NSL November roundup

Date: 

November 2020

Location: 

Newton St Loe, Burnham on Sea, Severn Beach

Species Highlights: 

Reed Bunting, Red Kite, Fieldfare, Tundra Bean goose, Long-tailed duck, Great Northern Diver, Snow Bunting & Hare

Observation: 

05/11

With a second Lockdown in the UK, I stayed local and another visit around patch but mainly to see if my Red Kites were still around walking out through Bath spa, lake all seemed quiet with 2 Little Grebe and Teal numbers still low at 5 birds, the walk really came alive once I left the university, the fields past the Football pitches was full of Fieldfare, Redwing & Starling.

Yellowhammer, Chaffinch out through Stanton Prior, on to the summit of Pendown hill and 200+ Common Gull and 150+ Black Headed Gull covering the ploughed fields along with the 15 Buzzard in on-field, my picture pretty poor doesn't do it justice but my best ever count.

 

Down to the Red Kite viewpoint and 2 Kites were on display again, this first picture I'd say was a Male as the tail is straight, not V-shape, as the females have.

The wing tagged bird was not seen today. But we have more details on its origin.

Ringed by Trevor Squire (Shaftesbury Dorset)

Ringing date: 09/01/2019

Estimated age 3, sexing bird was not possible due to overlap zone.

(not sure what this means but seeing bird now V shape tail would suggest female, I think?)

Birds fly happily around the valley perching up on trees and fence post, regularly.

With 21 Lapwing also seen and 2 Red Admiral Butterflies a great walk 100 miles and a count of 51 species.

07/11

Dusted off the Pushbike, rode out to Kites again a very misty day and kept to the roads so limited sightings But 2 Red Kites this time including the wing tagged bird Yellow(NO) 

Although these tags look unsligtly, they are expected to fall off soon, notice v-shape tail, Female.

A very misty day this next shot, believe it or not, is the Sun!!

I cycled home via Priston, Peasdown and Midford some 15 miles.

The Moth trapping is almost at an end for the year but still putting out now and again and still catching a few, this a December Moth.

Palpita vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl or Jasmine Moth)

a Migrant from Europe so a decent moth for my Bath Garden.

08/11
Next, my Inlaws are moving from Burnham on sea back to Bath so took advantage and visited Apex Lake in Burnham to see A Tundra Bean Goose and 2 White Front Geese on the small lake, very tame is an understatment!

Tundra Bean Goose a Lifer!

Juvenile White-Fronted Goose.

Both birds are happy to feed amongst people and take seed from waters edge.

Next after loading the Van up with boxes and items from the Inlaws we took the motorway back and stopped to stretch our legs at Seven Beach, and a Snow Bunting was wandering along the water edge! that was lucky, good old Twitter.

Such a great little bird, lots of people walking past it really didn't care, constantly feeding along the tide line.

A female bird.

zoomed out as bird was coming so close!

10/11

Still, no work for me so nothing else to do other than walk and bird watch!

A beautiful morning blue skies and sunshine and just out of Bath Mill lots of birds singing and moving through, Yellowhammer & Linnet But best of all Reed Bunting 2 birds seen and photographed, new patch ticks

Reed Bunting taking patch ticks to 

106 all-time and 82 this year.

Linnet in the early sunshine

Out past Bath Uni and this Buzzard checking a potential food source, probably not the berries.

A fine view from on top Pendown Hill.

All 3 Red Kites were seen today.

Plenty of Buzzards to cruising in the sunshine.

Pheasant numbers building with Christmas on the way, Boxing day shoot I presume still going ahead.

Weird cloud formations on the way home with Fieldfare, Redwings & Starlings keeping me company.

19-23 11

Bored but stayed in Bath & North East Somerset but drove to Barrow TanksThe Long Tailed duck and Great Northern Diver have returned giving fantastic views made a few visits over a few days from misty to bright sunshine.

He's 4th year returning.

Diver coming to 15 foot of the bank.

With small fish.

Then blue skies totally different light, even the Coots look great!

 22/11

Patch walk again, sorry if it's getting boring.

Patch one day can be full of birds other days full of people, today more people than birds.

Dunnock

Unusualy a Grey Wagtail in the Village.

Church Orchard and a flock of Greenfinch feeding on fallen Apples.

Fieldfare numbers are high with 300+ birds, 150+ Redwing with a record count of Starling 500+ almost a murmuration!!

!0 + Yellowhammer near Stanton Prior along with a good flock of Chaffinch, no Brambling yet.

On around to Pendown and no Red Kites so sat down for lunch got up to l3eave and one sat behind me!

25/11

A very Grey misty day so a few jobs around the house and sat watching the feeders

Very high ISO 3200 for these so a bit noisy, but Goldfinch 25 birds at least visiting our busy feeders.

Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Robin, Dunnock, Grey Wag Tail, Pied Wagtail, Wood, Pigeon, Collared dove, Blackcap and Feral Pigeon all regular birds.

Still not got that killer shot of a Goldfinch wing spread, better light higher shutter needed.

Such colourful birds these Goldfinches.

Something a bit different as well a Leucustic Goldfinch, Jean Tye up the road emailed us to tell us this bird is visiting her too, just shows they do the rounds not sticking to one food source.

26/11

The weather said sunny so I started out early around the patch, unfortunately, the fog was very heavy meaning I'd walked around 2 miles before I could see anything, this looking back towards Bath Spa Uni, Lansdown above the fog.

Top of Pendown hill Lots of Gulls mostly Common and 2 Kites in the normal spot.

As close as I've ever come but head-on into the sun doesn't make a great photo, you can clearly see wing tag (NO)

Took a detour as footpath I normally take has had so much footfall it was very muddy and hard work, so walked across fields towards Willmington and this Hare ran across the field towards me.

Amazing views stopping at 5/10 foot in front of me, checking me out then haring off!

No crop on this image, very close!

Kestrel flying into the now setting sun.

As I neared home the Moon was out shinning the sun.

01/12

Now for today's walk. The top fields were full of Skylark singing in the sunshine a good sound. Into Village and Churchyard, I'm sure not the same one but Fieldfare as usual feeding on apples

 

Lake shut again more tree felling its a wonder there are any trees left!! Top Dragonfly pond surprised to see a pair of Stonechat feeding along the stone wall.

Fieldfare & Redwing in normal trees with 50 Starling (I estimated Starling, they landed on wires so thought I'd check my estimation ... 50 Starling spot on!) A bit further on towards Stanton Prior another Stonechat feeding alongside Yellowhammer and Chaffinch.

While waiting for her to land a Bat flew towards me!

I think it's a Daubenton's Bat, it seems to fly around a few times, of course, I was shooting into sunshine but happy with the result

After all, not often you see a bat at all, let alone daytime.

Pheasant number still growing with 25 + seen today.

No Kites were seen in the normal spot and walked away feeling disappointed thinking that maybe they've gone but next village on and from the treetops Red Kite! 4 weeks now, every time I've been out I've seem them. Ended walk on 45 species, 9 Roe Deer and 11 miles walked.

Wayne Year Bird List: 212
Lauren Year Bird List: 205

Patch Total Stands At 82

Thanks For Looking! 

&

  Thanks For All Your Support!

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

Twitter

Facebook