From Wilsons Phalarope to Great Bustard

Date: 

September- October 15th

Location:

Somerset Levels, Chew Valley Lake, Cheddar, Newton St Loe, Keyhaven Marshes, Sailsbury Plain.

Weather: 

Mixed Bag

Species Highlights: 
Grass Snake, Cattle Egret, Kingfishers, Spotted Redshank, Hobby, Lesser Yellowlegs, Hedgehog, Wilson's Phalarope, Grey Phalarope, Great Bustard, Red Kite, Hen Harrier.

Observation: 

Took a wander down to the Somerset Levels mainly to see the Spotted Crake, which had been seen from there, but the Car Park was full, so many people, I normally go and 2 or 3 cars maximum, I took the decision to avoid the Island Hide and walked around to other hides. Spotted this tiny Grass snake, must have been newly hatched5/6" inches long, and my first time of seeing a Grass snake in the UK.

Bearded Reedling, Bittern, and Great White Egrets were seen and heard as I walked around the reserve, I returned back to the Island hide where the crowds had now gone sat in the hide for an hour but no sign of the Crake.

Plenty of Common Darter along the Path back to the car park.

The following day me & Lauren visited Chew Valley Lake, from the hides we had Spotted Redshank, Lesser Yellowlegs plus other Waders and lots of Great White Egrets. Taking Lauren to her #200 bird of the Year and her first time of achieving this!

We left the hide and tried for the Cattle Egrets, it didn't take long to find them and had great views.

6 Birds fed amongst the Cattle.

Amazing to see so close and they carried on feeding while we watched.

Thursday I did my normal patch walk, 3 roe deer were wandering up the Byway from Bath Mill, I continued to walk towards them and they disappeared into the hedgerow.

Meadow Pipits and Skylark on top fields but not much else to report, until the Lake where not one Kingfisher or 2 but 3 Kingfishers, these 2 I think were Juveniles seem to be fighting and at one point disappeared into bushes with frantic calling and wing flaps.

Then the rain started, the top lake has been almost empty, with Mallard numbers very low also Herons seems very sparse this year, maybe the University works have had something to do with this? ...Well Yes !!

Cormorant braving the rain shower.

Walking back home this Kestrel was searching for food in its normal spot. 

We've had reports of 3 Barn Owls this year hunting regularly too, we popped out and saw one almost immediately a great sight, almost dark so no pictures, unfortunately.

While watching the Kestrel I saw 2 Stonechat catching flies. First of the year.

The following Monday we went to Cheddar, Red Crested Pochard, and Red Necked Grebe were seen, all a bit distant for our 400mm lens, on the way back it was Chew Valley again. Spotted Redshank

Kingfisher Landed briefly in the front hide but the pool was so low it flew off after a photo stop.

From our home feeders, Goldfinches have brought their young, and Goldfinch wars have started!

Blue tits were wondering what all the fuss was about!

Not much going on so Chew Valley again 3 Grey Plover from Stratford hide.

Was very surprised to see a very late Hobby fly past.

Was a good day even got a picture of the distant Lesser yellowlegs....just!

Still doing moth traps but weather not playing ball but still getting a few autumn/winter moths, more on a special blog soon. Our Hedgehog has returned, looking weel.

A few days previous to the 12th October a Wilson's Phalarope was found at Keyhaven Marshes so a lifer for us both we had to go for it! After a 2 hour drive our twitching limit we arrived and a short walk later it was inches in front of us.

So close, Phalaropes just don't seem to care.

Keyhaven is a great reserve and well worth a visit, Black-tailed godwit plus many other species were seen.

Almost forgot 2 Grey Phalarope also there, coming as close as they do!

Peregrine Falcon too scaring the Waders from the estuary.

Stonechat along the path back to the car park and while photographing this one a real treat popped up.

A Dartford Warbler, in perfect light and perfect pose.

at least 2 seen and could be heard calling.

Redshanks also, it was a fabulous day and one to remember.

14th October I went for a walk on Sailsbury Plain, looking for Great Bustard, I had a tip-off.

Found the Compound and was happy with my view from Byway and continued to walk up checking out the many Jackdaw, Crow & Rooks with Stonechats and Red Kite to accompany them.

Then spotted A Great Bustard stretching it'ds wings giving me great views of these massive birds.

A real treat, the light could not have been better.

Buzzard, Kestrel were common along the path.

I moved on to another spot and saw a bird that I knew wasn't a Kite or Buzzard and when I got home to edit images found it was a Hen Harrier, ring-tailed! my first since 2014 Norfolk. Purely a record shot.

While chatting to a Bee Farmer not Bee Keeper he was adamant about this! This Red Kite hovered into Sunlight but over our heads, I stopped talking and started to take photos.

He was still talking, no ideal what about as the Red Kite was a beauty!

To finish the day just got a view of a tree sparrow, saw many more but very flighty.

A bit of a jump on the birding totals my best and Laurens best-ever year.

Wayne Year Bird List: 209
Lauren Year Bird List: 203

Patch Total Stands At 80

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5th - 8th November Roundup

Date: 5th 8th November

Location:
Lansdown, Slimbridge, Mendips, Newton St Loe

Weather: 
Grey, mostley overcast

Species Highlights: 
Spotted Redshank, Great White Egret, Greater White Fronted Goose, Raven.

Observation: 
Heavy rain on sunday so Monday was first day i could get out , not many birds about so went on the hunt for some shrooms, Lansdown nr. Bath
After the rain i thought they'd be a few more Mushrooms and fungus around but hard to spot. Did see these Lovely Dead Man's fingers.

Not sure of name for these? I walked around Brockham End and Pipley Woods at Lansdown and got very wet in searching so afternoon popped into to Chew Valley.

Went to Villace hide and very little on show, this Spotted Redshank was feeding briefly before it flew to other side of lake.

2 Great White Egret were squabbling over territory.

This Great Black Backed Gull had found something, but after a few attempts to eat it then wash  it in lake he left it alone, I also Left hoping for better tomorrow.

I went through the online sighting for somewhere to go but nothing new was close enough to visit so headed up to Slimbridge.
Had hopes of the Bittern showing as it had been doing from the Zeis hide but a 2 hour wait produced Common Crane & Golden Plover. It was a bit grey but liked the back drop, the golden autumn tree of Wales.

Golden Plover were being spooked by i think Peregrine which i failed to see.

The Flock of Barnacle Geese also looking good.

From the Rushy hide Pintail were cleaning and feeding.

Such a stunning bird, Teal just in shot almost in sync.

European White-fronted Geese are starting to build in numbers on the Tack piece.

Looking nice in the very brief Sunshine.

Almost time to go and popped into the Rushy, a few photographers chatting and taking snaps of Mallards, I spotted and was the only one to see this encounter with a Jackdaw and Sparrowhawk, The Spawk out maneuvered the Jackdaw to fight another day.

Rain was heavy Wednesday Morning but afternoon a few dry hours, headed to Stockhill wood on the Mendips for another soaky Mushroom hunt, was amazed at the amount of birds moving through woods, Goldcrest, Coal tits, Long Tailed, bullfinch even heard from above Crossbills calling, had small lens on so no pictures but great to watch. A few more mushrooms about. 

Common Puffball closeup.

Someone had been through woodland picking and kicking over most of the Waxcaps and others but managed a few nice shots.

Thursday morning and i overslept, normally get out 10:30 11 am but it was 12 before i ventured onto patch( working nights not  lazy, well I Am but!) 
It all seemed very very quiet even our feeders were empty of birds. Top fields a few linnet was all of note. Spotted a few Mistle thrush in the treetops, this one in normal tree by church yard.

Apart from Mallard, Moorhen and the single Jen the  Swan the highlight was 2 Cormorants perched on dead tree top lake.

The woodland walk looking spectacle.

Walked back along drive to the sound of the Raven Calling.

Rook, Crow and Jackdaw feeding in numbers in fields either side of drive.

Last week had a good count of 45 species this week seeing this kestrel when almost home ended walk on 34 species, I did see a Peacock butterfly but here's hoping for better in next few weeks. Thanks to all our readers hope you enjoy. :)

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