A Damp Patch

Date: 19/11/2015

Location: Newton St Loe (Patch)

Weather: Rain at times, Grey, Overcast

Species: Full list today 40 total

Goldfinch, Robin, Coal Tit, Magpie, Goldcrest, Crow, Pied Wagtail, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Chaffinch, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard, Collared Dove, Pheasant, Blackbird, Skylark, Linnet, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Wren, Dunnock, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Great Tits, Blue Tits, House Sparrow, Jay, Rook, Mallard, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Jackdaw, Moorhen, Black Headed Gull, Starling, Common Gull, Stonechat, Kestrel.

Song Thrush feeding on entrance to Bath Mill Lodge Retreat

 Along drive upper part, Redwing numbers around 15 but always distant.

Heard this Greater Spotted Woodpecker first, chirp! chirp!  

Then a Green Woodpecker a few trees along.

Nothing new on lake a very large group of Corvid's around 50 + continual calling over college and lakes, with 2 large groups of Gulls on surrounding fields mostly Black Headed gull with a few Common gulls, around 50 +

House Sparrows along hedgerow by old farm seem to have gone no sign ?

More Gulls fielding on Horse fields and then a highlight a pair of Stonechats feeding in rain !

Bad Shots I know but raining it was !

Male best I could manage :( seen 2 Stonechats few weeks back on fields by Seven Acre but not seen before in Village, NICE !

Almost home and good timing me thinks :)

This looking across Pennyquick and towards Lansdown in the mist !

Thank For Looking !

Weymouth Reserves

Date: 12/11/2015

Location: Weymouth - Lodmoor, Radipole and Ferrybridge 

Weather: Rain at first then Grey clouds and wind :( 

Other Species: Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Stonechat, Snipe, Brent Geese, Oystercatcher, Sanderling.

Observation:

Thought sunny day forecast so headed to Weymouth, it rained most of the way down, got diverted at Yeovil cost me 15 miles and 20 minutes so not boding well! Went to Lodmoor first seemed very quiet first bird was Marsh Harrier other side of reserve then a pair of Stonechat perched briefly.

Had a very very long chat to Danny Dench! A few Teal, Snipe, Canada Geese assorted Gulls was about it ! 

So headed to Ferrybridge as Brent Geese were on low tide.

I got there watched them for 10 mins and they flew off up the Fleet and away leaving distant Med Gulls not alot else !

So my final hope for pictures was RSPB Radipole....... Seen a lovely Swan

Cormorant with Herring, Common and Black-Headed Gulls some Mallard, Coot.

Think the Cormorant was saying go home, that way !

I persevered saw the Hooded Merganser male looking fine then went home.

on that quack, here to brighter days with birds everywhere !!:)

Thanks For Looking !

Full Patch Walk

Date: 10/11/2015

Location: Newton St Loe, Bath

Weather: Grey, Overcast, Warm

Other Species: Buzzard, Kestrel, Grey Heron, Goldcrest, Common Gull, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Kingfisher - Plus a few more

Observation: 

Its been a while for a patch blog, I have been out lanes but got rained on twice so cut short and not much to report.

But with a drier forecast headed out on full patch walk. Long tailed Tits through Bath Mill Retreat not much else, on dog track Blackbirds and Goldcrest at least 4 Goldcrest here.

4 Skylark and a small flock of Linnet on top fields with Lesser Black Backed and Black Headed Gulls, Wood Pigeon and Rook feeding on field closest to road. Out through Village few Pied Wagtails at Church, Greater Spotted Woodpecker looking a bit worn.

Lots of cars now parked in Village, not sure think from Newton Park College :(

Very quiet on lakes Kingfisher, 3 Grey Heron, 20 Mallard, 5 Mute Swan plus Moorhen and a few Black Headed Gulls.

Walk on out through College and up hill towards Home Farm, a Linnet and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls feeding on fields with 2 Buzzards overhead Wilmington way. A small group of birds across two fields could just about make out Yellowhammer and Redwing.

Best shot of the day was this fine chap one of the many Pheasants that scared the crap out of me today !!

Few more Buzzards and this Kestrel really showing how grey it was today, but nice to back round patch !

Thanks For Looking :)

Good Day For Ducks !

Date: 05/11/2015

Location: Slimbridge 

Weather: Rain, Grey Skies 

Other Species: Curlew, Wigeon, Pintail, Barnacle, Greylag and White Fronted Geese, Plover, Snipe, Peregrine, Kestrel, Lapwing, Dunlin, Crane, Godwit - Plus lots and lots more

Observation:

With rain forecast I went to Slimbridge and it rained, no surprise.

But the Ducks didn't seem to mind here's a few pictures. First one of Grey Wagtail from the Rushy hide.

Headed down looking briefly in other hides bit of work clearing foliage so not much about got to Holden Tower, very busy with scopes and camera looking for Semi Palmated Sandpiper that's my effort :) no ideal if its there !  

If you can see let me know :)

From the Zeiss Hide the Wigeon took flight every 10 minutes

He didn't seem to mind .

Like water off a ducks head !

Final spot was a Snipe landed on the rushy. 

Here's To Drier Days :)