Chiffchaff, Skylark, Meadow Pipit's.. Summer Has Arrived!

Date: 26th March 2017

Location: Newton Park Lake > Haycombe Cemetery

Weather: Blue Sky, Warm and Sunny!

Other Species: Highlights - 8 Feral Pigeon, 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 8 Yellowhammer, 1 Jay, 1 Kestrel, 6 Buzzard, 12 Skylark, 14 Linnet, 5+ Goldcrest, 3 Nuthatch, 4 Green Woodpecker, 3 Coot, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Grey Heron, 16 Teal, 1 Cormorant, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Treecreeper, 12 Meadow Pipit, 6 Chiffchaff
Full List Here - Spreadsheet

Observation: Both me and Wayne doing the patch today, we headed out via Bath Mill, with the normal birds on show, Goldfinch, Great Tit's, Blue Tit's and Wood Pigeon. Onto the Dog Walk a singing Chiffchaff and some Long-Tailed Tit's were seen.

Walking on up to Seven Acre Woods, a fly-over Grey Heron was in search of the River Avon or Newton Brook, very unusual to see flying over the fields!

Plenty of singing Skylarks and fly-over Linnet and Meadow Pipit's were boosting our count!

Numbers of Skylark increasing nicely with 12 counted on Seven Acre Fields!

Whilst Wayne was photographing Comma and Brimstone Butterflies a distant Buzzard and Kestrel came into view but didn't stay around long after being mobbed by Crow's!

Through the Village was pretty quiet with no sign of Barn Swallow's or House Martin's just yet. 6th April our earliest sighting on the patch, wonder if this is going to be beaten this year! Plenty in the country already!

Send-A-Cow fields empty with no Corvid's about, maybe pairing up for nesting. At the Covert plenty to see, Nuthatch and more Chiffchaff singing away.

Only 3 Grey Heron at the Heronry today (all on nests), number has dropped significantly since last visit, hopefully they boost again!

At the Lakes, Bottom Lake was quiet with 3 Mallard and some feeding Jackdaw, this one flew towards me to pose for the camera.

Top Lake, a few students about (ignoring the footpaths and sitting on the water's edge!) but lots to see, 3 Coot, 1 Little Grebe and 2 Tufted Duck still present!

Female Teal being disturbed, but made some nice flights shots!

Pair of Tufted Duck

A single Cormorant having a good old preen in the sunshine!

Whilst talking to some fellow bird-watchers, we spotted this Iridescent cloud, caused by ice droplets or small water droplets, great looking cloud!

A brief view of this Treecreeper, a flight shot (sort of!) in the woodland.

We went up over Home Farm and down past Pennsylvania Farm today, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Pied Wagtail, and some Collared Dove and Meadow Pipits, kept boosting the numbers.

Back up along Haycombe Lane, was pretty quiet again, some more Crow's, Jackdaw's and Lesser Black-Backed Gull's were the best until....

6 Yellowhammer were seen in the hedge-line towards Pennyquick, a nice end to the walk!

Finished on a 44 species count, not bad for a 6.5 mile walk!

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2 Shoveller ! 3 Wheatear !

Date: 04/09/2016

Location: Newton St Loe -Patch

Weather: Cloudy grey skies

Other Species: 
Song Thrush, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, White Pigeon, Coal Tit, Wheatear, Yellowhammer, Buzzard, House Martin, Spotted Flycatcher, Barn Swallow, Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Green WoodPecker, Mistle Thrush, Raven, Shoveller, Starling

Observation:
Opened front door and a Song Thrush on door step didn't hang around but nice to see so close, headed out in to Bath mill and all the resident species about. But then up to Seven Acre fields and a familiar sound a Wheatear !! On looking spotted a further 2 more making 3 total, Year Patch list now stands at 79. 
Last time i saw Wheatear on patch was Home Farm so being so close to home cool !

Being so close to home doesn't mean close picture, very flighty !

Carried on across fields motorbikes on byway, car dumped on crossroads and a dumbass in jeep drove straight across cornfield !! Giving me a heart attack, normally so quiet !
But anyway checking out lower fields by Globe pub 2 Buzzards plus 2 White Pigeon don't think i can count those as a different species ?
On into Village and lots of House Martins around 50+ buzzing about fewer Barn Swallows although still a few down by send a Cow numbers @ 20. House Martins still in nests too.

On out to Lakes and a large group of Mistle thrush at least 30 birds feeding with Green Woodpeckers also, at upper lake this Roe Deer came wandering down to feed about 40 ft from me ! 
Rspb have checked out the single Mute Swan and upper lake the other 6 swans including 4 Cygnets and 2 parents seem to spend more time on lower lake leaving single cygnet on upper, apparently he's got a dodgy leg but RSPB says he's fine . Seems to be doing ok, i'll keep a eye on him.

While chatting to a responsible dog walker !! i know didn't know there were any right ! But after they walked off check lake one last time and 2 Shoveller appeared!! 1 male and 1 female, Excellent so a Year and New Patch tick ! the 89th and this years 80th tick.

Flying about a bit not really settled but cracking all the same.

Adult male on the moult.

Brilliant news, so on out through the very quiet College with no students, not for long, there back next week and a single Spotted Flycatcher on the big cedar opposite manor house. At the Security house i spotted a Hare.

The above shot was about 10 ft from him ! took a few more and he decided to dart off but first posing a little more. A few more Buzzard and i was home a great walk today. 

Off to Mallorca tuesday so hope to get some new ticks .
Stay tuned !

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10% Chance of Rain. Mmmm

Date: 28/08/2016

Location: Newton St Loe - Patch

Weather: Drizzle with some Brighter Patches

Other Species: 
House Martins, Barn Swallow, Buzzard, Jay, Green Woodpecker, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Cormorant, Treecreeper, Song Thrush, Coal Tit, Bullfinch.
34 Species

Observation: 
Headed out on Patch walk and it almost immediately started to drizzle! Thats not 10% chance of rain!! But out through Bath Mill not normal stuff Blackbirds, Goldcrest and Robin.
 2 Jay's squawked overhead and disappeared in trees so carried on up to fields very little apart from Wood Pigeons, fields have been cut now so easier to see things if there was anything which there wasn't!
Into Village and House Martins first seem to be buzzing about over Newton Farm Shop with smaller numbers of Barn Swallows, I thought other a good number of House Sparrows picking up grit from road.

Think this one didn't like his photo being taken!

Carried on down through Church with numbers building of Hirundinidaes, then at Send a Cow wires almost full!!

I'd estimate about 70 House Martins plus equal numbers of Barn Swallow. A great sight to hear and see, I wondered if they are amassing here ready to leave?
 Normally they sit on wires up by Newton Farm Shop? 
It's getting very busy up at shop now. 

On down to lakes and still 7 Cygnets (Mutes) done well this year but no new waterfowl apart from... Cormorant! Juvenile? Plus....

Adult sat high in normal tree.

 From here marched on home dodging a few more Showers of rain! 10% yeah right!!
Just before home a Juvenile Green Woodpecker sat before yaffling off.

When I got home Bullfinches on tree so here's a few shots of the family.

They seem to have done well this year, still up to 5 birds at once on feeders. 

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A Drizzly Patch !

Date: 21st February 2016

Location: Newton Park Lark - Circular

Weather: Cloudy, Light Rain, Some Wind

Other Species: Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Long-Tailed Tit, 15+ Blackbird, 2 Jay, Goldcrest, 5 Skylark, 2 Mistle Thrush, 60+ Redwing, House Sparrow, 9 Grey Heron (Nest Building!), 5 Siskin, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Goosander (3 Male, 1 Female), 1 Cormorant, 18 Teal, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Coal Tit, 150+ Starling, 2 Stonechat, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Collared Dove, 5+ Pied Wagtail, 2 Bullfinch - Of Note - 43 Total Species

Observation: A drizzly start to the walk, but it didn't stop the birds! The walk started with a single Greenfinch, a good count of both Great Tit, Blue Tit and Goldfinch on our feeders. On the entrance to Bath Mill, there were the normal fly-overs of Crow, Magpie and Lesser Black-Backed Gull's along with a single Blackbird. A Jay fly-past was nice to see, not seen one since 2nd January on the patch. 

Onto the Dog Walk, a sudden surge of Wood Pigeon, 200+ took to the air for a few minutes and settled in nearby trees, largest count on the patch! Another fly-past Jay was seen, Goldcrest, Wren and Dunnock also seen in full song.

At the Village, 3 Blackbirds, 1 Redwing and House Sparrow feeding on some berries.

At 'Butterfly Alley', we spotted some Grey Heron in the tree, upon going closer, there were a total count of 9 Grey Heron, where a few were nest building, hopefully we should get some chicks this year!

Back on 'Butterfly Alley' a small group of 5 Siskin were feeding in the Alders before flying overhead. Lower Lake produced the resident Kingfisher (Male).

Top Lake produced 4 Goosanders (3 Male + 1 Female), 1 Cormorant, 18 Teal and 1 Little Grebe.

We sat for a few minutes on the grass lawn of Bath Spa University, best here were 2 Nuthatch 1, Greenfinch and 1 Coal Tit.

Back along the College Drive, another Goldcrest calling nearby and a large flock of 150+ Starling and a few Redwing, who were feeding in the rain.

On 'Horse Fields' the pair of Stonechat were still present and the a single Yellowhammer in it's normal garden. Another flock of 50+ Redwing with the single Fieldfare still present feeding in the rain.

Finished the walk with 2 Collared Dove and 2 Bullfinch on our feeders. Takes our total to 43 species, not bad for a drizzly walk!

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From Rubble to River !

Date: 05/08/2015

Location: Patch Walk; River Avon + Carswood 

Weather: Mostly cloudy with a chance of meatballs :/ 

Other Species: Whitethroat, Buzzard, Cormorant, Kingfisher, Swift, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Mistle Thrush.

Observation: Headed out through Bath Mill, coming to a end now but still full of Workmen, Cleaners, Diggers, Lorries and Vans, they are still planting including wild flower seeds and Buddleia all good stuff for Butterflies next year !

But headed up towards Dog Track, saw 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Pheasants. Up towards Crossroads on byway could hear Buzzard calling and calling couldn't see, headed on along lane and 2 Buzzards soared over head Mewing like a couple of cats !

  After scurrying along side of Seven Acre, a few Butterflies Mainly Gatekeeper, Small White, Peacock. Heard the screeching of 2 Swift, 10 House Marting and 30+ Barn Swallow, Watched a while then headed on round field 2 Whitethroat hiding in bush.

Just before Globe pub Flushed what must have been 150+ Wood Pigeons, feeding on stubble.

Crossed the new crossing, Nice, much easier! And down towards Railway Arch just through on the left 2 more Whitethroat's Left this picture big ,Well camoed eh !

Saw a Black Tailed Skimmer and a Kingfisher briefly but on stopping for a breather this, I think, Emerald Damselfly Perched. 

Apparently first found in this county 2009 ! No its a Banded Demoiselle female ,Doh !

These Buzzards live Keslton Park and often give a better show than Seven Acre Buzzards

Around 500ft from me at this point separated by the River Avon.

On way back looked for Clouded Yellow Butterfly, last 2 years around this date, but not today.

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November 5th The Levels

Date: 05/11/2014
Location: Westhay-Shapwick-Ham Wall 
Observation: Headed to Westhay as i thought a quiet start to the day, car park almost full and a coach there ! But on wandering round reserve i only see 5 people !
There were 2 Cettis singing away on walk down to hide with nothing from hide, looks like they've cut reeds very recently. A Few Dragonflies about mostly paired up.

On Drive to Ascott Corner in Field 5 Egrets feeding, Parked up and headed along to Noahs and Ham Wall, Scrape Bear ! Noah hide full ! So surveyed the the lake from bushes all distant so walked over to Meare Heath Hide A Gang of Long Tailed tits Abushed me on way  Blue,Great TIts And a Goldcrest in flock.

Its a Goldcrest ! You know what there like !

       Some Pretty Shrooms Outside Hide

Flyover Cormorant @ Meare Heath

 Also a Stonechat got to hide, thinking 5 species before i leave, opened shutter nothing !! Sat for about 10 mins still nothing then a lone cormorant landed followed by Gadwall, Teal, Kingfisher and Coot popped out then a Marsh Harrier ! Followed by Cettis, Moorhen to end Mute swan flyover nice. Now to Ham Wall on way back a Great White Egret was on Scrape with 5 snipe.

 Ham Wall saw Marsh Harrier from new Tor Hide with another Great White Egret.

Distant But !!

With the sun starting to set headed home happy, I'll be back soon for Starlings !

On drive home in field A39 Coxley at least 10 Buzzards on ground feeding on ploughed field .

Greylag Geese Over Noah's

Weather: Blue Skies - Cloudy + Cold

Other Species: 2 Marsh Harrier, 15 Buzzard, 2 Great White Egrets, 5 Snipe, Goldcrest, Cettis, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Teal, Gadwall, Cormorant, Stonechat, Jay, Mute Swan, Kingfisher, Little Egret, Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

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