35 intrepid birders boarded the coach for our annual trip to the Exe estuary. The weather forecast was unfavourable with promises of high wind and rain. Alastair suggested that if anyone wanted to abandon the trip on account of the weather forecast they were welcome to do so. There were no takers, so off we set. Our first port of…
Author: BOC
Tuesday 22 January – Coalpit Heath Leaders: Duncan and Pat Gill
33 walkers met at Kendleshire Golf Club. Our numbers were no handicap as we had seen three Bullfinches and one Greenfinch before leaving the car park, but we had no eagles nor albatrosses. Robins were enjoying the cold, sunny morning and we heard the first of 23 singing. Great Tits and Blue Tits were joining in and we had good…
Sunday 20 January – Marshfield Leaders: Sue and Nigel Kempson
Twenty of us turned out on this cold day which is testament to Marshfield’s continued popularity. We started out by walking towards the small barn that Little Owl have frequented in the past, but this time they were choosing to either stay warm below roof level, or they just weren’t present. As we passed the barn into Northfield Lane, Starling,…
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…
Sunday 13 January – RSPB West Sedgemoor RSPB leaders
After a rather gloomy start to the day in Bristol we arrived at Dewlands Farm to be greeted by clear skies, albeit on a rather cool, breezy day. 15 members were in attendance and were met by Nigel and Elaine Smith who were our guides for the morning. Whilst in the farmyard we were treated to large flocks of Lapwing…
Tuesday 08 January – Stoke and Eastville Park Leader: Richard Scantlebury
Today’s walk was a real treat for the 48 of us (including a baby!) who met at the Snuff Mills car park. Weather conditions were sunny and still with an average temperature of 8°C. Straightaway we could observe a high number of magpies gathering together as expected at this time of the year. Blackbirds, Great and Blue Tits and Robins…
Tuesday 01 January – WWT Slimbridge Leader: Robin Prytherch
31 Members raised their hand at the start of the meeting – a wonderful turn out. This did mean, of course, that we were crammed into the Holden Tower initially but all seemed to be enjoying the views of a variety of species. The tide was out so there was not the hoped-for pack of waders on the Dumbles. A…
Tuesday 25 December – Snuff Mills Leader: Nick Hawkridge
Perhaps the intel of some super birds at Eastville Park made the decision easy for the seven walkers who turned up expecting to do Snuff Mills, to choose the park instead. Following the Frome downstream means crossing it via the road bridge, where we were delighted to see a Grey Wagtail poking about on the spillway. We were barely out…
Tuesday 18 December – Bridgeyate Leader: Dave Body
Cancelled on the day due to weather conditions, thanks to Dave for sending this note of his 14 December reconnoitre, Ed) I walked the route on a dry, fairly bright day. The ground was firm underfoot after a couple of recent frosts and there were only a couple of muddy spots – what could go wrong? Early on I had…
Sunday 16 December – Torbay Leader: Jane Cumming
It’s a hundred miles to Paignton, albeit well under two hours’ drive from the west side of Bristol, but six members made the trip (postponed 24 hours owing to Saturday’s drenching rain). The forecast still wasn’t very encouraging, but in the event we only got properly rained on once and the birding was well worth a bit of wet! We…
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…
Saturday 08 December – Cheddar
Cancelled courtesy of storm ‘Deirdre’.
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,…
Tuesday 27 November – Wain’s Hill and Clevedon Pill Leader: Peter Holbrook
Clevedon was windy, overcast with a hint of drizzle as 19 members set off along the promenade towards Wain’s Hill. Half a dozen Turnstones were seen as well as at least 90 Black-headed Gulls. As we moved on to Poets’ Walk, Blue and Long-tailed Tits were seen and heard and a solitary Jay was sitting in an Ash tree. A…
Sunday 25 November – WWT Steart Leader: Richard Belson
Eventually 14 BOC members met in the WWT car park for this all-day visit. Unfortunately, some arrivals had been delayed by the loading of bullocks into transport vans, which temporarily blocked the access road. The day was rather cold and cloudy with a 15 mph wind adding to the chill factor. However, whilst in the car park we were treated to…
Tuesday 20 November – Hambrook Leader: Dave Body
Forecast as a very cold day with a biting wind, 36 walkers still turned out for this walk – a good deal of which followed the Frome Valley walkway route. A Dipper was an early spot, along with various tits, 12 Long-tailed among them. The narrow path did mean the group was well strung out and not all saw the…
Tuesday 13 November – Saltford Leader: Robert Hargreaves
On a fine, sunny morning 36 of us arrived in Saltford; so many that car parking had to spread all along the river. Those parked in the designated “The Shallows” were treated to the sight of a hovering, diving Kingfisher, soon joined by a second flash of electric-blue. A Greenfinch wheezed as we set off to join fellow walkers on…
Tuesday 06 November – Goblin Combe Leader: Alastair Fraser
Orange was a theme for this new walk through Goblin Combe as, despite the overcast weather, the beeches and birches were at their late autumn best. Before entering the wood we had seen Blue Tit, Great Tit, and the first of eight Long-tailed Tits. A Mistle Thrush stood out on a bare tree and Goldfinches flew over. Going up the…
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.…
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…
Saturday 29 September – Clevedon Leader: Jason Williams
A total of twelve members joined me on a very bright but fresh morning at Clevedon. From the Church we made our way up to the ‘Viz Mig’ area of Wains Hill. Sadly, there was very little in the way of movement with just a few Meadow Pipits and resident Jays going over. Making our way around to the coast…
Tuesday 25 September – Easton-in-Gordano Leader: Judy Copeland
Glorious sunshine after the deluge and really, the mud was not too bad. House Sparrow, Robin and Dunnock started the list. Robins were everywhere (Nick counted 21!), welcoming the sun in full voice and one or two Wrens sang as well. Green Woodpeckers were also calling – we had three or four. The wood going up towards Failand was very…
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…
Sunday 16 September – Uphill and Bleadon Leader: Jane Cumming
Ten members including two guests from the USA met at Uphill boatyard. It was dull and overcast with a southerly breeze so perhaps not so good for any expected migrants. We followed the usual route through the boatyard and quarry. A Little Egret and Little Grebe were eventually located on the caravan park pond but the quarry and its bushes…
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…
Tuesday 11 September – Woodchester Park Leader: Nancy Barrett
A round dozen met in earlier than forecast drizzle and initially, as we walked down into the valley, the predominant sound was of rain in the Beech trees, which were a vivid, almost springlike green. By coffee time birds had been heard if not seen including Raven, Carrion Crow, Buzzard and Nuthatch. The sound of Mallard was a constant as…
Tuesday 04 September – Arlingham Leader: Alastair Fraser
Twenty-one of us met at the village car park in Arlingham on a dull but dry day. Our leader briefed us on the birding possibilities of the area – good for a variety of raptors near the river and pipits in the meadows. In view of the disappointingly gloomy weather however, we were warned that it may be a bird…
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…
Tuesday 28 August – Old Down Leader: Sue Black
At this bird quiet time of the year 31 optimistic members gathered to walk around the Tockington hills and woods and were surprisingly well rewarded. The walk edged past the old quarry and down into the village, catching the usual woodland birds especially Robins who kept us company almost the whole morning, with their songs now more autumnal. As we…
Tuesday 21 August – Failand Leader: Gareth Roberts
The five-barred gate (and many new stiles, courtesy of the Woodspring Ramblers) to Failand Lodge Farm, admitted 30 walkers, clad, as each person had divined the weather, in shorts and tee-shirts, right through to full wet weather gear and gloves. Collared Dove was spotted as we watched the flock of House Martins scouring the tree tops. A flock of mixed…
Tuesday 14 August – Burrington Ham Leader: Clive Burton
Twenty-three walkers turned out to try this new walk. We were rewarded by some stunning Mendip views from the limestone top and along part of the Limestone Link path. The birds were taking their August rest with fewer species seen than usual, nevertheless, we had some close views when they did turn up. Goldcrests were heard as we left the…
Saturday 11 August – Chew Valley Lake Leader: Robert Hargreaves
Eleven people met at a very cold and windy Herriotts Bridge. We were pleased to find Ian Stapp, a CVL regular well-known for his photographs on the Avon Bird Blog, who told us about some of the waders we might find on the mud bank in Herriotts Pool exposed by the low water level. With the help of ‘scopes, careful…
Tuesday 07 August – Redhouse Farm. Winford Manor Leader: Nick Hawkridge
A group of 24 met at Redhouse Farm where we were greeted by Melanie Patch who had very kindly agreed to show us round the farm and some of the surrounding area. The weather was very pleasant and as we set off we started our list with Collared Dove, House Sparrow and Woodpigeon. We saw the first of several Swallows…
Tuesday 31 July – Bath Racecourse Leader: Robert Hargreaves
A group of 20 set out from Bath Racecourse on a pleasant summer’s morning. There was a cool breeze that made for ideal walking weather. As we left the car park and walked along open countryside we soon saw some common species that included Carrion Crow, Swallow and Goldfinch. Wren and Skylark were heard and, as we walked through a…
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…
Tuesday 24 July – Clevedon/Walton Common Leader: Judy Copeland
Fortunately, it was still cloudy when 19 of us set out from Clevedon – the hot sun came through later. Walking up through the golf course we saw Herring Gulls, House Sparrows, swooping Swallows and a family of five crows on the roof of the barn. A couple of Greenfinches were on the wall. We stopped to look at the…
Tuesday 17th July – Little Sodbury Leader: Nick Hawkridge
Nineteen started out under leaden sky and spitting rain that welcomed us and new members Sarah and Chris. A Buzzard and the first of the interminable Woodpigeon started our count, with a gap in the trees showing a vast host of Corvid on what looked like a newly harvested field. The lake had only a lone Grey Heron on the…
Tuesday 10 July – Lower Woods Leader: Jean Oliver
As 19 walkers prepared to enter Plumbers Trench, on a cooler day than of late, Nuthatch, Blackcap, and Wren were heard around the car park. The reserve soon lived up to its reputation as a butterfly hotspot as three Silver-washed Fritillaries were seen in the sunshine, followed by a glimpse of a White Admiral. The birds were quiet until we…
Sunday 08 July – Marshfield Leader: Mike Jackson
On a sunny morning that promised to be very hot nine of us met in the layby on the A420 next to Marshfield, making sure to find a shady spot for each car. At 09:00 we set off along the track leading to West Littleton Road in the hope of seeing a Little Owl somewhere around the outbuilding. Although its…
Tuesday 03 July – Sand Bay Leader: Nick Hawkridge
Ten of us set out up the steps and into some shade. A Chiffchaff was located skulking in the cover and a couple of Blue Tit juveniles put on an acrobatic display – letting us get very close. Two Swallows were reported from the back of the group, while the front counted Black-headed Gulls, Shelduck and heard the first Skylark.…
Sunday 01 July – Ubley Warren/Velvet Bottom Leaders: Sue & Nigel Kempson
Six members met in the small car park for this morning walk. The recent heat wave may have put many people off attending, but in fact the morning was pleasantly cool due to light cloud cover and a helpful breeze. From the car park Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Wren, Goldfinch and a Buzzard were seen. We followed the usual route to…
Tuesday 26 June – Hinton Blewitt and Litton Reservoirs Leaders: Sue and John Prince
It was an extremely hot day with temperatures up to 29C and sun in a clear blue sky. Consequently, there were fewer walkers than usual and we walked the circuit in reverse so that the open fields were tackled first downhill. We heard three Yellowhammer and saw one in an Ash tree. The village held the usual House Sparrow and…
Tuesday 19 June – Velvet Bottom Leader: Geoff Harris
With little or no sun, it was hot and humid all day, as one guy we met said ‘the horse flies are biting and drawing blood’. The climb out of the car park allowed all 17 to see and hear many Jackdaw, all busy hoovering up some, but not all, of the wretched flies. The first Whitethroat was heard and…
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…
Tuesday 12 June – Compton Dando Leader: Mike Landen
It was a rather overcast morning and a little cooler than the previous few days as 16 of us set off from The Compton Inn. There were a good number of common birds around the village including House Sparrows, Collared Dove, Swallows and Jackdaws (45 for the whole walk). House Martins were absent from their usual haunt near to their…
Friday 08 June – Forest of Dean Leader: Jane Cumming
On a fine, warm evening eight of us met at Cannop Ponds. It was good to welcome new member John Dix, joining us for his first field meeting with the Club. The main theme here was “babies”; a Mandarin duck managing her brood of eight; Mute Swans with two cygnets; two Coot families; and families of Grey and Pied Wagtails.…
Tuesday 05 June – Badminton Leader: Nick Hawkridge
An overcast day made for pleasant walking conditions as 22 of us set out across the green of this picturesque village. A Song Thrush and then four welcome Swifts were seen, and then a large number of Jackdaws. House Martins were nesting under the eaves. Before leaving the village we found House Sparrow, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, and the first of…
Sunday 02 June – Quantocks Leader: Nick Hawkridge
What a gorgeous day! All we missed was Jeff Holmes, who could not lead and lend us his huge expertise because of illness. He told me when I visited him later that on the previous day cloud had covered the top of the hills – how lucky we were. Nick Hawkridge stepped into the breach as leader with a small…
Tuesday 22 May – Newport Wetlands Leaders: Margaret and Ray Bulmer
A warm sunny day greeted the 30 walkers for a gentle stroll around the reserve. The Lesser Whitethroats were singing in the bushes near the car park but remained out of sight. At the visitor centre, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, and Cetti’s Warblers were singing in the reeds. The Sand Martin box is still awaiting tenants but a Little Grebe was…
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,…
Friday 18 May – Highnam Woods Leader: Hannah Booth, RSPB
On a fine early summer evening 23 members and guests were welcomed by Hannah Booth, the warden. The 120 hectare wood was bought by RSPB in the 1980s. Although a commercial woodland it had retained significant unmanaged areas with ancient oak (one pollarded oak is over 600 years old), hornbeam, wild cherry, and a glade of 150 year old field…
Tuesday 15 May – South Stoke Leader: David Body
As parking was at a premium we ended up by the lookout point with its view over the Cam Brook valley. We admired the cloudless sky but mourned the lack of Swift and House Martin. As the party gathered (14), we then did see House Martin – six swirling around the houses, and someone had seen a Swift over the…
Sunday 13 May – Stoke Park and Eastville Park Leader: Richard Scantlebury
I joined BOC only very recently. As I live in the local area to Eastville Park and Stoke Park, I chose this walk to venture out (rather early for me on a Sunday morning!) for my very first BOC walk. I was taken aback when Richard explained we wouldn’t finish till one o’clock but had a laugh by the end…
Tuesday 08 May – Ashton Court Leader: Brenda Page
Having basked in record bank holiday sunshine, 24 members turned up expecting t-shirts and sun hats. What a shock! Cloud, mist and a biting cold wind, at least first off. The sun came through late morning causing multiple de-layering. The walk took us from Ashton Court, through Leigh Woods, Monarch’s Way, Fish Pond Wood and back. It was definitely a…
Tuesday, 01 May – Folly Farm Leader: Jean Oliver
20 members set out on a beautiful spring day with an early Buzzard to start our list, some Ravens tumbling, the first of many Wrens singing and a Swallow. Singing Blackcaps were also heard and some seen, but the most consistent sound during the walk was probably the bleating of lambs. We tackled our first hill of the day and…
Tuesday 24 April – Puxton Leader: – Gareth Roberts
On an overcast day, 21 of us tried out this new walk starting at Puxton church with its leaning tower. There was plenty of birdsong in the village and churchyard: Greenfinch, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Robin, Blackcap, and the first of many Wrens were heard. After crossing a thousand year old oval field we headed to Avon Wildlife Trust’s Puxton Moor Reserve,…
Saturday 21 April – Ham Wall Leader: – Alastair Fraser
I have only been to Ham Wall once before to see the Starlings so I was looking forward to going there again to see the place in its springtime splendour. I was not disappointed. Nine of us met in the RSPB car park on a sunny morning but with a hint of mist, which complemented the beautiful setting of reed…
Tuesday 17 April – Kings Wood and Wavering Down Leader: – Clive Burton
It was a grey and blustery day, not the best conditions for hearing the newly arrived warblers we were hoping to locate. There was some danger of the number of walkers exceeding the number of bird species as we headed up through the bluebell woods to the summit of Wavering Down “because it’s there”, and nearly got blown off the…
Sunday 15 April – St Catherine’s Valley Leader: – Mike Jackson
In this location to the south of Marshfield, the ground soil in the valley lived up to that boggy name with ankle deep mud being the norm after, seemingly, months of rain. With a light mist but none of the forecast precipitation we set off to see what the late coming spring had to offer. As a warm-up we identified…
Tuesday 10 April – Hanham Leaders: – Karen Birmingham, Jean Oliver and Jenny Weeks
Twenty-five of us met on a damp grey morning for a muddy walk up through woodlands with bluebells just starting to show some colour, over the fields and back beside the river Avon, with the song of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Wren frequently accompanying us. Thirty-three species were identified including a large parcel of Linnets, several Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers,…
Saturday 07 April – Sand Point Leader: – Paul Gregory
As the rain poured down I did wonder how many willing wanderers might brave the weather for a migrant search on Sand Point. In fact eight of us made it and within half an hour the rain stopped and the birds started to show. There were lots of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in the bushes but we failed to locate any…
Tuesday 03 April – Winscombe – Leader Sue Watson
Rain threatened as 22 of us set off from Winscombe; however, we completed our walk in dry conditions with a little sunshine too. Crossing fields to Sandford Hill we heard a vociferous Wren and saw Jackdaw, Crow, Rook and a good variety of the usual suspects in the hedgerows, such as Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits plus a Lesser Black-backed…
Tuesday, 27 March – Wick Leaders Duncan and Pat Gil
Maybe the forecasters hadn’t quite got the hang of British Summer Time as it was still raining at ten o’clock when 25 of us set off – but it did soon stop. Our first pause at the bridge showed how fast the river was running, so no Dipper or Grey Wagtail. A Heron on the far bank was spotted and…
Tuesday 20 March – Greylake RSPB Reserve. Leader: Mark Watson
Thirteen members met at Greylake on a dry but cold morning and though the recent snow had gone from the Levels and Moors the going underfoot was squelchy and some of the paths were closed due to the wet conditions. In the car park we saw Reed Bunting, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Chaffinch and a flock of 25 Lapwings…
Tuesday 13 March – Gordano Valley. Leader: Geoff Harris
The first shirtsleeve walk of the year, hurrah – well I had my arms out to collect some rays, but of the other 26, all muffled up with scarves, coat, etc, at least most had dispensed with gloves. As we gathered, the Buzzard started to be seen; first up the valley, then down the valley, some above Walton Down and…
Sunday 11 March – Barrow Gurney Reservoirs Leader: Sean Davies
Report next month.
Tuesday 06 March – Snuff Mills. Leader: Nick Hawkridge
After a pre-walk review of the Forest of Dean and a hasty rearrangement of venue, 28 members met at the car park in Snuff Mills for a pleasant walk with no rain and some sunshine. After crossing the roaring River Frome we walked up the valley, seeing many Treecreeper and Goldcrest. A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers went tearing round…
Tuesday 27 February – Bristol City Centre Leader: Nancy Barrett
No “Beast from the East” can deter Tuesday walkers it seems! 22 members turned up and a 23rd joined us along the way. Our first stop near the Prince Street Swing Bridge was to look at the Cormorants and discuss different types and note the evident breeding patches. Walking along past M-shed, we saw the first of many Herring Gulls…
Sunday 25 February – Chew Valley Lake Leader: Robert Hargreaves
16 members turned out on a cold but sunny morning. The water level of the lake was very high and this had affected the birds, no egrets today for example. However, we got off to a good start at Woodford where the woodland behind the car park revealed two Bullfinches and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and calls from a Green…
Tuesday 20 February 2018 –Uphill Leader: Jane Cumming
Birds never do what you want them to, do they? Every trip leader will recognise that “it was here yesterday” feeling. On the previous day’s Wetland Bird Survey, as the tide receded hundreds of waders had flown across from their rocky roosts to the beach and trooped along the tideline in an orderly manner for easy counting. Today they just…
Weekend in Kent, 16-18 February Leader: Jane Cumming
Friday 16 February. A number considered unlucky for some left Bristol for this trip, but on arrival in Kent we were joined by BOC member Lyn and her partner Ray, who stayed with us for the whole trip and whose local knowledge proved invaluable. But before we got to Kent our trip list was already around 40, due partly to…
Tuesday 13 February – Chew Valley Lake Leaders: John and Sue Prince
An intrepid group of 13 walkers met at Herons Green, Chew Valley Lake, whilst the rain was pelting down. The walk should have gone over Breach Hill to the Ubley hatchery but it was decided to go to Woodford Lodge for coffee to see if the rain would abate. The rain eased so we decided to walk the Grebe and…
Tuesday 06 February – Eastville Park – Leader: Richard Scantlebury
After a cold, frosty night 26 of us, well wrapped up, set off for Stoke Park. In the sun the song of familiar small birds and sight of three Great Spotted Woodpeckers dashing about in a nearby tree cheered us. A Green Woodpecker yaffled. We paused at Duchess Pond to admire the red fox standing out on the grassy slope;…
Sunday 04 February – Blashford Lakes
Despite the reports of some rare gulls just five of us travelled to Ringwood for a walk around the Blashford Lakes reserve on a cold but dry day. On arrival we had a quick scan of Ibsley Water for any of the rarities but only saw Goldeneye and Goosander with the more common ducks. We then gathered at the Education…
Tuesday 30 January – Pensford Leader Geoff Harris
As soon as the first walker leaned over the parapet, a Dipper feeding below the bridge at Pensford shot away and we feared that would be our only sighting of the morning. Fortunately, this unusually intrepid Dipper dropped down about 40 yards upstream and spent the next ten minutes ducking and diving in the water allowing all 26 of us…
Sunday 28 January – Exe Leader Gordon Youdale
Leaving Bristol on a damp morning the skies brightened as we approached Devon. On leaving the coach at Exminster we made our way down towards the canal and to greet us were Devon’s iconic bird, a pair of Cirl Buntings sitting at the top of a hedge near the Swans Nest pub giving some of us brief views before they…
Tuesday 23 January – Coalpit Heath Leaders: Duncan & Pat Gill
Thirty two walkers who met at the Kendleshire Golf Club were not deterred by a cloudy, drizzly morning for a four and a half mile walk – golfers were, however, absent because of a very wet course. We started the walk with Blackbirds and Robin calling and a flock of Redwings flying by. The ponds on the course, as well…
Sunday 21 January – Greylake and Catcott Leader Mike Johnson
This was a joint meeting of BOC and the Ornithological section of Bristol Naturalists’. Five of us met in the car park at RSPB Greylake on a morning of heavy rain. Visibility was fairly restricted due to mist and the rain, however, eight Snipe gave really close views from the hide. It was good to see a Water Rail fully…
Tuesday 16 January – Backwell Lake Leader Sue & John Prince
21 Birders met on a sunny morning with a cold wind blowing. We began with a circuit of the lake which was, unfortunately, rather quiet. One Cormorant was in the Willow on the island, Mute Swans were seen with the usual Muscovy Duck, Moorhens, two Coots, four Canada Geese, one Gadwall, two Shovelers and Mallard. The flock of gulls, mostly,…
Saturday 13 January – Marshfield Leader: Sue Kempson
23 members turned up on a rather cool and cloudy day for this morning walk. As we gathered there were five Meadow Pipits obligingly sat in a tree over the road, as well as a few Fieldfare and Redwing in the taller trees. Immediately after crossing the busy A420 we saw a pair of Stonechats in a ploughed field. As…
Tuesday 09 January – Ham Wall Leader: Mark Watson
The weather was cold and misty as 15 of us gathered in the RSPB car park at Ham Wall, not ideal conditions to see the Starlings coming in to roost later. After a brief period before Christmas roosting on Shapwick Heath the Starlings had returned to Ham Wall after the festivities. Blue Tit, Great Tit and Chaffinch were on the…
Tuesday 02 January – Newton St Loe Leader: Robert Hargreaves
Well, what a day! It was pouring with rain, an amazing eleven walkers in full wet gear, and seventeen Hawfinches seen, a 21st century record for Avon. Starting by the church we soon found a Redwing, but little else. The gate at the bottom of the lakes was deep in mud so out in the wind along the open road…
Monday 01 January 2018 – WWT Slimbridge
Thanks to all the 27 members who turned up for this meeting – a very good showing, and a very good showing of birds too, with 64 species logged. About a half of these were noted on our way to (and from) and at the Holden Tower. It was quite a scrummage in the tower as people tried to see…
Tuesday 26 December – Snuff Mills Leader: Nick Hawkridge
We were twelve at the start and we all saw the first bird on the list – a Goldcrest, which came out of the car park hedge and hung in the trees by the café, giving most of us time to get close with our ‘bins’ – well done Judy. As we walked to the bridge, a further member joined…
Tuesday 19 December – Iron Acton Leader: David Body
A group of 22 set out from the White Hart Inn on what turned out to be quite a pleasant winter’s day, which was clearer than expected with some sun. We immediately saw a number of common species which included House Sparrow, Magpie, Chaffinch, and Jackdaw. A little further on we heard a Green Woodpecker which then gave us a…
Tuesday 12 December – Pucklechurch Leader: Duncan Gill
After the coldest night of the year, 22 well-wrapped members met for the pre-Christmas Lunch walk on a crisp, sunny morning. The Rose and Crown car park proved productive with eleven species sighted before we set off (but after ten o’clock!). These first sightings included flocks of both Redwings and Fieldfares. After crossing the road and climbing the first stile…
Saturday 09 December – WWT Steart Leader: Richard Belson
On a cold but initially clear day – eight intrepid members attended this walk around the Steart Marshes. Whilst in the reserve car park we could see multiple groups of Starlings on the move, as well as a large flock of Dunlin which must have been in the thousands. On our way to the Mendip Hide we checked the bushes…
Tuesday 05 December – Chew Valley Lake Leader: Mike Landen
A pleasing turnout of 24 members set out from the main car park at Chew Valley Lake on a rather overcast December day. At the dam wall we had a good start to the walk seeing a number of species that included Coot, Moorhen, Goldeneye (five), Teal (six), Great Crested Grebe (twelve), Wigeon (eight), Gadwall (eight), Pochard (six) and a…
Sunday 03 December – Ham Wall and Shapwick. Leader: Giles Morris
Eleven people gathered at Ham Wall car park in anticipation of a good morning’s birding and as usual the Avalon Marshes did not disappoint. We started by searching the car park area for the Firecrests that had been reported and, while they failed to show, we quickly started to find a good number of species, including a big flock of…
Tuesday 28 November – Cheddar Reservoir / Chedddar Yeo Leader: Mark Watson
A fine sunny morning with a chilly wind greeted 23 members for a walk around about two-thirds of Cheddar Reservoir perimeter and the remainder on to the levels south of the water to the river Axe and back via Axbridge. From the top of the bank we could see Tufted Duck, Coot in large numbers across the water and a…
Friday 24 – Sunday 26 November – South Devon weekend Leader: Jane Cumming
Based at Hope Cove – 20 members; weather – squally with periods of bright sunshine interspersed with showers, driven by a blustery NW wind. Species total: 90 Day 1: We started at Matford Marsh, an informal newish reserve for flood relief between main roads just south of Exeter, to look for an American Wigeon – not there; though Eurasian Wigeon,…
Tuesday 21 November – East Harptree Leader: Geoff Harris
As November enters its final few days, the prospect of any ‘nice’ days grows dim. Today at East Harptree must be counted one of the dimmest so far, but, it didn’t rain. From the car park we could hear Raven calling and what came after? Well, it had to be, Goldcrest, as it is the next, after RN, in the…
Tuesday 14 November – Eastville/Stoke Park Estate Leader: Rich Scantlebury
Twenty-six members met at Snuff Mills car park for a walk round part of Eastville Park. The weather was overcast and damp but the rain held off until after we finished. Eastville Park is well used by dog walkers, joggers, cyclists, walkers and a new development; people camping out. Many birds make the woodland their home, in spite of the…
Sunday 12 November – Axe and Exe Estuaries Leader: Gordon Youdale
Three unusual birds can’t be bad!!? Eight members met the leader at the Seaton Wetlands, an extensive mosaic of habitats created specifically for wildlife watching. We walked along to Colyford Common hide (tidal saltmarsh and reed) and then back to Stafford Marsh (ponds, reeds and Stafford Brook). Ducks included Shelduck, Teal, Mallard and Wigeon. There were also Herring and Black-headed…