Cattle Egrets, Fungi & Newton St Loe

Date: 
11th - 17th October

Location:
Longham Lakes (Again) Westhay, Stockhill Woods, Chew Valley and Newton St Loe.

Weather: 
Torrential Rain, Some Sun

Species Highlights: 
American Black Tern, Great White Egret, Cattle Egret, Yellowhammer.

Observation: 
Lauren now recovered and back to birding, so after missing the Tern at Longham another trip was required, weather forecast was not good torrential rain was on the cards and unfortunately they didn't get it wrong! 
Shortly after walking to the Lake and seeing the American Black Tern it poured down making pictures a bit tricky.

At least Id ing bird was easy enough showing much greyer under wings
than the Black Tern.

After getting back to van a White Rumped Sandpiper was on show at Lodmoor and 40 mins later we were checking out the scrapes and chatting to others birders telling us it had flown beyond view. We waited, the rain was now drizzle but no further sign, of course the next day it was on show!

Back at home we have scaffolding up and the Collared Doves taking advantage.

Lauren back at work, I'd decided to pop down to Westhay for some Bearded Tit action... 2.5 hours later no Bearded Reedling, heard but none seen. Still plenty to see.

Great White Egret.
 A Otter was seen just feet away from where I was standing, yep missed it, I'm destined never to see a Otter I think.

Macro lens in bag and spotted these Wasp collecting wood for their nest.

Never seen this before, more advantages of a Macro lens.

Really ripping up the hand rail.

Also along the rail a few Common Darters braving the conditions, by the end of October all the remaining species of Dragons will stop flying, Common Darter and Migrant Hawkers the last one on the wing.

2020 Going hope to see a few more species of UK dragons, a big push!

Still early and Stockhill wood on way back so dropped in to see some Fungi, me being a fun-guy, sorry!

Bonnet

Yellow Staghorn

Fly Agaric

Puffball

Earthball

Candlesnuff Fungus.

Not sure on this one?

Cup of coffee then on to Chew Valley to see what was about, this Pied Wagtail plus the normal Ducks and Swan not much else but their were Cattle Egret on Heron Greens Bay  but flew towards Villace, so I followed them.

Parked up and Cattle Egrets

 The Cows started to walk over to me, but I thought the Cattle Egrets would come too...

A bit closer but I was now surrounded by cows, I made a retreat, but a good day.

Thursday and my Patch walk day, started by walking through  Bath Mill with plenty of Robin, Blackbirds singing along brook, a real lack of Goldfinch, Blue and Great Tits today?

Up on to fields signs of autumn starting to show well

Magpies scanning the now empty fields for food.

Other Tits lacking but Long Tailed Tits in good numbers on most of the walk.

A single Yellowhammer in its normal spot, last one was one month ago, they seem to be getting very scarce.

Quiet on walk through village apart from Rooks, Crow and the always present Jackdaw.

Bottom Lake, nothing not a single bird but Top Lake a bit better 2 Cormorants looking splendid against the autumn backdrop.

Not much else of note but the Stanton Prior Buzzard again showing well.

Wayne Year Bird List: 195
Lauren Year Bird List: 183

Thanks For Looking! 

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