Field trip reports

Ten of us met at a lay-by on the A432 on a baking hot morning. After my really quite good sausage sandwich from the local food van, we set off down a footpath which led us by way of a couple of fields to the suburbia of Frampton Cotterell. It wasn’t birding weather and very little was showing; a couple of Robins, a Wren and a Dunnock were spotted along the way and a Green Woodpecker was heard yaffling. We stopped at the “Village Pond” where there were ten Mallard and a couple of Moorhens, one a juvenile. There was also an Emperor Dragonfly, a Common Darter and Beautiful and Banded Demoiselles flying around. A further footpath took us out of the housing estate where we saw a Buzzard on the way down to Nightingale’s Bridge where we stopped for coffee in the shade. Then we battled down the Frome Valley Walkway which was quite overgrown with nettles everywhere. Brief sightings included a Song Thrush, a Grey Heron, a House Martin, five Swallows and a further Buzzard. We returned to the main road by way of a track past Huckford Farm. Twenty species in total. Thanks to Peter for leading and the occasional history lesson. Alan Craddock

Our group of thirteen, including three newcomers, met in the village of Somerford Keynes, where a good number of doves and Swallows could be seen; a Green Woodpecker was heard but not seen. We set out toward Pit 37, having spotted Little Grebe on the village lake and Migrant Hawker dragonflies flying above. The ground was uneven in places but dry throughout, with one stile and some brambles (whence a great many blackberries were foraged). Weather was dry with little cloud cover so we were glad of the shade along the edges of the lakes. On the larger lakes we observed many Coot, Mallard, Tufted Ducks, Canada Geese, Swans and Great Crested Grebe with a number of their delightfully striped face juveniles. The group split up for lunch on the heath, where we saw Cormorant, Gulls, Common Terns and a Red Kite, before looping back along the Thames path (the river itself was largely dry). We were pre-warned that Red-crested Pochard had recently been in the area, and indeed we saw a pair on the Farmhouse Lake. Throughout the day we heard Chiffchaff contact calls and saw a great number of other warblers including Blackcap, Reed Warbler, and Sedge Warbler, though many individual birds eluded ID. Overall we saw at least 39 species of bird and twelve species of (mostly colourful) flighted insect; one Buddleia bush had four Painted Ladies and three Hummingbird Hawkmoths. Many thanks to Peter for leading the walk and compiling the list. Freddie Nash

It was 21C and stayed dry. Fourteen of us met by St Katherine’s church on Felton Common. Swallows and a House Martin were feeding around us as we made our way across the common and we glimpsed several Skylarks fluttering around the bracken. Some of us also briefly saw a Stonechat with the House Sparrows at the top of The Street on the brambles. As we climbed up the hill a Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat were identified in a Hawthorn bush. A lot of birds were quite elusive. Chiffchaff was seen and the call of Willow Warbler heard. A small flock of Linnets were also seen. We searched unsuccessfully for a Yellowhammer and juvenile that had been seen the previous week. We had our coffee on the stones by the Roundhouse where, unfortunately, the scaffolding that was up in the winter and spring caused the House Martin colony to be absent. We observed Common Whitethroat here in the trees and scrub and more Stonechats and House Sparrows. Our walk along the back hedge yielded Blackcap, Blackbird and Wren. A soaring Buzzard was also seen. Gatekeeper and Speckled Wood butterflies were on the wing and a deceased mole was observed. Twenty-four bird species in total. Thanks to Alastair for keeping the bird list and Robin for helping to identify birds with his camera shots. (Thanks to Melanie for leading) Mel Patch

Sixteen birders set off on the long slope down into the tranquil valley immediately spotting a Treecreeper showing off. Soon our curiosity was sparked when we noticed a pair of large metal sheets just off the path which we carefully lifted up, hoping to spot some wildlife resting in the cool and dark. There was nothing there, but a speedy scurrying was heard which from its size and shape may have been a Bank Vole. A large, tall patch of thistles was full of Goldfinches and a Kingfisher flashed by as we arrived at the lake for our coffee stop at the picturesque 19th century boathouse, complete with an old rowing boat on the grass outside. Di had specially arranged for the boat house to be opened for us and inside we saw the droppings on the floor as evidence of the bats that roost in the roof space. Through its open windows was a beautifully framed view of the lake in the middle of which was a long arching log with two Grey Wagtails dipping up and down as is their charming habit – a picture-perfect scene. We continued around the lake and enjoyed another perfect scene of a clear mirror reflection in the middle of the lake of a Sandpiper on another log. Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were flying in the open skies. Whilst in the grasses at ground level there were Gatekeeper butterflies fluttering about. 27 species in all, thanks to Di for leading and all who attended. Sa-Re Desai

We numbered 14 in the group on a cooler day than recently with a stiff breeze along the Severn Way. From the path above the lake, we saw Gadwall, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan and Little Grebe. The occasional call from a Chiffchaff was heard as we walked the path towards the river, with Reed Warblers calling briefly from the lagoon. The path itself was overflowing with grasses and wild flowers that were full of butterflies which we were able to identify; ten species in total were seen. The tide was quite a way out on the River Severn, but Little Egret, Heron, Curlew and Oystercatcher were seen among the various Gulls. Two Shelducks made their way upstream with a delightful brood of seven ducklings franti cally paddling behind, trying to keep up. The jetty area had Stonechat, Linnet, Robin and the regular Pied Wagtails. Five Ravens flew towards us, being hassled by a Kestrel. On the Power Station ledge was a Peregrine, and another was seen flying higher. On the final path back were Green Woodpeckers and a Robin. The orchard was disappointingly empty of any birds or butterflies this time. Total species seen 31. (Thanks to Di for leading and all who attended.) Di Bunniss

Thirteen enthusiastic birders began from the small harbour at Pill where there was an incoming tide. This would prove to be quite a hot day starting out around 20C and ending on our return at 25/26C. Despite this our bird count for the day of 30 species was respectable. We assembled on the green with our first view being many Swifts swooping and screaming overhead and around the harbour area. As we set off this was followed by House Martins feeding young under the eaves of a house opposite, with Mallard on the water and many Black-headed Gulls calling from the boats clearly marked as their territory. We made our way along the pathway and onto the foreshore heading for a stopping point under the M5 for a much needed rehydration break. Distant Raven were seen from here along with Buzzard. We made our way to a footpath bounded on both sides by hedges, reedbed and distant foreshore. This area contained most of the birds seen with two Oystercatcher on a distant jetty, and Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler and Blackcap heard. The path ended at a fence where some had good views of Redshank and Common Sandpiper. With the tide at its highest we retraced our steps getting close views of a hunting Kestrel and two Clouded Yellow butterflies. Thanks to Graham for leading an interesting walk. For anyone who needed to know more about the street artwork under the M5 bridge this was a combined effort from two well-known street artists who displayed this work at Upfest in Bristol earlier this year .Jenny White

Eleven of us arrived at the Speech House car park for this evening meeting to see a few birds flitting in the trees and Woodpigeon calling. On making our way into the forest, the excitement started when we had prolonged views of a Firecrest with two juveniles found by James. Further along there were Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Chaffinch and many Stonechats flying between the path and the trees together with Siskins and Linnets flying over us. Once on the heathland we saw many Linnets, Siskins and a flock of 34 House Martins. During our coffee break, we observed seven ponies walking through the gorse and heard Buzzard and Pheasants calling. We reached Crabtree Hill at about 21:30 and saw a Buzzard land in a tree, and very soon heard two Nightjars churring. Then a male gave us a fabulous show of flying around, landing, then back up and landing again before a female flew up. After a few more churring calls we made our way back down the hill only to see three Highland Cattle with a Wild Boar in the middle before one of the cattle chased it off. Walking back to the cars, James heard the wings of a Woodcock before we were spoilt again by another display in torch light of a Nightjar flying round and round and finally landing out of sight. A fantastic walk was had by all. (Thanks to Caron for leading and also to James for his expertise, his young eyes and ears.) Caron Thornton Trippit

This year the Avon Gorge Peregrines nested on a ledge opposite our usual watch point. There was anew female (with some reports of last year’s female having been seen around Sea Walls early in theseason), the male was possibly the same as last year. They successfully fledged four juveniles (one maleand three females) around 10 June, early for the site. One female was grounded in a storm on 12 Juneand rescued in Leigh Woods. It was released the next day having been checked by a vet and ringed. The birds had not been ringed in the nest as the ledge was a narrow and confined space. We had 207 enthusiastic visitors to the stand on the first weekend with plenty of Peregrine activity. In July we finished at 12:00 each day because of the heatwave and so had fewer visitors, 106. The juveniles spent the July Sunday away from the watch point. The ringed juvenile and another juvenile and two adults were photographed on the BRI chimney on 22 July. Many thanks to all the volunteers who made the event possible, and to BOC members who came along to support us. (Gareth Roberts)

On this sunny day, 15 of us met at Tyntesfield for this walk. Setting off from the car park, we were immediately met by a calling Buzzard, Crows and the occasional Woodpigeon flying past. Given the warm weather, early sightings trickled in slowly whilst crossing dry grass fields with the singing of a Nuthatch, Chiffchaff and Wren heard, with unsuspecting Alpaca and Emu in their pens. Things picked up as we followed the Land Yeo, watching Banded Demoiselle and Blue Damselflies zipping by. There we were met by the distinctive song of Yellowhammer from the trees and overhead wires. Swift and Swallow were swooping over a distant barn. As we neared Watercress Farm, Sparrow, Greenfinch and Dunnock sprung up from the vegetation around us before a Little Egret flew up from the ponds nearby, highlighting a Grey Heron, Canada Geese and Mallards that were also beyond the reeds. Our short break to hydrate and refuel at Watercress was accompanied by many butterflies: Meadow Brown and Painted Ladies flitting over the abundant thistle, but the previously reported Quail was, unfortunately, not seen by our group. On our return, Little Grebe and Mute Swan were spotted on the pools, with a lively group of Sand Martin sweeping over the fields to our left. Upon making it back to Tyntesfield, we were greeted yet again by a calling Buzzard overhead. In total 29 species were spotted. Many thanks to Jean for leading this scenic walk and to Graham for the day’s list!Annabelle Lam

Fifteen members met at Berkeley Castle on a warm sunny day for a mainly flat circular route starting and ending along a minor road and then on walking routes and bridleways, some next to channels and the Severn. The terrain was mainly open country with the occasional shading from trees. Our leader gave us some interesting snippets of history starting with the Jesters Tomb in the Churchyard where we got a glimpse of a Goldcrest flitting in a large Atlantic Blue Cedar and then as we passed the castle a Buzzard circled above. After hearing a Reed Warbler in a deep ridge we got a clear view of two Reed Warblers in the reeds as we passed over a channel. After joining the Berkeley/Pill path we heard the wheezing of Greenfinch and warbling Blackcaps. A Kestrel was spotted flying with some prey and it proceeded to land on a far gate and started to feed. There were plenty of butterflies including Marbled White, Small Skipper and Clouded Yellow. Where the channel met the Severn we spotted a Little Egret, Heron, Common Sandpiper and Oystercatchers. Alongside the Severn there was a Shelduck with four small chicks bobbing about in the choppy water. We returned back on a path between two hedgerows and as we reached Berkeley a Red Kite flew overhead bringing the total species seen to 44. Many thanks to Peter for leading the walk Stephen Clarke