Creeping Closer to the 200

Date: 09-12th December

Location: 
Chard, Greylake, Ham Wall, Newton St Loe

Weather: 
Dry to absolutely soaking

Species Highlights: 
Smew, Yellow-Browed Warbler, Firecrest, Tufted Duck, Whooper Swan.

Observation: 
Monday morning started with a trip down to Chard reservoir for the Smew, perfect conditions but at first no Smew, in fact not much a walk down the road side and Lauren spotted the Red-Headed Smew tucked in against the bank. We waited for a hour but it stayed where we spotted it, so left for Greylake and a Yellow-Browed Warbler.

A full car park at Greylake, but only one person looking for the YBW on entering the small picnic area where it had been seen, I saw it! Called to Lauren and it disappeared, I saw it once more but very elusive. This Starling from the car park.

We then drove to Ham Wall for a try for the Firecrest which had been showing nicely, Lauren on fire today spotted her first ever Firecrest and the small crowd all managed to see it also.

Two birds were seen but moving so fast, as they do.

Really pleased for Lauren to get this great little bird a lifer for her.

A walk to VP1 proved to be very quiet so we returned home.

Rain Wednesday, and Thursday but a patch walker has to check on patch just in case.
Very quite around, birds obviously sheltering from the rain,13 Red Legged Partridge on top fields, released ready for their sad slaughter.
Whooper Swan still present now its 80th day. 

The Tufted Duck female still present also, our longest staying Tufted.

Teal number at 13 birds, making lots of noise and even the Little Grebe still about, but I'm now soaking wet so started the trudge home.

Lots of gulls feeding in fields 70+ Black Headed, 5 Herring Gull, 15 Common Gull, 20 Lesser Black Backed, plus a constant stream going to roast on way home, one day will have to count gulls going to roast as must be 1000's.
This Buzzard almost as wet as me was last spot of the day.

So with the Smew for us both adding to our year total and the lifer Firecrest (my Firecrest was on patch this year) for Lauren creeping closer to her magic 200!

Wayne Year Bird List: 206
Lauren Year Bird List: 197

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Weekly round up

Date: 11th-15th March

Location: From coastal to Patch

Weather: Dry, some sunshine

Species Highlights: 
Long Tailed Duck, Peregrine Falcon, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Hawfinch
Observation: 
The 11th started with the normal patch walk, out through Bath Mill and on up to fields it seemed quieter but Yellowhammer still in normal place around 25 birds but no Linnet about.

30+ Stock Dove on lower Globe fields still and this rather colourful Wood Pigeon.

Spring well on its way with some Lambs by send a cow, trying out a bit of head banging.

Female Kestrel on normal post, as usual flew of as soon as i took this shot.

Apart from 12 Fieldfare + 5 Redwing that was it, Blackcap male still visiting our feeder tree.

got home and it rained the Collared Dove not liking it!

On the 13th a Common Scoter had been showing all weekend at Weston Super Mare so decided to head down .....it had gone. 
So Sandbay next maybe a few early migrants but nothing a couple of Ravens was the best. Mmmmmmm Portishead for some Purple Sandpipers ......nothing at all. 
Oh well Barrow Tanks for Long Tailed Duck as it was now blue skies on arriving and a quick scan all i could see was fisherman! Typical, walked around anyway, got to Tank number 2 and i could hear first the Long Tailed Duck calling and courting the Tufted Ducks.

For such a smart duck he's pretty confused!

Popped into Chew Valley, Perfect light but not much to photograph, always the way.

Took a few pictures then headed off home.

14th another patch walk, seemed even quieter than Sunday but Hawfinches in good numbers spotted 2 groups of 12 + 5 birds plus could hear more calling from Yews.

Could only manage shots of single birds despite waiting for 45 mins.

Carried on walking to Stanton Prior, a few more Yellowhammers and this cracking Buzzard was all i could add to my list.

After Stanton Prior carried on back along River Avon, past the Boathouse and up through Carrs Wood, Kingfisher and Cormorant and this Coal Tit ended walk on 46 species amazingly poor for over 10 miles.

Today my Van had its Mot so dropped it off and walked into town to catch up on the Peregrines at St. John's.

They stayed on the highest perches they could and not moving apart from a few stretches, but always good to watch them. 

Left hand pinacle, you can just make Falcon out, I was stood under, by houses on left.

If only i was 250 ft taller!

With a pass from the van i headed up to Marshfield, Corn Buntings, Yellowhammer, and lots of Linnets but not being very photographic.

Last stop for the week was Corsham Lake as Goosander were in good numbers so parked up and head to lake, Goosander were right over the other side so sat watching the Great Crested Grebes floating past.

Looking splendid! 

Just got home and Tony Cook messaged me to say 2 Tufted Duck on Lake, so made everyone's tea and headed to lake species number 66 for the year.

Almost dark but Swans top lake busy making nest, last year Cygnet still around but now banished to top end.

A few Bats darting about, not sure how but a picture ! Common / Soprano Pipistrelle ? Not sure but looking at ID pictures i'd go with that. 
Walked back along drive hoping for a Barn Owl but had to settle for a Little Owl !!!! Brilliant to see, heard him calling then located him standing tall on tree box. My last sighting of a Little Owl was 19/01/2017, this takes Patch total to 67.

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Patch Walk - Newton St Loe

Date: 18/07/2017

Location: Patch - Newton St Loe

Weather: Warm, Overcast

Species Highlights: 
Buzzard, Yellowhammer, Tufted Duck, Kestrel, Kingfisher.
Spreadsheet

Observation: 
Met a fellow birder today Paul, to show round Patch and started as the normal at the entrance to Bath Mill and walked along Brook pointing out the lack of birds, or where birds would normally be!
Very quiet apart from Wood Pigeon in trees. On up to Dog Track and through the stingers which have built up since I've been butterflying recently, nearly there just 4 species left to get!
Up onto Byway and a single Whitethroat darted into cover plus a Yellowhammer could be heard calling. The fields have been cut leaving little hope for the young Skylarks that normally can be heard on the lower fields. 
Following on around towards Seven Acre and a year tick.. for butterfly anyway on patch a Brown Argus. 

Still lovely to see. 
Red Admiral, Large and Small Whites, Comma plus Holly Blues also on bramble section.

Leaving wood behind saw a Yellowhammer on telepole calling, then flew off to join another.

Into village and House Martins still outnumbering Barn Swallows with House Martin's streaking through the skies and feed young.

Found another nest in village it seemed full of House Martins.

 On out through village and onto Fishing Lake with no fisherman for a change and Billy the Male Mute Swan still on his lonesome. 
A single Goldcrest in Yew trees but little else. Top Lake the Mute family still doing well and 6 Cygnets all present, very few Mallard and a lack of Moorhen today. 
Top End, 3 Grey Herons youngsters all practising their fishing techniques. 

But carried on to check top ponds for dragonflies of which Common Darters and a single Emperor were present. Sat and ate a sandwich and a Buzzard soared overhead.

On way Back at Top Lake, a female Tufted Duck had arrived first since March 30th, plus a fly through Kingfisher.

House Sparrow numbers in village seemed a bit low with a single Pied Wagtail Juv in with Pig's at busy Farm Shop.

At second horse fields saw 3 Kestrel, Buzzard and a few Lesser Black Backed Gull feeding in skies maybe flying ants?

Pictured below Juvenile Kestrel sat watching mum and dad in skies above.

Not a lot on rest of the way back but time of year always slow ended on a count of 37 Species. 

Butterfly species count 14 species.

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Chiffchaff, Skylark, Meadow Pipit's.. Summer Has Arrived!

Date: 26th March 2017

Location: Newton Park Lake > Haycombe Cemetery

Weather: Blue Sky, Warm and Sunny!

Other Species: Highlights - 8 Feral Pigeon, 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 8 Yellowhammer, 1 Jay, 1 Kestrel, 6 Buzzard, 12 Skylark, 14 Linnet, 5+ Goldcrest, 3 Nuthatch, 4 Green Woodpecker, 3 Coot, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Grey Heron, 16 Teal, 1 Cormorant, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Treecreeper, 12 Meadow Pipit, 6 Chiffchaff
Full List Here - Spreadsheet

Observation: Both me and Wayne doing the patch today, we headed out via Bath Mill, with the normal birds on show, Goldfinch, Great Tit's, Blue Tit's and Wood Pigeon. Onto the Dog Walk a singing Chiffchaff and some Long-Tailed Tit's were seen.

Walking on up to Seven Acre Woods, a fly-over Grey Heron was in search of the River Avon or Newton Brook, very unusual to see flying over the fields!

Plenty of singing Skylarks and fly-over Linnet and Meadow Pipit's were boosting our count!

Numbers of Skylark increasing nicely with 12 counted on Seven Acre Fields!

Whilst Wayne was photographing Comma and Brimstone Butterflies a distant Buzzard and Kestrel came into view but didn't stay around long after being mobbed by Crow's!

Through the Village was pretty quiet with no sign of Barn Swallow's or House Martin's just yet. 6th April our earliest sighting on the patch, wonder if this is going to be beaten this year! Plenty in the country already!

Send-A-Cow fields empty with no Corvid's about, maybe pairing up for nesting. At the Covert plenty to see, Nuthatch and more Chiffchaff singing away.

Only 3 Grey Heron at the Heronry today (all on nests), number has dropped significantly since last visit, hopefully they boost again!

At the Lakes, Bottom Lake was quiet with 3 Mallard and some feeding Jackdaw, this one flew towards me to pose for the camera.

Top Lake, a few students about (ignoring the footpaths and sitting on the water's edge!) but lots to see, 3 Coot, 1 Little Grebe and 2 Tufted Duck still present!

Female Teal being disturbed, but made some nice flights shots!

Pair of Tufted Duck

A single Cormorant having a good old preen in the sunshine!

Whilst talking to some fellow bird-watchers, we spotted this Iridescent cloud, caused by ice droplets or small water droplets, great looking cloud!

A brief view of this Treecreeper, a flight shot (sort of!) in the woodland.

We went up over Home Farm and down past Pennsylvania Farm today, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Pied Wagtail, and some Collared Dove and Meadow Pipits, kept boosting the numbers.

Back up along Haycombe Lane, was pretty quiet again, some more Crow's, Jackdaw's and Lesser Black-Backed Gull's were the best until....

6 Yellowhammer were seen in the hedge-line towards Pennyquick, a nice end to the walk!

Finished on a 44 species count, not bad for a 6.5 mile walk!

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