NSL catch up with Pied Fly, Peregrine, and Slavonian Grebes

Date: 04-12 April 2018

Location: 
Newton St loe, Cheddar, Kingsgate Park(Yate)

Weather: 
Mostly grey apart from Cheddar which was totally blue.

Species Highlights: 
Slavonian Grebe, Peregrine Falcon, Pied Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Sand Martin, House Martin, Barn Swallow.
Observation: 
Another round up of the week, first off a garden tick while getting the washing in off line eagle eyed Lauren spotted a Peregrine Falcon above garden, I ran in, got camera and managed a shot. This was on the 4th.

5th April Blue skies were forcast and the Slavonian Grebe was still at Cheddar so headed down.
Almost in same spot as my previous trip but looking so much better with the sun on its back!

Great Crested Grebes looking spectacular too.

 Last one of this little stunner.

Next a patch walk a grey day but me and lauren had high hopes for something special....Not much going on, top lake really low looking prime for a wader but almost empty of wildfowl. We did manage a sighting of the Little Owl.

At Keep Greenfinch and still Hawfinch saw 6 birds into the 4 month now.
Apart from a few Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcap that was it until village where we spotted our first returning Barn Swallow, within a week of previous years.

A bit of decorating and next free day was 11th a very grey and damp day so headed around patch again, Linnet numbers good 150+. Yellowhammers have dropped a bit but lots of corvids feeding in the Yellowhammer spot so may have moved. Another Peregrine flying into 7 Acre wood getting a bit more frequent. I
Into village and no Barn Swallow was hoping to see a few more, soon i hope.

Lake still very low despite lots of rain, it appears slice gate still wide open 8 Grey Heron 2 nesting on top lake instead of Herony.

Billy has a friend at last!! last years cygnet from top lake has finally been driven off and has joined him, names for the nameless female on a postcode please.
The Swans top lake have made a second nest, no egg yet.

No Hawfinch seen but workmen doing path up to keep so lots of noise. Greenfinch still in yews though.

Very grey misty skies but John Hurt the Buzzard seems to have found a mate and was displaying while she looked on from a vantage point.

7 acre in mist but Linnet, Yellowhammer, Stock Dove and Wood Pigeons in the specs along with Jackdaw & Crows. Ened my walk on 43 species.

Today the 12th and the has weather not changed still misty and grey but a Pied Flycatcher had been showing at Kingsgate Park in Yate never been before but a cracking little place with lots of birds on show. Walked around small lake and soon found the Pied Flycatcher.

Also my first Willow Warbler of the year.

After a couple of hours and getting freezing cold, April! I thought i'd head down to Chew to see if the Osprey which was reported in the morning, no it didn't show but plenty of these hawking over the lake.

Sand Martin.

These of the Dam at Chew, think we're gonna need a bigger aerial!

Just didn't have the light, terrible setting but great to watch and looking forward to the warmer months and better light. 
That's the lot, till next week, I hope a few butterflies about as its suppose to get warmer finger crossed 

Thanks For Looking! 

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