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Seven intrepid birders met in the rain at the WWT Steart Reserve car park at 9.30 and were soon rewarded with a glorious sunny, mild and calm autumn day. Our first stop was the Polden screen. En route we saw a Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, male Blackcap, and several House Martins hawking for insects. Then on to … Read more

There was a real Autumnal chill to the air, and the sun remained hidden behind heavy clouds. Despite the unpromising conditions we had a turn-out of 24 members, two of them wearing shorts! Wapley Bushes is a small reserve owned by the local parish council and managed by volunteers, that provides a variety of valuable … Read more

15 people met in still warm weather. Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard were over the moors. Woodpigeon nestled in the Land Yeo meadow with a youngster without its adult-white neck patch. The usual Pied Wagtails on the golf course, one showing a strikingly white head but without the paler grey back of a proper Alba. Through … Read more

Nine people met at Seaton Wetlands on a lovely late summer morning. The hides gave us close-up views of the Seaton trams passing by, as well as the waders, gulls and ducks (including a solitary Pintail) on the lagoon and estuary. The first two Kingfishers of the day were spotted, along with a Great Spotted … Read more

This walk was a new variation on our usual Backwell Lake walk. We first circuited the lake itself where we saw two dabchicks, two Cormorants, two Grey Herons, and two Little Egrets. A male Gadwall was with the Mallards, most of them in eclipse plumage. A Cetti’s Warbler sang briefly and a Great Spotted Woodpecker … Read more

After a night of intermittent heavy rain, eleven assembled at Little Sodbury and soon Blue Tit, Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tit were identified in the trees. Jackdaws were present in an adjacent field where the knowledgeable amongst us were able to identify the raised strips as pillow mounds raised for former rabbit warrens. Crossing fields to … Read more

It was apparent there is a strengthening interest in this venue, evidenced by the weekend turnout of 16 members. On the lane we saw three Mistle Thrushes (27 had been reported here earlier!). Upon arriving at the common a mixed gathering of House Martins and young Swallows had us debating tail streamer lengths, before we … Read more

We gathered in the National Trust car park to walk down the valley, circling behind the mansion where the old stables once stood. Not many birds on this stretch but we saw and heard Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Robin and a Buzzard. We continued gently downhill towards the lakes, Wren and Blackcap visible, to arrive at … Read more

Rain en route stopped when we arrived at Clevedon and it became very warm. Only two or three Swallows and House Martins were around the approach to the Golf Course, and only Wren and Chiffchaff tweeted in the hedges beside the long path to the coffee field  overlooking the estuary near Walton-in-Gordano. Here we had … Read more

Seventeen Club members met Andy on Herriotts Bridge. Autumn wader passage was underway, producing three Wood Sandpipers amongst 24 Green Sandpipers, and a Little Ringed Plover as well as 24 Snipe – a good count so early in the autumn. We spent time studying first the waders and then the gulls, picking out a Common … Read more