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.…
Month: October 2018
Saturday 27 October – Newport Wetlands Leader Mike Jackson
Not many field trip reports bother mentioning Woodpigeon but on our approach to Newport Wetlands, and during the first hour and a half, Woodpigeons were passing southwards at around 1,000 birds every five to ten minutes. It would be no exaggeration to estimate in excess of 10,000 passed southwards by 10:30. Six of us had gathered at the car park…
Tuesday 23 October – Blaise Castle Leader Di Bunniss
A glorious autumn day encouraged a group of 44 to come along for the walk through Blaise Castle Estate. We set off past the mansion house and museum, heading down Church Lane into the grounds of St Mary’s Church. There we sighted a flock of 17 Greenfinches plus one lone Pied Wagtail. The walk continued through the tunnel and up…
Tuesday 16 October – Uphill Leader Jane Cumming
On an overcast but very mild day, seventeen people gathered at Uphill beach despite the threat of being made to count ducks and waders all morning. The beach here at the mouth of the River Axe is so flat that there is a huge difference between the height of the spring and neap tides. Today’s high tide got nowhere near…
Sunday 14 October – Portland Leader Robert Hargreaves
We met at Ferrybridge with misty rain and high winds, and at high tide. Not much to see, except by the Chesil outlet a small group of waders remained on the few stones still above the water. A few Skylarks called as we walked down to see them, a couple of Brent Geese stopped on the fleet, but by the…
Tuesday 09 October – Hawksbury Upton Leader Nick Hawkridge
A resurrected walk to the north of the village, hilly, so resuscitation was on the cards, but thankfully all 21 got round unscathed – even the octogenarian. We started by going through the gardens of the old pub, where a pair of Pied Wagtail ‘chizziked’ at our intrusion, and three Dunnock played chase. A couple of cock Pheasant paraded on…
Saturday 06 October – Blagdon Lake Leader Nigel Milbourne
It was a wet, breezy and cold morning starting at 8°C. Not surprisingly we were a small group of five members. We took the cars along the south shore stopping at various points and ending at the hide. Duck numbers were building nicely and we saw 41 Pintail, many Teal, some Wigeon plus Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Gadwall and Shoveler.…
Tuesday 02 October – East Harptree Leader Geoff Harris
The sunny autumn weather appeared to have deserted the 15 members gathering for this walk and the strong breeze in the trees initially made identification by sound difficult for all but the very sharp of hearing. However, Wren, Blue Tit, Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker were soon on the list and then Goldfinches were spotted feeding on cones in…