Newton-St-Loe Birding

15 September 2014

Cheddar Reservoir + Apex & River Brue Estuary

Date: 15/09/2014

Location: Cheddar Reservoir + Apex & River Brue Estuary.

Observation: Had to visit in laws at Burnham-on-sea so a trip to the Apex and Estuary were in order. Chiffchaff was about it in Apex but 100's of Redshank waiting for tide to go out were lined up on mud. Sun was bright so pictures were difficult as reflection on water was blinding.

Also saw the darker colored bird in shot below... not sure. Anyone ID ??

Then headed to Cheddar Reservoir on way home to see Little Stint, on arriving parked at Cheddar side car park walked up steps and there it was! Nice! Managed to get a Ringed Plover aswell. I like Plovers, was led down around 10ft from it! It carried on feeding until a large dog scared it off !

Weather: Bright, Cloudy, Sunshine,warm

Other Species: Redshank,Chiffchaff,Little Stint,Ringed Plover,Little Egret of note.

Little Stint , They don't keep still !

Ringed Plover Low Level !

Great Bird and it keeps still !

THANKS FOR LOOKING !

10 September 2014

6 mile Patch Walk

Date: 10/09/2014

Location: Newton St Loe,Zone 1+3+4+5

Observation: Started usual patch walk at around 11am today seemed very quiet up through campsite and up to Seven Acre wood. Just before I crossed road at Pennyquick met Ali BOC member who said not much about either !

I will make a map and walk page to make it easier for non locals to find everything although birds do move! I usually walk around 6 miles on Patch so our sightings are spread out a bit.

New Link on Right Patch Map

Treecreeper (Workshop Convert woodland, newly cleared so good to see birds here)

Another From newly cleared woodland ,Nuthatch.

Natural England doing work to make Grounds like they were in the 1800's !

Any way headed on to Village where 1 Barn Swallow was thats it ! On entering workshop convert wood saw 2 Nuthatch and 2 Treecreepers. Crossed Newton Park Drive towards fishing lake nothing on lower lake next lake was slightly better with 2 Goldcrest in fir trees and a fly past Kingfisher .

Top Lake Grey Heron

Headed on through following permissive path through small woodland and on up to Park View Farm here 2 Kestrels on Poles and a flypast Sparrowhawk. 3 juv. Yellowhammer in hedge on Natural England path. Roe deer in field eating blackberries then 3 Ravens at end of byway with a Treecreeper in woods on righthand side. Buzzards were up soaring on thermals as temp was warming up and home .

Weather: Blue sky temperature rising into afternoon.

Other Species: 2Nuthatch, 3Treecreeper, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Raven, Grey Heron, 2 Goldcrest, Yellowhammer - Of note.

Yellowhammer Hiding But there !

And a final Roe Deer 12o'clock Lane middle.

Thanks for Looking

8 September 2014

Hobby + Willow Warbler Bonus!

An Amazing Sight !!

Date: 8th Sep - Late Morning - Afternoon

Location: Newton St Loe - Zones 1,3,4+5

Another First For Us (Since 2010)

Observation: We headed out the lanes alot earlier than normal to see if it makes a difference to what birds we seen in the morning apposed to the afternoon, as were more of afternoon birders! We left around 10.30am and headed out for lake and started a species count. We had 10 species before we even got to the Dog Walk in the campsite, so was already looking good! A little Field Mouse hiding in the grass at the crossroads, 2 Goldcrest feeding in the fir tree in a garden in the village. Seemed to quieten down until the lake with only a few common species and some Barn Swallow. At the Lake, no fisherman or people nice! Only 1 Little Owl (juvenile, so parents were watching from somewhere) seen, and 2 Kingfishers flying around the lake. Some stunning Migrant Hawkers stopping for some pictures in front of us. Heard a Goldcrest, so stopped at the bench on Top Lake, also then seen Coal Tits, more Goldcrest and 2 Willow Warblers! (first of us on our patch). After the steep walk up the hill to Park View Farm, hoping to see the Linnet or Wheatear, field completely empty but we crossed the road onto the conservation path and half way down the first field, as seen a bird come zooming from the left of us scanned around the field and flew back STRAIGHT towards us and back the way it came from, a VERY nice surprise and a bonus, as again a first of us on our patch, next field had 4 young Yellowhammer feeding. We walked along 12 o'clock and seen a Roe Deer feeding, was nice to watch him without scaring him off! Walking back, we seen 2 more Kestrel, and a further sighting of the Hobby (must be the same one, which flew North back towards Bath).

A Crystal (Clear) Migrant !

I Think He's Beginning To Like Us!

Weather: Sunny, Hot, Light Breeze

Other Species: Buzzard, Kestrel, HOBBY, Little Owl, Goldfinch, Willow Warbler, Kingfisher, Wren, Dunnock, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Bullfinch, Green Woodpecker, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Grey heron, Long-Tailed Tit, Raven, Collared Dove, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Yellowhammer, Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush

Thanks For Looking !

4 September 2014

Trip To Weymouth & Portland Bill

Spoonbill @ RSPB Lodmoor

Date: 1st Sep-3rd September 2014

Location: RSPB-Lodmoor-Radipole & Portland Bill

Observation: Headed to Weymouth, Lodmoor Reserve first where to 2 Spoonbills were happily feeding away, a Bar Headed Goose sat amongst at least 100+ Canadas, seem to be loads of Canada Geese Around ! A grey Showery sky was above me so headed for Campsite, Swallows Rest with views out over Chesil Beach and Portland! Cup of tea and walked to Ferrybridge a Yellow wagtail and Curlew was best.
Morning 2 a grey sky again greeted me :( Weather was suppose to Brighten up so drove to Bill. Decided on a walk around The Bill Coast path 8 miles in total. With Wheatears everywhere at least 30+. They seem to shout "Take a Picture of Me! " posing at every rock !

See !

At Prison saw a Peregrine Falcon patrolling the white misty skies ! Below prison saw 4 Peregrines calling and swooping, sat on path to watch while looking at my bad shots of them I heard a noise like a jet plane looked up and 2 falcons were diving at me, passed around 6ft from me !! Amazing !

Amazing acrobatics !

Carried on along path more wheatears and a surprise Whimbrel who let me get within 10ft, I was crawling along ground at this point but still !

Video here

A group of Linnet feeding and bathing in mud puddle 3 Buzzards sat on posts and the Lighthouse was ahead.

After Lunch bag of Quavers and a banana ! Headed back to van, stopped at King Barrows Quarries to see little owl, nothing. But did spot a Spotted Flycatcher.

Also stopped at Ferrybridge on Return, tide was receding, and saw a guy with massive lens up to his knees in water. Getting onto flats Ringed Plover everywhere ! Knott, Linnet all didn't seemed bothered !

Ringed Plover looking good !

The next day was home time but stopped at RSPB Radipole grey misty sky on arrival started walk, The sun came out a place seemed to come alive with Willow warblers, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warblers & Bearded Tits all showing well ! Bearded Tits amazing sound saw a group of three pinging there way around reserve, isn't there always a blade of reed in the way !

Headed back to Lodmoor Spoonbills still there and blue skies now typical! Headed home happy !

Weather: Mostly Misty Grey Skies, Rain Showers, Some Blue, Temp 20c

Other Species: Spoonbill, Little Stint, Bar-Headed Goose, Canada Geese, Yellow Wagtail, Dunlin, Knot, Linnet, Black Tailed Godwits, Curlew, Whimbrel, Peregrines, Ringed Plover, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Lesser & Common Whitethroat, Bearded Tit, Buzzard, Kestrel, Shag, Fulmar of note :)