29 April 2012

Barn Swallow - Hirundo Rustica



Date spotted:
29th April 2012 - 3pm
Location: A quick wander - Zone 1+ a quick drive to Saltford Shallows
Observation: Group of ten to fifteen 'Barn Swallows' feeding low over the flooded field. Found five Swallows sat on fence, captured with 55mm lens!
Weather: Light rain, localised flooding, Cold due to wind.
Other Species: Barn Swallows, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Crow, Mute Swan, Mallard, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 1X Green Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackbird.
 

24 April 2012

Tawny Owl - Strix Aluco



Date spotted: 24th April 2012 - 1pm 
Location: Newton Park Lake - Zone 1 +2 
Observation: First time ever seeing a Tawny Owl in this area. Tawny Owl sat in low tree, flew off when I walked a little closer. Best picture I could take due to distance away.  
Weather: Cloudy, Some light Rain, 12c. 
Other Species:
Magpie, Crow, Jackdaw, Buzzard, 1X Tawny Owl, Linnet, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Mallard (now only 2 ducklings, were six!), Jay, Leser Black-Backed Gull, Barn Swallow, Wood Pigeon, Green Woodpecker, House Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Mistle Thrush, Wren.

23 April 2012

Peregrine Falcon - Falco Peregrinus








Date Spotted: 22nd April 2012 - 4.30pm.
Location: St John's Church, Bath.
Observation: Watched the 2 adults and 1 youngster from last year hunting. Currently have three eggs in the nest box which are due to hatch in the next few days! 
Weather: Quite cold due to wind, Cloudy but sunny.
Other Species: Grey Wagtail, 3X Peregrine, Greylag X Canada Goose, Blue Tits, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Pigeons, Pied Wagtail, Mallard.
 


17 April 2012

Mistle Thrush - Turdus Viscivorus


Date spotted: 17th April 2012
Location: River Avon Loop - Zone 3+5
Observation:  Mistle Thrush was spotted feeding after light rain shower in local field. This is the first one seen since June 2011! Also seen the first Kestrel hovering in flight since Feb 2012! 
Weather: Blue sky slowly changing to overcast and light rain. Cold due to wind.
Other Species: Kestrel, 1+ Mistle Thrush, Skylark, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Mute Swan, Barn Swallow, Mallard, Buzzard, Crow, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock
 

16 April 2012

Magpie - Pica Pica



Date spotted: 16th April 2012
Location: Newton St Loe - Zone 1+5
Observation: A male magpie sat feeding some homemade fatballs. Local magpies are currently building a nest opposite the feeder tree.
More barn swallows have now arrived (Approx. 10).
Group of at least 40 wood pigeons feeding in grass field. 
Weather: Blue sky slowly changing to overcast. Quite cold due to wind.
Other Species: Great Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Buzzard, Crow, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Pheasant, Linnet, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Jackdaw, Yellowhammer, Blackcap, House Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Chaffinch, 2+ Chiffchaff, Skylark.

10 April 2012

Common Lizard - Lacerta Vivipara




Date Spotted: 10th April 2012 - 1PM
Location: Newton Park Lake- Zones 1+2
Observation: Two 'Common Lizards' (Possibly one male and one female).
Sun-basking on usual log.
Weather: Blue Sky, Sunny, Warm
Other Species: Wood Pigeons, Crows, Jackdaws, Green Woodpeckers, Pheasants, Little Owl, Blue Tits, Great Tits, 1 Barn Swallow, House Sparrows, Mute Swans, Mallards (+7 Ducklings), Heron, Coot, Grey Wagtail, Linnets (Male + Female), Chaffinchs


5 April 2012

Mute Swan - Cygnus Olor




Date spotted: 4th April 2012 - 2PM
Location: Newton Park Lake - Top Lake - Zones 1+2
Observation: Male 'Mute Swan' protecting Female in nest by chasing all wildlife off the lake!
Weather: Cloudy, Cold and Light Rain.
Other Species: Great Tits, Robins, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Dunnocks, House Sparrows, 1X Little Owl (Male) and Mute Swans



Little Owl - Athene Noctua




Date spotted: 1st April 2012 - 4pm
Location: Newton Park Lake - Bottom Lake - Zones 1+2
Observation: Male + Female (Female pictured, spotted hunting) Sat watching for around 15 minutes, Male landed in the tree to the right a few minutes later.
Weather: Sunny, Blue Sky, Warm
Other Species: 2X Little Owls, Goldcrest, Wrens, Dunnocks, Grey Herons (one sat in tree, other in flight over lake), Great Tits, Blue Tits, Mute Swans (sat in nest), Mallards (swimming around with 6 ducklings).