Field trip reports

What a glorious day for a walk. We disappeared into the confines of Leigh Woods where Sue Prince’s sharp ears picked out many of the usual woodland species as we walked towards the river, but I think we all managed Chiffchaff and Nuthatch, and she later got a Blackcap. A woodland clearing with useful stumps provided an idyllic setting for coffee. From the River Avon towpath a Common Sandpiper was quickly spotted on the opposite bank, then a few Redshanks – some flying low over the water – eventually 37 were counted, massing as the tide raced out. There were around 30 Mallards on the river, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls, one Oystercatcher and one Shelduck, both occasionally seen here. A couple of Buzzards went over, but no Heron showed up. A flock of corvids, Crows and Jackdaws, were on the field beside us. Three Coots and two Moorhens were on Ham Green Lake with a number of Mallards, but no Grey Wagtail. The two Ravens who nest at Ham Green were seen in flight. Three Brimstone butterflies were a delight. Then we wended our way under the railway viaduct and up through the Pill alleyways back up to the cars. 34 species. (Thanks to Judy for leading). Judy Copeland

Eleven people set off along Sheepway Lane on a beautiful but chilly morning. A Goldcrest was heard in a tree bordering the road, and for the first part of the walk along the path between hedges we were reliant on those with sharp ears but most of us heard the first of four Chiffchaffs. We had a new birder with us and hope she can now recognise Chiffchaff! A Song Thrush was singing, another in a field, also a Rook and frequent Jackdaw flying over as well as four Starlings and two Cormorants. A Great Spotted Woodpecker showed and a Wren sang close to the path. Next, a Stock Dove sitting atop an owl box. We arrived at the sea wall to find a couple of Shelducks on the shoreline and some Canada Geese on the salt marsh. Along the bank, we struggled to hear a distant Curlew and a few Skylarks ‘chirruping’, a Cetti’s Warbler called and only two Black-headed Gulls flew over the marsh. From the North Pool hide we could see on the island four Shelduck and one Oystercatcher, but mainly gulls, with 35 Lesser Black-backs counted – they breed there I’m told. Then a Marsh Harrier appeared, dipping over the reeds, giving good views. Most of the Gadwalls, seven, were on the South pools, making a total of eleven between the pools, also Mallard, two Teal, Coot and two Mute Swans, plus Little Grebe at each of the pools, producing some nice trilling. A total of 40 species. (Thanks to Judy for leading). Judy Copeland

The House Sparrow and Greenfinch calls faded as we left the village. The first Ash yielded our first star bird, a roosting Little Owl. Onwards past the still short crops, Skylark song persisted, Buzzards predictably soared and a couple of Meadow Pipits poked about in the adjacent grassland. At Ram Hill, two Mistle Thrushes were prominent in a horse paddock while a Green Woodpecker hollered loudly. A wooded area presented Jay, Song Thrush and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Long-tailed Tit all showed well. Upon exiting the farmyard a raptor dashed into the top of an oak; calls of Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were made, only for it to take flight to cross the field to a distant perch. The slate back excluded Kestrel and the true identity now favoured Merlin. Its place in the tree was taken by a male Yellowhammer, gleaming in the sunshine. Back along the lane the Little Owl had shifted position in its tree, tolerant to our many eyed gaze. A gathering of Starlings at the village edge ended our count at 35 species. Thanks to all for such an enjoyable walk (Thanks to Mike for leading). Mike Jackson

A rather bitter wind greeted the twenty two members at Frampton. The route includes several lakes, hedgerow, woodland and open arable fields. Smaller birds were keeping their heads down in the keen wind and proved hard to find but we saw or heard a surprising number of Chiffchaffs in the woodland. Small groups of Redwing were still around and we found Nuthatch and Treecreeper. Tufted Duck, Coot and Black-headed Gull were on the lakes in good numbers. Four Mandarin (males in full plumage) were a surprise as was a pair of Coots with three young chicks. Great Crested and Little Grebe, Canada and Greylag Geese and two Oystercatchers were also listed. A tree known to house a Tawny Owl, unfortunately, had blown down in the gales. (Thanks to Alastair for leading). Alastair Fraser

On a chilly, overcast morning with a moderate north-east wind, a dozen members gathered at the raptor lookout at New Fancy View. The first to arrive were treated to a wonderful view of a pair of Crossbill in the top of a pine just yards away. Siskin chased each other over the valley but never came close. The only Goshawk – distant and high as usual – was picked out by just a few but we all saw soaring Buzzards and a Raven. On to Nagshead where Robins were shouting at each other all over the forest but little else seemed to be moving, just Blue and Great Tits and Wrens for most of the walk. Eventually a Nuthatch showed well but Treecreeper proved elusive, and Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker remained “heard only”. An unexpected Peregrine circling over the treetops gave good views. Back at Parkend four Mistle Thrush gleamed silver in sunshine on the cricket pitch but Hawfinch failed to appear. At the Stone Firm on the lower Cannop Pond birds were far more numerous. The water held Canada and Greylag Geese, at least a dozen Mandarin, four Tufted Duck and nine Goosander as well as Mallard, Coot and Moorhen. Four tit species including Marsh were scoffing a supply of sunflower seeds on a log, joined by a Nuthatch. A Grey Wagtail fed in the stream and a Goldcrest showed in a fir tree. A final stop at the upper pond added three Little Grebe and a Mute Swan to the list, and several members found Brambling nearby. Between us we saw more than 40 species. (Thanks to Jane for leading). Jane Cumming

Despite being an overcast morning with a chill wind and mediocre weather forecast 26 people mustered at New Fancy View, hopeful of seeing Goshawk, Crossbill and whatever else. Goshawks are notoriously elusive, hunt within the tree cover and it wasn’t the weather for the spring display flight, so we weren’t optimistic. At the viewpoint, facing straight into the wind and getting steadily colder, some people got quite expressive, or even drifted off muttering about having their coffee back in their cars. One or two Crossbill flew over, some Goldfinch and some Siskin. We saw Ravens where we thought a Goshawk ought to be, then a Buzzard, then two more Buzzards. Eventually though, we did see a male Crossbill which posed in front of us like a field guide illustration. Then finally, for those who had waited, a Goshawk, a little way off, but very definitely what we had been looking for. Chilled, we drove close to Speech House, where a log had been made into a feeder for plenty of small and medium sized passerines, and signs everywhere of boar activity. We didn’t see a Hawfinch but two people had seen and photographed one in Parkend churchyard on their way over. That marked the end of the morning but those of us who had brought lunches went on to Cannop Ponds, and after eating, saw, among others 30 plus Mandarin, six Goosander, a pair of Raven being pestered by crows and more evidence of porcine activity. Very many thanks to Nick for leading. Dru Brooke-Taylor

This walk began inauspiciously with a low tide and the news that Dowlais Lane was closed until 1st April, so rather than follow the usual route down to the River Kenn roost, we started with a walk over Wains Hill to look for woodland species until the tide rose a bit. There was plenty of song from Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins and Greenfinch, and we came across a confiding Song Thrush and a mixed tit flock. From the headland in wonderful light we admired a group of nine Goosanders feeding below us along the tideline, and picked out a scattering of Oystercatcher, Curlew and Redshank. Back at the Pill we walked round to the sluice counting three Stonechats on the marsh, Mallard and a Little Egret in the Pill, nine Wigeon on the sea and lots of gulls, mainly Black-headed, on the mud. Golden legs gleamed on the Lesser Black-back Gulls in the sunshine, so we stopped to study with interest an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull paddling for worms on the golf course with pinkish or possibly pale yellow legs – definitely not golden, so an interesting anomaly. Two spots high in the sky resolved themselves into Peregrines, and as we watched they landed on the high radio masts, then set off again to soar around the clouds together. A Buzzard seemed quite pedestrian by comparison. We logged a couple of Moorhens on the River Yeo, a Rock Pipit on the shore, and finally a Skylark in glorious song over the golf course. Only six walkers saw 33 species. (Thanks to Jane for leading) Jane Cumming

Nine of us met on a cold, windy morning, thinking that maybe a lie in followed by a leisurely breakfast would have been a better idea. We watched a group of Oystercatchers sheltering from the wind, whilst we thought about the best course of action. The sight of a woman in just a bathing costume (and gloves!) splashing around in the churning brown surf of the Severn Estuary made us think that we’d probably be okay to do a bit of birding, and so we bravely ventured onwards. We headed towards the Bleadon Levels, across exposed fields, being grateful for any shelter provided by the mature hedgerows. Most birds were keeping their heads down, but a good variety of common species were seen. When we reached the Bleadon Levels Nature Reserve, the highlight from the hide was a solitary Mute Swan, so we headed back towards Uphill along the path overlooking the saltmarsh. This yielded Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, Teal and we had fantastic views of numerous Skylarks in full song. As we returned to Uphill, the sun came out and I’m happy to report that there were still nine (happy) birders. A very respectable total of 34 species were seen. Thanks to Colin for kindly stepping in as walk leader. Tim Fell

The wind roared, the rain poured, but despite the appalling weather six birders had gathered at Tockington playing field to await the leader! Never say bird watchers are not up for a challenge! We set off in good heart, noting several gulls (Common and Black-headed) on the playing field, plus a Magpie and Robin, a good start. The horses galloped around outside the cricket pitch as we crossed the pitch and cautiously descended the hill down into Tockington. The school pond had its resident Moorhen and the school playing fields provided food for Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Herring Gulls. Several Woodpigeons appeared as we crossed the fields, with a flock of Jackdaws, and then suddenly a host of beautiful Chaffinches, at least 30, feeding on the ground and then giving us a flypast; good to see so many after a long relative absence. Following this our spirits lifted further as a Song Thrush and then a Skylark were heard and seen. Nick inspected the normally tiny pond at the base of the fields, and although finding it fuller than it had ever been, lacked birds, so we entered the woods for a wet coffee stop. The very slippery paths through the wood successfully negotiated, a Buzzard was heard, as well as various passerines. We opted at last for a shortcut to bring to an end, what must be the wettest walk in BOC history. Despite that, a total of 16 species were counted. (Thanks to Sue for leading) Sue Black

21 set off across fields, quickly finding good numbers of House Sparrows, Woodpigeons, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Starlings, Greenfinches, Redwings, and Gulls above – Black-headed, Common and Lesser Black-backed . The first of several Bullfinches was heard and a Song Thrush found the highest view point. We passed two donkeys before climbing Sandford Hill. Four Ravens “churred” overhead. Long-tailed Tits accompanied us upwards in the woods where a Jay was heard. A deer took fright, leapt a six foot fence from standing, and bounded away. Some of the group diverted for the view over the quarry’s cliff edge towards the Bristol Channel, hoping for a Peregrine. Meantime the remainder enjoyed a coffee stop seeing a Buzzard and Mendip views plus Crook Peak, Bridgwater Bay and beyond. Together again, a flock of Linnets did a ‘fly-by’ as we dropped to the valley. We saw Green Woodpecker, and a group which included three Siskins, two Goldcrests, several Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and a passing Sparrowhawk. After watching rooting black pigs in Winterhead, we returned via Sidcot and completed the circuit with a tally of 36 species. (Thanks to Sue for leading) Sue Watson