RSPB,s monthly field trip, David was our leader on a visit to Severn Beach and Pilning Wetlands. 19 members met at Severn Beach where Starling, Jay, House Sparrow and Woodpigeon were seen before we strolled to look over the Severn Estuary where the tide was low but coming in. Here we added Mallard, Wigeon, Black Headed Gull, Grey Heron, Oystercatcher, Great Black Back Gull, Little Egret, Curlew and Redshank. On our way to the venue David was driving and we went via Pilning to checkout parking, and we decided that 5 cars could easily park. Back at Severn Beach it was time to move on and next stop was Pilning, so we all piled into 5 cars and made our way to Pilning. At the entrance to the wetlands a stream which takes the overflow from the wetlands into the sea was a good spot to observe all the birds on the riverbank with the tide still rising but lots of mud still exposed and here amongst the many Wig...