Whooper Good Week

Date: 
28th - 31st October

Location:
Westhay, Lords Wood, Stourhead, Newton St Loe.

Weather: 
Mostly Grey, Drizzle

Species Highlights: 
WHOOPER SWAN (on Patch), Bearded Reedling

Observation: 

With a few Bearded Reedlings showing on Twitter, thought it was time to try again, my failed trip a couple of weeks ago, after a hour or so waiting a single male showed nicely on the boardwalk.

Always aiming for them to be on reeds rather than boardwalk but alas he popped up and disappeared in to the reeds not to be seen again.

Walked around Reserve stopping at the North Hide, 5 Great White Egret were to the left of hide including this bird, ringed in Somerset, May 2016.

Grey skies and no light but this Marsh Harrier came fairly close to hide.

While watching I spotted a Bittern distantly out in front, always a treat.

Leaving the reserve I drove around the back along North chine Drove, a group of 5 Cattle Egrets we amongst the cow, as they do.

Nothing happening at Chew Valley lake on way home but stopped in Lords Wood for some mushroom foraging.

Amethyst Deceiver

A few macro shots but not many mushrooms or fungus about.

Puffball

Shaggy Inkcap

The reason I dropped in was the Magpie Inkcap a new fungi for my list.

Wednesday popped over to Stourhead parked in King Alfred's car park and wandered down to Stourhead following footpath you can get in for free but a 6 mile walk is required.

Think I may have missed the best of it, and it was full of kids, half term. 

Still a lovely afternoon was had, blue skies would have been better but you cant have it all.

A walk back to van, no shrooms to snap.

Thursday and as normal patch walk, grey skies and drizzle and not mush to see until church where 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker were drumming.

A very empty Bottom Lake apart from the Kingfisher.
 On approaching the Top Lake I spotted a 3rd adult swan weird, I thought then seeing the yellow bill, couldn't believe it!

It then left the far bank and swam across lake. It was a Whooper Swan all the way from Iceland and above.

The male Mute didn't seem bothered by it either.

I took quite a few photos after sending the news out to other patch birders.

No rings on bird

This bird take our patch ticks to 103 birds.

  
2 Cormorants, Kingfisher, 6 Mute Swans, Coot, Moorhen plus 9 Grey Herons around lake and 15 or so Mallard were also present.

25+  Fieldfare and 40+ Redwing were over looking the lake we others around the grounds.

But the star was the Whooper Swan and with 5 other birders watching the Swan was a great day that couldn't get much better, you'd think!

Walked up and around top woodland stopping at the Keep and heard 2 Great White Egret flying over! Two ticks in the same day amazing!!

They didn't land but it all counts.

Our Patch count now stands at 104 Species, who would have thought it, and I wonder what the next tick will be??

Wayne Year Bird List: 198
Lauren Year Bird List: 185

Thanks For Looking! 

&

  Thanks For All Your Support!

If you enjoy our blog's, why not follow us on our social media:

Twitter

Facebook