Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus

Date: 15th March  - 2PM

Location:  Newton Mill Campsite - Zones 5

Observation:  Went for a quick walk to re-fill seed perches, and do a quick count. There was quick alot heard, and all perches were completely empty. Within minutes of starting the walk I seen a Sparrowhawk, flying over the road and then moved higher and off into the woods, then spotted a Kestrel sat in the trees on the top field. Not much more seen after that apart from the odd Robin, Skylark and Long-Tailed Tits.

Weather:  Blue Sky, Warm, Sunny

Other Species: Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Long-Tailed Tit, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Skylark, Crow, Goldfinch, Coal Tit, Greenfinch.

Water Rail & Little Owls

Date spotted: 13/03/2014 4 hours

Location: Newton St Loe Circular - Zones 1,2,4+5

Observation: Went for same walk as yesterday, all present and Water Rail showing well! Found two more Little Owls think that's potentially 3 pairs now! Also a Yellowhammer at home farm and about 5 Meadow Pipits.And  also first Tortoiseshell butterfly.(15/04/2013 last year)

Weather: Very misty, Foggy, Temperature 10c and felt cold. Mist started to go around 4pm !

Other Species: Mistle Thrush, Water Rail, Meadow Pipit, Buzzard, Yellowhammer, Redwing, Song Thrush,Green Woodpecker, Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

Grey Heron Catching A Newt!

A quick video I captured wilhst watching a Grey Heron at WWT Slimbridge, it took him a few attempts but got there in the end and successful caught and ate a Newt!

Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus

Date spotted: 12th March - All Day

Location: Newton St Loe Circular - Zones 1,2,4+5

Observation: Went for a long walk around Newton St Loe, started off well, seen 8 Roe Deer running across the fields before disappearing in the wooded area, all seemed to be in Spring mould then it was the usual suspects until we got to the Top Lake where we seen a Water Rail, which a first for the us, never seen one int he 3 years we've been walking out there, so a nice surprise! The Little Owl was about on his normal tree but no sign of the female, and haven't seen the pair for ages now but hopefully just hiding every time we look for her! A new sighting of Meadow Pipit at Home Farm, and a total of 5 feeding on the grass before flying off.

Weather: Blue Sky, Some Broken Cloud, Quite Cold

Other Species: Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Buzzard, Little Owl, Water Rail, Robin, Meadow Pipit, Coal Tit, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Teal, Wren.