Newton-St-Loe Birding: Corn Bunting

28 January 2020

Short Eared and Tawny Owls

Date:
15th-28th January

Location:
Marlborough downs, Somerset Levels,Newton St Loe, Chew Valley

Weather:
Blue Skies,sunsets, hail, grey overcast, wet.

Species Highlights:
Short Eared Owl, Red Kite, Corn Bunting, Bearded Reedling, Tree Sparrow, Tawny Owl, Starling, murmuration

Observations:

15th January I headed to my favorite part of Wiltshire for my fix of Tree Sparrows and Short Eared Owls, I was not disappointed!
Corn bunting sat Singing, Yellowhammer, all greeted me on arrival.

But a sudden and not forecasted hail storm made everything disappear but after 20 mins the sun shone through and Tree Sparrow appeared.

Tricky to get close too but happy to get a few shots.

From There I headed up on to the Marlborough Downs for some Owl action, Kettle on and a sandwich before we saw any but 5 or 6 eventually showed well.

Hunting across the fields in perfect light for a change.

Such great birds always a treat to watch.

Catching mostly voles, this one mantling its lunch.

People gathered on the hills all having great views.

On the 19th Sunday Me and Lauren went back up, It was very different with cars, dogs and walkers everywhere. We walked around looking for some action and came across 4 Red Kites just chilling in the afternoon sunshine.

The Shorties did show but no where near as well but we were very happy to watch them.

Even if some people didn't even notice them!

We waited till sunset and it was worth the wait!

20th Monday we headed down to Ham Wall and Shapwick, no sign of the Firecrest or Yellow-Browed Warbler but this Chiffchaff showed well.

Great Crested Grebe feeding well on Perch , i think.

Looking splendid in winter plumage.

while looking for the YBW a group of birders spotted this fine chap, not often we get to see a Tawny Owl in the Daylight.

He sat for most of the day here by Avalon hide.

With the sunshine even got my first Butterfly of the Year a Red Admiral, just 58 to go!

From the hide 3 Marsh Harrier cruised past always distant.

A coffee then we walked over to Shapwick for the main attraction the Starling murmurations.

A slow start to the show tonight but soon there must have been 500,000 plus in the skies above.

Count that lot!

Lauren took these pictures, a great job!!

No real patterns but we did see Peregrine, Marsh Harrier, the Starling soon went down to roost was a amazing sound.

Once down to roost the skies turnned orange and red a perfect end.

21st January was the first full patch walk for me, it started with a heavy fog making visibility down to 50ft birding was tricky! Once at the Lake happy to see the Whooper Swan was still present, Little grebe, Tufted Duck also still about.

The resident Mute is starting to chase our Whooper, has been seen by someone this week to fly off but has since returned, i'll check in on him this Thursday.

Really pleased to see a Marsh Tit at the top of top lake, just the one,a bit scarce around these parts.

From the misty start the light was stunning by end of walk and good to be back on patch.

ending first full patch on a 39 count.

Weekend off work as we visited Lisbon Portugal 23rd-26th, a few good birds will do a blog soon.

28th

Headed down to Chew Valley to a wet grey Hide at Stratford Marsh Harrier, Black Necked Grebe and 2 Bearded Reedling showed, light was awful.

Once I got home and warmed up noticed on the feeder tree at home 4 Bullfinch 3 Male and 1 Female again light bad so just a record shot of this stunning male, will try harder!

Wayne Year Bird List: 105
Lauren Year Bird List: 100

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24 March 2019

March round up

Date: 1st March - 24th March

Location: Slimbridge, Weymouth , Lodmoor, Radipole, Severn Beach, forest Of Dean, Newton St Loe.

Weather:
Alsorted ending with Spring!

Species Highlights:
Lesser Yellowlegs, Brambling, Lesser Scaup,Sparrowhawk, Spoonbill, Corn Bunting, Ring Necked duck, Marsh Tit, Wheatear, Chiffchaff.

Observation:
Been a bit bit busy of late so really just a catch up of our travels in March so far.
4th March a trip to Slimbridge.

Pintail's from the Rushy hide always great to photograph.

A close up snipe.

Black Headed Gulls looking splendid.

I always like trying to photograph the Jackdaws, so quick, I like a challenge.

11th March we headed down to Weymouth. Lodmoor first and plenty to see.

The single Spoonbill stayed distant, shame.

But the Dunnock didn't !

Amazing feather detail.

After a couple of hours we headed around to Radipole and finally we saw the Ringed neck Duck my 4th attempt.

Not as close as we'd like but a year tick all the same.

Not much else about we headed but to Lodmoor and the Spoonbill was on the move.

The almost resident Lesser Yellowlegs showed extremely well in the excellent light from the west path.

The leucistic Ruff flew past not to be left out.

Not forgetting the Black Tailed Godwits.

But the LY looked great.

A beautiful Sparrowhawk.

Chiffchaff arriving now too.

On way home dropped into Maiden Castle not a bad spot for Corn Bunting.

A large flock of Golden Plover there too.

13th March just me and I headed to Forest of Dean, not a bad day managed a few year ticks.

Always showy the Nuthatch.

Saw a couple of Marsh Tits.

18th March stayed home managed a few on my feeders.

20th March Blagdon Lake and a Lesser Scaup was showing, distant but nice to see.

Headed to Severn Beach after Blagdon and was not disappointed, Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and...

A super Wheatear, i'll take that tick !

On way home met up with Allan Chard in Eastville Park managed to spot this great little Goldcrest, posted picture on Twitter and Facebook it went wild with 252 likes 30 comments on Facebook and twitter 91 retweets- 584 likes- 13 comment , one of our best tweets ever!!

I posted the comment. "Punk rock anyone? Goldcrest singing Anarchy in the U.K. I think "

Seem to go quite well !

Eastville park has got it all Kingfishers and Dippers.

23rd March Few more from our tree, Lauren this time.

Today 24th March
Headed up to Bath University to see if we could find the Brambling that had been seen, Lovely to see this Nuthatch enjoying the Spring Sunshine.

We found, Lauren found , the Brambling and they show quite well.

Darted to Blagdon for Lauren to tick the Lesser Scaup, it took some finding but we did. On way home popped into Newton St Loe for a WEBS count, very glad we did. Brimstone and Comma were seen, in fact 8 Comma, 4 Peacocks and 1 Brimstone plus Bee Flies.