Author: BOC

Tuesday 18 June – Hinton Blewitt / Litton Reservoirs Leaders: John and Sue Prince

24 birders met on a fine but overcast morning and set off through the village of Hinton Blewitt. House Martins, Jackdaws and House Sparrows and a Pied Wagtail carrying food were seen along with a displaying Collared Dove. Rain started as we crossed the fields in which Meadow Brown butterflies were seen. The sound of birdsong aided identification of Yellowhammer,…

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Sunday 16 June- Gower Peninsula Leader: Alastair Fraser

Thirty three birders set off on a four mile walk around the Gower from Rhossili, after Alastair explained the ancient field systems we would be looking at, and the carboniferous and oolitic limestone rock formations. The fields dating from the thirteenth century and separated by earth banks were planted up with hay meadow, lupin, sunflower, linseed, lavender, lucerne and a…

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Tuesday 28 May – Northend

Twelve members set off on this lovely walk, which included fabulous views over Bath and the surrounding countryside. We started by climbing Solsbury Hill. After circling the top of the hill, we stopped for coffee before descending gently to Chilcombe Bottom and back to Northend. It was a cloudy day with occasional sunshine and showers. From Northend village we passed…

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Tuesday 21 May – Compton Dando

It was a beautiful sunny morning but not too hot; just perfect for a four mile walk with the hope of seeing some good birds. As 22 of us set off from the Compton Inn there were some common birds around the village, including House Sparrow, Jackdaw and House Martin. There were also good views of two Goldfinches along the…

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Sunday 19 May – Quantocks

The sessile oak woods, stream and crowberry were a beautiful sight as 14 of us set off up Hodders Combe on a lovely sunny morning. A Wood Warbler was singing (the first of five and we saw one), and a Blackcap and Chiffchaff joined him. Some of the party saw a Garden Warbler. A Grey Wagtail was briefly along the…

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Friday 17 May – Highnam Woods

On a cool but still evening Hannah Booth, RSPB site manager, gave 19 members another of her informative tours of the woods, with a focus on the habitat management for Nightingales creating blocks of coppice of different ages, together with wet areas. It was interesting to see how a block that we saw when it was newly created in 2017…

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Tuesday 14 May – South Stoke

Led by Dave Body, 21 walkers gathered on a bright sunny morning in the centre of the village with lovely views across the valley. As we left the village, we saw House Martins busying themselves around the nearby houses, whilst Swift and Jackdaw flew overhead. South Stoke sits in a designated conservation area so the walk alone was of great…

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Tuesday 07 May – Puxton Moor

With competition from the holiday season, including the Club trip to Scotland, a select group of eleven walkers set out past the church with its leaning tower on a dry and increasingly sunny day. One of the village Swallows flew over and the first of 14 Wrens sang out. A Reed Warbler was singing as we approached the reed-lined ditches…

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Scotland 04 -11 May – Glenloy

Eleven club members joined this trip which was centred around the Fort William area of north west Scotland. We stayed at Glenloy Lodge which had very peaceful surrounding and a bonus in the form of two Pine Martins which would visit in the evenings to feed on snacks put out by our host Jon. We were incredibly privileged to be…

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Tuesday 19 February – Backwell Lake and Chelvey Leaders: Sue and John Prince

35 birders met on a sunny and spring-like morning at the Perrings above Backwell Lake. Straightaway Canada Geese could be heard calling and most of these seemed to be already paired up. On the lake there were MuteSwan, Mallard, ten Tufted Ducks, three Shovelers, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Black-headed Gull, two Coots, and several Moorhens. Four Cormorants sat in the…

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Club Weekend, 15 – 18 February – Cornwall Leader: Jane Cumming

We were 15 participants, based at Bosavern House just below St Just. Weather generally fine and relatively mild with some strong winds, and overcast. As tradition dictates, we stopped in Hayle for pasties and scouted Copperhouse Creek, dockside Carnsew Pool, and Ryan’s Field RSPB reserve and the estuary bay, getting over 20 wetland species including Mediterranean Gulls (one pair posturing…

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Tuesday 12 February – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels Leader: Peter Holbrook

Twenty-seven birders set off from the RSPB car park on a mild but overcast afternoon. We walked along the main track towards platform one, seeing Kingfisher, Redwing and the usual tits, Robins and Chaffinches. At the platform we looked over the water and reed beds where good numbers of Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Teal and Wigeon with one male Pochard…

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Tuesday 15 January – Bristol City Centre Leaders: Margaret Gorely and Nancy Barrett

37 of us met outside the ‘We The Curious’ science museum in Millennium Square. It was a cold and miserable morning filled with that annoying misty kind of rain. We set off and crossed Pero’s Bridge, spotting Cormorant, Herring and Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Magpie and Mute Swan on the way. Crossing Prince Street Bridge, we made our way along the…

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Tuesday 11 December 2018 – Between Chew and Blagdon Lakes Leaders: Sue and John Prince

Twenty-one birders met at Herons Green on a cool but fine winter’s morning. Water levels are now higher. Two Goosanders were present along with all the usual ducks, swans and geese. On a patch of mud by the reed bed two Black-tailed Godwits, two Grey Herons and several Cormorants were observed through the telescopes. We followed the lanes up to…

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Tuesday 04 December – Newton St. Loe Leaders: Duncan and Pat Gill, Peter Holbrook

A record number of 50 members arrived for this year’s pre-Christmas lunch walk from Holy Trinity Church – but could we get 50 bird species? We set off in the welcome sunshine. Our group was well spread out, with Peter kindly waiting to gather up latecomers, so not everyone saw the single Bullfinch and Greenfinch. We walked past a feeder,…

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Tuesday 30 October – Elm Farm, Burnett Leader Roger Palmer and Phillipa Paget

Thirty six of us set off from Elm Farm on a fresh, dry autumnal morning. Initially we went along a level track for about 30 minutes before turning right into the valley crossing several fields with adjacent hedgerows and woods. Two Roe Deer eyed us suspiciously from a nearby field. Early birds included a Green Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch and Chaffinch.…

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Tuesday 18 September – Tickenham Leaders: Jan Pridie and Lois Pryce

The tail end of some stormy weather was kinder than expected to 20 members meeting by Tickenham’s church. Large numbers of Swallows, House and some Sand Martins hunted across the golf course with flocks of Goldfinch. Chiffchaffs ‘wheeted’, Green Woodpeckers ‘yaffled’, and Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Coal Tits and Long Tailed Tits called or appeared along the path up to the…

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Sunday 09 – Thursday 13 September – Pelagic trip to Spain and Asturias Organised by Jane Cumming

Day 1; Sunday 9 September We met up with the group by the Downs Water Tower in Bristol and boarded the coach to Plymouth. We got to the Ferry Terminal in the afternoon and our tour guide, Paul Burley was waiting for us. We then boarded the Brittany Ferries, Pont-Aven for the overnight sailing to Santander. Day 2; Monday 10…

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Sunday 02 September – Pilning Wetlands Leader: Lois Pryce

Nine people including two new members met at New Passage on a warm still day with a rising tide and two late arrivals who had been trying to find the Rose-coloured Starling at Severn Beach. From the shore birds could be seen stretching into the distance, included Turnstones, Curlews, Teal, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Dunlins and a Greenshank. The pools included…

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Sunday 29 July – Newport Wetlands

Gale force winds and torrential rain did not deter the two brave birders who joined us for this walk. The decision was made to head to Goldcliff and take cover in the hides but that was after a hot drink in the cafe and a scan of the pond, which yielded Gadwall, Moorhen, Mallard and a House Sparrow. The lagoons…

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Friday 15 – Monday 18 June – Anglesey Leaders: Keith Williams and Alastair Fraser

After a pleasant journey spotting numerous Buzzards, several Kestrels, and of course the occasional Red Kite as we entered Wales, we arrived at Gronant near Prestatyn. Here on the beach is a breeding colony of Little Terns but sadly only the day before, due to a severe gale causing a tidal surge, the colony had been devastated. There were plenty…

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Sunday 20 May – Ham Wall RSPB Reserve (joint meeting with BNS) Leader: Giles Morris

Ham Wall is now one of those venues that can almost guarantee an interesting and varied day’s birding, especially in May. This spring has been topsy-turvy in many ways, but those who made the trip were not disappointed, despite some Ham Wall “regulars” being missing. Setting out along the railway path allowed us to sort out our warbler song ID,…

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