The car park was busy; ominously full of bike-racked cars and vans, but we came through unscathed and even avoided the horses. In dappled sunlight and a fresh breeze we started our tally with Bullfinch, quickly followed by Stock Dove singing its dulcet ‘ooo-ue’ in the woods. Our first target was achieved with singing Wood Warbler closely followed by Pied…
Author: BOC
Tuesday 24 May – Ridge Woods, Yate Leader: Alan Daniells
Fourteen members met on a mostly dry day. We were treated to views of a Lesser Whitethroat in the thick hedge bordering the road and two Peregrines which flew over. Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, a Greenfinch, a Bullfinch were also heard. Entering the woods we heard Treecreepers and Goldcrests. We passed the rookery which has about 40 nests this year. Although the…
Sunday 22 May – Purbeck Coast Leader: Alastair Fraser
We were fortunate to have a fine and sunny day for our field trip. Coaches are not permitted to enter Worth Matravers so we walked down the road to the village and then towards the coast at Winspit. The route was a Whitethroat alley with several singing males along the way and two Red Kites circling over the hill to…
Tuesday 17 May – Burrington Ham Leader: Clive Burton
Eighteen of us met at the lower car park in Burrington Coombe on a warm, sunny morning. We walked up through the woods onto Burrington Ham. We walked along the flank of Black Down past oak woods and carpets of bluebells. Finally, we walked down the other side of the Coombe to our starting point. Among the bird species we…
Sunday 15 May – Ham Wall Leader: Bob Buck
Eight of us set out along the railway track at Ham Wall on a mild and pleasant morning. Herons showed well, starting with two Glossy Ibis flying low over the path, then regular sightings of Great White Egrets all morning (there are 40 nests in Somerset this spring) as well as Little Egret, Grey Heron and, of course, Bitterns which…
Friday 13 May – Highnam Woods Leader: Gareth Roberts
Lewis Thomson from Gloucester RSPB met twelve of us on a fine and still evening, much to the delight of the local insects. The reserve is managed to encourage Nightingale. This is their most north-westerly breeding site in the UK, the nearest other site may now be Salisbury Plain, most are in the south-east. New strategies are being tried against…
Tuesday 10 May – Angidy trail, Tintern Leader: Graham Blacker
Fifteen lucky people arrived at the Lower Wireworks car park on a fine day at the start of the Angidy Trail, a walk up a tributary valley of the River Wye at Tintern. The walk started steeply through garlic heady woods with the constant sounds of Song Thrush, Wren and Blackcap, joined by Nuthatch and solitary Mistle Thrush and Stock…
8-13 May 2022 – Spanish Steppes Leader: Jane Cumming
The BOC party of 12 joined six others at Plymouth for this tour arranged by Wessex Continental Travel Co. Many were up on deck by 5pm to see what seabirds and cetaceans British waters had to offer, and then at dawn the following morning in the Bay of Biscay. There were many excellent sightings of Common and Striped Dolphins, also…
Saturday 07 May – Blagdon Lake Leader: Nigel Milbourne
Nine members met up with warden, and club member, Nigel Milbourne at the Fishing Lodge. With access to all areas, we were able to go through the conservation barrier at Butcombe Bay, and complete a walk right around the lake – not usually possible under normal access arrangements. We headed out in an anti-clockwise direction, listening to the songs of…
Tuesday 03 May – Puxton Moor Leader: Gareth Roberts
Eighteen of us set out through the churchyard on a cloudy day, hearing good numbers of garden birds. Along the road to Moor Lane we heard the first of nine Reed Warblers in the narrow ditch-side reeds. Some later gave us glimpses. Approaching the AWT reserve we heard Song Thrush and the first of two Lesser Whitethroats was picked out.…
Tuesday 26 April – Leap Valley, Downend Leaders: Joyce Donker and Kate Cashmore
A sunny morning and a delightful walk through varied habitats including field, woodland, narrow country lane and riverside. We left Blackhorse Road to enter an open area of common land with trees and shrubs. There we spotted Starling, Crow, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Pied Wagtail. The route led us through woodland carpeted in Bluebells and other wild spring…
Sunday 24 April – New Forest Leader: Jane Cumming
Thirteen people met at Ashley Walk in the New Forest for a walk through open heathland, woodland (some ancient) with closely-grazed glades and intermittent small streams. The weather started cold with a strong north-east wind but remained sunny all day. On the heath, brilliant with thickly flowering gorse, we found two Dartford Warblers, Common Redstarts, Stonechats, Linnets and two surprising…
Saturday 09 April – Sand Point and Middle Hope Leader Matt Hull
Fifteen members met at the car park and were introduced to our substitute leader Matt, a student on his gap year who birded the area most days. We first heard Blackcap and Chiffchaff and soon had good views of both species. Walking up the hill we startled a Jay. From the ridge, looking down on the mud of Sand Bay,…
19-22 April 2022 – Mid-Wales Leaders: Kate Cashmore and Clive Burton
Thirteen of us met at at Llangasty Church on the south side of Llangorse Lake, just east of Brecon. The lake is a large shallow natural lake, good for fish, plants and invertebrates and therefore birds, including Garganey, Great White Egret and Marsh Harrier. In the reed beds in front of the hide we had good views of a male…
Tuesday 19 April – Northend, Bath Leader: Robert Hargreaves
Sixteen people met in Northend village on a fine day. Greenfinches and Collared Doves sang close by. As we set off up the hill our leader pointed out the remains of last year’s House Martins’ nests; the village usually has a good population. We commenced the long uphill slog to Little Solisbury Hill. Reaching the top we were greeted by…
Tuesday 12 April – Barrow Gurney Leader: Geoff Harris
Surprisingly, only 16 turned up for this lovely walk although the weather forecast had not been optimistic. Immediately we left the car park we saw Green Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Chiffchaff and Great Tit along with many other usual suspects, so many in fact we thought we may as well stay put for the three hours! We all continued heading towards Barrow…
Tuesday 05 April – Hanham Leaders: Karen Birmingham, Jean Oliver, Jenny Weeks
There were 26 of us who set off on a blustery dry day, up through broadleaved woodlands carpeted with wood anemones, celandines and other spring flowers, through open grassland and back along the River Avon past the heronry. Between us we saw or heard 34 species including a pair of Bullfinches and Greenfinch, Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackcap, Chiffchaff,…
Tuesday 29 March – Castle Combe Leader: Geoff Hardman
There was a healthy turnout of 20 birders, keen to enjoy a nice Spring day. The group had a pleasant walk across fields, spotting Redwing as we went, and down through the almost impossibly picturesque village. We paused at the bridge over the brook where we heard a distant Nuthatch calling. There was plenty of birdsong in the trees around…
Tuesday 22 March – River Avon Leader: Judy Copeland
What a glorious day for a walk. We disappeared into the confines of Leigh Woods where Sue Prince’s sharp ears picked out many of the usual woodland species as we walked towards the river, but I think we all managed Chiffchaff and Nuthatch, and she later got a Blackcap. A woodland clearing with useful stumps provided an idyllic setting for…
Saturday 19 March – Portbury Wharf Leader: Judy Copeland
Eleven people set off along Sheepway Lane on a beautiful but chilly morning. A Goldcrest was heard in a tree bordering the road, and for the first part of the walk along the path between hedges we were reliant on those with sharp ears but most of us heard the first of four Chiffchaffs. We had a new birder with…
Tuesday 15 March – Coalpit Heath Leader: Mike Jackson
The House Sparrow and Greenfinch calls faded as we left the village. The first Ash yielded our first star bird, a roosting Little Owl. Onwards past the still short crops, Skylark song persisted, Buzzards predictably soared and a couple of Meadow Pipits poked about in the adjacent grassland. At Ram Hill, two Mistle Thrushes were prominent in a horse paddock…
Tuesday 08 March – Frampton on Severn Leader Alastair Fraser
A rather bitter wind greeted the twenty two members at Frampton. The route includes several lakes, hedgerow, woodland and open arable fields. Smaller birds were keeping their heads down in the keen wind and proved hard to find but we saw or heard a surprising number of Chiffchaffs in the woodland. Small groups of Redwing were still around and we…
Sunday 06 March – Forest of Dean Leader: Jane Cumming
On a chilly, overcast morning with a moderate north-east wind, a dozen members gathered at the raptor lookout at New Fancy View. The first to arrive were treated to a wonderful view of a pair of Crossbill in the top of a pine just yards away. Siskin chased each other over the valley but never came close. The only Goshawk…
Tuesday 01 March – Forest of Dean Leader: Nick Hawkridge
Despite being an overcast morning with a chill wind and mediocre weather forecast 26 people mustered at New Fancy View, hopeful of seeing Goshawk, Crossbill and whatever else. Goshawks are notoriously elusive, hunt within the tree cover and it wasn’t the weather for the spring display flight, so we weren’t optimistic. At the viewpoint, facing straight into the wind and…
Sunday 27 February – Clevedon Pill and Wains Hill Leader: Jane Cumming
This walk began inauspiciously with a low tide and the news that Dowlais Lane was closed until 1st April, so rather than follow the usual route down to the River Kenn roost, we started with a walk over Wains Hill to look for woodland species until the tide rose a bit. There was plenty of song from Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins…
Tuesday 22 February – Uphill Leader: Colin Hawkins
Nine of us met on a cold, windy morning, thinking that maybe a lie in followed by a leisurely breakfast would have been a better idea. We watched a group of Oystercatchers sheltering from the wind, whilst we thought about the best course of action. The sight of a woman in just a bathing costume (and gloves!) splashing around in…
Saturday 19 – 22 February – Cornwall weekend Leader: Jane Cumming
Our group of 13 was based near St Just. Day one started at Hayle’s Carnsew Pool, showing Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Greenshank, Sinensis Cormorants with extensive white head areas, and Little Grebes; another visit added Shags. At Hayle Estuary, we saw Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Grey and Ringed Plover, Curlew, Dunlin, Redshank, Common and Yellow-legged Gull,…
Tuesday 15 February – Old Down/Tockington Leader: Sue Black
The wind roared, the rain poured, but despite the appalling weather six birders had gathered at Tockington playing field to await the leader! Never say bird watchers are not up for a challenge! We set off in good heart, noting several gulls (Common and Black-headed) on the playing field, plus a Magpie and Robin, a good start. The horses galloped…
Tuesday 08 February – Winscombe Leader: Sue Watson
21 set off across fields, quickly finding good numbers of House Sparrows, Woodpigeons, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Starlings, Greenfinches, Redwings, and Gulls above – Black-headed, Common and Lesser Black-backed . The first of several Bullfinches was heard and a Song Thrush found the highest view point. We passed two donkeys before climbing Sandford Hill. Four Ravens “churred” overhead. Long-tailed Tits…
Sunday 06 February – Exe Coach Trip Leader: Jane Cumming
23 members joined the coach. Fields through Somerset and Devon held scores to hundreds of gulls, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Canada and Brent Geese, and a Pochard in a pond. First stop Dawlish Warren front for a high tide sea watch, seeing Gannets, Great Crested Grebe, Turnstone, Cormorants and Shags, and a flock of eleven Common Scoter nicely visible flying and…
Tuesday 01 February – Lansdown Leaders: Anne Crowe and Graham Blacker
26 people gathered at Lansdown Park and Ride. Keen eyes picked up a distant Mistle Thrush as we crossed the road to the racecourse. The weather was better than expected with some sun and blue sky but we battled with a strong west wind along the track; then up to the golf course to be greeted by a tame Stonechat…
Tuesday 25 January – Bridgeyate Leader: Geoff Hardman
Instead of one of those misty, moist winter mornings with shafts of sunlight catching the seasonal colours, 25 members set out on a wall to wall grey morning, some of us in hope of seeing the Red Kite which has been spotted in this area on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, it eluded us today. However, before we set out our leader…
Saturday 22 January – Marshfield Leader: Sue Kempson
26 intrepid birders met at Tanners Close for this morning only meeting. For Marshfield the conditions were good with a temperature of two degrees, clear sky and no wind. Following the usual route down the track and over the fields we saw and heard Skylarks, with a few Yellowhammers around the paddock and Stonechat on the fence. There were plentiful…
Tuesday 18 January – Dolebury Warren Leader: Mark Watson
On a chilly, cloudy day 22 members met at the Crown in Churchill for a walk over Dolebury Warren. As we set off up the slope from the pub car park Jackdaws were in the trees along with Dunnock, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Wren and the first of several Robins. A solitary Greenfinch was seen by some and a…
Tuesday 11 February – Hambrook Leaders: Joyce Donker and Kate Cashmore
Twenty five walkers met at the White Horse, Hambrook, on a mild overcast but dry day. Beyond the car park, we met the Frome, and from the old bridge, watched our first Dipper of the day. We followed the Frome Valley Walkway to a road bridge, below which were Mallard and Moorhen. Then we saw Blue and Great Tits, Robin,…
Sunday 09 January – Westhay Moor NNR Leader : Nigel Kempson
A slightly earlier start than normal for 13 members including the leader but it was worth it. Our route took us up Dagg’s Lane Drove and over to London Drove. Along the way we visited a number of hides with varying success but avoided The Mire as it was flooded. The weather was benign although there was a little sun…
Tuesday 04 January – Hengrove Mounds and Manor Woods Leader : Graham Blacker
17 members turned out on a cold and windy morning for a dual site trip. The first was Hengrove Mounds, a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) cared for by Avon Wildlife Trust. The mounds are doughnut shaped and we were able to walk around the rim. The birds were not impressed with the weather but by the end of…
Tuesday 28 December – Snuff Mills Leader: Nick Hawkridge
The climb through the woods south of the river was noisy – the wind thrashing the trees and the River Frome gushing over the weirs. SO it was only a few tits, Woodpigeons and Crows in the tops, with the cackle of a Magpie and the squawk of a Jay being all we could hear. As 13 of us wandered…
Tuesday 21 December – Between Chew and Blagdon Lakes Leaders: Sue and John Prince
Herons Green, Chew Valley Lake, on an overcast cold morning, was the venue for 22 of us to meet for a walk over Breach Hill and down past Blagdon Lake and the Ubley hatchery. Before setting out we saw a pair of Goldeneyes, two dabchicks, and a flyover Cattle Egret. As we climbed the lane we passed a field full…
Sunday 19 December – Chew Valley Lake Leader: John Rossetti
An intrepid group turned up at Herriott’s Bridge on this cold damp morning. While we hoped to be looking AT Chew Valley Lake, for most of the time we were looking FOR the lake as thick fog rolled in and around. The forecast suggested a brightening later on, but it turned out this must have been a forecast for somewhere…
Tuesday 07 December – Portishead Leader: Geoff Harris
We started in rain but finished, thankfully, without rain. The lake was only marginally wetter – it did however contain the usual mix of Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Black-headed Gull. They were all nicely concentrated around a local lady, who arrived on a red mobility scooter with what looked like the contents of a bakery. Up…
Tuesday 30 November – Cheddar Reservoir/Cheddar Yeo Leader: Mark Watson
The wind was strong and the drizzle heavy as 18 members set off alongside the Reservoir. We saw six Tufted Ducks on the rough water and six Great Crested Grebes, and a Cormorant on a buoy. A few Pied Wagtails were in the paddock below us. Coot numbers were high with well over 1200 estimated and a few Black-headed Gulls…
Sunday 28 November – Newport Wetlands Leader: Mike Jackson
We gathered in bright sunshine, belying the freezing air temperature. First stop was the feeding station where the usual suspects gave us some easy ticks. In the extensive reed beds we immediately targeted Bearded Tit but none showed for us despite checking every little brown job we saw which were invariably Reed Bunting. Little Grebe, Mallard and Starling all appeared,…
Tuesday 23 November – Hawkesbury Upton Leader: Nick Hawkridge
The mist and cold stayed with us all day, but being well coated and gloved it meant nothing to 24 walkers at Hawkesbury Upton. The Chaffinches, Starlings and House Sparrows that decorated the roofs and TV aerials in the village were keeping strange company – a Common Gull, so close that views of all its characteristic markings were plain to…
Tuesday 16 November – Arlingham Leader: Alastair Fraser
Arlingham is an area of mixed farming adjacent to the tidal river, situated on a bend in the Severn just south of Gloucester. Seventeen of us met on a dry day, overcast with some sunny spells, for a walk of just under four miles. We had a variety of woodland birds including a Great Spotted Woodpecker as we began our…
Saturday 13 November – Eastville Park and Stoke Park. Leader Richard Scantlebury
Six members assembled for this walk. At the river we had immediate success as almost the first tree had a Great Spotted Woodpecker. As we were watching that, a Sparrowhawk appeared overhead. Further down the path we came across a pair of Jays then a party of Long-tailed Tits, one of which appeared to have lost its tail – very…
Tuesday 09 November – Wick and Golden Valley Leader: David Body
Fourteen of us met at the Rose and Crown pub for a four mile walk along the River Boyd and through woods to the flooded quarry, and across fields and lanes. Although it was fairly quiet 31 species were seen, including twelve Common Gulls, a female Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, seven Fieldfares, and two Redwings. A large flock of Woodpigeons was…
Saturday 06 November – RSPB Greylake Leader: Robert Hargreaves
Eight of us met in the car park at 10:00. We started with a walk up the south side to the screen. It was too windy for Bearded Tits but we heard a Chiffchaff and Sparrowhawk, saw Stonechat, Buzzard, Kestrel, and the first field had a few hundred Lapwings, a Great White Egret, Greenfinch and Linnet. At the screen there…
Tuesday 02 November – Stanton Drew Leader Alan Craddock
Twenty-four of us set out from Stanton Drew heading for Pensford on a cool and bright morning. We stopped at the farm by the Church to pick out a mixture of a Wren, Robins and House Sparrows in amongst the shrubs and brambles. There was a mixture of gulls (including Common Gull) and corvids around the standing stones, with the…
Saturday 30 October – Blagdon Lake Leader: Nigel Milbourne
Eleven members met at the Blagdon Lake Fishing Lodge at 10:00, some having previously taken a look along the dam where some Grey Wagtails and Little Grebe were seen. Weather was 10-14C with a fairly stiff breeze making it feel quite cold. Despite heavy overnight rain, it was dry except for a short heavy shower during the return part of…
Tuesday 26 October – Bleadon Levels Nature Reserve Leader: Jane Cumming
This new venue attracted 26 walkers despite the damp and overcast weather. When I arrived to find the car park full of birders I said “What are you all doing here? There won’t be any birds”, having seen very little during a scouting visit a couple of weeks earlier. How wrong I was! – we had 49 species. At first…
Sunday 24 October – Clevedon-Yeo Leader: Jane Cumming
As 17 people, including a new member and another potential member, assembled in Old Church Road, the weather looked distinctly unpromising. However, it steadily improved through the morning and it certainly didn’t stop us from birding! There was relatively little on the water by Clevedon Pill, a handful of Shelducks and Great Black-backed Gulls being the pick of the bunch.…
Sunday 17 October – Bristol City Docks meeting was cancelled
alas the rain was against us
Tuesday 12 October – Saltford Leader: Robert Hargreaves
We met on a sunny morning but at quarter to ten Graham Blacker, our new Tuesday walks organiser, said he had seen a pair of Little Owls further down Mead Lane. To our delight they were still there. We met later arrivals up on the cycle track over the river. Going on two different routes, the hardy ones through the…
Sunday 10 October – WWF Steart Leader: Richard Belson
What a lovely day and what fantastic birds and, of course, good company! 14 of us met in the WWT car park and set off for the Quantock hide overlooking Otterhampton Marsh, meanwhile picking up a large flock of 80 Wigeon and 40 Teal in the sky in the distance. The waders here consisted mainly of Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plover…
Tuesday 05 October – East Harptree Leader: Nick Hawkridge
The forecast was for variable weather and so it turned out with wind, rain and some sun. As 18 of us set off we heard, then saw, five Coal Tits in the conifers. Robin and a Wren were heard and then, as usual in this habitat, Goldcrest was also heard, followed by a Nuthatch and Blue Tit. Further along the…
Tuesday 28 September – Frome Valley, Frampton Cotterell Leader: Mike Jackson
It was an overcast morning as 17 of us met by St. Peter’s Church. As we were about to set off a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen and we heard House Sparrows. Walking past the allotments we saw a Blue Tit and a few Woodpigeons. As we came to open countryside we saw Carrion Crow and about 13…
Sunday 26 September – Goldcliff Leader: Robert Hargreaves
Nine members met at Goldcliff on another pleasant, sunny morning. We welcomed one new member to their first field meeting. The first pool, Monk’s Lagoon, was really bare, the best being a Wheatear and some distant Godwits and Dunlins, and a large flock of Lapwings in the sky. The tide was due in at eleven so we were in a…
Tuesday 21 September – Tickenham Leaders: Jan Pridie and Lois Pryce
20 people met on a warm still day that seemed very quiet but gradually filled with birds – even if only ones and twos of common species – to a total of 37. On the golf course stretch: dozens of Pied Wagtails with a Wheatear and a few Swallows above. Through the wooded areas: Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Raven,…
Tuesday 14 September – Marshfield Leader: Chris Perry
Nine had faith that the vagaries of our venue would turn up trumps and despite the weather, it did. Rook, Crow and Magpie were first to show and then a splendid Stonechat, with one then two Wheatear to follow. A low flying Sparrowhawk caught someone’s attention, we all saw it eventually. Over at the farm (Culverslade), a Kestrel showed its…
Sunday 12 September – East Devon Leader: Jane Cumming
It was decided the previous evening that the variety of birds being reported at Bowling Green Marsh was better than at Seaton Wetlands, so we moved the meeting point to Topsham for those who had signed up on Doodle, thereby abandoning three other members who hadn’t let us know that they planned to join the trip. Anyway, they had a…
Tuesday 07 September – Easton-in-Gordano Leader: Judy Copeland
This was a hot day – 27C approximately! We made for what shade we could find, including a large patch for the coffee break when I handed out cake in memory of Peter Holbrook who used to produce delicious chocolate brownies for his walks. We started off from the village spotting Starlings on the church tower, House Martins in the…
Saturday 04 September – Chew Valley Lake Leader: Robert Hargreaves
Fifteen people met at Herriott’s Bridge on a pleasant sunny morning. We welcomed two new members to their first field meeting and a guest from the United States. With water levels fairly low and with the help of ‘scopes, careful searching revealed some waders: two Snipe, two Ruff, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit and seven Green Sandpipers. Among the usual ducks were…
Tuesday 31 August – Upton Cheney / Swineford. Leader: Dave Body
On an overcast morning with a definite chill in the air 17 members met in the car park of the Upton Cheney Inn. Shortly after starting the walk, a Grey Heron was seen flying in the distance, followed by a Cormorant flying in the same direction and we also heard a Green Woodpecker. A little later a Greenfinch was heard.…
Tue 24 August – Little Sodbury. Leader: Nick Hawkridge
Above the car two Goldcrests were spotted sporting in the Yew that stands in St Adeline’s church yard and our departure point. A party of 26 is almost bound to stretch over a fair distance, coming together only when we stopped, firstly for Great Spotted Woodpecker with a Nuthatch accompanist, followed by Coot and Moorhen on the reservoir (now screened…
Tuesday 17 August – Hinton Blewitt and Litton Leaders: Sue and John Prince
Our group of 16 walkers met outside the Ring O’ Bells pub. After an overcast start the sun came out for us while a family of four Ravens displayed, and House Martins could be heard nearby. Down Coley Hill we heard Goldcrest, Nuthatch, and Great-spotted Woodpecker. A mixed flock of tits – Blue, Great, and Coal flitted through the trees.…
Saturday 14 August – Chipping Sodbury Common Leader: Linda Moysey
Eight members including the leader met at 0900 in Hatters Lane. The weather was 17-19°C, humid and overcast at first, sunny later and a light breeze. We walked up the hill along Trinity Lane past the golf club entrance into the common. Passing the large house (marked The Windmill on OS map) we looked for cattle, hoping to see Yellow…
Tuesday 10 August – Blaise Estate Leader: Di Bunniss
August may be a quiet time for the birds, but the Buddleia bush near the Churchyard was full of butterflies. Red Admiral, Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Peacock all seen taking advantage of the flowers. Very few birds were seen in the churchyard, but the next field was more productive, with a flock of mixed Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits and Chiffchaff,…
Tuesday 03 August – Kings Wood Leader: Clive Burton
15 members assembled at the Kings Wood car park and proceeded westerly uphill along the West Mendip Way. The weather was 14 to 17°C, dry, still and cloudy at first, with sun and a light breeze later. Several species seen or heard in the woods included Nuthatch and Treecreeper. Coming out of the woods onto the heathland, the first of…
Saturday 31 July – Marshfield Leaders: Sue and Nigel Kempson
Eleven members met at Tanners Close for this evening walk. As we gathered to start the meeting, the heavens opened and the first part of the walk was in pouring rain with little bird activity. We left the normal route to Rushmead Lane as it was overgrown and branched off directly to the barns on a public footpath. On the…
Tuesday 27 July – Redhouse Farm/Felton Common Leader: Melanie Patch
Redhouse Farm – Winford Manor was a bit misleading as we didn’t visit the farm, but Felton Common was none the less a rewarding place to do our walk. With numbers up to our best so far and with two new faces (welcome both) twenty eight walkers set off in the company of Melanie Patch, our host from the farm.…
Tuesday 20 July – Velvet Bottom Leader: Geoff Harris
It was a scorching day for our walk and most birds were keeping well out of the heat. It was very quiet walking down the valley along the old lead workings but the butterflies were out in force. Beautiful Dark Green Fritillaries, a speciality in the area, Brimstone, Small Heath and Small Skipper. Towards the bottom we had a glimpse…
Sunday 18 July – Forest of Dean (evening meeting) Leaders: Jane Cumming and Ed Drewitt
Towards the end of a blisteringly hot day, our small party first assembled at Cannop Ponds. The ducks were not looking at their best, many of them being in eclipse plumage, but we picked out Mallard, Tufted Duck and (best of all) eight Mandarin. There was a sizeable Grey Wagtail family flying about at the end of the pond and…
Tuesday 13 July – Chew Valley Lake Leader: Mike Landen
Nineteen members met in the main car park at Chew Valley Lake on a very pleasant morning with a good temperature for walking. We started birding from the end of the car park, looking towards the dam wall. There was a large flock of Canada Geese in front of us and in the distance, towards the end of the dam,…
Tuesday 06 July – Old Down, Tockington. Leader: Sue Black
Ten of us left the Old Down cricket club with a brisk breeze blowing and under a rather lowering sky. Crossing the cricket pitch, our first Swallows were swooping, soon to be seen bravely mobbing a harassed Kestrel. Down the hill through a floriferous meadow, but the wind meant few butterflies. However, it didn’t deter a Blackcap, Goldfinch, multiple Magpies…
Sunday 04 July – Exmoor Leaders: Brian Hill and Brian Gibbs
We met our two local guides at a new location for a club field trip, Haddon Hill, a mix of heathland and woodland edge. Redpoll and Siskin in the car park got us off to a good start. Generally, the birds were much harder to find than earlier in the season but walking along the woodland edge we managed Bullfinch,…
Tuesday 29 June – Gordano Moor/Walton Common Leader: Judy Copeland
On my recce, I found that part of the advertised Clevedon/Walton walk was impassable with brambles, bracken and everything else – the path needed a working party before I could lead a group along it! – so I moved the walk to start at Moor Lane, Walton-in-Gordano, for the walk over to Walton Common. Nine of us proceeded very slowly…
Sunday 27June – Eastville Park and Duchess Pond, Stoke Park Leader: Richard Scantlebury
Four of us met on a cold, damp morning at Thingwall allotments for a walk around Eastville Park and up to Duchess Pond led by the extremely capable Rich Scantlebury. Having run around this park dozens of times during the pandemic I was surprised to find this new entrance, and we were greeted by a loud chorus of Blue Tit,…
Tuesday 22 June – Goblin Combe Leader: Alastair Fraser
We set off promptly with a Buzzard circling overhead. Blackcaps were calling from the trees beyond the car park, and soon we had added Wren, Robin, and Chiffchaff to the list. On entering the woodland proper, we hadn’t gone far before spotting more Chiffchaff and then a Spotted Flycatcher, flitting to and fro, probably taking food to the young. We…
Tuesday 15 June – Lower Woods and Wetmoor Leader: Jean Oliver
A group of ten enjoyed a calm and sunny day of birding in the woods and surrounding countryside near Wickwar. We started out in Lower Woods, which is a Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust nature reserve. Very quickly we began to see a good number of Common Spotted orchids and a wide variety of other wildflowers, and hearing, if not always seeing,…
Saturday 12 June – Westhay NNR Leader: Jenny Vickers
All eleven people who signed up turned up – thanks, everyone. It was a hot and sunny day with a light wind. We started birding in the car park with a Reed Bunting and Whitethroats popping in and out of the bushes, then headed out along the main track. An excellent find was a Hobby sitting on a dead branch…
Tuesday 08 June -Sand Point Nick Hawkridge
Picnic walk in warm weather – what luxury! Seven, a good number to ensure we all saw/heard the birds on offer. Shelduck on the salt flats, Stonechat in the scrub – one of many we saw during the day, including juvenile Whitethroat singing, at the Point and all along our walk route. A concerted effort was made to see the…
Tuesday 01 June – Compton Dando Leader: Mike Landen
It was a beautiful June morning as 13 of us met at Compton Dando. It felt good to be back with a group nearer to the normal size for our Tuesday walk. So, everyone appeared in high spirits as we set off towards the bridge over the River Chew, situated at the end of the village. A Grey Wagtail was…
Sunday 30 May – Ham Wall Leader: Jane Cumming
Seven of us met on a beautiful warm day to tour this RSPB site, restored from 20th century peat workings (starting in 1994), and designed to enhance or recreate an extensive habitat of rhines, lakes and reedbeds. There was an almost continuous background of singing Blackcaps, excitingly interspersed with Willow Warbler and Garden Warbler, and Cetti’s almost too numerous to…
Saturday 29 May – Oldbury Power Station Leader: Andy Middleton
It was so nice to see a few old and new faces as we gathered in the Visitors Car Park after the strictures of Lockdown. Andy called us to order and about twenty of us (I wasn’t counting) set off in good and somewhat spritely order towards the first lagoon. Sharp-eyed Andy spotted a couple of Peregrines sitting atop the…
Tuesday 25 May – Gordano Valley Leader: Geoff Harris
A bright sunny morning for the walk from Walton-in-Gordano, with Geoff leading his select group of two, so we had V.I.P. attention! The first part of the walk, along Moor Lane, had a Buzzard soaring overhead, Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinch, Robin, Chiffchaff and Blackcap all spotted among the hedgerows and trees. Swallows swooped over our heads, close enough to touch, as…
Tuesday 18 May Leap Valley Downend Leaders Joyce Donkor & Kate Cashmore
This is a new Tuesday walk venue on the eastern side of Bristol with varied habitats including a stream, reed-fringed pond, open grassland, a bluebell wood with mature trees, blackthorn thickets and a small wetland. The walk incorporates part of the Frome Valley Way. It turned out to be a bit longer in time and distance than is normal on…
Friday 14 May – Frampton on Severn Leader: Mike Jackson
Six of us met at 18:00 for this evening walk. Under fine bright skies we ventured first to the sailing lake, passing a Great Spotted Woodpecker in mature garden trees as we went. At the lake we could see Tufted Duck and up to a dozen Common Tern, some on the floating structure that always attracts them and some hunting…
Tuesday 11 May – Stoke, Eastville, Vassals Parks Leader: Rich Scantlebury
In line with lockdown rules, six of us met in the pouring rain, three new and three experienced birders; thankfully the rain did not last too long and the sun came out. The walk through Vassals Park and Eastville saw the expected birds including Robin, Song Thrush, Wren, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, most of which were heard but…
Tuesday 04 May – South Stoke Leader Dave Body
Following the non-appearance of one person who shall remain anonymous, four members set off a little late for our walk. Bright sunshine and broken cloud were a complete contrast from the heavy rain and strong wind of the previous day. A Kestrel was soon spotted as we took in the view as we headed east. Dropping down to Tucking Mill,…
Tuesday 27 April – Puxton Moor Leader: Gareth Roberts
Gareth is a volunteer warden at Puxton Moor Nature Reserve, a 180 acre area of pasture land networked with SSSI species-rich rhynes, near the small and quite remote village of Puxton in the North Somerset levels east of Weston-super-Mare. He led five of us through the village and churchyard seeing or hearing Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch and Green and Great Spotted…
Sunday 25 April – New Forest near Godshill Leader: Jane Cumming
A Covid-compliant group of six met at the Ashley Walk car park for a six hour walk in uninterrupted sunshine. The terrain was a pleasing mixture of lowland heath, scrub and woodland and everywhere was dry underfoot after a month with little rain. A stiff breeze inhibited the showing of birds and butterflies. Among our multiple sightings were Common Redstarts,…
Tuesday 20 April – Ashton Court, Leigh Woods, Abbot’s Pool Leader: Brenda Page
Bright blue sky, warm sunshine and the singing of Skylarks greeted us as we met at Ashton Court car park. A short walk over to Leigh Woods, where we were surrounded by birdsong, including an abundance of Nuthatch, Blackbirds, Blackcaps, Goldfinches, together with Wren, Robin, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Dunnock,…
Saturday 17 April – Clevedon Pill Leader: Jane Cumming
An hour before high tide we set out from the allotments to walk around the harbour, check the Blind Yeo for freshwater birds, then wander on across the golf course and down the edge of the saltmarsh to the gate that overlooks the mouth of the River Kenn. Unfortunately, on a dry and sunny Saturday like this one, such a…
Tuesday 13 April – Conham Leaders: Karen Birmingham and Jean Oliver
On a mild calm morning, we set off from the Conham Valley Nature Reserve car park into the broad-leafed woodland which has now replaced the highly industrialised landscape of a previous era. We spotted eight Mallard ducklings and two Treecreepers and then both saw and heard Blackcaps before ascending the 98 steps to the Panoramic Walk where we stopped for…
Saturday 10 April – Sand Point Leader: Paul Gregory
The six of us assembled at the car park on a bright sunny morning which had a chill edge to a brisk northerly wind. Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Greenfinch were singing and we checked out the hillside bushes spotting the Blackcap and Chiffchaffs before moving on up the path through the woodland and onto the high ground. Out on the…
Tuesday 6 April – Newton St Loe Leader: Robert Hargreaves
The regulation six met near Newton St Loe’s historic church on a chilly but fair weather morning for our second meeting since slight “lockdown” easing. It was good to welcome Janet and Rosemary to their first Tuesday walk. Starting off to the sound of Greenfinch wheezing our route took us through the churchyard, down the grassy slope to the ‘Send-a-Cow’…
Saturday 03 April – Portbury Wharf Leader: Giles Morris
The statutory six members met up on Sheepway for this walk around the Portbury reserve which had been rescheduled from March. I was concerned that we might now be too late for any of the winter wildfowl and a bit early for many incoming migrants. Having sorted the mix of singing species around the Sheepway gardens, we set off down…
Tuesday 30 March – Stoke, Eastville, Vassals Parks Leader: Rich Scantlebury
First, the sun shone, second, it was the first Tuesday field meeting following nearly three months of lockdown. It just had to be a good day – we were not disappointed! We walked through Stoke Park where we were welcomed by a cacophony of birdsong – Blackcap, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch and Great Tit. On Duchess Pond was a Mallard…
Tuesday 29 December – Snuff Mills Leader :Nick Hawkridge
A ‘refreshing’ breeze kept us moving! The water level in the River Frome was high, with the usual Moorhen and Mallard hidden. The trees on the south side of the river had roosting Woodpigeons with a nice flock of Long-tailed Tits tat were bustling along beside us and a couple of Goldcrests; ignoring us even when they got quite close.…