Date: 31st July 2017
Location: Newton Park Lake
Weather: Sunny Intervals before Rain Shower
Highlights: 2 Stock Dove, 2 Jay, 2 Kestrel, 4 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Nuthatch, 3 Green Woodpecker, 1 Little Egret, 2 Kingfisher, 50+ Barn Swallow, 25+ House Martin, 9 Swift, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Spotted Flycatcher
Full Species List Here: Spreadsheet
Full Species List Here: Spreadsheet
Observation: As weather looked settled, Finally... We headed out to the Lake. Plenty of Butterflies on the entrance to Bath Mill and on the first set of Buddleia. A single Common Blue on the hill, first of the year, on Patch.
3 Small White, 4+ Comma and 8 Red Admiral on the Buddleia, although Butterflies throughout the walk!
Onto the Dog Walk and Seven Acre Woods, there seemed to be an abundance of Butterflies but not a great deal of Birds present. Just before Seven Acre, 2 Brown Argus perched nicely and the second brood of Holly Blue's are out, although again only 3 seen here.
Just leaving the Crossroads, a Sparrowhawk took off from the floor (possibly drinking from the puddle) and flew through Seven Acre, whilst we waited, it flew back twice more, but far too quick for pictures!
Into the Village, there were more birds, with House Sparrows chirping away and also still plenty of Hirundines present.
The Barn Swallows and House Martins suddenly started doing warning calls and then the Sparrowhawk came zooming through and back over Pennyquick. Only got some poor shots.
Onto the Lake, the single Mute Swan (Billy) still present on Lower Lake along with 7 Mallard.
Top Lake, the Mute Swan family still doing well and all 6 Cygnets now feeding and foraging themselves. 4 Grey Heron present feeding and the single Little Egret also still present and constantly catching fish.
Whilst sat, we spotted the Kingfisher which spent the whole time sat fishing on the reeds, a second one flew through but didn't stop.
We walked to the top ponds, no Little Owl's but 4 juv Spotted Flycatcher seen in the normal place.
On the return, this Emperor Dragonfly landed and started munching on a fly.
We walked back the same way, more Barn Swallow's were resting on the wires and a total of 18 were counted, with plenty still in the air with the House Martins.
A second Kestrel was sat on the wires on the Crossroads.
At the Crossroads, heading back towards Pennyquick, 5 Swift flew overhead, with a further 4 on the junction of Pennyquick.
3 Small White, 4+ Comma and 8 Red Admiral on the Buddleia, although Butterflies throughout the walk!
Onto the Dog Walk and Seven Acre Woods, there seemed to be an abundance of Butterflies but not a great deal of Birds present. Just before Seven Acre, 2 Brown Argus perched nicely and the second brood of Holly Blue's are out, although again only 3 seen here.
Just leaving the Crossroads, a Sparrowhawk took off from the floor (possibly drinking from the puddle) and flew through Seven Acre, whilst we waited, it flew back twice more, but far too quick for pictures!
Into the Village, there were more birds, with House Sparrows chirping away and also still plenty of Hirundines present.
The Barn Swallows and House Martins suddenly started doing warning calls and then the Sparrowhawk came zooming through and back over Pennyquick. Only got some poor shots.
Onto the Lake, the single Mute Swan (Billy) still present on Lower Lake along with 7 Mallard.
Top Lake, the Mute Swan family still doing well and all 6 Cygnets now feeding and foraging themselves. 4 Grey Heron present feeding and the single Little Egret also still present and constantly catching fish.
The Little Egret seemed a bit jumpier today and kept flying back to the tree, we couldn't see any reason why.
Whilst sat, we spotted the Kingfisher which spent the whole time sat fishing on the reeds, a second one flew through but didn't stop.
We walked to the top ponds, no Little Owl's but 4 juv Spotted Flycatcher seen in the normal place.
On the return, this Emperor Dragonfly landed and started munching on a fly.
We walked back the same way, more Barn Swallow's were resting on the wires and a total of 18 were counted, with plenty still in the air with the House Martins.
A second Kestrel was sat on the wires on the Crossroads.
At the Crossroads, heading back towards Pennyquick, 5 Swift flew overhead, with a further 4 on the junction of Pennyquick.
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