Hawfinch at Bath Spa University

Date: 

Location:

Weather: 

Species Highlights: 
Yellowhammer, Linnet, Bullfinch, Teal, Hawfinch

All Sightings

Observation: 
Beautiful blue skies greeted me today and a patch walk was a must, out through Bath Mill with first sighting 2m 2f Bullfinch great to watch, carrying on up on to fields and Skylark, Linnets and a greater number of Yellowhammer with at least 30+ birds seen around the Trigpoint, my seed seems to be drawing them in, i've just put in another order of seed so i'll try to put a bit more down to see what happens, birds still very flighty but i'm sure i'll eventually get some great pictures of them.
On out in to Village 2 Fieldfare around still in the Church orchard.

Managed a few shots, not many apples left.

Fewer Redwing also about, total walk 7 birds only. 

But on towards lakes saw 4 Grey Heron on brook, Billy still bottom lake with a fleeting fly past from the Kingfisher. Top lake all the regulars happy to receive my seed. Water levels dropping nicely, hope they forget to shut sluice gate, might even get some waders !!
Teal numbers have hit a record 48 birds counted twice and verified by Robert who also counted 48 !!

Onward to the Keep and hopefully Hawfinches, its was really nice to see so many birders around patch, since i reported the Hawfinch i've seen more people on patch than the previous 10 years combined. 
It didn't take too long to get a glimpse of 5 Hawfinch but they didn't land and disappeared, it seems 20-25 mins and they come back to feed so i waited patiently. Then the same group came in to feed.

In the Blue skies amazing to watch them, and to help others also see them was even better. 

10 Greenfinch also in trees by Keep. While waiting for Hawfinch a massive group of mainly Black Headed Gull but a few Common gulls flew towards Lake and eventually landed on lake, never seen so many on lake. 
Picture doesn't do it justice but trust me lots of gulls!

I tried to locate where the Hawfinch were going but only saw them around keep.

Met Robert who within minutes spotted 2 birds in yews, nice spotting skills! 

A few shots and  i had to depart,  i'd been stood there for nearly 2 hours! 

Headed on home not seeing much else but ended the 7 mile walk on a respectable 46 species.
Nice to meet all the nice people today.

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17 Hawfinch!

Date: 2nd January 2018

Location: Newton Park Lakes

Weather: Cloudy, Light Rain and Windy

Species Highlights: 4 Coal Tit, 2 Bullfinch, 15+ Greenfinch, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Raven, 1 Kestrel, 21 Yellowhammer, 1 Buzzard, 26 Meadow Pipit, 15 Starling, 31 Common Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 24 Teal, 1 Goosander, 1 Treecreeper, 24 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 17 Hawfinch

Observation: First patch walk of the year planned after the rain had stopped, we received a tweet from Glen and a text from Robert, letting us know the Hawfinch were present and in large numbers.

We grabbed our stuff and left rushing all the way out the Lakes, it was raining so not alot about until the Globe Fields, still large numbers present mostly Black-Headed Gulls and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls today. We spotted 1 Yellowhammer in the normal bush, then they kept arriving with a final count of 21 in the hedgerows sheltering from the wind/rain.

On arrival to the Lakes, we spotted Robert/Anne and the rest of the BOC.

As the rain was stopping we slowed down after a chat with the BOC. Bottom Lake had 2 Mallard, 2 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron and Billy (the Mute Swan).

Top Lake, had 3 Mute Swan, 34 Mallard, 3 Moorhen, 24 Teal, 2 Grey Heron and a single Goosander (Male), there was a earlier Female Goosander, but not present once we arrived.

Walking around to the top of Top Lake, we heard some Hawfinch and seen a large flock fly into the top of some distant tree's. Most of them were Greenfinch with only 2 Hawfinch amongst them, after some pictures we headed to the Keep, to find the remaining numbers.

There were a few different flocks which would keep flying to nearby tree's, the first flock settled in the tree next to the Keep, but they were another flock of Greenfinch with a single Hawfinch.

After about 20 minutes of walking back and forth searching the flocks, we finally tracked down the Hawfinch flock!

Although not the full count in pictures, we got a confirmed count of SEVENTEEN Hawfinch! 

They landed a few times mixed with Greenfinch, but a count of 17 Hawfinch, was amazing and has more than tripled since the 26th December. A total of 15 Greenfinch counted also.

As we were leaving a few Hawfinch popped up in the tree's behind the Keep and were feeding on the tops.

We are both VERY happy and will keep checking back with them to see if numbers grow further or even stick around.

We walked back along the College Drive (both smiling away), a small flock of Starling were feeding in the fields, with Rooks, Jackdaw and Gulls (mostly Common Gulls)

Back into the Village, with the light fading, there wasn't alot spotted apart from the resident Kestrel and some Redwing.

A small flock of Meadow Pipit ended the walk on a steady 49 species. A superb walk and a great start to the year!

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Nsl WEBS count walk

Date: 12/12/2017

Location: Newton St Loe

Weather: Blue skies to start, Frosty then overcast  and grey

Species Highlights: 
Goosander, Teal, Fieldfare, Redwing, Greenfinch, Song Thrush.
Observation: 
Started off as the norm through Bath Mill with plenty of Robin and Blackbirds, up onto dog track and a single Roe Deer stood hiding behind this twig!

At Apple trees on dog walk at least 10 Blackbirds mixed with Redwing feeding on the few fallen apples. Up onto fields and a mixed flock of Meadow Pipit 30+ birds with Linnet around 20, some landing distantly, the backdrop is Lansdown Crescent.

At the Globe lookout a large group of Wood Pigeon took to the skies around 150+ with 2 Yellowhammer and assorted Tits also.

On into village and in house opposite shop Redwing feeding on berries with Fieldfare over.

Some even let me get a few pictures!

So much choice for this Redwing, but overall not many berries around patch, especially Yew berries, very few about. Anyone else noticed this ?

Fieldfare were either hiding behind branches or into the now fading sun.

Or in the dark in Church yard Orchard, almost the same shot as last week.

But plenty of Turdus around today numbers were: 
40 Fieldfare
 30 Redwing
 7 Song Thrush 
3 Mistle Thrush
14 Blackbird

WEBS count at lake and really pleased that at least one Goosander stayed around, with Teal numbers on the rise with 19 birds present also 3 Cormorant in high fir tree.

heres full count.

The very smart male, hope he has some company soon.

On out through College and along back drive lots of Corvids around with a single Meadow pipit overhead, plus this Pied Wagtail.

This distant Buzzard hunting, watched him dive into grass only to fly off empty clawed.

Plenty of House Sparrow at Newton Farm shop and at horse fields a single Yellowhammer.

 The skies had turnned grey and overcast now so light was awful, but still nice to see this little yellow chap.

My count for the walk was pretty good at 45 species just missing a few common species to get to that elusive 50 count. 

Just before home this Grey Heron flew over the top of my house, must have been feeding in brook, i doubt my pond would give him much to eat!

Met some very nice people on walk today, always nice to chat.

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The Return + catch up

Date: 03/12/2017

Location: Newton St Loe

Weather: 
Grey, ending with some blue much warmer. 

Species Highlights: 
Goosander, Teal, Fieldfare

Observation: 
Headed out through Bath Mill with Brook and even fields very quiet, apart from Blackbirds on dog walk near apple trees, as of other years at least 10 birds with a couple of Redwing. Also here 1 male & 1 Female Blackcap, hidden in trees so couldn't get picture.
Into village and mostly quiet too,farm shop seemed busy with BMW, Mercedes and Audi all checking out the bargains! 
A few more chaffinch in village and at church yard orchard Redwing, Fieldfare, Blackbirds and Robin feeding on fallen apples. All very jumpy.

All keeping a eye on me, took me 15 mins of keeping still to get these shots!

A lack of Jackdaw numbers today, numbers normally into the 30-50 but today i see on Avonbirds blog, large numbers at Marksbury so could explain where ours were, Rook and Crow numbers the same as usual here. 

Down on to lakes, all number rising with some new additions, 3 Goosander have returned. I'm really pleased to see them back and hope the numbers rise into the 20's as they have previous years.

7 Teal plus Mallard numbers into the high 30's all regulars present apart from Little Grebe who seems to come and go, all looking good for next WEBS count.

Bit of older news

Was getting ready to go to work on the Friday 01/12 and had a phone call from Robert Hargreaves and Anne, WOODCOCK present on patch a few words and my coat was on camera in hand, i drove to village and ran down to Fisherman's carpark where i met them both, the Woodcock went down under tree towards security office. I ventured into field to look under tree, Robert had his camera pointing in case i flushed it. I found a hare almost stood on it! 

Then all of a sudden the Woodcock flew straight at Robert and Anne, No Picture!! It Flew past and disappeared over bottom lake never to be seen again, i did search for 30 mins but nothing. But a great bird to get on patch. 

This takes our Patch record ticks this year to 85 species and all time patch count to 94.

On the 30th November i went to Slimbridge, Freezing cold but blue skies for some parts and some great birds .

Curlew

 The Water Rail showed extremely well from the Willow hide.

Little Stint saw 3 birds but always very distant.

The funniest thing i've seen in ages was this Hooded Merganser, he caught a monster fish then the decided someone was chasing him, there was no one chasing him! He continued to splash his way across the pen with his prize wedged in his jaws......

Once he made dry land he dropped it!
 But continued to run then swim, another bird did eventually pick it up, and eat the fish. The Merganser didn't quite know what had happened to his prize,  The glory comes from the chase anyway, Lol.

The Buffleheads looking fantastic in the sunshine.

The last couple of hours i spent in the Rushy hide where Bewick's and the light were perfect!

Shelduck, Pintail were entertaining me flying in front the hide against blue skies.

A brief visit from this Buzzard made all rise to the skies and panic.

Golden Plover one of the species that took to the skies, looking golden in the sunshine.

Now very cold after 5 hours at Slimbridge, i decided on departing just as this Bewick's family arrived, always a great place and even better when the skies are blue!

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