Six of us met in the RSPB car park for the Club walk. It was well timed, between all the rain and floods and then the cold, allowing us to enjoy a lovely stroll around Ham Wall. A Firecrest was seen right next to car park which didn’t linger until the walk started properly, but we had excellent looks at…
Author: BOC
Tuesday 21 November – Hillesley Leader: Alan Craddock
A change of leader; from that advertised, a dull dank day, but 17 wasn’t a bad sized group to squelch our way round the thoughtfully provided route details (thanks Graham). A flight of white doves attracted our notice but were only a distraction from the tail bobbing Stonechat that showed very well. A few Skylarks called as they travelled east…
Sunday 19 November – Uphill and Bleadon Leader: Jane Cumming
Four BOC diehards turned up despite the fact that it was blowing a hooley from the west, so I had to stay and complete the WeBS count instead of going home to warm up by the fire – which is just as well, because the final numbers were pretty good for this much disturbed shoreline. It was hard to count…
Tuesday 14 November – Easton in Gordano Leader: Judy Copeland
Heavy rain was forecast but we were undeterred. Our small group of eight set off and in the first field we quickly spotted a large mixed flock of Goldfinches and Chaffinches, twelve Collared Doves all settled in one tree, two Greenfinches, Blackbird, Crow and Jackdaw. A female Great Spotted Woodpecker was perched high on a tree. An excellent start. Squelching…
Sunday 12 November – Goldcliff Lagoons, Gwent Leader: John Skinner
Four brave souls arrived at the RSPB Newport Wetlands car park on a day planned to be Wetlands first, then Goldcliff. The forecast was dire, and it wasn’t far wrong. Low cloud and rain encouraged us to take good advice and go straight to Goldcliff and the shelter afforded by the hides. But first we had an interesting chat with…
Tuesday 07 November – Between Chew and Blagdon Lakes Leaders; Sue and John Prince
25 birders met at Heron’s Green in fine and sunny weather. The usual Mute Swans, Coots, Canada Geese, Great Crested Grebes, and ducks (Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted, and Pochard) were present. Little Grebe and Cetti’s Warbler called from Heron’s Pool. As we started up Breach Hill a Green Woodpecker called, and later we saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Pied Wagtails,…
Friday 03 – Sunday 05 November – South Devon Weekend Leader: Jane Cumming
Seventeen BOC members braved the aftermath of Storm ‘Ciaron’ which had passed through on the previous day. Friday: Our first stop on the way down was at Steps Bridge, about ten miles south west of Exeter. Unfortunately, not many birds were around, but we saw three Goldcrests together in the trees. Goosander and Magpie were also seen. Undeterred, we continued…
Tuesday 31 October – Winscombe Leader: Sue Watson
Despite heavy rain being forecast for the walk when crossing both the fields and up Sandford Hill, we were very lucky to have sunshine until returning back to our cars, when the rain started. The largest number and variety of birds were in the woods on the hill, including Jay, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tits, all other ‘makes’ of Tit, Treecreeper and…
Saturday 28 October – Frampton Pools, Gloucestershire Leader: Peter Bryant
A total of 52 species of bird were seen, testimony to the fact that Frampton Pools has a good range of habitats. Starting at Court Lake, eleven members quickly spotted a Great White Egret across the water. Ducks were relatively thin on the ground but Wigeon and Gadwall were seen as well as Tufted Duck and a single Greylag Goose.…
Tuesday 24 October – Wick-Golden Valley Leaders: Geoff and Gill Hardman
A car park filling 27 walkers basked in the autumnal warmth with the calls of Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, and Rook nearly making chatting difficult! A flock of Fieldfares, a Moorhen and a Grey Heron were startled from their foraging as we headed up the valley. No Dipper could be found, but up the path, above the ochre quarry, Goldcrest, Great…
Tuesday 17 October – Pucklechurch Leader: Graham Blacker
18 members met outside HMP Ashfield for this new BOC walk around the lovely fields of Pucklechurch. As we entered the first of many fields we spotted lots of crows as we overlooked the amazing vista towards Lansdown. Proceeding onwards, Goldfinch were recorded along with Greenfinch surveying the scene from atop the trees. Leaving the first couple of fields we…
Sunday 15 October – Cheddar Reservoir Leader: Nick Hawkridge
I arrived early to check that the Drove was indeed under water, so our party of six had to head round the tank! Some Coot were noted, which we later estimated at 600-700 after they’d been pushed together at the western edge by the yacht club safety boats. A solitary Shoveler was found; the other 28 having been flushed off…
Tuesday 10 October – Tickenham Leaders: Jan Pridie and Lois Pryce
18 members met in mild conditions, but misty to properly foggy. The birds at Tickenham village and moors were: Kestrel sleeping in church tower window, Cormorants including a juvenile sitting on one of the new style electricity pylons, a distant Peregrine sitting on another new pylon – confirmed from a photo after the meeting, Little Egret, Grey Heron including a…
Saturday 07 October – Clevedon Leader: Jane Cumming
Five members met in Old Church Road and set off for the harbour, a sixth joining us later. The weather was dry and mild (16-18C) but the westerly wind had a chill. In the harbour we saw the usual gulls and Mallard, plus Grey Heron, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Cormorant and Curlew. There were a pair of Stonechats, a Common Sandpiper,…
Tuesday 03 October – Portbury Wharf Leader: Roger Hawley
Twenty two birders gathered and after an early shower the clouds dispersed and sunny skies were a pleasure. The rail bridge made a good viewpoint over the Gordano Valley and yielded Robin, Great Tit and Chaffinch. At Wharf Lane both Chiffchaff and Collard Dove were seen, and from the first hide a Stonechat, Swallows, Gadwall and Skylark. Further on a…
Saturday 30 September – Steart WWT Leader: Richard Belson
Eight members assembled at the WWT car park. We quickly made our way over to the River Parrett and en route heard Water Rail and Cetti’s Warblers, and enjoyed views of Reed Bunting and Stonechat plus a perched Kestrel. Waders on the edges of the river were in relatively low numbers and distant but Black-tailed Godwit and Curlew were seen…
Tuesday 26 September – Stanton Drew Leader: Alan Craddock
25 members set off from the car park of the Druids Inn and headed swiftly down the road to assemble on the farm track. A good variety of birds immediately made themselves known including Dunnocks, two Collared Doves, a Wren and a Chiffchaff. Moving on, a young Buzzard was calling insistently from its perch on a hedge on the skyline.…
Tuesday 19 September – Hawkesbury Upton Leaders: The Committee
After a lively discussion on who was taking the walk in the place of our absent leader and where exactly the walk went, seven members set out into the constant wind and lightly drizzling rain. After exiting the outskirts of Hawkesbury, we spotted a couple of Pied Wagtails and a solitary Magpie amongst the Carrion Crows at a field boundary,…
Tuesday 12 September – Cheddar Reservoir and Yeo Leader: Mark Watson
The sky was overcast as 16 of us assembled on the reservoir bank to start our walk. On the water were large numbers of Coot, along with Canada Geese, Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Great Crested Grebe. Gulls seen were Black-headed, Herring, and Lesser Black-backed. As we walked along the bank skeins of Canada Geese flew in to join…
Saturday 09 September – Chipping Sodbury Common Leader: Mike Jackson
Eleven of us met for a morning walk of the common, but before we got there we spied three warblers feeding on sweet peas in an allotment. Two Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler we decided, although it could have gone the other way such are the similarities of this tricky duo! Birds were notably absent as we followed the fruit…
Tuesday 05 Sept – Puxton Leader: Colin Hawkins
15 members met at Puxton Church of the Holy Saviour on a glorious sunny day. We wandered through the grounds of the 13th century church where one Goldfinch was spotted. We proceeded through to Puxton Lane and across Puxton Moor Nature Reserve. En route we saw two Collared Doves, over 30 Starlings perched on the telegraph wires, about nine Swallows…
Saturday 02 September – Goldcliff Pools, Gwent Leader: Peter Bryant
The weather seemed fair and the walk started with a perched Kestrel and fly-past Marsh Harrier. Three Stonechats were perched on a gate and a pair of Chiffchaffs were flitting in the nearby hedgerow. For most of the morning, there were over a hundred hirundines in flight, mostly House Martins but with a few Swallow. At Curlew Hide, overlooking Monks…
Tuesday 29 August – Hambrook. Leaders: Joyce Donkor and Kate Cashmore
On a cool, overcast day, with some very light misty showers, 26 birders started on the Frome Valley Walkway from the White Horse Inn, after a look from the stone bridge where a Grey Wagtail was seen in the river. At Moorend, 16 Mallards and a Moorhen were swimming in the river. The garden feeders there attracted Blue Tits and…
Tuesday 22 August – East Harptree Woods. Leader: Geoff Harris
19 members joined Geoff in the East Harptree car park, not realising what was in store for them. Our route took us past Smithams Chimney, then downhill across fields. It took some time to safely cross the cattle field but the reward was Spotted Flycatchers. We then went down Harptree Coombe which was difficult going with many fallen trees and…
Sunday 20 August – Blagdon Lake. Leader: Robert Hargreaves
Nine people met at The Lodge at 10.00 on a pleasant, sunny morning. A few early birders had already had a look at the dam and found two Common Sandpiper. We were greeted by Nigel Milbourne, who took us down to the water’s edge to scan around the lake. Sand and House Martins were flying around and we could see…
Tuesday 15 August – Sandford Wood. Leader: Graham Blacker
Despite August being a slow month for birds and Graham warning of steep and possibly muddy paths, 20 members met in the car park of the Railway Inn. Our route took us up into Sandford Wood, then Lyncombe Wood and through the grounds of the Ski Centre (Mendip Activity Centre) where elevenses were enjoyed. Then along tracks to Pylewell and…
Tuesday 08 August – Arlingham. Leader: Alastair Fraser
Our optimistic band of twelve set out in the drizzle, beginning our walk beside drainage ditches at the village edge. Apart from Woodpigeons, not much to see, even on the bird feeders in the gardens. More luck later with a variety of woodland and farmland birds: eight Long-tailed tits, Blue tit, Great tit, Chiffchaff, Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Stock…
Sunday 06 August – Clevedon Pill. Leader: Jane Cumming
There were 15 in the group that gathered on a warm but windy Sunday for this popular walk. We were fortunate that the tide was coming in, bringing the birds into closer view. Common Sandpipers were resting on the lowest edge of the cliff, Oystercatchers were on the shore line and Whinchat and Meadow Pipit on the near shore among…
Tuesday, 01 August – Prior’s Wood, Portbury. Leader: Judy Copeland
Sunshine and warmth – No rain! And 26 people. Jackdaws foraged on the Green, a Collared Dove on a roof and a Herring Gull above. In the wood we heard Great Tit, Wren, Coal Tit, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Robin and Chaffinch. A Goldcrest was quite close on a hanging conifer branch and our first Nuthatch was calling loudly. Several more…
Saturday 29 July – Chew Valley Lake – Leader: Nick Page
Twelve of us met at Herriotts Bridge to look at a very full pool, which is not currently as good for waders as it used to be. There were many Teal and a Little Grebe family among the usual suspects. After a while we managed to pick out the Spotted Redshank that we hoped for and a Great White Egret…
Tuesday 25 July – Woodchester – Leader: Di Bunniss
We gathered in the car park and set off along the downhill path towards the mansion. The woodland was quiet but the display of butterflies was a source of great interest, with the Silver-Washed Fritillary being the star. A Treecreeper was seen, House Martins were circling high above, and Chiffchaff called. Our designated Coffee break at the Boat House was…
Sunday 23 July – Oldbury Power Station – Leader: Di Bunniss
Eight of us met to walk around the lake, lagoons and riverside. The weather was cool and very windy so it was a challenge to find many birds. Two Mute Swans and a few Mallards and Moorhens were on the lake, and Chiffchaff were calling from the trees. Goldfinches were busy feeding in the shrubs by the edge of the…
Tuesday 18 July – Bridgeyate – Leader: Geoff Hardman
19 members met in the Griffin pub car park. A possible Red Kite sighting was discounted as it was before 10:00, also a pair of Ravens. When we got underway we started off with a large and noisy flock of Starlings on the edge of the ‘Vicars’ housing estate. This was followed by some Swifts flying over. We then joined…
Saturday 15 July – Forest of Dean – Leader: Robert Hargreaves
Arriving at Nagshead around 15:30, eleven of us braved the adverse conditions. We spotted House Martin, two Crows, a Chiffchaff and a dung/dor beetle and heard a Song Thrush. It was very wet, but though uncomfortable it did brighten the green of the forest. A brief patch of sun brought out a Chaffinch, Blackcap, Swallows and Goldfinch. At the second…
Tuesday 11 July – Little Sodbury (Picnic Walk) – Leader: Graham Blacker
The threat of rain led to only 15 of us turning up, but, hey, the rain held off all morning for our lovely walk through some wonderful countryside. We sat enthralled at the first Old Fort high point with its 180 degree crisp clear view across the Severn Vale for our coffee stop and three Raven flew past. Birds noted…
Tuesday 04 July – Stockhill Woods Leader: Graham Blacker
Despite the threatening weather 18 optimistic members arrived at Stockhill Woods. Before leaving the car park some eagle-eyed birders had spotted a small flock which included Goldcrest. We then set off over the Mineries in search of Tree Pipit which disappointingly never materialised. We passed two caving clubs (Shepton Mallet CC and the Bristol Exploration Club) and then headed slowly…
Tuesday 27 June – Newport Wetlands and Goldcliff Leader: John Skinner
After the excessive heat of mid-June, a good turn-out of 27 found the Wetlands car park a bit cloudy, cool and draughty, but this did not deter the inevitable Chiffchaff from serenading us. A Green Woodpecker was spotted as we headed from the picnic area towards the estuary, rapidly followed by a Whitethroat singing from an exposed perch. Cetti’s Warbler…
Tuesday 20 June – Portishead Leader: Geoff Harris
27 people met on a hot morning, After great debate over the sighting of a possible Whimbrel on the foreshore, it was finally decided it was an immature Curlew. Also along the shoreline were Black headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, two Lesser Black Backed Gulls with Shelducks and Crows all around. On the Lake were many Mallards, approximately 100 Canada Geese…
Tuesday 13 June 2023 – Wapley Bushes Leader: Alan Daniells
Fourteen members met at the Shire Way entrance. It was sunny and dry, 21-25?C, with a light NE breeze. We crossed the railway bridge and walked through the orchard area, seeing many Meadow Brown butterflies and a Red Admiral. We crossed the main recreational area (Wapley Common) and through the uniformed groups area. In the Western Wood we heard Goldcrest…
Tuesday 06 June – Dolebury Warren Leader – Mark Watson
Twenty one members met outside the Crown, Churchill, on a fine, sunny morning with a bit of a breeze. As we set off a Greenfinch was heard. On our way to crossing the A38 the path descended through a wood we saw and heard Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Long-tailed Tit and Goldcrest. A short walk uphill to the Iron Age hillfort yielded…
Friday 02 June 2023 – Frampton Pools Leader: Nick Hawkridge
Three members met at the Frampton on Severn car park. Luckily the warm sun was keeping the chill of the NE wind at bay. We walked to Court Lake first, seeing Greylag and Barnacle geese in the meadow. On the lake there were Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan with four cygnets, Greylag with a gosling, Coot and Moorhen.…
Tuesday 30 May 2023 – Felton Common Leader: Melanie Patch
A chilly start in the breeze, as we gathered in the parking area alongside St. Katherine’s Church..Eighteen of us set off under the guidance of Melanie, who as you would expect certainly knew her ‘patch’. Despite the Common being a popular dog walking spot, Skylarks were in abundance, ascending and descending, often to an accompaniment of jet engines, singing their…
Tuesday 23 May – Wavering Down – Leader: Nick Hawkridge
The start up through the woods held Song Thrush, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, with a shout from a few Chiffchaff and the call of Stock Dove, but the prize was a Treecreeper working hard for its family. The path was steep with well-worn and thus slippery stone, until we finally emerged from the trees to see Meadow Pipit, a splendid Linnet…
Friday 19 May – Highnam Wood Leader: Lewis Thomson (RSPB)
18 of us waited in the RSPB car park for the rain to stop. Fifteen minutes after our start time our leader, Lewis, was able to address us in drier conditions. We set out along various paths that showed us the product of the careful management that this reserve benefits from. The principal practice is coppicing and is done in…
Tuesday 16 May – Sand Point – Leader: Nick Hawkridge
Two Whitethroats sang as we climbed the steps, a nearby Blackcap chimed in, as did a distant Chiffchaff. The top was not cold, the wind merely adding a refreshing zephyr to a warm day. Some Shelduck peppered the mud flats, a team of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull washed at the point, a couple of Swallow rowed past, with another…
Pembrokeshire, 17 – 21 April. Leader: Colin Hunt
Eleven car sharing members were based in Freshwater East west of Tenby, weather often chilly but dry. First stop on our way was Llanelli Wetlands Centre, Slimbridge-inspired with large areas of pool, reed and scrub close to the coast. Sightings (excluding the many foreign water fowl!) included 300 plus Black-tailed Godwits, 30 plus Knot, Lapwings, Greenshank, a juvenile? Long-tailed Duck…
Tintern 18 April – Angidy Trail Leader Graham Blacker
The weather forecast was wrong, who knew? An icy wind blew as 18 swiftly bundled up members assembled for a walk around the Angidy Trail. Nuthatches galore called and seemingly invisible Blackcaps sang as we headed out from the cars and started the climb up the hill. The first of many Buzzards was seen. Goldcrests made a brief appearance before…
Sunday 14 May – RSPB Ham Wall – Leader: Giles Morris
There was a healthy turnout of BOC members and birds on today’s walk. On first entering, seven Gadwall swooped in front of us. We unusually saw a Cetti’s Warbler perched out in the open on a pile of twigs. Bitterns boomed five times, three times, twice and flew across the landscape. Hobbies were aplenty flying high with Marsh Harriers, it…
Saturday 13 May – Quantocks, Holford – Leaders: Brian Gibbs and Dave Dawe
We met with the Somerset Ornithological Society at the unearthly hour of 08.15, some of our group were up at 05.00 to arrive in time. There were about five of us from the BOC, and twenty from SOS. The leaders were the excellent Brian Gibbs and David Dawe. The walk was up Hodder’s Combe, Somerton Combe, and up Stert Combe…
Saturday 27 May – Angidy Trail, Tintern – Leader: Graham Blacker
Fourteen members turned out for this popular walk on a lovely spring day. We spent some time walking up through the woods until we came to the quaint house of Alan Parker who once again explained to us the workings of the sun dials he expertly made and quite amazing they were. We heard Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Great Spotted Woodpecker…
Tuesday 09 May – Wains Hill and Clevedon Pill – Leader: Jane Cumming
Twenty or so people walked up over Wains Hill and along Poets’ Walk, stopping to examine the historic “Sugar lookout” and admire the bird’s-eye views south along the Clevedon coast. We noted a selection of standard woodland species, singing and displaying Whitethroats where the terrain opened out to grassland and scrub, and hirundines passing NE along the cliffs. The sluice…
Sunday 07 May – Portland and Weymouth Leader: Jane Cumming
This visit to Portland was designed to coincide with peak Skua passage, but on a fine sunny day the only evidence of migration off the Bill was two Sandwich Terns flying east a long way out and a trickle of Swallows coming in off the sea. However, the more local seabirds put on a fine show with Gannets, Fulmars and…
Club Holiday to North-east Poland 3 – 11 May – Leader William Earp
A comprehensive 44 page report can be found at – Full Trip Report This much postponed trip, originally scheduled for 2020, finally took place this year. Seven Club members, plus a welcome addition from the North-east Norfolk Bird Club, were met by eminent Polish naturalist and conservationist Marek Borkowski at Warsaw Chopin Airport, and immediately taken to a park close…
Tuesday 02 May – Oldbury Power Station – Leader Di Bunniss
On a dry and mild morning 25 members gathered in the car park where one early arrival had spotted a Grey Partridge. We set off through the meadow, to the first lake. There we stopped to watch the Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks and a Little Grebe. A great splashing in the shallow water was later confirmed as a large pike!…
Tuesday 25 April – Bleadon Levels Leader Jane Cumming
This short walk became longer than planned when we found the road closed by BT at the railway bridge. Some people drove the long way round to access the entrance to Weston STW but most parked on the closed road and hiked through, adding a couple of kilometres to the walk. All 31 of us met up near the car…
Sunday 23rd April – New Forest Leader Jane Cumming
Six members gathered at the entrance to Ashley Walk in the New Forest for this all day walk on a somewhat cloudy morning. A distant cuckoo set us off to a good start while others subsequently notified us of their presence by ‘cuckooing’ and occasionally showing well. Linnets, Goldfinch and several Blackcaps treated us to song while further down the…
Tuesday 11 April – Leap Valley Leaders: Joyce Donkor and Kate Cashmore
Lots of heavy showers and strong winds had been forecast to begin at various times from eleven o’clock onwards on this bright spring morning, but, undaunted, 25 members turned up. And the reward was lots of spring sunshine, many flowers in bloom including bluebells, plenty of birdsong and a total of 31 species seen, though not all by the whole…
Tuesday 04 April – Hanham Leaders : Karen Birmingham, Jean Oliver, Jenny Weeks
In glorious sunshine, two Roe Deer were spotted from the carpark before 29 of us set off through Bickley Wood with its fabulous display of Wood Anemones, Lesser Celandine and the first Bluebells. We soon had good sightings of Blackcap, Nuthatch, Treecreepers and Goldcrest. The trees, still in bud, allowed further good views of Coal Tits, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and…
Sunday 02 April – Inglestone Common Leader: Mike Jackson
This new walk around Inglestone Common yielded 37 species which given the subdued weather and in-between season, was a fair count. 13 of us set off from Lower Woods car park to make our way to the Common amid the continuous song of endless Chiffchaff. In the woodland Pied Wagtail, Nuthatch, Song Thrush and Treecreeper all made their presence known.…
Tuesday 28 March – Brean Down Leader: Graham Blacker
In gale force winds nine sturdy members met at the Brean cafe. Before setting off up the steep steps we managed to pick out a couple of gull species along with a noisy Cetti’s Warbler then, making our way along the road past the bird gardens ignoring their exotic calls, we stopped frequently to identify various birds calling from the…
Tuesday 21 March – Eastville Park Leader: Rich Scantlebury
22 members set off along a footpath past the allotments to enter a wide field. On the distant church spire was a Peregrine Falcon, difficult to pick out with binoculars but clearly seen through Alan’s scope. A Green Woodpecker called and Dunnock, Wren, Goldfinch and Jay were heard or seen. The path led through woodland where Nuthatch and Coal Tit…
Tuesday 14 March – Old Down Cricket Club Leader: Sue Black
The forecast encouraged 20 of us to sally forth and we were not disappointed. The morning was sunnier than predicted and almost warm! Starting across the cricket pitch we spotted Goldfinch and Chaffinch, a Raven called and was later seen. A Bullfinch and several wheezing Greenfinch added to the score. Robins were regaling us everywhere. Walking along past Tockington Manor…
Sunday 12 March – Forest of Dean, Nags Head Leader: Robert Hargreaves
A group of eleven set out from the RSPB Nagshead visitor centre to Cannop Ponds and back, a five mile circuit. We walked through mixed terrain of new and old woodland, quarries, brooks and ponds, using a range of techniques to traverse fallen trees and muddy banks. The weather was kind to us, with plenty of sunshine; the predicted late…
Tuesday 07 March – Elm Farm, Burnett Leader: Philippa Paget
22 people assembled at the farmyard on a surprisingly clement day given the doom laden forecast. A Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Coal Tit visited the nearby feeders whilst Philippa gave a short talk on the set up and ethos of the farm. Then we set off into the fields where Chaffinch, Greenfinch and eventually Yellowhammers were spotted amongst the…
Sunday 05 March – Portbury Wharf Leader: Giles Morris
Six members gathered on Sheepway for this morning walk, with another joining us part way around. A Song Thrush was singing as we assembled and was soon joined by both Goldfinch and Greenfinch. As we set off down Sheepway Lane a pair of Bullfinches moved through the hedges ahead of us, though only the female showed clearly. An owl box…
Tuesday 28 February – Forest of Dean Leader: Graham Blacker
30 birders (including five new members) met at New Fancy View on a drizzly morning, where we hoped to see Goshawk and/or Crossbill, unfortunately, neither were seen. We did see a couple of Bullfinch and Song Thrush before we split into two groups, one of which visited RSPB Nags Head the other continuing with the original itinerary. Stopping at Speech…
24 to 27 February – North Norfolk Leader: Jane Cumming
A group of 18 with some outliers were based in Hunstanton through four days of penetrating north-easterly cold but mostly dry weather. Our hotel was close to the shore and we could sea watch from some bedrooms. Early morning visits saw Fulmars cruising and roosting along the cliffs, Oystercatchers, Turnstones, a Sanderling and Knot on the shore, and Brent Geese,…
Tuesday 21 February – Chipping Sodbury Common Leader: Alan Daniells
22 members met in Hatters Lane on a damp, overcast morning with very little wind. In the trees along the road and footpath, before we crossed St Johns Way, we were treated to a mixed flock of tits and finches including Greenfinch, along with several Dunnocks. In Trinity Lane we saw more small birds including Chaffinch and House Sparrow and…
Tuesday 14 February – Ashton Court Leader: Graham Blacker
On a dry bright day 30 members met in the car park near the golf course and were greeted by the lovely sound of singing Skylarks. (The parking charge is now £4 for 5 hours.) We took a circular four mile clockwise route through the Red Deer Park down to the Lodge and over to Clarken Coombe Lodge and Woods.…
Sunday 12 February – Exe Estuary coach trip Leader: Jane Cumming
The annual coach trip to the Exe Estuary arrived at Dawlish Warren just after 10:00. After a pleasant close-up encounter with six Turnstones, a scan of the bay produced little with around twelve Great Crested Grebes and two Eider being the highlights. Walking the dunes alongside the golf course a small group of Skylarks fed on the ground next to…
Tuesday 07 February – Winterbourne Leader: Mike Jackson
22 of us set off in glorious sunshine to walk the fields and brookside woodlands of Winterbourne’s western edge. The obliging Redwing seeing us off would be the first of more than 50 that we would eventually see. As Goldcrest, House Sparrow and Robin made themselves known we entered the first frosty field to see a small group of Meadow…
Sunday 05 February – Chew Valley Lake Leader: Alan Daniells
Six members met at Herriott’s Bridge on a dry, sunny, but chilly morning. The water was very high which seemed to have put off all the waders. At Herriott’s we saw Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Tufted Duck, Scaup, Goldeneye, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Jackdaw, a Grey…
Tuesday 31 January 31- Watercress Farm, Wraxall Leader: Alastair Fraser
39 members turned out for this new walk and were not disappointed! Starting at the farmhouse with an introduction about the site from Alastair, we first went to Watercress Wood where three Great Spotted Woodpeckers put on quite a display for us and loud drumming was heard too. On the bank of the nearby stream a Kingfisher nest hole was…
Saturday 28 January 2023 – Marshfield Leader: Sue and Nigel Kempson
Shortly after leaving Tanners Lane, our attention was drawn to a string of birds on telegraph wires. Scope views confirmed them as a mix of Starlings and Corn Buntings. A small flock of Common Gulls flew past, and a Stonechat was found perched on a stone wall. The horses’ field held a good number of Fieldfare (we counted over 125…
Tuesday 24 January – Gordano Valley Leader: Geoff Harris
28 people met on a below freezing bright day. We started with Magpie, many Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon and two Buzzards at a distance, one being very pale. Along Clevedon Lane Chaffinch, many Blue and Great Tits, Blackbirds, Long-tailed Tits were seen with Ravens overhead. Heading across the valley Bullfinch were noted, then just before coffee two to three pairs…
Tuesday 17 January – Shapwick Heath/Ham Wall Leader: Mark Watson
A very cold but bright sunny day gave us so much birdlife with clear views starting on the Shapwick reserve before crossing to the RSPB Ham Wall reserve. On Shapwick there were many duck including numerous Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Pochard, some Tufted Duck, Coot and more! Of particular note was the male American Wigeon, showing its eye-catching green “cheek”…
Sunday 15 January – Clevedon Leader: Jason Williams
We started the walk from Wains Hill and headed towards The Pill where scoping produced a Curlew, two Common Gulls and an Oystercatcher. Three Rock Pipits and a Stonechat were seen well. We continued to the Blind Yeo and walked up to Lower Strode Road adding a Little Egret and a few common passerines on the way. Two Goosander were…
Tuesday 10 January – Easter Compton Leader: Graham Blacker
Mud, glorious mud! We saw quite a bit of it and some areas were a challenge to negotiate. The walk started from the Fox Inn, leading past the church and across fields and areas of uncultivated rough pasture. Plenty of bird life was visible including Redwing, Fieldfare, flocks of Goldfinches and Blue Tit. We squelched along to reach a wooded…
Sunday 08 January – Westhay Moor NNR Leader: Jenny Vickers
The forecast was for sunshine and showers throughout the day. Not ideal, but certainly good enough weather for a visit to the fabulous Westhay. So, eleven people met in the car park and ventured into the reserve. At the first hide, we had bright sunshine with dramatic grey clouds giving a beautiful light. This nicely showed the plumages of the…
Tuesday 03 January – Newton St Loe Leader: Robert Hargreaves
Eight intrepid walkers, appropriately suited and booted for the foul weather, met at the church. Our route down to Ripple Effect (formerly Send-a-Cow) was quiet for birds except for a fine flock of Goldfinch; similarly quiet along the wooded lane and the more open track to the waterfall. Maybe the persistent rain had something to do with it. The waterfall…
Sunday 01 January – Slimbridge Leader: Di Bunniss
A group of approximately 25 met in the carpark for the traditional New Year visit to Slimbridge. We were fortunate with the weather, which stayed dry for the main part of the day. As we met up we were already seeing large flocks of Lapwing circling overhead, with their particular ‘floppy wing’ style, and flocks of Greylag Geese and Golden…
Tuesday 27 Dec – Portbury Wharf Leader: Roger Hawley
Fourteen members wishing to undo the effects of too much Christmas food set out for Portbury Wharf on a dull and mild day. The railway bridge is a good viewing point and we had distant views of Great Spotted Woodpecker and Redwings. In Wharf Lane Goldcrest, Chaffinch and Goldfinch were seen, as were the new pylons being erected. From the…
Tuesday 20 Dec – Snuff Mills Leader: Nick Hawkridge
What a lovely day for the last walk before Christmas. We trod the usual path up the south side of the River Frome. The first stretch of woodland was nearly silent but with plenty of tits and Goldcrest to be seen. The rear half of the 15 walkers managed to see Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker and caught up the…
Saturday 17 December – Oldbury Power Station Leader: Pete Hazelwood
An exceptionally rich walk round a still but very cold Oldbury Power Station ended with 60 bird species seen. 14 people met at 08.30 – early enough for the sun to be rising as we travelled there; and many eyes found many birds, including Shelduck, Teal, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and a handsome male Pintail (the latter ducks presumably driven…
Tuesday 13 December – Pensford Leaders : Mike Landon and Alan Craddock
Ten intrepid and initially very cold members set off from the village hall car park. A quick trip across the main road for a peek over the bridges proved fruitless, unfortunately, so we pressed on to the Common where we saw floppy flights of Lapwings heading west. A Green Woodpecker gave us an undulating fly-past followed by the first Sparrowhawk…
Tuesday 06 December – Saltford Leader: Robert Hargreaves
On a dull day 36 walkers set off from The Riverside, where the BOC Christmas lunch was to be held. Shortly after starting a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen, a Mistle Thrush called to show itself, a Grey Heron looked attentive on the river bank and a Sparrowhawk swished by. A Cormorant perched high on a tree. Another birder told…
Saturday 03 December – Eastville Park and Stoke Park Leader: Richard Scantlebury
On a cold but dry day ten of us walked down from Thingwall Park into the Frome Valley, spotting Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Great Tit and a total of twelve Redwings in the woodland. Above the river, we had good views of a male Kingfisher, and on the first weir there was a Heron and a Grey Wagtail. Four Stock Doves showed…
Tuesday 29 November – South Stoke Leader: Graham Blacker
Seven intrepid walkers met in the village of South Stoke just south of Bath on a very foggy morning. Setting off along Packhorse Lane we stopped to look across the valley at the fantastic views – apparently you should see Westbury White Horse from here, but we could hardly see the hedgerow. We turned into a field hoping to see…
Tuesday 22 November – Chew Valley and Lake Leader: Mike Landen
It was a lovely November day with sunshine and rather warmer than expected as 28 of us set off from the main car park at the lake towards the dam wall. On the way we saw a couple of Long-tailed Tits. We then managed to see a number of species that included Canada Goose (two), Mallard, Goldeneye (two), Great Crested…
Sunday 20 November – Somerset Levels Leader: Charles Martin
On a bright morning of sunshine and showers nine of us set off on a meandering visit to Ham Wall, pausing at the first viewpoint and boardwalk en route for the Avalon Hide on the far side of the reserve. During our wanderings we saw and/or heard 40 species ranging from smaller birds such as Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting and…
Tuesday 15 November – Blaise Estate Leader: Di Bunniss
Despite a dire weather forecast, predicting heavy and continuous rain, an optimistic group of 14 gathered in Blaise car park. As we grappled with the complexities of the ticket machine, the rain eased and by 10:00 we set off in the dry and thankfully it stayed that way. The first birds to be seen were Magpies, gathering near the cafe.…
Sunday 13 November – RSPB Newport Wetlands and Goldcliff Leader: Peter Bryant
The sun was shining as eleven of us including one guest arrived in the Gwent Levels. As we walked to the RSPB stall to peruse the sightings board we passed a set of bird feeders, enabling us to claim a variety of tits and finches as well as a female Pheasant that had established itself below the feeders. Some of…
Tuesday 08 November – Bristol City Docks Leader Alan Craddock
And the Lord said unto Noah.… “ 26 birdwatchers shall thy take and shelter from the driving rains beneath the canopy of We the Curious for oh, 20 minutes or so, before they shall venture forth around the dockside of olde Bristol towne”. And lo, the rain did abate and we set off bravely. We were accompanied by Amanda Tuke…
Saturday 05 November – Frampton on Severn Leader: Mike Jackson
On our way to Court Lake we checked out the gull flock in front of Frampton Court house. Black-headed dominated, with the exception of a single Common Gull, a Herring Gull, plus a lone Greylag Goose. Court Lake was busy with many Mute Swan, Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler and Coot, but much fewer Mallard and Moorhen. Six Little Grebe dived together,…
Tuesday 01 November – Bleadon Levels Leader: Jane Cumming
A stormy night left behind a dramatic cloudscape, with the sun breaking through to create vibrant colour-saturated views over this beautiful stretch of fields, levels and river south of Weston STW. Flyover Black-headed Gulls shone white against dark cumulus clouds, Grey Heron and Mallard gleamed against the grey water, and 250 Lapwings flashed black and white underwings as they rose…
Saturday 29 October – Uphill and Bleadon Levels Leader: Jane Cumming
meeting combined a BOC outing with a belated WeBS count, so the group was subjected to a stationary hour on the beach surveying the high tide roosts. The counts of 180 Shelduck and 103 Oystercatcher were much as expected, but other numbers were low – just a few Mallard and Teal, two Wigeon, a handful of Curlews on the Brean…
Tuesday 25 October – Upton Cheney/Swineford Leader: Geoff Hardman
21 of us met in the Upton Inn car park in the fine mild weather; it was good to welcome two who were new to the group. Coming off the rough track, starting the long downhill path through fields we had the unmistakeable flight of a Great Spotted Woodpecker, some fine views to the west and the sight of winter…
Tuesday 18 October – Litton Reservoirs/Hinton Blewitt Leaders: Sue and John Prince
A group of 15 birders met outside the ‘Ring of Bells’ on a misty autumn morning, the sun breaking through as we set off past the church. The first excitement came as we watched Long-tailed Tits in a holly tree and realised that the neighbouring tree held a lovely young male Sparrowhawk. As we walked down the road to Coley…
Monday 17 to Friday 21 October – Lulworth Cove Leader: Alastair Fraser
Day One: Our first day’s bird walk was to Morden Bog a NNR in Wareham forest, a remnant of Dorset’s once extensive heathland. We walked along a sunken footpath lined with oaks and pines, opening out into a heathland of birch, gorse, and sedge tussocks. Fungi were plentiful including Fleecy Milkcap, False Chanterelle, Russula brittle stem, Sulphur Tuft, Boletus, Amanita…
Tuesday 11 October – Priddy Leader: Graham Blacker
On a beautiful autumn morning 17 members assembled on Priddy Green. Graham led us up to the church and through the churchyard to Nine Barrow Lane. We then took a footpath over fields to East Water Lane. Here Nick organised a photograph of the group as one had been taken at the same spot some years earlier. The bird list…