Author: BOC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Sunday 02 September – Pilning Wetlands Leader: Lois Pryce

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

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Sunday 29 July – Newport Wetlands

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

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

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

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

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

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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,…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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