BOC

On a glorious warm, sunny morning, 35 members met at New Passage. The high tide had covered all the mud and spilled onto the pill side banks so we found Oystercatchers, Whimbrels and two Common Sandpipers pottering about in the grass waiting for the beach to reappear. At the pools the first wader to be … Read more

An early start was rewarded by a lovely walk in the New Forest, led by Jane over heathland and woods on a warm spring day. The first patch of woodland proved as reliable as usual for Redstarts and Willow Warblers. Highlights included a Dartford Warbler, a Cuckoo giving great views, Buzzard, Kestrel, Stock Dove, Stonechat, … Read more

Despite the bright sunshine, the 24 walkers who set out from Hanham Mills were grateful to get into Bickley Wood and out of the sharp wind. The bluebells, wood anemones, and wild garlic were appreciated as well as a field of cowslips when we emerged from the woods. Many Orange Tip butterflies were seen. The … Read more

To celebrate the 1,500th Tuesday walk, we enjoyed a very interesting and informative three hours, when 45 members visited the Chew Valley Lake Ringing Station. We met, and spent time both before and after, at Herriotts Bridge, where there was a wide variety of birds seen, including Little Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Bittern, Pintail, Green … Read more

Seven families, with nine young people, joined the first BOC family walk, held at Watercress Farm rewilding project, Wraxall. We visited a range of habitats on the site and were rewarded by listing 35 species. Blackcap, Whitethroat, and Goldfinch songs were heard, and checked with the Merlin app. Green Woodpecker called loudly, and two were … Read more

This was a joint walk with Bristol Naturalists’ Society and it also had two start times in the hope that the five early risers amongst us might catch any overnight migrants before they moved on. A newly arrived Whitethroat was scratching away as we climbed the steps and Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler song was also … Read more

Twenty-four birdwatchers arrived at Tintern to accompany Graham on his and many others favourite walk, up the Angidy River valley. The weather was dry and mainly clear, with very little wind. Before we had left the car park, we spotted our 50,000th cumulative species, a Wren! A Cormorant flew overhead before we ascended a steep … Read more

Arlingham is a small peninsula jutting out into the Severn. It was a pleasant, flat walk with only a modest rise onto the flood barrier. Around the village is mixed farming with some woodland, hedgerow, drainage ditches and the river. Hinckley Point Power Station proposed to convert the area to wetland (much to the horror … Read more

An amazing 51 walkers attended for this popular visit to the rewilding site owned by Belmont Estate. We split into two groups and set off in opposite directions to cover the route over the different habitats. We were blessed with good sunshine after the recent gloomy weather and rain. The new wetland area was fairly … Read more

Twenty one members met at the Crown Inn car park on a nice bright fresh day. We started off towards the lower woods spotting a couple of Magpies. A Green Woodpecker was glimpsed flying off to a far tree. Then started the steep rocky climb through the woods. Just past the map/sign for the warren … Read more