Field trip reports

And the Lord said unto Noah.… “ 26 birdwatchers shall thy take and shelter from the driving rains beneath the canopy of We the Curious for oh, 20 minutes or so, before they shall venture forth around the dockside of olde Bristol towne”. And lo, the rain did abate and we set off bravely. We were accompanied by Amanda Tuke of Birdwatching magazine who had recently done a piece on birding in Southend-on-Sea and was looking to do something similar on the Bristol scene. Given the weather and time of year it was fairly quiet, mostly Feral Pigeons and Herring gulls in the basin, though we did spot a couple of Collared Doves. A Mute Swan, Mallards, Moorhens and Cormorants made up the naval contingent as we wandered on. Due to the late start, the coffee stop was delayed, causing great consternation until we finally came to rest at the old tobacco-bonded warehouses by the New Cut. A Grey Wagtail and numerous Black-headed Gulls were spotted on the River Avon as we made our turn for home. The stars of the day were a couple of Peregrines who made a brief fly-by over the Cumberland Basin and then headed off into the distance towards Clifton and the Gorge. Nick kindly led a break-off group up Brandon Hill, where all the smaller birds were hiding, Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Goldfinch and Dunnock making up the numbers, whilst the rest of us headed home. 24 species in total. (Thanks to Alan for leading.) Alan Craddock

On our way to Court Lake we checked out the gull flock in front of Frampton Court house. Black-headed dominated, with the exception of a single Common Gull, a Herring Gull, plus a lone Greylag Goose. Court Lake was busy with many Mute Swan, Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler and Coot, but much fewer Mallard and Moorhen. Six Little Grebe dived together, several Cormorant resting in the trees and a Little Egret stalked the bank. In between the lakes, Chiffchaffs became a feature with foraging birds, calling birds and even a singing bird giving an unexpected total of eight on the day. The crop fields produced winter thrushes, a pair of Stonechat, Skylark and our first and only Chaffinch sighting. At the sailing lake a smart adult Yellow-legged Gull presented itself on the floating platform for us all to take in the field marks. More than a dozen Great Crested Grebe, more Coots and a handful of Tufted Ducks completed our water bird tally, before three Greenfinch and a single Great Tit became the last birds on our list of 47 species. Thanks to our group of six for making such a pleasant trip (and thanks to Mike for leading). Mike Jackson

A stormy night left behind a dramatic cloudscape, with the sun breaking through to create vibrant colour-saturated views over this beautiful stretch of fields, levels and river south of Weston STW. Flyover Black-headed Gulls shone white against dark cumulus clouds, Grey Heron and Mallard gleamed against the grey water, and 250 Lapwings flashed black and white underwings as they rose from the riverside. We stopped at the sluice for coffee and to admire Crook Peak to the east, Brean Down to the west and Brent Knoll to the south over still green trees and hedgerows. Along the River Axe we logged a few Cormorants, Mute Swan, one Wigeon, ten Teal, Moorhens, 17 Redshanks, three Snipe and a pair of Stonechats. Some migration was evident in small numbers of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Chaffinches passing south but we didn’t find the winter thrushes we expected. Walking to the river and back we noted 25 flyover Canada Geese, Stock Doves and a huge corvid flock feeding on maize, a Buzzard, an unidentified falcon (the one that got away), a tit flock with the usual accompanying Chiffchaff, telephone lines covered in Starlings, and three calling Cetti’s Warblers. The 17 members then split up, one group checking the poolside blind to find a Reed Bunting, while the others found nothing at all in the bushes along the cycle track. Back at the cars at 12:30 just as it started to rain, we agreed that it was a lovely walk with the scenery making up for the lack of migrant thrushes. (Thanks to Jane for leading.) (Note that the gate and car park at Weston STW are closed at weekends.) Jane Cumming

meeting combined a BOC outing with a belated WeBS count, so the group was subjected to a stationary hour on the beach surveying the high tide roosts. The counts of 180 Shelduck and 103 Oystercatcher were much as expected, but other numbers were low – just a few Mallard and Teal, two Wigeon, a handful of Curlews on the Brean shore and 20 Redshanks flying upriver as the tide began to drop. A hundred Lapwings rose in a tight flock over the distant levels. The most interesting item was the group of small waders that could be discerned out on Black Rock; we assumed they were Dunlin but when they flew over to the beach most proved to be Ringed Plovers. The saltmarsh held two Grey Herons, four Little Egrets and three Stonechats. Gull numbers were low with a few Great and Lesser Black-back Gulls amongst some 50 Black-headed Gulls. We moved up to the marina and walked over Walborough Hill for the second half of the visit, finding a lot more Teal in the small pools below the hill bringing the total to 69. No wintering Mute Swans yet but the count of 62 Canada Geese on the Brean fields was higher than usual. We picked out 170 Redshanks roosting along the muddy river edges. The walk finished with a flock of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits accompanied by a Chiffchaff. Buzzard, Kestrel, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits brought the total up to 43 species. (Thanks to Jane for leading) Jane Cumming

21 of us met in the Upton Inn car park in the fine mild weather; it was good to welcome two who were new to the group. Coming off the rough track, starting the long downhill path through fields we had the unmistakeable flight of a Great Spotted Woodpecker, some fine views to the west and the sight of winter thrushes in the trees – mostly Redwing, Two Fieldfare and a few Mistle Thrush. Coming down into Bitton brought us to St Mary’s Church. The tower sported a Peregrine perched on a gargoyle, unfazed by the Jackdaws nearby and Ravens flying around ‘cronking’. Across more fields seeing two Green Woodpeckers and fast flying Jays, then up onto the cycle track for Buzzards and a fine Kestrel. Next along the River Avon, for a glimpse of the only bird on the water – a single Moorhen, though a Grey Heron and a Cormorant flew by. Although our last leg was a long, uphill stretch it had been a most enjoyable walk, seeing and hearing many other usual small birds giving us 39 species. Thanks to our leader Geoff. Anne Crowe

A group of 15 birders met outside the ‘Ring of Bells’ on a misty autumn morning, the sun breaking through as we set off past the church. The first excitement came as we watched Long-tailed Tits in a holly tree and realised that the neighbouring tree held a lovely young male Sparrowhawk. As we walked down the road to Coley a Nuthatch was at the roadside and then a second was seen and heard. Goldcrests were in a conifer in the village. Our usual route along both the lakes was closed for clearing the boathouse burnt down by vandals. On the first lake there were plenty of dabchicks, Moorhens and Coot. At coffee we watched a family of Mute Swans, two Black-headed Gulls, Pied Wagtails and a Cormorant. In nearby fields we saw four Little Egrets and a Pheasant. The diversion took us up a hill through a field with cattle grazing and where a Green Woodpecker was heard. The return route of lanes and fields held Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. Alan saw a Red Kite, John a Buzzard, and those at the rear saw a possible Merlin. In all 35 species were seen. A very pleasant ramble in beautiful countryside. (Thanks to Sue and John for leading). Sue Prince

On a beautiful autumn morning 17 members assembled on Priddy Green. Graham led us up to the church and through the churchyard to Nine Barrow Lane. We then took a footpath over fields to East Water Lane. Here Nick organised a photograph of the group as one had been taken at the same spot some years earlier. The bird list was slowly rising although the most numerous were Rooks and Crows. At the lane we were treated to a sighting of a Clouded Yellow as we had our morning break. Then along the lane which was muddy in places and across fields south of the Priddy Nine Barrows. Here we got good sightings of Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Skylark, Stonechat and Meadow Pipit. We passed The Mineries and headed back to the road where a couple of Mistle Thrushes were feeding in the field opposite. The last stretch was over fields back to Priddy Green one of which had a herd of cows. In total 33 species were recorded including Stock Dove, Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Raven, Nuthatch and Treecreeper. Many thanks to Graham for leading a lovely walk with many interesting stiles. Beth Yates

Any rain encountered en route to our start had ceased and a blowy, autumn morning saw 21 members (three of them still in shorts!) meet. The initial mile or so of this very pleasant walk through an English country estate didn’t turn up many easy to see birds and the paths through the woods were very quiet. However, this was soon forgotten with good sightings and our final total was 37 species. On several occasions and particularly during the coffee break, Swallows were seen hawking over the fields; a Red Kite, a Buzzard and later a Kestrel were also spotted – not a Sparrowhawk to join the list of birds of prey, though a pile of feathers did indicate we might have just missed one. As usual the super-knowledgeable among us helped with identification, including three Snipe flying right over our heads and the great counting skills of some added good numbers of Stock Doves, Jackdaws, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails to our list. It was great to see and hear Skylark, a few House Martins and, for some, a Yellowhammer. Nearing the end of our walk a couple of Roe Deer crossed a nearby field twice and we were watched by the estate herd of Red Deer and also saw the Beaufort hounds out for a pre-lunch walk. (Many thanks to Nick for leading) Nancy Barrett

Seven intrepid birders met in the rain at the WWT Steart Reserve car park at 9.30 and were soon rewarded with a glorious sunny, mild and calm autumn day. Our first stop was the Polden screen. En route we saw a Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, male Blackcap, and several House Martins hawking for insects. Then on to the Quantock Hide where we saw a few Lapwings and ducks, Little Egrets, three Grey Herons, four Ruffs, a good view of a Marsh Harrier, a large flock of Canada Geese circling and landing, and many gulls in the distance; but few shore birds. We got to the River Parrett just after high water, and saw two Ravens nesting on a distant pylon, a Merlin on a concrete post, a Kestrel, many Black-tailed Godwits, a few Mute Swans and a large cloud of Dunlins showing black and white as they turned in the sun. On our walks to and from the car park we enjoyed a close view of a Sparrowhawk; we saw a female Stonechat and a juvenile Linnet; and we heard several Cetti’s Warblers (and had a brief glimpse of one). We were joined by two more birders and after a picnic lunch we drove north to the Natural England car park and then walked to the screen overlooking a pool near the Breach. There we saw a mixed flock of Dunlins and Black-tailed Godwits, with a few Golden Plovers and a possible Little Stint (the light was against us). This flock was spooked by a raptor and flew low over our heads – a fine sight. We also saw one Great and a few Little Egrets and a Spoonbill feeding in the pool. Later we were treated to a flypast by a female Marsh Harrier. A total of 50 species were seen. Many thanks to Richard for leading a very enjoyable day. David Gould

There was a real Autumnal chill to the air, and the sun remained hidden behind heavy clouds. Despite the unpromising conditions we had a turn-out of 24 members, two of them wearing shorts! Wapley Bushes is a small reserve owned by the local parish council and managed by volunteers, that provides a variety of valuable habitats for wildlife and green space for local people. It was interesting to see how one area had been transformed from allotments into established woodland over a matter of a few decades. It was a fairly quiet day for birds, and we certainly heard more birds than we saw. Several Goldcrests proved elusive, but we did see the distinctive flight of a Green Woodpecker, which conveniently landed in the upper branches of a bare tree. In the meadows, the botanists amongst us were able to identify several wildflowers, still present after mowing. The bird total was a modest 20 species, but the reserve is clearly a place worth another visit, perhaps earlier in the year. Thanks to Alan for leading the walk and recording the bird count, and to all present for their great company. Tim Fell