A brilliant and informative introduction to the area by the leader (from inside the church as a tree shredder was howling outside) was a novel way to start our walk along the Kennet and Avon canal. The playing fields were alive with Swift and Swallow, some Collared Doves were spooning on the roof tops and just as Tiny was bemoaning…
Month: June 2013
Trip report: New Forest (22 June 2013)
As eleven walkers mustered at the Ashley Walk Car Park, two members wandered down the slope and got off to a great start with fleeting glimpses of a female Montagu’s Harrier! As we set off, we had high hopes of seeing Dartford Warblers, Woodlark and possibly Honey Buzzard. Early sightings included Stonechat, Linnets, a good number of Mistle Thrushes, and…
Trip report: Hinton Blewitt, Coley and Litton Reservoirs (18 June 2013)
16 members met on an overcast and humid morning by the Ring O’ Bells pub. A Song Thrush was singing and a Chiffchaff calling as we set off along the lanes to Coley. A Hare crossing in front of us was a surprise and on a house in Coley we observed six active House Martin nests. Brown Trout idled in…
Trip report: Sand Bay (11 June 2013)
Fifteen birders met in the car park below the point and collected Jay, Magpie and Woodpigeon, plus some distant Swift before we attempted the steep path to the Trig point. Beside the steeply climbing path a couple of Chiffchaff sang and distantly a Blackcap, while above our heads a Kestrel hovered and a Cormorant flew past. Along the point we…
Trip report: Dinas RSPB Reserve, mid Wales (9 June 2013)
Eight members gathered on a glorious morning in this most stunning of locations. We were soon on our way along the board walk. Were those singing birds Blackcaps or Garden Warblers? Well both, which either helped or confused! That challenge was soon forgotten as we listened to a Redstart and eventually saw it. A Willow Warbler fussed around us –…
Trip report: Hawkesbury Upton (4 June 2013)
Meeting at the Beaufort Arms we collected Greenfinch in the car park, Jackdaw from the church spire and House Sparrow from the lane beside the ‘The Fox Inn’ and our access to the fields. This was a new walk through some lovely countryside and wooded valleys. Across the fields the Swallows skimmed and Swifts chased about above us and a…
Trip report: Kennard Moor (1 June 2013)
Eleven members met in the village of West Pennard on a bright but cool morning. We then drove a short distance on to the Moor and parked adjacent to a farm drove. This was a first visit for the Club to this rather remote part of the Somerset Levels even though Glastonbury Tor was less than two miles away. We…
Trip report: Frampton-on-Severn (31 May 2013)
It was a glorious early summer evening. The midges were ‘dancing’ in numbers uncountable, but where were the Hirundines? Approximately 200 at the same time last year but a single Swallow and only ten Swifts on this occasion – really rather troubling. However, nine members identified 38 species, ten of which presented before leaving the car park. Whilst it was…