It's been a While, but back on Patch

Date: 07/06/2017

Location: Newton St Loe

Weather: Windy to start warm

Other Species: 
Bullfinch,Buzzard, Grey Heron, Cygnets, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Stock Dove, Grey Wagtail, Jay, Swift, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Whitethroat.

Observation: 
Such a long time but been so busy with this Butterfly obsession !
Which is going well with 32 of the 59 species ticked.
But on to patch today and as normal out through Bath Mill and along brook with all the regulars about  but seemed a bit quiet. Up on to dog walk and 2 Meadow Browns took flight from the very long grass,that was my 32nd tick! Not expected was trying to concentrate on birding today but a tick  is a tick. 

Buzzard and Skylark heard on fields with so much foliage on the trees made it difficult to see anything, even fields had wast high crops of wheat but carried on up towards seven Acre where all was very quiet , though wind was blowing a hooly !
Whitethroat could be heard and managed a distant picture.

While watching 3 screaming Swifts came over the hedgerows and my lighting reflexing manage to get a couple of flight shots.

Into village a it seemed no Barn Swallows or House Martins but soon the sky started to fill with them, although numbers do seem lower than previous years with 20 Barn Swallow and only 15 House Martins. 

The House Martins were still building nest ! when i went away on 14/05/2017 they were building then with not much progress ?

Grey Heron Next with the Herony disappeared into the foliage could just see 3 and one on brook and a further 3 on upper lake , so i guess a successful year with at least 6 juveniles seen, with more obviously gone or fledged .

More newcomers on the top lake with the resident pair of Mute Swans & 6 Cygnets with unfortunately one unhatched egg, but all looking good .

 Also Coot in larger numbers with at least 7  birds seen plus nests.

Thought i saw a dragonfly buzzed past me but this excellent Hornet posed. 

Looking scary !

I walked on up to small ponds to see if any Dragons were about and sure enough Broad bodied & lots of Damselflies plus a couple of Emperor were on ponds.

Alway amazes me , look at that !

Walked back return route with not much more to add to list finished with a few more butterflies, first Large Skippers of the year on patch plus Common blues and more Meadow Browns on Sunnybank.

Next targets Large Blue then Lake District Pictures to follow, fingers crossed!

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The predator

Date: 13/04/2017

Location: Newton St Loe

Weather: Grey and cold

Other Species: 
Buzzard, Kestrel, Skylark, Kingfisher, Barn Owl, Grey Wagtail.
All species

Observation: 
No Butterflies today as Grey skies and quiet nippy out so decided on a patch walk, Through Bath Mill not a lot apart from Wren, Blackbirds and Robins so on up to Fields and this very Pale Buzzard circling with another, not the normal buzzard but have seen this one far end of Bath Spa before.

Down on through village and church with a few more Chiffchaffs, a couple of Willow Warblers and also Blackcap in Send a Cow Woodland. 
A walk along to Herony and a distant Kingfisher which i've not seen for a month! Not a bad shot as i was so far away ! The Herons doing ok 5 on nest but no little pterodactyl yet !

Saw 4 Grey Wagtail today, 2 Waterfall and 2 far end of lake 2, love the male, great little birds.

At lake had to speak nicely to a Dog walker, telling him about the Swan attack and put your fricking dog on a lead ! It seems they just can't read, well 80% anyway, he did, then said i know you you're on tele aren't you ? I answered yes i'm Simon King and he wandered off, smiling !
But while munching my apple 2 Lesser Black backed were on patrol and heard a commotion a managed to pick up camera then watched the gulls pick off one by one the Ducklings.

 The Mallards of which there were 2 broods and 12 Ducklings in total, were soon whittled down to 7 ducklings :( sad, but you can't blame the gulls.
We've all gotta eat !

I once watched a herring gull hoover up 5 Moorhen Chicks right in front of me while i floated up the River in my canoe, the moorhen came right along side me for protection but this didn't stop the gull! 5 all alive !

After lunch....More Blackcaps and Nuthatch calling all around lakes and this great little Goldcrest of which there were at least 5 in one tree.

Mute Swan still on nest, covering the eggs so still not sure how many eggs.

While feeding the Male Swan Mrs Mallard and the lone survivor came down my end of lake, hope he makes it !

Blackcap singing loudly but a bit shy, not really showing well.
Counted 4 in Send a cow Woodland on way back.

Nothing much in Village on way back through, apart from our resident Barn Owl, still not seen hunt this year. This taken from 2 fields away as not to disturb him.
Ended walk on 45 species. 
No Swallows or Martins and no Bullfinch today on walk and on Feeders ?

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The Barn Swallow Have Arrived

Date: 04/04/2017

Location: Newton St Loe - Patch

Weather: Sunny Spells but Grey

Highlight Species: 
Barn Swallow, Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Stock Dove, Blackcap,
 Grey Wagtail, Raven, Kestrel, Buzzard, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler.
Full List

Observation: 
Out through Bath Mill and a few Chiffchaff along brook with the usual Mallards, not nesting in tree this year and have been joined by another male showing interest.
Blackbird number quite high as well. On to Dog Track and 3 Bullfinch with Coal Tits feeding in trees.

Despite the grey cloud and cold wind this Peacock Butterfly sheltering on path with at least 12 Skylarks singing all the way up track to crossroads. Also our first flyover Barn Swallow spotted, flew in the direction and over Seven Acre woodland and was a pleasure to see! 

2 Yellowhammer seen, plus Buzzard overhead. Into Village, no Barn Swallows on wires yet but not long now. Church Yard always good for Goldcrest and Wren, this Wren was so loud! 

Singing his little lungs out!

On down past Send a Cow and Chiffchaff number doing well with a couple of Willow Warblers too. Grey Herons still at 4 nest, but 6 birds and still no sign of that Dipper. But did see another Barn Swallow over Corston feeding.

On to Lakes and Bottom Lake still bare and Mallard numbers low. Swan having mated Sunday, now in protective mode chasing everything on lake, but was happy to come to me for some seed!

Nest in normal spot and getting bigger every day.

Blue Tits, Nuthatch, Great Tits all prospecting for holes of which there are many dotted around the Lake.

Chiffchaff number beating all records ended walk on 16!

And also collecting nesting materials.

At least 4 in Send a Cow Woodland on way back with a few Blackcap, not showing as well. Always hiding, but singing nicely.

But Chiffchaff showing everywhere.

While walking up towards Farm Shop spotted this handsome chap!

There were 2 Harris Hawks, they belong West of England Falconry and were being trained, Stunning birds! Photo-shopped handler out :) 

Saw them on Thursday, had a Barn Owl then, will keep but eyes open for more of these!

Grape Hyacinth growing in Village a great looking plant.

A few Pied Wagtails on Horse Fields and a overlooking Kestrel, She wouldn't let me get close and veered off of pole as I got closer.

Almost home and heard 2 Jays squabbling and a singing Willow Warbler also good to hear one sing, just to confirm its wasn't another Chiffchaff!

Ended walk on a respectable 47 species not bad at all and a lovely day was had by me!

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46 Species of Birds, 2 Mammals + 8 Species of Butterflies....

Date: 2nd April 2017

Location: Newton Park Lake

Weather: Blue Sky, Sunny and Warm!

Other Species: 2 Willow Warbler, 10+ Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 8 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 4 Stock Dove, 3 Grey Wagtail, 8 Treecreeper, 8 Nuthatch, 4 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Skylark
Full List of Species

Observation: Beautiful sunny skies again, so headed out to the Lake in the hope of some new butterflies. Into Bath Mill and plenty of Bee-Fly (Bombyliidae) about even managed a few shots whilst Wayne was photographing his first Orange-Tip of the year!

On up to the Dog Walk, plenty of singing Chiffchaff high in the tree's.

A suspicious looking bird landed a bit further around the Dog Walk, behaving different and although we didn't hear it sing, we have both agreed on Willow Warbler, moments later chased off by a second! (Happy to be corrected)

Plenty of birds enjoying the sunshine today!

The second of many butterfly species today, a Holly Blue! First of the year and another one ticked off already!

Crossing over into the Village, we seen 2 more Holly Blue resting.

We also spotted Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell at this point but no pictures just yet! Then.... walking through the Churchyard, a single Speckled Wood flew past us but didn't stop, another one down!

Through the Workshop Covert, the tree's were alive with singing Nuthatch, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff and Blackcap (Wayne got better pictures of this)

As we approached the Heronry, we looked back after hearing shouting, a watched the local farmer heard his sheep across the road with help from his well trained dog!
Never seen this before!

The Heronry numbers, still down, only 4 birds seen, with 3 birds on nest, hopefully they should rise soon! We did see and hear 4 Stock Dove in the same tree also.

Plenty of Buzzards overheard all day, a total of 8 seen including this one.

At the Lake, the normal species were about, unfortunately no Tufted Duck or Little Grebe seen today but our resident Mute Swan's were seen mating, and also have 2 possible nests around the Lake this year!

The single Cormorant in it's normal tree also.

Back to butterflies, more of the earlier species seen, but finally a Orange-Tip (Male) perched next to us!

Leaving the Lake a single Male Chaffinch was posing nicely for us!

Plenty of Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Song Thrush and Goldcrest around the Lake today.

We walked along the Brook, but no sign of the Dipper which was spotted a few days prior, but we will keep looking! Returning to the Village and we counted 6 Rabbits enjoying the sun in the nearby fields.

We ended the walk on 46 species of birds, 2 species of mammals and 8 species of butterfly!

A few more butterfly pictures:

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