Field trip reports

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 Horton, Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen and Green Woodpecker heard as well as Robin and Wren. At the fishing lake, Little Grebe and Moorhen were noted and then 85 Mallards at the next small pool. House Sparrows were seen around Horton gardens as well as Greenfinch and Goldfinch with House Martins and Swallows overhead. At Horton Camp possible Stonechats quickly became the Whinchat stars of the day with good sightings of two via scopes. A small party went on to Old Sodbury and were rewarded with a sighting of three Spotted Flycatchers. The other notable sighting for the first time in many weeks was, thanks to the overnight rain, mud. 34 species were noted in all. Thanks to Alastair for leading. Judith Craddock

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 aligned our sight along the hedgerow to see Blackcap and a couple of Spotted Flycatchers. A charm of Goldfinches twinkled in the foreground, the first of what would eventually be around 80 birds thriving on thistle seeds. Next up was a Redstart followed by two of each of Whinchat and Whitethroat, then another Redstart, this time a showy male. Buzzard, Kestrel and another Spotted Flycatcher kept the group focused before we topped the bushy vista to march on to where the cattle were gathered, passing two Wheatears and a cronking Raven as we went. The cattle had done their job to keep 17 Yellow Wagtails waiting for us. The varying plumages contained a few exquisite bright yellow males. With the ‘target birds’ bagged we returned satisfied with 37 species. Many thanks to the group for being such good company (and thanks to Mike for leading). Mike Jackson

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 the Boat House, where we were met by James Gomery, the National Trust Warden for the estate. He gave us a very informative talk on the area management for wildlife, with the felling and removal of the conifers and reintroduction of native deciduous trees. While he was speaking, a Kingfisher darted down the pool in one direction and a Heron flew in another! After a relaxing coffee stop, with time or strolling around the immediate area, the route then led on along a board-walk fringing the lake and through a field of six docile Belted Welsh cattle. Lunch stop was soon reached and  we settled on the lake banks to watch more bird life. A flock of House Martins, Swallows and a few Sand Martins were swooping down over the water, a wonderful aerial display. Time for a leisurely lunch then a stroll back along the upper path, where we spotted the bird of the day, a Whinchat. Picnic tables and benches outside the mansion provided another resting place. Altogether 33 species. Thanks to Nick for keeping a record and to Di for leading. Di Bunniss

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 Green Woodpecker calling, then showing well in a fir tree and two Ravens flew over. Peter spotted a Great Spotted Woodpecker at the top of a bare tree and a Goldfinch on top of the fir. There was a very  distant Stonechat (ID via Alan’s scope) on a bush at the top of the field. A Cormorant flew down river, with a now sunlit Wales appearing out of the mist behind. Three members left us after coffee, leaving nine to continue. Very little was seen from the 13 coast path except a Black-headed Gull and two or three Herring Gulls, then a juvenile Herring Gull was spotted eating a crab on a rock, being approached by two young Crows. Jean saw a Kestrel just before we entered the wood. Once inside the wood leading to Walton Common, Alan heard Treecreeper and Marsh Tit, Long-tailed Tits gave flitting views and Nuthatch was heard. Lunch was taken when we emerged onto the Common. Continuing onwards, we heard Great Tit and another Green Woodpecker. After crossing the Walton road we ascended the long path up through Rock Wood to the Golf Course, where a Buzzard was heard and a Robin seen. 33 species. (Thanks to Judy for leading) Judy Copeland

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 and a Yellow-legged Gull amongst the more numerous Lesser Black-blacked Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. Great White and Little Egrets posed at close range for comparison. Black-tailed Godwits have moved from the pool to the lake, perhaps seeking deeper water, and a few were scattered along the shoreline. Lots of Sand Martins zoomed around our heads, a Cetti’s Warbler sang, a Raven ‘cronked’ and the sharp-eyed caught the blue flash of a Kingfisher or two out over the lake. We moved to Herons Green to find a quite unusual bird for Chew: an Oystercatcher. Also, there were Little Grebes, two Common Sandpipers, another Yellow-legged Gull and at least 30 Pied Wagtails with one Yellow Wagtail. We almost overlooked the Common Tern crouching low on the back of the old road that now pokes out of the shallow water. The group then split so as not to overwhelm the hides, half going to Villice Bay which turned up Lapwing and seven Mistle Thrushes, then on to Nunnery to see 20 Ringed Plovers, three Dunlin, Common and Green Sandpipers. The other half chose Stratford where up to three Garganey were hiding behind waving reeds which parted now and then to allow the odd glimpse of an eclipse male. We also had a few Shovelers, a Peregrine that shot down the lake disturbing all the ducks and a Hobby hunting over woods on the far shore. The shore held another unexpected wader- a juvenile Turnstone (two were reported). Many thanks to Andy Davis for his patience in imparting some of the knowledge he has picked up during all his years of birding at Chew. Jane Cumming

Although the great heat of the past week had lessened it was still a very humid day. Thirty members met in the car park and were treated to a light shower, of which there were a number during the morning. Jean led us off to the ‘BOC hedge’ which a number of BOC members had planted some years before. There was also an impressive fence, although the gate needed some attention. Discussions were taking place regarding a bird of prey we had seen gliding down the hill and on balance it was decided it was a Sparrowhawk. Slowly the bird count was increasing and included Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Nuthatch and Bullfinch. Another bird of prey, this one flapping quickly, was recorded as a Hobby. Later a distant feeding Raven was identified as a Buzzard when it took off. A total of 28 species were seen. Many thanks to Jean for leading. Beth Yates

Ten people met early at this decommissioned nuclear power station on the Severn Estuary north of Thornbury, on a day that got rapidly hotter. We circled the northerly dry lagoon (Lagoon 2) with bordering large trees and some secretive side paths, then entered the open estuary embankment with the lovely sight of a flock of 20 Ringed Plovers, nine Dunlins and a Turnstone wheeling and landing along the foreshore – more Turnstones also camping out on a far buoy. We continued past the power station and back to the raised south dry lagoon (Lagoon 3) overlooking a large lake, and through a meadow and orchard. We saw or heard Canada Goose, Moorhen, Sparrowhawk, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and four Green Woodpecker, Swallows, a Little Egret perched in a tree, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Pied Wagtail, and three Bullfinches calling as they flew over. Pete’s keen eyes picked out a young Peregrine hiding in the shade of a pylon strut. Total species was 36. Many thanks to Pete, whose patch this is, for leading.  Lois Pryc

Twenty-one members met in the middle of the second heatwave of the summer; fortunately we would spend most of our time in the shade of the trees. My expectation of sightings was low due to the heat and time of year but we ended up with a surprisingly good list and some treats. In the first stretch of woodland Alan said he could hear Tree Creeper and possible Coal Tit. The Merlin bird app confirmed Treecreeper but suggested Marsh Tit. Multiple pairs of eyes scanning the trees eventually confirmed the app was right. Well done technology! (Although Cetti’s Warbler further along the path had to be a mis-identification). Our little patch of trees proved full of birds: a family of Marsh Tit, Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatches and a Spotted Flycatcher. Juvenile Robins foraged along the edge of the path and a Stock Dove called from above. Typical of woodland, our purple patch was followed by stretches devoid of birds until our next lucky spot where we had another Flycatcher and calling Bullfinch. Buzzard was our only raptor. 21 species in total. (Thanks Al for leading.) Alastair Fraser

Goldcliff is a separate and more informal part of the Newport Wetlands on the Bristol Channel coast, consisting of three shallow lagoons / scrapes and a series of small hides. Wet areas are fenced and the reserve is noted for Lapwing and Avocet breeding – though sadly some breached fencing meant little success this year owing to the predations of Fox and Otter. 17 people met on a hot day, to find that unsurprisingly the Monks and Becks lagoons were dry though the southerly Priors lagoon was still reasonably full. There we found Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal (in deep eclipse), Moorhen, Little Grebe, Lapwing, a surprising count of 153 Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Grey Heron, a stately Great White Egret, and nine Little Egrets; while abundant Sand Martins with Swallows and House Martins hunted overhead. On the more dried-out areas were Stonechat families, two early Whinchats and a Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Linnet and Reed Bunting. (Ringed Plover had been seen a few days before.) Hedgerows and trees held an abundance of small birds, including Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher. Climbing the sea embankment above the foreshore, we could see flocks of moulting Shelduck, Oystercatchers, Curlews and gulls including a Great Black-backed; and overhead flew Sparrowhawk, Buzzards, a brightly yellow-headed female Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Raven, and small groups of Cormorants. Altogether we had a surprisingly productive morning with a total of 45 species – many thanks to Jane for leading. Lois Pryce

The forecast was for a rather drizzly morning, but 17 of us met in the pretty village of Hillesley. The first field we went through yielded several Whitethroats, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and a huge flock of Linnets. A great start! We moved into open farmland and watched a solo gull quartering a ploughed field. After a period of debate and pondering, we decided it was a somewhat unseasonal Common Gull. As we walked through a small wood, Treecreeper, Goldcrest and Long-Tailed Tits were seen. We joined the Cotswold Way, and along a wooded path we heard ‘mewing’ calls; the source was found to be two Sparrowhawks. We passed through the village of Alderley, and out into a shallow valley. There we heard Ravens calling, and watched House Martins flying over distant trees while Swallows dashed low across the fields. It was another pleasant Tuesday walk, through varied countryside, and the rain held off until the last few minutes. In total we saw and/or heard 43 species. Thanks to Graham for leading, to Alan and Nick for keeping the records, and to all present for their great company. Tim Fell