Newton Park Lake + Hirundinidaes

Date: 2nd August 2015 - Mid-Afternoon

Location:  Newton Park Lake - Circular (5 Miles)

Birds: 2 Buzzard, 7 Mute Swan, Crow, Jackdaw, Coot, Moorhen, 2 Grey Heron, 2 LBBG, 10+ House Sparrow, 10 Pied Wagtail (2 Broods), 50+ Barn Swallow, 5+ House Martin, Wood Pigeon, 2 Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Goldfinch  - Of Note

Butterflies + Dragonflies: Comma, Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Common Darter, Migrant Hawker.

Mammal: 1 Roe Deer

Observation:  Realised haven't gone out to the Lake for around 4 weeks. Had a quick wander out through the Bath Mill (Campsite) the site is due to open 2 weeks today, so they have cracked on since our last visit and re-surfaced the road, finished planting all the flowers and laying the grass. Particularly quiet wildlife wise through the site due to ongoing work. Onto the Dog Walk a lovely 2-3 year old Male Roe Deer, bounded across in front of us. Moving around a lovely Common Darter perched on dried Cow Parsley.

Around the corner was a Holly Blue, closer than normal (normally Seven Acre Woods). At the Village, there were a surge of Barn Swallows and House Martin's flying around! Mostly this years young all waiting on wires in a line! At the Church, 2 Green Woodpeckers, were heard calling but we couldn't locate. Onto the Lake, still no Little Owls, getting concerned as haven't seen/heard since 16th April, they normally re-appear with chicks around July/August, but nothing yet, hopefully they will re-appear soon! Mute Swan and the 4 cygnets doing extremely well, and have moved to Bottom Lake, we weren't sure why!

Upon walking up to Top Lake, we counted 41 Mallard, but no doubt there were more hidden, it's safe to say the Mallard's have had a successful year this year on our patch!

2 Grey Heron (1 Juvenile) on the Shallows stalking in the mud. We walked back along the College Drive, lots of Crows and Jackdaw about in the fields. At the end of the Drive, we heard a Juvenile Buzzard calling, we couldn't locate him in the trees but Mum was soaring overhead. Back into the Village, we had another look at the House Martin's and Barn Swallows, they were all up this time, lovely to see the skies still full of Hirundinidaes. Perched on the wires we also counted 10! Pied Wagtails, looks like 2 separate broods, most we have ever seen at one time.

Weather:  Blue Sky, Sunny + Humid - 24°

Thanks For Looking !