Newton-St-Loe Birding

16 January 2017

A Wet Slimbridge and another Waxwing dip!

Date: 16th January 2017

Location: WWT Slimbridge

Weather: Cloudy, Low Cloud and Light Rain

Other Species: 115 Bewick Swan, Pochard, Pintail, Shelduck, Lapwing, Teal, Barnacle Goose, Buzzard, Kestrel, Rook, House Sparrow, Song Thrush, Wigeon, Bullfinch, Greater Black-Backed Gull, Reed Bunting, Mistle Thrush, 8 Common Crane, 58 Curlew, Redshank, Gadwall, Little Grebe, Cetti's Warbler, Dunlin, Herring Gull, Cormorant, Shoveler, Black-Tailed Godwit, Collared Dove - 51 Species Total

Observation: The weather looking pretty bad today, we headed to Slimbridge on the chance it may brighten up. On arrival, the Rushy was full with a total 16 species counted, including a count of 115 Bewick Swans.

We also spotted a single Redshank on the far island (too distant for any images).
A Lapwing having a good old preen in front of the hide.

Also got a slow-motion video here: Slow Motion - Lapwing

Visibility kept improving and then dropping, as you can see below.

A small group of Jackdaws were making a right racket outside the Holden Tower, but this pair stayed out the way.

No sign of the Water Rail from the Willow Hide today between 10.30-11.30.

The Martin Smith hide never seems to disappoint, today we had a count of 58 Curlew and 8 Common Crane along with plenty of other species.

This GPS tagged Bewick Swan 'UNN' was present on the Rushy on the return walk.

A single Peregrine Falcon was causing havoc on the Reserve today keeping all the waterbirds active!

We left Slimbridge at 1pm and headed for the 'reliable' Waxwings at Cheltenham. On arrival just after 1.30pm, there were no signs of any Waxwings and all berries from the Buildbase location had gone. We drove around the local estates and also onto Twickenham Road in the last hope but it resulted in another Waxwing dip, one day...

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Webs count +Toghill, Cattle Egrets

Date: 15/01/2017

Location: Patch -Newton St Loe + Toghill & Marshfield

Weather: Grey, Cloudy.

Species Highlights:
28 Goosander, 32 Teal-Patch
Then Cattle Egret's Tog Hill.
Spreadsheet Here

Observation:
Few from Feeders first Goldfinches still fighting for positions ,still not quite got that shot !

Up to 3 Bullfinches at times too, not giving way to the noisy Goldfinches.

So Close but no cigar !

Had a few Redwing on Tree.

Down to the last berries now could almost count them.

Patch walk Today, Sunday. Very Quiet along brook and on up to Top Fields but 3 Skylark in Phone mast fields, first time this year. Then in to Village with the regulars about. Send a Cow fields normal Rooks, Jackdaws and Crows but a single Common Gull, again first of year. Then the main event the WEBS count.
As follows:
28 Goosander (new Record)
35 Teal, 2 Coot, 3 Grey Heron, 38 Mallard, 4 Cormorant, 5 Moorhen and 2 Mute Swans.
Plus Grey Wagtail, Jackdaw, 3 Buzzards sat in tree's surrounding lake Black Headed Gulls and 3 Lesser Black Backed Gulls. Not a bad count i'd say, are best yet !
Couldn't find the Water Rail which was reported on Thursday.

Unlucky for some ,but not for us, 13 Goosander in this shot .
They constantly dive making counting very hard but counted 28 a number of times.

Buteo Buteo on a fly past

Mewing Buzzard , not at us at the other Buzzards.

Stayed for around an hour, giving lots of information out to the passing walkers,even if they didn't wanna hear it !
Then back via Send a Cow saw 2 Nuthatches visiting the empty feeder here, plus a family of Long tailed Tits.

In small orchard by the Back drive of Bath Spa 5/6 Blackbirds feeding on apples.

Ended walk on 38 species but Skylark and Common gull taking us to 50 species so far this year.
Now On to Toghill where a couple of Cattle Egrets have been the last few days or a week or so. Drove up Tog hill and saw 4 birders binoculars trained so turned around and parked in farm entrance jumped out and started snapping !

First picture 400mm this lot 560mm as birds were quite away across field, but other birders said they have come closer to the very noisy road .

Seemed very happy feeding constantly in fields, apparently they sometime fly a couple of fields down but didn't fly while we were there.

Now if only they'd fly the 4.49 miles they'd be on our Patch !!
Finger Crossed.

After leaving Toghill headed through lanes to Marshfield. Looked for Golden Plover but couldn't locate, 3 Buzzards, Yellowhammer, Stonechats and a few Pheasants were nice.

A final Kestrel in Hunting mode and thats your lot.
A great day was had and not a drop of the forecast Rain !

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10 January 2017

A Bit of Fishing

Date: 10/01/2017

Location: Patch - Newton St Loe

Weather: Grey, Dry

Other Species (Spreadsheet)

Observation:
Normal walk out through Bath Mill all very quiet, no birds of prey today! Was on 13 species at Pennyquick crossroads very worrying, normal count is 20ish here.
Into Village, a single Herring Gull feeding in fields behind Farm Shop. At Village shop heard and saw the first Greenfinch of the year, with the Herring Gull patch list so far this year 44.

Robin by Send a Cow, a slow news day!

Down towards Lake and the Pterosaur scream of a Grey Heron.

Another year patch tick 45.

No cars in Fishermans Car Park and no Fishermen on lake!

But 13 Goosander all fishing.

Managed to creep up to one of the swims and lay down in the mud, gotta be done!

Apart from the odd look from the Goosander they didn't seem to mind me there, odd as top lake can't get anywhere near them.

After a couple of dives they all had a wing stretch and clean.

Light was pretty grim so high iso at 2500.

Really nice to watch them so close, didn't see them catch much. Must be a few little un's in there as always see pike and shoals of fry in summer.

I stood up and walked to other end of lake and, not me, something spooked them and they all took off heading towards the top lake.

Up the hill and sure enough 13 Goosander, 2 Mute Swan, 40 Mallard, 6 Moorhen and

2 Coot!

2 Coot some kind of record ,don't remember ever seeing 2.

Feeding together also. Plus 16 Teal at top end.

Nuthatch calling and Goldcrest in tree's couldn't locate Marsh Tits today.

Been checking on Little Owls recently, still no sign then continuing back the way I walked up. A second Grey Heron perched up above the now empty Fishing lake.

Watching me closely.

Back up through Covert Woodland and 2 Goldcrests with Long Tailed Tits in tree's.

Looks like he was hugging this tree!

And why not!

Gotta love the punk style of the Goldcrest. Brilliant!

A Jay seen also taking year Patch list to 46 on back through village and Fieldfare, Redwing and Mistle Thrush in cottage in between Horse Fields. While watching 10 or so Meadow Pipits flew by taking year list to 47. Species count for walk 40.

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8 January 2017

2017 & first trip to the Somerset Levels

Date: 05/01/2017

Location: Somerset Levels

Weather: Cold with blue skies

Other Species:
Great White Egret, Water Rail, Bearded Tit, Chiffchaff, Marsh Harriers, Buzzard, Kingfisher

Observation:

A cold morning -2 on leaving home but blue skies always good, i headed to the Somerset levels with Robert to see what was about. First stop was Westhay and a Chiffchaff !
Seemed to be a few around mixed with Blue and Great tits. Also had some good views of a Water Rail which i saw fly in and then continued to rummage in undergrowth.

On seeing not much else thought we'd wander back to the Island hide where a single Bearded Tit was gritting ! could hear a few more but only saw this one. But a good start to the year tick list !

Left there and a visit to Catcott with Marsh Harrier, Pintails, Shovelers and Snipe showing well. Perfect light almost mirror like.

This Kingfisher put a brief appearance in also .

Just before leaving a Male Chaffinch posed, never forget the common birds.
Stunning !

Arrived at Ham Wall and 2 Chiffchaffs in the car park looking lovely in the wintery sunny conditions.

On to Shapwick and Meare Heath Scrape was Frozen solid with no birds present so on to Noahs. Saw Kingfishers, 2 Great White Egrets and even a distance Bittern making a dash into far reeds.
Mute swans but couldn't see the reported Whooper Swans despite looking for some time. On walk back a Goldcrest Party feeding in trees..

A quick cuppa soup and into Hamwall 14 more Great white Egrets present from vp1, carried on to look for Glossy Ibis but couldn't locate, looped round to VP2 and the sun now descending.