Field trip reports

Fifteen lucky people arrived at the Lower Wireworks car park on a fine day at the start of the Angidy Trail, a walk up a tributary valley of the River Wye at Tintern. The walk started steeply through garlic heady woods with the constant sounds of Song Thrush, Wren and Blackcap, joined by Nuthatch and solitary Mistle Thrush and Stock Dove. Descending through drifts of bluebells to the river we encountered our first family of the day which was three fledgling Dippers sitting by the side of a small waterfall with a parent nearby under a bridge. A wildlife photographer was camped there watching them patiently as he had been doing for some time waiting for them to fledge. Past the old Furnace we came to a pond where we stopped for coffee with a Grey Wagtail and a Mallard for company whilst a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Goshawk put in a brief appearance. We pressed on and found our second family of the day which comprised three fledgling Grey Wagtails with the parents whizzing back and forth with food for their hungry beaks. Graham had arranged that we could use a lovely private riverside garden for our picnic lunch for which we must highly thank the owner, Sue. It was marvellous! Heading back down the hill on the road, we added more Dipper and Grey Wagtail sightings along with another look at the Goshawk and also a couple of Ravens. 35 species spotted in total. (Many thanks to Graham for leading and again to Sue for the use of the garden.) Alan Craddock

Nine members met up with warden, and club member, Nigel Milbourne at the Fishing Lodge. With access to all areas, we were able to go through the conservation barrier at Butcombe Bay, and complete a walk right around the lake – not usually possible under normal access arrangements. We headed out in an anti-clockwise direction, listening to the songs of Blackcaps and Garden Warblers at Lodge Copse, and practising our identification skills. We also had a quick look at Merlin Bird ID on Nigel’s smartphone to see the sonograms and confirmation of our guesses. We heard the resident singing Cetti’s Warbler at a couple of points around Home Bay, and Gareth agreed to keep a tally of the songsters as we heard or saw them (focussing mainly on the migrants). May is an especially wonderful time to visit Blagdon Lake to see the SSSI meadows that are full of wild flowers (and rare non-flowering plants too). When we walked over the bridge at Long Bay we saw our first orchids, probably Southern Marsh, although there are hybrid swarms all around the lake to confuse positive ID, and on reaching Green Lawn we took a look at the locally abundant Adder’s-tongue Fern growing in the sward there. There was also the opportunity to compare the flower spikes of Early Purple and Green-winged Orchids on the lawn.We saw a few water birds, although May is the month when fewest birds are counted on the monthly Webs. Most are able to hide away in the marginal vegetation thanks to the naturalised shore line of what is after all an old reservoir, but Nigel explained that despite this, the productivity and number of regularly breeding species has been steadily declining over the last couple of decades. Exiting Top End gate we made our way along the lane to Rugmoor Gate where we joined the north shore. There was some excitement here as we saw four Hobbies, high up, hawking insects. As we made our way along the north side we listened to Reed Buntings, a Whitethroat, and the many resident songsters. When we reached Owl Box field, we had a look at a white spike of Green-winged Orchid and several other colour morphs growing nearby. A few other flowers, including Heath Spotted and Common Spotted Orchids, were identified and pointed out, thanks to Jean’s expert knowledge, as we continued on around Butcombe Bay and back to the dam. Here, we saw a Common Sandpiper feeding along the wall, before we strolled back along the lane to the Lodge. Gareth logged 43 bird species, including 45 Blackcaps, 27 Chiffchaffs, eight Garden Warblers, eight Reed Warblers and five Reed Buntings, and, best of all, we had enjoyed some lovely sunshine and a very pleasant morning getting to know the site a bit better. (Thanks to Nigel for leading). Nigel Milbourne

Eighteen of us set out through the churchyard on a cloudy day, hearing good numbers of garden birds. Along the road to Moor Lane we heard the first of nine Reed Warblers in the narrow ditch-side reeds. Some later gave us glimpses. Approaching the AWT reserve we heard Song Thrush and the first of two Lesser Whitethroats was picked out. On the moor Skylarks were seen and heard and there were good views of Reed Bunting, the first of eight. The highlight was a coffee stop Sedge Warbler giving brilliant views singing from the top of a willow. Two Cetti’s Warblers were heard as we did a circuit of the reserve. Eleven Chiffchaff and eight Blackcaps completed our haul of warblers. A very pleasant walk around this little visited reserve although sadly no dragonflies today. 38 species were identified. (Thanks to Alan for the bird list and to Gareth for leading.) Gareth Roberts

A sunny morning and a delightful walk through varied habitats including field, woodland, narrow country lane and riverside. We left Blackhorse Road to enter an open area of common land with trees and shrubs. There we spotted Starling, Crow, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Pied Wagtail. The route led us through woodland carpeted in Bluebells and other wild spring flowers. Here were recorded Great Tit, Dunnock, Blackcap, Coal Tit, Robin and more Chiffchaff, and the fluting song of Blackbirds, resonant of summer days. The path led across a sports field where we saw a Jackdaw, either predating a nest, or possibly building one. We went up some steps over the A4174 to a pleasant country lane with more Chiffchaff, Pied Wagtail and Chaffinch. Perched on a barn roof was a small group of elegant white Doves. Then down to the River Frome where we had sighting of the Kingfisher darting along, the Dipper dipping, and a Goldcrest flitting from branch to branch nearby. Retracing our steps we turned along a narrow lane surrounded by fields, where we were treated to the sight of two Swallows circling and darting before settling on the telegraph wires. An excellent walk and 36 species recorded. Thanks to Joyce and Kate for leading. Di Bunniss

Thirteen people met at Ashley Walk in the New Forest for a walk through open heathland, woodland (some ancient) with closely-grazed glades and intermittent small streams. The weather started cold with a strong north-east wind but remained sunny all day. On the heath, brilliant with thickly flowering gorse, we found two Dartford Warblers, Common Redstarts, Stonechats, Linnets and two surprising Bullfinches with Swallows flying down to sip at a shallow pond with Buzzards and Ravens above. The woods were alive with bird song, and we could hear and/or see Coal Tits, Willow Warbler. Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Goldcrests, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Song and Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Siskin with Stock Dove in the distance and the thrill of a Cuckoo calling! Species we also looked for included Woodlark, Hawfinch and Tree Pipit but as Jane said you rarely get 100% lucky! Langford Lakes: Returning home, we made an unplanned visit to Langford Lakes Nature Reserve (between Warminster and Salisbury), created from five gravel pits with adjacent fields and chalk stream. Water birds included abundant Canada Geese as well as Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Lapwing, Snipe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, and Water Rail heard. Floating nesting platforms showed that terns were expected too while Swallows, Sand and House Martins, Red Kites and Buzzards flew above. In the surrounding vegetation we heard and/or saw Sedge, Reed and Cetti’s Warblers, Blackcap and Whitethroat, with a probable Garden Warbler and finally heard Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming – our first and only woodpecker of the day.Our total species was 59. Thanks to Jane for leading. Lois Pryce

Fifteen members met at the car park and were introduced to our substitute leader Matt, a student on his gap year who birded the area most days. We first heard Blackcap and Chiffchaff and soon had good views of both species. Walking up the hill we startled a Jay. From the ridge, looking down on the mud of Sand Bay, we could see a number of Shelduck pottering about and a few gulls passed by. Matt called out ‘Siskin’ as two small birds flew rapidly overhead and vanished. In the shrubs were a variety of finches (Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnet) and several warblers. There was one Willow Warbler amongst many Chiffchaffs. A Blackbird briefly got pulses racing as we had been talking about the possibility of Ring Ouzel. The star bird on the point was a Rock Pipit seen well. A male Stonechat also gave good views. Walking up to Middle Hope the scenery changed to open grassy spaces. Skylarks were prevalent and closer to the ground than usual. A Wheatear was spotted in the distance, a beautiful male that gave good views through the ‘scope. As it started to warm up, three or four Buzzards were seen rising over Sand Bay. We walked on past Woodspring Priory where there were Jackdaws as well as a collection of white doves. At Woodspring Bay around 40 Redshank were feeding in the mud, there was a Heron at the back of the stream and a dozen Mute Swans were in the fields behind. A Collared Dove was seen on top of a telegraph pole. We also spotted a few butterflies (Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood) enjoying the sunshine. 23 bird species were seen but no hirundines. Nonetheless a very pleasant Spring walk in good company and with thanks to Matt for leading. Peter Bryant

Sixteen people met in Northend village on a fine day. Greenfinches and Collared Doves sang close by. As we set off up the hill our leader pointed out the remains of last year’s House Martins’ nests; the village usually has a good population. We commenced the long uphill slog to Little Solisbury Hill. Reaching the top we were greeted by singing Skylarks and treated to wonderful views across Bath and beyond. Before heading down the other side our coffee stop produced a showy Whitethroat singing away, the first of the year for many of us. Skirting the hill through a tract of woodland gave extra Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and a Song Thrush singing very loudly. Here a splinter group of three veered off to go along Chilcombe Bottom while the rest of the party took another route, which proved more challenging. We met again at a small wetland reserve. The pool was home to Moorhens and a surprise pair of Canada Geese with one sitting on the nest in a clump of reeds. We had time to finish via the slightly longer route near a stream and were soon rewarded by the song of a Garden Warbler. This most enjoyable walk, notable for its wonderful views, had given us 36 species and plenty of exercise. Thanks to our leader Robert. Anne Crowe

Surprisingly, only 16 turned up for this lovely walk although the weather forecast had not been optimistic. Immediately we left the car park we saw Green Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Chiffchaff and Great Tit along with many other usual suspects, so many in fact we thought we may as well stay put for the three hours! We all continued heading towards Barrow tanks, taking our lives in our hands by crossing the A38. Cormorant, Little Egret, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe and Mallard were soon noted, plus our first Swallow of the year. We headed down lanes and through fields encountering Greenfinch, House Martin, Skylark, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Song and Mistle Thrush and the most beautiful pair of posing Bullfinch showing really well. We took a very welcome stop for coffee at a convenient barn, which looked like it was about to collapse at any moment. Returning through country lanes, Willow Warbler was heard and eventually spotted. All told we saw 37 species in what turned out to be a splendid walk which surprisingly ended in rather warm conditions. Thanks to Geoff for leading. Graham Blacker

There were 26 of us who set off on a blustery dry day, up through broadleaved woodlands carpeted with wood anemones, celandines and other spring flowers, through open grassland and back along the River Avon past the heronry. Between us we saw or heard 34 species including a pair of Bullfinches and Greenfinch, Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and many adult Herons on their 15 or so nests in the heronry. At one time we had Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Buzzards all in view at the same time above us! We also saw paw prints up a muddy bank which could be otters as they have been reported here. (Thanks to Karen for leading.) Karen Birmingham

There was a healthy turnout of 20 birders, keen to enjoy a nice Spring day. The group had a pleasant walk across fields, spotting Redwing as we went, and down through the almost impossibly picturesque village. We paused at the bridge over the brook where we heard a distant Nuthatch calling. There was plenty of birdsong in the trees around us, plus the yaffling of Green Woodpecker echoing around, Buzzards mewing overhead and Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming in the distance. Smaller birds of note were numerous Chiffchaff calling, a Goldcrest flitting around bare branches, several Greenfinch and a Treecreeper giving good views to a lucky few. Looking down, we saw Violets, lots of Lesser Celandine, plenty of Wild Garlic coming into leaf and the occasional early Bluebell just starting to flower. The small pool at Kent’s Bottom yielded some water birds, including a gaggle of Canada Geese, and also a flock of Linnet feeding in a field of Sunflowers beyond. The closing section was along quiet lanes through farmland. Here we saw a couple of Red Kite, a large mixed flock of Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling, plus Stock Doves feeding amongst a group of Common Gull, with a flyover Meadow Pipit conveniently calling. The last significant bird of the day was a beautiful Yellowhammer, very obligingly singing from the top of a nearby hedge. Our total was 45 species. Thanks to Geoff for leading, to Alan Daniells for keeping the records, and to all present for their great company. Tim Fell