Mute Swan - Cygnus olor

Date spotted: 25th May 2012 - 2.30pm

Location: Zones 1+2

Observation: A great days walking with lots of action ! First we spotted our first Banded Demoiselle, Dragon Fly. Then on upper lake the carp were spawning and further up Mute Mum with cygnets on nest, in photo mum shielding little one from sun  aahhh! Then spent an hour watching grey Wagtails and Spotted Flycatcher (didn't think could get much better) Watching what we thought was a Kestrel flying around the field, it turned out to be a Sparrowhawk, coming in to kill a Blackbird sat on telegraph pole, missed the Blackbird by inches!

Weather: 25 Degrees, Sunny, Hazy but clearing up as day went on.

Other Species: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard and Ducklings, Mute Swan with Cygnet x2, Starlings, Grey Wagtail, Robin Fledgling, 2X Spotted Flycatcher, Goldfinch, 1X Sparrow hawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Pheasant, Chaffinch, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Barn Swallows, House Sparrows, Jay.

Tawny Owl - Strix Aluco

Date spotted: 17th May 2012 - 12pm

Location: Newton Park Lake - Zones 1,2+5

Observation: Tawny Owl sat in same perch as last post, flew off after a few minutes. Little Owl, sat in same row of trees on the lake, kept flying around to different trees due to builders around. 

Weather: Cloudy, Very slightly cold due to wind.

Other Species: Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Magpie, Grey Heron, 1X Little Owl, 1X Tawny Owl, Crow, Jackdaw,Jay,Buzzard, Blackcap, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, Pheasant, Robin, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Barn Swallows, Swift, Mute Swan, Coot, Mallards (+ Ducklings), Wren, Green Woodpecker, House Sparrow, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Whitethroat, Fox.

 

Marsh Harrier - Circus Aeruginosus

Date spotted: 8th May 2012 - 3pm

Location: Ham Wall + Shapwick Heath

Observation: Sat in the hide overlooking the two Marsh Harrier nests. Watched the Harriers for over thirty minutes hunting and feeding. Came within 150 feet of hide before flying to  Noahs Lake to feed second female in a third nest.

Weather: Light Rain, Overcast, Warm

Other Species: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Crow, Jackdaw, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Cettis Warbler, 2X Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Grey Heron, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard and ducklings, Great Crested Grebe, Comorant and young, Mute Swan, Bittern (in flight and heard booming) , Cuckoo (possible on way down), Swift, House Swallows, Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Starlings.

 

Chew Valley & Cheddar Reservoir

Date spotted: 6th May 2012 - 2pm

Location: Chew Valley & Cheddar Reservoir

Observation: A great day at chew valley lake with a Barn Owl hunting and a Wheatear sunbathing. Then down to Cheddar a Common Sandpiper, Curlew flying and calling over reservoir also Pied and White Wagtails !

Weather: Cloudy, Dull, Some Sunshine

Other Species: Wheatear, Barn Owl, Coot, Mallard, Mute Swan, Swallow, Swift, Buzzard, Kestrel, Common Sandpiper, White Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Curlew, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Song Thrush,

Reed Bunting, Peregrine Falcon

For more photos go to:

Sparrowhawk - Accipiter Nisus

 

Date spotted: 2nd May 2012 - 1pm

Location: Newton Park Lake/Seven Acre Wood - Zone 1,2+5

Observation: Male 'Sparrowhawk' sat in puddle, walked towards him, he flew off and landed in nearby tree (shown in picture). 

Weather: Cloudy, Some Wind, Warm

Other Species: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Blackbird, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Sparrowhawk, Long-Tailed Tit, Buzzard, Skylark, Crow, Little Owls, Grey Heron, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Barn Swallows, Starling, Collared Dove, Pheasant.

 

Barn Swallow - Hirundo Rustica

Date spotted: 1st May 2012 - 7pm

Location: Newton St Loe Village - Zone 1+5

Observation: Flock of around 25 'Barn Swallows' collecting mud for nests.

Weather: Blue Sky, Sunny, Warm

Other Species: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Crow, Jackdaw, Goldfinch, 25+ Barn Swallows, Pheasant, Chaffinch, Wood Pigeons, Blackbird, Greater Black-Backed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Long-Tailed Tit, Magpie, Skylark