Field trip reports

Fourteen members met at the Shire Way entrance. It was sunny and dry, 21-25?C, with a light NE breeze. We crossed the railway bridge and walked through the orchard area, seeing many Meadow Brown butterflies and a Red Admiral. We crossed the main recreational area (Wapley Common) and through the uniformed groups area. In the Western Wood we heard Goldcrest amongst a group of conifers and a Song Thrush. We had coffee in the Upper Meadow where Bee Orchids were found amongst the Common Spotted. We walked through the semi-natural ancient woodland in a loop down and back up. A pair of Bullfinches were spotted in the woods, Treecreeper song heard, also Great Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming. Many Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were heard. A young Jay perched conveniently on a branch. Back in the Upper Meadow, we spotted some House Martins over distant trees. Two Ravens flew over. We crossed a wooden bridge into the Lower Meadow and walked diagonally down to the lower path where a Marbled White flew past. We spent some time enjoying the sight of a large dragonfly hunting flies. We then walked clockwise around the edge of the Lower Meadow, seeing a Small Copper and stopped for a picnic at the top. After lunch we walked back down by the woods past a large number of Common Spotted Orchids. We returned over the railway bridge and said our goodbyes. 30 bird species in total. (Thanks to Alan for leading). Alan Daniells

Twenty one members met outside the Crown, Churchill, on a fine, sunny morning with a bit of a breeze. As we set off a Greenfinch was heard. On our way to crossing the A38 the path descended through a wood we saw and heard Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Long-tailed Tit and Goldcrest. A short walk uphill to the Iron Age hillfort yielded a Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Willow Warbler. We took the southern route along the hillfort bank where a Raven flew overhead along with a Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull. In the scrub to our left numerous Whitethroats could be heard. We had extensive views over the Mendip to Blackdown and the Bristol Channel. After a brief stop for refreshment we passed through woodland and scrub where both Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker were seen. A male and female Stonechat obliged by sitting on top of a bush and also on the nearby fence as well as a Linnet nearby. Passing through a small conifer plantation we heard more Goldcrests and some saw a Treecreeper. Another Raven flew over as the path took us through thick scrub and emerged on to a grass track back to the hillfort dyke and the customary ‘Tuesday’ Buzzard appeared. On the descent back through Dolebury Bottom we saw House Martin and a Swift busy feeding as well as more Chaffinches, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Goldfinch on our way back to the cars. Thanks to Nick for compiling the bird list of 40 species. (Thanks to Mark for leading). Mark Watson

Three members met at the Frampton on Severn car park. Luckily the warm sun was keeping the chill of the NE wind at bay. We walked to Court Lake first, seeing Greylag and Barnacle geese in the meadow. On the lake there were Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan with four cygnets, Greylag with a gosling, Coot and Moorhen. Two Common Terns, a Buzzard, a few Swallows and a Kingfisher flew over the lake. A Cormorant was perching. Another member joined us and local birder Nick Goatman let us know about some Spotted Flycatchers, so we carried on clockwise around the lake and into the woods where we caught up with three Spotted Flycatchers amongst the Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Cetti’s Warbler and Goldcrest also present. As we carried on toward the Sailing Lake, we saw increasing numbers of Swifts and at least ten Long-tailed Tits. By the Sailing Lake itself, Swift numbers increased to 25+, with a few Swallows and House Martins amongst them. There were dense clouds of midges but, luckily, not the biting kind. There were six Common Terns nesting on a platform in the lake. A Cuckoo sang, then flew by, then we started to see Hobby over the lake, one at first, then increasing finally to six. One of them perched and gave us a good view. A group of ten Little Egrets also flew by. 49 species in all. Thanks to Nick for leading the walk. Alan Daniells

A chilly start in the breeze, as we gathered in the parking area alongside St. Katherine’s Church..Eighteen of us set off under the guidance of Melanie, who as you would expect certainly knew her ‘patch’. Despite the Common being a popular dog walking spot, Skylarks were in abundance, ascending and descending, often to an accompaniment of jet engines, singing their trademark song. Raptors in the form of Buzzards, usually being mobbed by a variety of Crows and even a Kestrel, provided a good show and for good measure a brief appearance was made by a Red Kite. Linnets showed well for most. However, only a select four people at the back of the pack saw a pair of Cranes flying high and heading north, maybe to Slimbridge. House Martins entertained before and during the picnic lunch with Swifts and Swallows also present. Knowledge happily shared throughout the morning and the light was good enough for the photographers to get a few snaps. Another enjoyable and informative walk and thanks again to Melanie. 36 species in all. Paul Tompkins

The start up through the woods held Song Thrush, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, with a shout from a few Chiffchaff and the call of Stock Dove, but the prize was a Treecreeper working hard for its family. The path was steep with well-worn and thus slippery stone, until we finally emerged from the trees to see Meadow Pipit, a splendid Linnet and a handful of Swifts slicing across the sky. The first of the Stonechats was seen as we continued towards the trig point, with more Meadow Pipits and one of the few Skylarks was heard. It took a while for all 22 of us to congregate at coffee time, each ascending the slope in their own good time, but ‘Old Nog’ flapped effortlessly west. Whitethroat were calling, offering splendid views and being very mindful of their territorial boundaries. We dropped onto the south slope of the down to head back where some Stonechats rattled at us for getting too close. The early finishers left us at Bourton Coombe, while the rest of us plunged down the path to the farm, with Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat providing the music. The way back; past the quarry, along the easterly flank of King’s Wood, provided counts of the usual species, the yaffle of a Green Woodpecker and the ‘chip chip’ of a Great Spotted. A total of 31 species were seen or heard by all, on this particularly splendid day. PS. Thanks for the flapjacks. Luke. (Thanks to Nick for leading) Nick Hawkridge

18 of us waited in the RSPB car park for the rain to stop. Fifteen minutes after our start time our leader, Lewis, was able to address us in drier conditions. We set out along various paths that showed us the product of the careful management that this reserve benefits from. The principal practice is coppicing and is done in a cycle that has shown to best suit breeding Nightingales. The birds move in when the coppice is in its third year but then avoid coppice that is over nine years old. Different management strategies have been tried recently, one forced by Covid when a coppiced area could not be enclosed from browsing deer in time before a forced lockdown. This actually yielded a more varied, natural plot where the coppice stools were exposed to browsing while Blackthorn and Hawthorn were able to dominate. This suited one Nightingale that soon moved in and was singing for us in its second year running. This has encouraged similar management across the reserve and we were even able to detect a Willow Warbler holding territory in new growth scrub – not an expected species we were told by Lewis. Another unexpected species that has found favour at Highnam is Woodcock which regularly rodes over the woodland. Overall, two Nightingales sang, at least one of which was apparently paired. The dominant species, though was Song Thrush, their song constant and non-stop throughout our visit until the end when in the fading light a Nightingale took centre stage sending us all home very satisfied. (Thanks to Lewis for a very interesting evening) Mike Jackson

Two Whitethroats sang as we climbed the steps, a nearby Blackcap chimed in, as did a distant Chiffchaff. The top was not cold, the wind merely adding a refreshing zephyr to a warm day. Some Shelduck peppered the mud flats, a team of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull washed at the point, a couple of Swallow rowed past, with another Whitethroat flitting in the brush. As we walked the north facing path below Swallow Cliff, we were entertained by a pair of Stonechats, some Linnets and a Dunnock singing his tinkling song from a bramble stem. Post coffee, we ambled up the gentle slope, stopping to count the Linnets, Skylarks and an unseen Lesser Whitethroat. At Middle Hope beach the pair of Peregrines we had seen wheeling over the car park, made an attack, with the female making off with Woodpigeon. A few people bade farewell at the break out point, as we moseyed on to see a dozen Jackdaws, hear another Whitethroat and our first Greenfinch. At lunch we saw a couple of dozen Oystercatchers at the mouth of the River Banwell and a nesting pair of Shelducks. Alas as we climbed up past the MOD site, the hoped for Spotted Flycatcher failed to show, but pairs of courting Greenfinches did. The slow wander back to the cars with a final bird total of 32 seen or heard by most of the squad of 17 walkers. (Thanks to Nick for leading) Nick Hawkridge

The weather forecast was wrong, who knew? An icy wind blew as 18 swiftly bundled up members assembled for a walk around the Angidy Trail. Nuthatches galore called and seemingly invisible Blackcaps sang as we headed out from the cars and started the climb up the hill. The first of many Buzzards was seen. Goldcrests made a brief appearance before we were dazed and confused again by Alan and his analemmatic sundials at Church Grove Cottage. Three Swallows whizzed past over the trees. Moving on, a Marsh Tit was heard but sadly not pinned down and Song Thrushes and a Green Woodpecker also told us they were there. At the ironworks, Grey and Pied Wagtails were present and as a surprise, two Red Kites wheeling away across the forest. Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Chaffinches and even a Blackcap were seen along the way. Coffee at the first pond gave us a pair of Mallards and a swift fly-by of a Dipper as we left. Further on, a Sparrowhawk was spotted and a variety of early Spring butterflies, Brimstone, Peacock, Holly Blue and Orange Tip. Lunch was held again in Sue’s lovely riverside garden, a resplendent male Chaffinch kept us company. Heading back we were treated to a display flight by Buzzards high above the valley. Thanks to Graham for leading and Sue for the kind use of her garden. 33 species in all. Alan Craddock

There was a healthy turnout of BOC members and birds on today’s walk. On first entering, seven Gadwall swooped in front of us. We unusually saw a Cetti’s Warbler perched out in the open on a pile of twigs. Bitterns boomed five times, three times, twice and flew across the landscape. Hobbies were aplenty flying high with Marsh Harriers, it was a great day for spotting them. The visiting Great Reed Warbler piped up, shortly after a Reed Warbler, a fascinating comparison. We had ten Swifts flying overhead, Cuckoos sounding at different areas across the site and an abundance of warblers, as mentioned plus Garden and Willow. Notably the Sedge Warbler performed for at least 30 minutes. Newly hatched damselflies were floating around, so young we couldn’t distinguish their colour yet. Also Orange- tipped and Brimstone butterflies. Chicks of Moorhen, Great Crested Grebe, and Coot, were an endearing sight. Other highlights included sightings of a Black-tailed Godwit and a Whitethroat. A plentiful and abundant morning with 50 species sighted. (Thank you to Giles for leading.) Emily Fitzgerald

We met with the Somerset Ornithological Society at the unearthly hour of 08.15, some of our group were up at 05.00 to arrive in time. There were about five of us from the BOC, and twenty from SOS. The leaders were the excellent Brian Gibbs and David Dawe. The walk was up Hodder’s Combe, Somerton Combe, and up Stert Combe on the east side of the stream, coming out on the heathland, and retuning north, just to the west of Higher Hare Knap, we came down the ridge into the car park. Unfortunately, we were a bit early to hear or see Wood Warbler, but we did find Dipper, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Garden Warbler, Grey Wagtail, and coming out of the wood to the heath heard a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. The heath gave us a Cuckoo to see also Dartford Warbler, Stonechat, Tree Pipit, Redpoll and Yellowhammer. (Thanks to Brian and Dave.) Rob Hargreaves