Field trip reports

The forecast was for almost constant rain, but 15 brave members attended and luckily we barely got wet. Waders on foreshore, saltmarsh and pools included Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Curlew and Whimbrel. Avocet, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe and young, with Canada Geese, Shelduck, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Coot and Moorhen, a Mute Swan pair with five small cygnets, Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting. There were plenty of hirundines hunting over the pools – House and Sand Martins and Swallows – and some welcome Swifts. In grassed and hedgerow areas and down the sheltered side lane were Green Woodpecker, Whitethroat, Song Thrush, Grey Wagtails, Linnet, Stock Dove and Skylark, with groups of enthusiastic young Starlings and a Buzzard in the distance. Total 48 species. (Thanks to Lois for leading.) Lois Pryce

A glorious sunny day saw six of us set off from the car park, where already we had spotted a pair of Grey Wagtails. As we climbed up into the wood above the river we were regaled by numerous songbirds: Song Thrush, Blackcap, Wren, Robin, and Dunnock, all singing almost constantly and from all sides! A Goldcrest burst into song by the path. As we came up to a waterfall where Graham had seen Dippers fledging very recently there was no sign of them, but there was a Grey Wagtail. Up on the pond were numerous Demoiselles and a pair of Mallards. Stock Doves were calling to each other in the further woods and as we emerged there were Swallows above. A Cockchafer Beetle was seen nestled on a path-side plant. Returning down the river we were followed by the sound of Nuthatches and many more Wrens. Emerging onto a road there was a comment from Graham that we hadn’t seen any Buzzards and with perfect timing three were seen wheeling high above in the blue sky. A walk full of industrial history and, of course, birds. In total 25 species were seen but it seemed more because they never stopped singing! Thank you Graham for leading this lovely walk. Sue Black

Nineteen people set off on a warm sunny day to explore this valley tucked away in East Bristol. We crossed the community field where Magpies and Jackdaws foraged in the grass and Feral and Wood Pigeons and Collared Doves flew among the trees, and a Herring Gull flew over. On entering the wood, a Song Thrush was singing. Further along, we had good views of two Great Spotted Woodpeckers bringing food to their nest hole in a tree by the path, so, fortunately, the climbing cat that the leaders had seen in the tree a week before, had not managed to get the young. Across the main road, we continued to follow the stream and the woodland to the Leap Valley Nature Reserve, where a Whitethroat was seen and a Buzzard driven off by Crows. At Moorend Bridge, there were Mallard in the Frome, with a Little Egret, and a Grey Wagtail. Two Jays, a Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tits and Long Tailed Tits were spotted nearby. Walking back by the fields, a Swallow was seen, a Stock Dove heard, Greenfinch and ten Goldfinches seen and heard, and some people watched a family of Pied Wagtails with two young on a fence. Thirteen Chiffchaffs and 13 Blackcaps were heard or seen altogether plus five Dunnocks. The total number of species was 36. (Thanks to Joyce and Kate for leading.) Kate Cashmore

Our party of eight had travelled to Holford in promising sunshine, which persisted all day with a steady north-east breeze. Before entering Hodder’s Combe proper, a pair of Swallows were a delight to see over the houses. Up to the first ford we encountered a pair of Stock Doves “coo-wuping” together on the west fringe of the woods, a Grey Wagtail in the open ground and then our first sound of Redstart, picked up by its song from within the trees. The Pied Flycatchers started to sing as we pushed on to Short Combe, with both females and males being seen around their various nest boxes and a Cuckoo singing from the top of the East flanking woods. Having heard Wood Warbler singing above us, just inside Slaughterhouse Combe, we spent a fair while trying (in vain) to locate him, although the sounds of another Redstart and Pied Flycatchers were a distraction. Breaking into the open top, a pair of Redpolls flew over us and yet another species, Willow Warbler, evaded our sight. A little further up the path a pair of Stonechats showed well. As we feasted our eyes on these two, a dark, long tailed bird flashed through our bins – a Dartford Warbler, the first of three. Flopping down to lunch close under Black Ball Hill, another Cuckoo called, some Skylark sang and a herd of Red Deer saw us but we were ignored. Finding a path down to Sheppard?s Combe and on into Lady?s Combe we heard the scratchy song of Whitethroat which showed, as they do, from the tops of low bushes. As we descended into the wood, a Green Woodpecker yaffled in the distance and a Song Thrush sang close above. A final total of 36 species were recorded. A very special thank you goes to Jeff Holmes for sharing his expertise and brilliant local knowledge. (Thanks to Nick for leading.) Nick Hawkridge

Seventeen members met to walk the trail. From the car park we saw a very pale Buzzard. We set off up a very steep path and we heard Song Thrush all the way to the top. We entered Glyn Woods and we heard Goldcrest, 12 Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Blackcap and more Song Thrushes. We stopped by a pond and two of us were extremely lucky to see a Dipper whiz over the water and down the waterfall, then it flew back 15 minutes later for all to see. Out of the woods and along to the next pond we saw two beautiful Grey Wagtails. We stopped for lunch on a stone wall overlooking the larger of the two ponds, again seeing Grey Wagtails and again serenaded by Song Thrush. We lost one member who had gone off following Stock Dove but he soon found us again.. We didn’t get to see any Goshawk but it was a fabulous walk. Thanks to Graham for leading. Caron Thornton-Trippit

Five of us met in the car park on a lovely morning and were surprised at how much the reserve had dried out after the recent flooding. Some members went on the Bristol Naturalist?s walk that was also happening that day. We bumped into each other a few times and shared our sightings. Ham Wall is alive with birds in the spring and gives a good opportunity to learn the different bird songs. Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Garden Warblers sang near the car park and a sunbathing Grass Snake gave good views too. Great White Egrets and many other water birds were present as always, including Pochard and Pintail, and we heard some Bittern booming. A distant Hobby chased the local dragonflies and a Cuckoo called but did not show itself. A mystery squirrel like mammal was seen and on the way back we saw a Mink swimming. (Thanks to Nick for leading.) Nick Page

Fifteen of us met in the evening in the hopes of hearing Nightingale in one of their last local strongholds. Lewis, the RSPB warden for Gloucestershire, led us around the reserve explaining how they manage it for the iconic songsters. He pointed out many different fauna and flora and answered our questions on these topics. The reserve has many species of insect; we did not see too many on this trip but sounded a good excuse to visit again in the summer. We saw Newts and Tadpoles as well as hearing many Song Thrushes, some who try to mimic the Nightingale song. Other species like Blackcap sang and several Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen. We heard two Nightingales, one was not singing as much – Lewis said it was paired up – and the other gave us an excellent demonstration of its repertoire. Let?s hope they continue to survive here so there are more opportunities to hear them in the future. Later that night we were treated to an excellent display of the Northern Lights. Many thanks to Lewis for leading the walk. Nick Page

We had a wonderful walk at Oldbury Power station with a group of 31 people in total. We spotted a Buzzard while waiting for everyone to arrive at the car park. The sun was shining and became quite warm during the walk. Lots of song by Chiffchaffs and Blackbirds along the way. There was a debate whether we were hearing two Cuckoos or just the one, which made us all smile. We stopped first at the lake and saw Mute Swans, Little Grebe, Tufted Ducks, Moorhens and Mallards with chicks. Along Lagoon 3 was the constant song of Reed Warblers, but rarely popping into view. A Linnet perched for a short while for some of the group to admire. We paused on the coastal path at the Severn Estuary for coffee and saw Oystercatchers, Shelducks, a few Grey Herons, gulls and a Whimbrel. We stopped at Lagoon 2 and heard lots of Whitethroat and Blackcap. On the way to lunch we saw a beautiful male Bullfinch. Finally, we had our picnic in the old orchard where we saw a Blue Tit in and out of a nest box. We recorded a total of 42 species. A great day had by all. Thanks to Di for leading. Caron Thornton-Trippit

Five of us met in Lower Woods car park on a gloriously sunny morning where we watched a Coal Tit taking food to its concealed nest on the other side of the garden wall of the Lodge. As we set off for the Common, a Willow Warbler sang, psychologically helping us cope with the standing water that was persistently underfoot. Here, two more members joined. The scrub on Inglestone Common provided excellent habitat for Whitethroat, Blackcap, Goldfinch and Linnet. Buzzard and Skylark enjoyed the free space above the grassland, and a small raptor kept us momentarily guessing until its hovering declared it as a Kestrel. Three Swallows flew near human habitations and two Song Thrushes foraged with a Blackbird on a horse paddock where we heard our only woodpecker of the day, a Great Spotted. The denser scrub and overgrown hedgerows flanking the north of the common bore Stock Dove, more Whitethroat, two Lesser Whitethroat and Bullfinch, while a Nuthatch called from the trees. Ravens were never far away and we probably saw four throughout. The Willow Warbler welcomed us back to our cars where we took a moment to absorb its dreamy notes. Thanks to the group for achieving 30 species (and thanks to Mike for leading.) Mike Jackson

Twenty walkers met by the church with its leaning tower for a walk round Avon Wildlife Trust’s Puxton Moor reserve. The cold wind initially had the birds keeping their heads down, but it settled and the sun brought some warmth. Leaving the village a flock of 13 Canada Geese flew over, and four Swallows in the distance. Along the road approaching the reserve we heard the first of eight Reed Warblers. Sedge Warblers were newly arrived and we heard four, with a brief glimpse of two in the wind. There were also five Cetti’s Warblers and six Reed Buntings, one giving very good views. A Cormorant was trying out one of the new design pylons. Six Skylarks were seen and heard. Two Bullfinches were heard calling, and briefly seen, along the tree-lined lane, where we had song from Chiffchaff, Blackcap, and Chaffinch. A sunny interval brought an early Hairy Dragonfly. A number of tracks were seen in the soft mud of the bridleway by the river, including Grey Heron, badger, deer, and, best of all, otter. Nearby a Lesser Whitethroat sang, and one of three Green Woodpeckers flew low over an ant hill field. In all we had 38 bird species. Thanks to Graham for the bird list, and to Simon Reece for the mud print expertise. (Thanks to Gareth for leading) Gareth Roberts