A Snowy WeBs Count

Date: 19th March 2018

Location: Newton St Loe

Weather: Snow on Ground, Cold Wind but Sunny

Species Highlights: 3 Hawfinch, 1 Blackcap (M), 15+ Siskin, 4 Fieldfare, 35+ Redwing, 1 Treecreeper, 9 Song Thrush, 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Goldcrest, 40+ Meadow Pipit, 3 Buzzard, 1 Jay, 4 Yellowhammer, 27 Stock Dove, 35+ Goldfinch
WeBs Count: 4 Mute Swan, 13 Mallard, 5 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 23 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Black-Headed Gull

Full 42 Species Count Here - https://goo.gl/q9xrq3

Observation: Out through Bath Mill as normal, plenty of snow still on the ground, so quite a few little birds about. Robin, Dunnock and Blackbirds mostly, along with some Goldfinch, using the Brook to have some fresh drinking water.

Entering the Dog Walk, we heard a drumming Greater Spotted Woodpecker, a little unusual for here.

Up over Seven Acre Fields, it was pretty quiet, as the snow cover was alot deeper with drifts along the Lanes. No Yellowhammer seen along the track today.
From the Lookout over onto Globe Fields, the Stock Dove were still present in the corner a count of 26 seen. 2 Buzzards also seen.

Into the Village, again fairly quiet, with only a single Jay and some House Sparrow seen.

By Send A Cow, there were quite a few Meadow Pipit feeding around the Sheep and on the snow free grass.

 We checked out the Heronry, as the Heron's had been nest building over the last few weeks, no sign of any Heron's today but a few nests although full of snow!

A single Stock Dove landed in the tree behind us, which was nice.

As we couldn't get out due to the snow yesterday, we done the WeBs count today.


Bottom Lake, was very quiet for the WeBS count, with only 1 Moorhen, 1 Mute Swan (Billy) and 2 Mallard.

Although a good count of Siskin in the Alders along the Lake, we counted at least 15.

Top Lake, the 3 Mute Swans still present, although the Cygnet is being chased off alot now, a low count of Mallard only 13 seen, 3 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 23 Teal, 1 Grey Heron and 9 Black-Headed Gulls. Also 1 Little Grebe (as per Anne, which we must have missed).

Onto the Keep, to search for the Hawfinch, after a short wait, one flew across the tree's and landed where we found a further two, taking the total to 3! 

A poor shot of them here!

Back along the College Drive, the wind was bitter so nothing spotted.

Back through the Village, and along the Lane, 4 Fieldfare spotted in the tree's, also heard up to 4 Yellowhammer calling along the Lanes.

Lastly back in Bath Mill on Sunnybank, a further 5+ Meadow Pipit feeding on the grass, nice to see them so close to home!

Local birder, Anne, also had the above count along with Little Grebe on Top Lake and a count of 50 Fieldfare!

There were high counts of Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Robin on the walk today.

Back at Home, our pair of Collared Dove were present and the Male Blackcap who has been visiting for a few weeks was feeding.

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A wake of Buzzards on patch

Date: 27/02/2018

Location: Newton St Loe + Weymouth

Weather: -1 at least cold wind, some sunshine.

Species Highlights: 
Buzzard, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Stock Dove, Lapwing, Redwing.

Observation: 
After yesterday's trip to Dorset for the Ross's Gull, a failed attempt, more on that at end of blog, i thought I'd catch up with my patch. So gloves, hat and a few layers of clothing on as "The Beast from the East" the so called cold front is moving in and blimey it was a bit cold out there. 
Out through Bath Mill and not much going on but on the dog track track spotted 3 distant Buzzard circling above.

On to fields and farmer ploughing field 200+ assorted Gulls were mopping up the worms and grubs being uncovered mainly Black Headed but Lesser and Common Gulls also Rook, Crow and Pied Wagtail amongst them.

Above and in hedges around field counted at least 10 Buzzards, brillant to see.

Good to see the different plumages and colours.

A few let me get a couple of shots off, more intent of looking at the other Buzzards than looking at me.

Leaving them to it and continuing along byway Linnets and Yellowhammer in normal places.

while sprinkling some seed noticed a group a birds above 7 acre wood 35 Lapwing! Took a few out of focus shots, last Lapwing on patch were 23/11/2017 so really good to see, they didn't land just flew east and out of site.

On lower fields a large group, i think largest group i've ever seen of Stock dove at least 25 birds. 
Carried on into village with not much to add to list.
apart from a pair of Grey Wagtail on the waterfall by lakes.

On along to lakes and fishing lake Ice free but top lake 1/2 frozen, tried some Lettuce with the swans, Rspb recommends in cold weather, Billy and top lake family just looked at it confused! 
luckily i also brought seed and bread, they seemed to like bread more than seed, special treat as it was cold. While feeding noticed a single egg on last years remains on the nest? very strange, don't think it gonna hatch,Ice surrounding it.

 I've contacted Swan Watch for advise, I'll update when i know.

Great to see Hawfinch still about, saw 2 birds male + female being their normal hard to see and photograph.

Greater Spotted and Green Woodpeckers seen on walk.

Lots of Rook around Patch.

Along with 35+ Redwing and a single Fieldfare, same bird i'm sure in end of drive orchard.

A good but cold walk ending on 43 species not a record breaker but another patch tick with Lapwing taking us to 63 species for the year.

Weymouth-Portland Bill

Now that trip to Dorset for the Ross's gull or not. Me and Lauren started early but as it turnned out 10 minutes too late!! Allan left earlier and got the Ross's gull at Lodmoor, the early bird get the Worm! Think we were 4 minutes behind and missed it, all day that was the pattern with this tricky gull, here's a few photos of our day.

While waiting for the Ross's at Radipole.

Did see these beauties at Lodmoor later.

2 birds present.

 Gotta love a Spoonie.

Quite a few Snipe dotted around Lodmoor too.

A few Black Tailed Godwit.

Even went to Portland Bill and Castle saw Red Breasted Merganser, extremely cold wind blowing.

Back to Lodmoor hoping Gull would return, Grey Heron had his tea, we then left and even popped in to Bowleaze Cove where at least 500+ Med and Black Headed gulls were going to roost and probably the Ross's Gull but alas we didn't see it, another day maybe.

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First 50+ species of the year

Date: 21/02/2018

Location: Newton St Loe

Weather: Starting sunny ended misty grey, cold

Species Highlights:    Spreedsheet
Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Yellowhammer, Blackcap, Greenfinch, Stock Dove, Linnet.
Observation:  
Headed out patch at around 10am, out through Bath Mill and up on to fields. 
A Bullfinch pair on feeders and a quizzical jay as i left my front door. 

Skylark up and singing in the sunshine along with a very mobile Linnet flock difficult to count, 2 groups today as a Sparrowhawk kept buzzing through the flock.

While watching the Linnet and Yellowhammers had 3 Stock Dove, 
later I saw 2+1 at other end of lakes. 

Yellowhammers being on guard from the Sparrowhawk attacks.

Seemed to be plenty around today with Blue, Great, Long Tailed and Coal Tits singing in almost every tree. Also Song Thrushes singing. 
Saw a large groups of gulls from the Trigpoint down on Globe fields mostley Black Headed Gulls but could also see Lesser Black Backed and Common Gulls feeding along University Drive. While making sure there were Common gull i walked along drive and surprised to see 8 Grey Heron along the brook.

One was even on last years nest although last year Heron's on nest by 01/02 so a bit later this year.

While scanning lower lake for Siskins spotted this, Red Kite high over head but first of the year.

Was heading out towards Newbridge and Bath, but takes patch ticks to 62 already!
Just looked at last years history and on the 12/02/2017 Red Kite , amazing 9 days in it.

2 Grey Wagtails on fishing lake, plus Billy.

Top Lake Cormorant on normal tree all the regulars came to my seed, Teal number dropped a bit to 50.

7 Moorhen plus mating Coot. 
While chatting to a nice lady dog walker( i know!) she mentioned on Saturday she saw a Little Egret, nice to hear, I will not count, like to see with my eyes first.

Lots of Goldcrest singing and Nuthatch in yews trees surrounding lakes but no Hawfinch seen but think i heard 1 by keep.

Meadow Pipit back drive only 6 birds seen, a fly past in village of a female Kestrel. At horse fields cottage 4 more Yellowhammer but could be a group from top fields.

Another Male Bullfinch also here. Got home and a male Blackcap was on our feeder tree, seen female also over the last few days. 
At walk end 52 species, the first of many in 2018 I'm sure, the spreadsheets looks great with the first part almost a tick in every box!

Thanks to everyone i spoke to today, it was a good day.

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