Spring is Springing

Date: 18- 21  February 2019

Location: 
Wiltshire, Pit 44, Epney, Slimbridge, Eastville Park, Aust, Newton St Loe

Weather: 
Mixed bag

Species Highlights: 
Tree Sparrow, Corn Bunting, Red Kite, Yellow Browed Warbler, Whooper Swan, Golden Plover, Pintail, Tornado, Grey Heron, Red Admiral.

Observation: 
Monday morning Lauren was off work so in order to let her catch up we did a bit of a driving starting with a site in Wiltshire for Tree Sparrow, on arrival we were greeted with 50+ Reed Buntings with Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer covering the trees.

The Tree Sparrows were in their normal spots, everywhere but without cover it was difficult to get closer shots but really excellent to all the bird life.
With around a hour spent our next spot was a short drive to Pit 44 Cotswold Water Park.

The Yellow Browed Warbler which i'd seen a few times now was on arrival flitting up the small stream giving us good views, photographing another story, its such a quick little bird, moving from branch to branch.

 The YBW then flew across road to lakeside and we couldn't relocate but another year tick for Lauren.

Our plan was to head for Slimbridge but dropping into to Epney where some Whooper Swan had been. We parked up near the Anchor Inn and walked along the Severn Way for a short distance and saw the 5 Whooper Swan on other side of the River Severn.

Job done it was time for Slimbridge. Slimbridge is always great but it was half term and it was very busy the car park almost full.
It was just the long staying Jack Snipe to see..... no sign that morning and has not been seen since! As the song goes 3 outta 4 not bad, well nearly.

Flocks of Lapwing, Dunlin across the Dumbles

Filling the skies with birds.

Dodging all the welly boot kids which apparently it was the world championship puddle jumping competition, we walked around to the South Hide a group of Avocet were displaying.

That 4th tick of the day for us both.

Another look for the Jack Snipe and Curlew were flying over the Dumbles, always good to see.

Jackdaw showing how well he can balance, a very underrated bird and stunning.

Back to the Rushy Hide for the remainder of the day, always good to watch the coming and goings.

Bewick Swan, Pintail, Shelduck to name a few that kept us entertained.

A good day was had and we returned home. Wednesday was my next day out and went to Eastville Park in the hope of Dipper or Kingfisher, very little was seen but this Jay sing away to himself surrounded by the many dog walkers.

Quite a few Feral Pigeons were around pond, I chucked a handful of seed down and this rather smart White Pigeon came to feed.

Spent 2 hours looking but to no avail so headed to Aust to see what was about, a single Stonechat near Pilling Wetlands and not much else. 

No Owls but did manage to just about see the farewell Tornado flypast, unfortunately I'd walked down to the new Severn Bridge and the Tornado's decided to fly over the Old Severn Bridge!

40 years of service and a superb plane to watch, a such a great noise!

Thursday and as normal a patch walk with lots of singing Great Tits, Robin, Song Thrush a party of Long Tailed tits up on to Dog Track.

As I entered the small wooded area this Roe deer using his stay very still and no one will see me technique, on walking around the woodland the was still in same spot from the other side.

But a highlight was my first Butterfly of the year!!! It flew in front of me at bottom of the track and I even spotted another, a very worn and obviously overwinter specimen. 

But it means my Butterfly year has started just 57 to go for my 3rd year on photographing all UK species, I'm not including the Irish Cryptic Wood White this year..

Skylark singing, sun shining and Butterflies can't get much better.
But on Top Lake, Grey Herons nesting or at least standing on nest.

Hopefully a better year for them, remember only 2 nests in 2018.

A large group 250+ of mainly Common Gulls and back drive.

So with spring, it seems just hours away, i'll leave you with some snowdrops.

Wayne's Year total= 125
Butterflies = 1
Lauren's Year Total= 120
Butterflies= 0

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Egrets vs Perch

Date: 24/10/2017

Location:
Chew Valley Lake

Weather: Grey Clouds with drizzle

Species Highlights: 
Great White Egret
Observation: 
Went to Chew Valley, Lake Villice hide and spent a couple of hours photographing Great White Egrets, here's the results.

The Egrets constantly catching little Perch.

Mute Swan having a flap.

Not just Egrets a couple of Grey Herons also catching, must be hundreds of small fish in Villice Bay.

Almost feel sorry for the fish!

Little Egrets seemed more successful catching fish of all sizes where Great Whites seem to only take fish of around 6/7 inches.

Such smart little birds.

Needs a pair of goggles, i think!

Another one bites the dust.

So impressive and great to wile away a grey afternoon.

Speared bottom debris and all.

Sun came out a couple of times, unfortunately i had to go!

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Quiet Day on Patch

Date: 22/08/2017

Location: Newton St Loe

Weather: Overcast But Warm

Species Highlights:
Buzzard, Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Bullfinch, Chaffinch.

Observation:
Overcast grey skies not the promised blue & summer day! 
Along through Bath Mill and still very quiet here, up on to Dog Track and could hear a Buzzard mewing, crept around to try to get a view of the bird but it suddenly appeared from nowhere and immediately disappeared into trees! 
Appeared again but much more distant Carrswood side of brook. Flew around a few times, seem to looking for something?

Then perched in Carrswood and sat looking from floor to the skies for at least 15 mins, I left him to it and carried on to fields.

Saw & heard 2 Yellowhammer not singing but alarm calling, the single whistle. Then from above a group of 25 Barn Swallows hunting with 5 Swift in the group. Our last Swift sighting last year was around 18th August.

A very quiet walk out through village and even Send A Cow woodland and by the time I got to lake was only on 25 species!

Billy still on Bottom Lake and only 5 not normal 6 Cygnets plus the 2 adults on top, strange I thought as the cygnets seemed to be doing well? 

I sat and watched the Grey Herons and today it seemed they were the highlight.

While sat watching Mrs Kingfisher landed and started to fish for 5 mins.

The Herons continued to battle for what seemed always the best perch.

This the winner! 
4 Herons on lake and no Little Egret today.

Kingfisher returned giving a slightly better if distant view.

Walking to top end of lake found the other Cygnet on bank away from others, it seemed alright couldn't see any marks and was cleaning, I'll keep a eye on it but I think not good away from mum & dad and such a early stage in its development?

On up to Ponds and a few Common Darters, but again the quietness continued.

Decided Id carry on up to Park Farm to see if there was any action up there this Greater Spotted Woodpecker was calling and getting a return call but couldn't locate other bird.

Their seemed to be larger groups of birds on way up with Crows C50, Jackdaws C30 and at least 150 Wood Pigeons feeding in fields.

With 2 male Chaffinch a bird I'm seeing less and less of on patch this year, worrying. 
4 Pied Wagtail at farm and a large group of Goldfinch about 50 birds, that was my lot apart from another Buzzard circling over 12 o'clock lane.

Spotted these Mushrooms I think they are..... Mushrooms, gone through my mushroom book (Roger Phillips) and not sure!
So returned back into village and normal route home with nothing more to add apart from Rabbits highest count so far 20! They really are breeding like Rabbits, good food for the Kestrel family or Buzzards I hope.
Ended walk after 6.5 miles on 38 species.
                                                                                                                                               

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