Newton-St-Loe Birding

17 February 2015

Westhay, Greylake + Ham Wall - Somerset Levels

Date: 17/02/2015

Location: Westhay, Greylake + Ham Wall - Somerset Levels

Observation: Blue skies and new camera settings so headed for the Levels first off Westhay, car park almost full, half term I suppose. But as usual didn't see many people on reserve was hoping for a Firecrest but after walking London Drove a few times no sign, did see 3 Buzzard, Great White Egret, Goosander and a very obliging Chiffchaff and Long Tailed Tit though.

settings working well !

Next Greylake, again very busy with best spots for car park feeders taken :( .

even the Reed Bunting was wondering who left the gate open !

So headed round to hides after squeezing into a space

SNIPE 20 ft in front hide in beautiful light ! Nice .

Shoveller, Gadwall, Wigeon in numbers everywhere also Curlew and Lapwing.

Even two sticks is enough camouflage for this beautiful bird !

Kestrel hunting on way back to car park, on arriving back at van a space appeared by feeders so a quick bit of maneuvering kettle on and started to watch as Reed Bunting, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tits, Dunnocks, Chaffinch and the stars the Starlings.
Having a right scrap over seed.

Dunnock death stare !

Waiting his turn

Queue jumping not accepted !!

Come and have go ...!

After an hour or so headed round to Ham Wall on way home, parked in new car park, better than scrapping roof on old car park barrier ! Heard Cetti's Warbler, Just missed Bittern and Marsh Harrier not 5 mins ago.

Always the way but a good day was had and happier with 7d mkii setting now i think .

Weather: Blue Skies temp around 5c

Other Species: Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Curlew, Buzzard, Kestrel, Snipe, Shoveller, Wigeon, Starlings, Gadwall, Great White Egret, Goosander, Lapwing, Cetti's Warbler, Long Tailed Tit.

Thanks for Reading and looking!

Better Pictures Here

15 February 2015

Jay - Garrulus glandarius

Date: 15th Feb - 3PM

Location: Bath Botanical Gardens

Observation: A rather dull and overcast, but decided to pop up to the Botanical Gardens, in Bath. Alot of dog walkers and people about, so Squirrels, Jay's and other birds were quite jumpy, we did manage to attract in some Pigeons, Great Tits, Squirrels + Jay's with some Monkey Nuts and Peanuts, where they all seemed very hungry! After photographing them for about 10-15 minutes and get muddy from lying down, we walked around a few times to try and find the Brambling spotted yesterday, no luck with that, but alot of Chaffinches. No Kingfisher either on the bottom lake, but there were alot of Gull's which all flew off together so a possible Peregrine fly-over also. Got some nice pictures of the Jay which we don't really see by us, so almost a nice bird to spot!

Weather: Cloudy and Overcast - Warm

Other Species: Blackbird, Magpie, Crow, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Jay, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch - Of Note

Thanks For Reading!

8 February 2015

Our Resident Kingfisher

Date: 8th Feb - 2PM

Location: Newton Park Lake - Patch Walk

Observation: Within minutes of starting the walk, the resident Kingfisher was sat on the bridge, a few dog walkers flushed it but the flew the way we were walking so we got a few shots as it flew downstream, it let us get about 10 feet from it, sat in the sunlight in full view for most shots, which makes a change! Moving on, the builders still making a racket on the refurb so not much about walking through the campsite, 2 Roe Deer in the cluster of trees, and a fly-through Buzzard. From then on it was pretty sparce. The normal suspects of Crows, Rooks, Song Thrushes and Blackbird, showed. No Little Owls at the Lake, although there were ALOT of people there today. At Home Farm there were large groups of Chaffinches in nearby trees flying around the farm. A few Wagtails also.