Field trip reports

An intrepid group turned up at Herriott’s Bridge on this cold damp morning. While we hoped to be looking AT Chew Valley Lake, for most of the time we were looking FOR the lake as thick fog rolled in and around. The forecast suggested a brightening later on, but it turned out this must have been a forecast for somewhere else! Nonetheless we had a small but lively group, lots of conversations and even some birds. Unfortunately, the always helpful Mike Bailey was unable to show us the ringing station due to Covid considerations. We left Herriott’s with my encouragement that ‘you might normally see a Marsh Harrier from here’, or ‘there are several lovely Pintails at the back in the mist’. We moved on to Stratford Hide. Initially it was very quiet and grey, but eventually we saw the best birds here with views of the superbly camouflaged Jack Snipe in the reeds, nice if brief views of two Bearded Tits, a Water Rail in flight and a Green Sandpiper that landed right in front of us, before flying off with great views of the white rump. We moved on to Herons Green Bay, watching two dabchicks on the small pool opposite while I explained the demise of most of the breeding dabchicks due especially to predation by Pike, along with other predators of duck species like the Great Black-backed Gull which are relatively new to the lake. The final spot was going to the end of Nunnery Point – ‘you would normally get great views of the whole lake from here’ I pleaded, while any thoughts of looking for the diver that had been around were abandoned. Thanks to everyone, and especially Alan who spotted many that I missed. We did manage though to see 54 species in our short morning. Imagine however, going to Chew at this time of year and not seeing a Heron, Egret or any birds of prey! (Thanks to John for leading) John Rossetti

We started in rain but finished, thankfully, without rain. The lake was only marginally wetter – it did however contain the usual mix of Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Black-headed Gull. They were all nicely concentrated around a local lady, who arrived on a red mobility scooter with what looked like the contents of a bakery. Up past the lido and down to Battery Point where another local pointed out the stars of the walk – five Purple Sandpipers – lovely looking birds. Even with the weak light the yellow of the legs was quite striking, except in one individual where they looked ‘dirty’ grey. The fresh wind chilled us, so were glad to climb into East Wood and find a mixed flock of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits with a couple of Blackbird alarm calling. Down to the Life Boat Station, where in its lee, a cup of coffee staved off the cold. Walking on around the marina we spied three Dunlins, one Shelduck, 25 Mallards all on the newly exposed mud and two Cormorants fishing the shallow end of the dock. Up past some grand houses and back to the park above the boating lake, where there was an abundance of Goldfinches, Carrion Crows, a hedge full of House Sparrows and a call from a Dunnock. Eight walkers and 28 species – which just about covered our costs!! Our thanks must go to Geoff for turning out and leading. Nick Hawkridge

The wind was strong and the drizzle heavy as 18 members set off alongside the Reservoir. We saw six Tufted Ducks on the rough water and six Great Crested Grebes, and a Cormorant on a buoy. A few Pied Wagtails were in the paddock below us. Coot numbers were high with well over 1200 estimated and a few Black-headed Gulls flew over. We retreated from the windblown reservoir edge down to a drove leading to the Yeo. Along the way Redwing were in the hedgerow and a Little Egret was seen in the adjacent fields, the first of about nine seen on the walk, as well as a Grey Heron on a rhyne bank. A Sparrowhawk flew over and a Raven was on the ground. As we moved along beside the Yeo a sharp pair of eyes saw Great White Egret half hidden in the distant rhyne. Later we had an excellent view of a Great White and a Little Egret near each other which made clear the difference in size. Approaching Axbridge, Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinches, a Goldcrest, and a single Fieldfare appeared. Our return to the reservoir yielded a Red-crested Pochard. Three Grey Wagtails entertained us with their sparring near to the path on our return to the car park. The species total was 36. (Thanks to Mark for leading.) Mark Watson

We gathered in bright sunshine, belying the freezing air temperature. First stop was the feeding station where the usual suspects gave us some easy ticks. In the extensive reed beds we immediately targeted Bearded Tit but none showed for us despite checking every little brown job we saw which were invariably Reed Bunting. Little Grebe, Mallard and Starling all appeared, a Water Rail squealed and Cetti’s Warbler delivered invitations for us to look harder. With the tide still low we made out distant Shelduck, Wigeon, Grey Heron, Dunlin, Grey Plover and Curlew from our vantage point, where a showy male Stonechat alighted on the Spartina. We entered the small woodland to find a flock of Long-tailed Tits with a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest, among other common tits. A Redwing feeding on haws next to the path gave a full demonstration of field markings and calls as we watched from only metres away. With the tide now higher our return to the coast produced Shoveler and Redshank. We finished with a couple of Gadwalls and a Teal giving us a total of 43 species. Thanks to the six members who contributed to a pleasant morning. (Thanks to Mike for leading.) Mike Jackson

The mist and cold stayed with us all day, but being well coated and gloved it meant nothing to 24 walkers at Hawkesbury Upton. The Chaffinches, Starlings and House Sparrows that decorated the roofs and TV aerials in the village were keeping strange company – a Common Gull, so close that views of all its characteristic markings were plain to see. The power lines were being examined by helicopter as we walked along Sandpits Lane. A good outcome was the flocks of Golden Plovers and Lapwings that were flushed by its passing but a shame we couldn’t hear a blooming thing when it made several passes. After stopping by Bodkin Hazel Wood for coffee we watched corvids, plovers, pigeons and winter thrushes swirling above the trees, frantically trying to elude a hungry Peregrine. A little further along the track Long-tailed, Blue, Great and Marsh Tits were seen, plus a copse full of Chaffinches, a couple of Corn Buntings and eight Yellowhammers. With the count of winter thrushes nearing the 100’s it was good to get close up views from within Horton Court Woods, which also contained Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle and Song Thrushes and a couple of flighty Bullfinches. The last count was near the cricket ground – c20 Golden Plovers, roosting with a fringe of Fieldfares and Redwings. Our final tally was 40 species. (Many thanks to Nick for leading.) Nick Hawkridge

Arlingham is an area of mixed farming adjacent to the tidal river, situated on a bend in the Severn just south of Gloucester. Seventeen of us met on a dry day, overcast with some sunny spells, for a walk of just under four miles. We had a variety of woodland birds including a Great Spotted Woodpecker as we began our walk beside a drainage ditch at the edge of the village. There is a good population of House Sparrows here (and around one of the cattle sheds) which, these days, is quite notable. Redwing and Fieldfare were seen along the lane leading to a cattle shed, one Fieldfare posing beautifully in a nearby tree. A Great Spotted Woodpecker (the same one?) also obliged with a clear view. A Blackcap briefly popped up on a Hawthorn. We went up on to the sea wall; the tide was low exposing extensive sand banks. A white blob sitting on the sand turned out to be a Peregrine. There was a large flock of gulls, Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Black-headed, with a couple of Curlews and Herons. Further downstream we saw Little Egret, a Common Sandpiper and a large flock of Lapwings with seven Golden Plovers in among them. A Cormorant tried, and failed to eat a fish bigger than itself. A hovering Kestrel plunged to the ground emerging with a small mammal, and a mixed flock of Blackbird, Redwing, Fieldfare and finches was flushed along the hedgerow. We walked back across fields and through the village to our starting point. 46 species. Thanks to Alan Daniells for keeping a tally (and to Alastair for leading.) Alastair Fraser

Six members assembled for this walk. At the river we had immediate success as almost the first tree had a Great Spotted Woodpecker. As we were watching that, a Sparrowhawk appeared overhead. Further down the path we came across a pair of Jays then a party of Long-tailed Tits, one of which appeared to have lost its tail – very confusing! We stopped just before the weir to view a pair of Dippers on an exposed tree root, a brilliant view of these local stars. Eventually each took off and flew past us. We headed to Stoke Park, first stopping at Duchess Pond. A Grey Wagtail left as we arrived, otherwise there was very little to see apart from about ten Moorhens. We went on to Pale Plantation with the hope of catching up with the Firecrests reported . We heard snatches of their high-pitched song but seeing them was another matter. The Plantation held a couple of Redwings. Our walk back to Eastville Park was uneventful apart from a pair of Greenfinches near the BT tower on Purdown. We wandered back to the junction of the river hoping for another view of the Dippers when Claire found a perched Kingfisher, which we watched until it flew downstream. Thanks to Rich for leading. Peter Bryant

Fourteen of us met at the Rose and Crown pub for a four mile walk along the River Boyd and through woods to the flooded quarry, and across fields and lanes. Although it was fairly quiet 31 species were seen, including twelve Common Gulls, a female Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, seven Fieldfares, and two Redwings. A large flock of Woodpigeons was seen, and we heard Robin, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, and Long-tailed Tit, and two Skylarks. Other good views included two Grey Wagtails, a Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, and at least three Buzzards. Many thanks to David for an enjoyable walk. Sue Prince

Eight of us met in the car park at 10:00. We started with a walk up the south side to the screen. It was too windy for Bearded Tits but we heard a Chiffchaff and Sparrowhawk, saw Stonechat, Buzzard, Kestrel, and the first field had a few hundred Lapwings, a Great White Egret, Greenfinch and Linnet. At the screen there were flocks of birds far away, Redwing maybe or Chaffinches. Alan found a Cetti’s Warbler close in among the reeds, great excitement to see two. This small patch of reeds revealed three Stonechats, two Reed Buntings, three Chiffchaffs, Wrens and a Blue Tit. Seven Little Egrets flew past and finally a Marsh Harrier and three Snipe went over. Was that a Crossbill calling? Listening to sound tracks we realised it was a Redpoll. From the hides only a few ducks, Mallard, Gadwall and Wigeon were seen. We decided to go back and look for the Redpoll. No luck but Anne found a few winter thrushes in a tree, a Redwing and a few Fieldfares. But as we all took a look down a telescope we saw more birds flying about, and more and more. Something like 100 Redwings and 300 Fieldfares. Walking back we had Chaffinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker with lots of House Sparrows. After lunch we went to Catcott. Very quiet, a few Fieldfares and Starlings, a flock of Long-tailed Tits and a Marsh Harrier. 46 species. (Thanks to Rob for leading.) Robert Hargreaves

Twenty-four of us set out from Stanton Drew heading for Pensford on a cool and bright morning. We stopped at the farm by the Church to pick out a mixture of a Wren, Robins and House Sparrows in amongst the shrubs and brambles. There was a mixture of gulls (including Common Gull) and corvids around the standing stones, with the long neck and head of a Grey Heron showing behind. A solitary Buzzard sat on a post and watched as the gulls took off to give us a flypast. Further down the fields, eight Redwings flew over and a couple of Linnets sat on some wires long enough for some discussion as to their identity. We headed towards the River Chew and a sharp-eyed member pointed out the first of the day’s three Green Woodpeckers. A Great Spotted Woodpecker put in an appearance during coffee at Bye Mills. Coming into Pensford for a quick look at the River Chew from the bridge, a Grey Wagtail made a brief appearance as it hopped across and behind the rooftops. The river was still quite high and running fast, murky after the weekend’s rain, so no sightings of Kingfisher or Dipper today. Back along the Stanton Road and another Green Woodpecker was showing very well at relatively close range. On the footpath to Upper Stanton Drew a party of Long-tailed Tits worked its way along a hedgerow. In the next field a Song Thrush made a very brief appearance before making a rapid exit over the hedge. A short walk through Upper Stanton Drew and back up the hill and two Pied Wagtails greeted us on our return to the farmyard. 41 species in total. (Thanks to Alan for leading.) Alan Craddock