Field trip reports

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

15 people met in still warm weather. Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard were over the moors. Woodpigeon nestled in the Land Yeo meadow with a youngster without its adult-white neck patch. The usual Pied Wagtails on the golf course, one showing a strikingly white head but without the paler grey back of a proper Alba. Through the woods to Cadbury Camp – Chiffchaff, Goldfinch and Chaffinch, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Mistle Thrush, Raven and Buzzard, and a few migrating Swallows purposefully over, and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits. Back across the moors Collared and Stock Doves, and a Mute Swan almost hidden in the deep banks of the river. Grey Heron, Cormorant, Stonechat, and a striking display of aerobatics from a group of crows who must have been hunting insects. 33 species total (thanks to Jan and Lois for leading). Lois Pryce

Nine people met at Seaton Wetlands on a lovely late summer morning. The hides gave us close-up views of the Seaton trams passing by, as well as the waders, gulls and ducks (including a solitary Pintail) on the lagoon and estuary. The first two Kingfishers of the day were spotted, along with a Great Spotted and a Green Woodpecker, and a variety of tits and finches. Around lunchtime we headed off to Darts Farm. After a picnic lunch we walked to Bowling Green Marsh. The lagoons and reedbeds along the way were fairly dry, but once at the hide the waders and ducks tested our identification skills. In time we worked out that there were some Bar-tailed Godwit among the Black-tailed Godwit, along with a few Knot. Careful attention to the reeds gave us a typically partial sighting of a couple of Snipe. We moved on to the platform overlooking the Exe Estuary, where the more vigilant members saw an Osprey flying away with its fishy lunch. Several Sandwich Terns and a Common Tern swooped and dived in front of us. After much effort a Curlew Sandpiper was confirmed among a Dunlin flock. Heading back to Darts Farm a couple of members spotted a smart male Ruff, rounding off a fine day’s birding. 62 species in total. Thanks to Jane for leading and for helping us sort out those tricky waders and ducks in eclipse. Chris and Sarah Neale

This walk was a new variation on our usual Backwell Lake walk. We first circuited the lake itself where we saw two dabchicks, two Cormorants, two Grey Herons, and two Little Egrets. A male Gadwall was with the Mallards, most of them in eclipse plumage. A Cetti’s Warbler sang briefly and a Great Spotted Woodpecker called. Across Station Road we found broken freshwater mussel shells (the work of an otter?) in the field. On the East side of Nailsea is a wide grassy area by the River Kenn. A Blackbird came near us on the path and a Green Woodpecker yaffled. Along the river we enjoyed views of Wraxall Church, Tyntesfield, and Watercress farm, but few birds! A group of 200 Starlings sat catering on wires at Backwell Common. Other birds seen included four Collared Doves, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, a Greenfinch, and a flock of Linnet. A total of 28 species, the 19 walkers had enjoyed a pleasant walk despite some drizzle (thanks to Sue and John for leading). Sue Prince

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