Field trip reports

On an overcast morning with a definite chill in the air 17 members met in the car park of the Upton Cheney Inn. Shortly after starting the walk, a Grey Heron was seen flying in the distance, followed by a Cormorant flying in the same direction and we also heard a Green Woodpecker. A little later a Greenfinch was heard. We saw a number of Swallows feeding over the fields giving us a reminder that summer is nearly over. The largest concentration was at our coffee break and the total estimate for the walk was 60. We also saw a small number of House Martins. As we approached St Martin’s Church, we heard the sound of Chiffchaffs and then saw three feeding in the tops of the trees, and by the end of the walk we had a total of nine, seen or heard. A Goldcrest was also seen. We joined the Bristol to Bath cycle track where we saw seven Rooks and a couple of Blackcaps were heard, but we did not get a sighting of them. By the river we saw a party of Long-tailed Tits making a total of about 18 for the walk. We also saw four Lesser Black-backed Gulls and one Herring Gull, followed by a pair of Collared Doves. Towards the end of the walk, we found a small flock of about nine House Sparrows. Some other species noted were Buzzard (two), Jackdaw (about 50), Magpie (15) and Carrion Crow (nine). We had a final list of 29 species. It was fairly quiet from the birding point of view, but it was a very pleasant morning’s walk. Thank you very much to David Body for leading the walk and to Nick Hawkridge for providing a list of the birds.

Above the car two Goldcrests were spotted sporting in the Yew that stands in St Adeline’s church yard and our departure point. A party of 26 is almost bound to stretch over a fair distance, coming together only when we stopped, firstly for Great Spotted Woodpecker with a Nuthatch accompanist, followed by Coot and Moorhen on the reservoir (now screened off). Up Horton Hill we went, to watch Swallow and House Martin feeding over the farm buildings and the feeders busy with the mixed tits. Our coffee was taken by the Millennium Folly with sightings of Kestrel and would you believe it a Hobby, blast its eyes, waiting until most of us had departed before showing itself. The lanes and paths to the breakaway point at Little Sodbury Manor were rather bare of birdlife, but the view over the Severn valley was some reward. We said goodbye to nine walkers at the first breakaway, with a further two lower down, however not before seeing a football sized Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantean) in the Iron Age Camp. Some more of the same species were seen before we gained our vantage point, close to the tower of St John the Baptist, where we took lunch. The dining entertainment was provided by a Sparrowhawk displaying, a Jay and Green Woodpecker calling, with the latter undulating its way into distant trees. We ambled back along the footpath with a stop, not far from Portway Lane, for us all to admire Spotted Flycatcher and Redstart, the former made up of two distinct family parties. The weather was kind and the company most convivial with a final total of 32 species. (Thanks to Nick for leading). Nick Hawkridge

Our group of 16 walkers met outside the Ring O’ Bells pub. After an overcast start the sun came out for us while a family of four Ravens displayed, and House Martins could be heard nearby. Down Coley Hill we heard Goldcrest, Nuthatch, and Great-spotted Woodpecker. A mixed flock of tits – Blue, Great, and Coal flitted through the trees. At the first Litton reservoir we saw a Grey Wagtail, a juvenile Cormorant, the first of two sightings of Grey Heron, eleven dabchicks, Coots, Moorhens, and a pair of Great Crested Grebes with one youngster. A lucky few heard and then saw a Kingfisher. The upper lake held another Great Crested Grebe but was otherwise quiet. The second half of the walk was up a grassy hill and then through several fields back to the village. The breezy conditions meant that we didn’t hear or see Yellowhammer, but a total of six Chiffchaffs were heard “wheeting”, and we reached the cars to the sound of Long-tailed Tits. Of note were a Common Shrew (dead), three Badger runs with prints, a Red Admiral, a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, and a Magpie Moth. 39 species of birds were seen in all. (Thanks to Sue and John for leading). Sue Prince

Eight members including the leader met at 0900 in Hatters Lane. The weather was 17-19°C, humid and overcast at first, sunny later and a light breeze. We walked up the hill along Trinity Lane past the golf club entrance into the common. Passing the large house (marked The Windmill on OS map) we looked for cattle, hoping to see Yellow Wagtail, but the cattle were a long way away across the common. We did, however, see a number of Blue Tits, Great Tits and Chiffchaffs in the garden. We proceeded downhill into the scrubby area where the main action was a large flock (c100) of Goldfinches some with Linnets mixed in, feeding off the thistles, with some good views of a splendid male Linnet. This took our attention for a good length of time as we tried to see what else was about or in the flock, notably twelve Swallows, one Whitethroat, one Lesser Whitethroat, one female Redstart and one Kestrel, with one Buzzard and one Peregrine in the distance. A Green Woodpecker was heard calling frequently. We stopped by a known Little Owl roost, but the bird wasn’t showing. We walked back through the scrubby area, which was now much quieter, and back to the start, finishing around 12:30. 27 bird species seen or heard altogether. Many thanks to Linda for leading this walk. Alan Daniells

August may be a quiet time for the birds, but the Buddleia bush near the Churchyard was full of butterflies. Red Admiral, Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Peacock all seen taking advantage of the flowers. Very few birds were seen in the churchyard, but the next field was more productive, with a flock of mixed Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits and Chiffchaff, with a Tree Creeper heard in the background. Robin, Wren, Jackdaw and Crow were also seen. All was quiet as we walked to Blaise Castle, where a Buzzard overhead called as we had our break, and a Raven’s harsh croak was heard in the distance. The Beech Avenue revealed another Tree Creeper, this time seen as well as heard, and further flocks of mixed tits were flitting between the trees along Kings Weston Drive. Here we had a useful discussion on the difference between the call of the Great Tit and the Coal Tit with an admirable demonstration of the calls by one member of the group! Some of us decided we needed to swot up on our bird call recognition. Homework required. On the return route by Hazel Brook, we saw Grey Wagtail and Nuthatch. By the Old Mill a group of Goldcrests was spotted, two adults and two young, and another Treecreeper was heard. So, although August is a quiet month, we managed to see 23 species. Thanks to Alan Daniells for keeping the bird list (and Di Bunniss for leading). Di Bunniss

15 members assembled at the Kings Wood car park and proceeded westerly uphill along the West Mendip Way. The weather was 14 to 17°C, dry, still and cloudy at first, with sun and a light breeze later. Several species seen or heard in the woods included Nuthatch and Treecreeper. Coming out of the woods onto the heathland, the first of several Stonechats were seen along with a number of Pipits in the small trees. There was some debate, but identification of the exact species was not achieved due to the birds being too far away. Proceeding past Hill Farm along to the trig point on Wavering Down, Raven, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were added to the list. The trig point served for our coffee stop with splendid views. After coffee we proceeded further west before parting with the West Mendip Way, going south and then east toward Bourton Coombe with good views of a Kestrel, also a solitary Linnet. We than went south down a steep path to Bourton Farm, encountering a productive tree with a mixed flock of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrest, Wren and Blackcap along the way. At Bourton Farm there were a great many dragonflies and some Swallows. We continued southeast, seeing two Stock Doves, and east past an abandoned quarry where there was a Green Woodpecker calling. Finally, we turned north for the last kilometre back through Kings Wood to the car park. 30 species recorded. Many thanks to Clive for leading. Alan Daniells

Eleven members met at Tanners Close for this evening walk. As we gathered to start the meeting, the heavens opened and the first part of the walk was in pouring rain with little bird activity. We left the normal route to Rushmead Lane as it was overgrown and branched off directly to the barns on a public footpath. On the lane, the rain stopped and we had signs of bird activity. Walking down towards the Tormarton Road where the highlight of the evening was watching a Hobby swoop in low and take an unidentified small bird off the power line. We also had distant views of Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting. Retracing our steps, we headed back along the lanes to the start. Birds seen included twelve Woodpigeon, 60 Herring Gull, two Lesser Black-backed Gull, one Buzzard, one Tawny Owl (heard), two Kestrel, one Hobby, 50 Jackdaw, one Rook, 50 Carrion Crow, four Skylark, one Wren, 32 Starling, four Blackbird, three House Sparrow, four Linnet, twelve Corn Bunting and two Yellowhammer. Mammals included three Brown Hare, three Roe Deer, one Red Fox. After the walk one member called in at Down Road and heard at least one Quail calling. (Thanks to Sue and Nigel for leading) Sue Kempson

Redhouse Farm – Winford Manor was a bit misleading as we didn’t visit the farm, but Felton Common was none the less a rewarding place to do our walk. With numbers up to our best so far and with two new faces (welcome both) twenty eight walkers set off in the company of Melanie Patch, our host from the farm. We found Skylark and Stonechat in the top section, House Martin at the Round House and two Yellowhammers as we crossed the common for the first time. Linnets were our constant companions throughout the day, often sitting on the top branches of Hawthorn bushes. One was summarily kicked off his vantage point by a splendid Mistle Thrush. As we turned to head back along the edge of the common, a family of Stonechats showed and Swallows swished close by our heads. At the coffee stop, a buzzard soared within the airport boundary, showing a particularly vivid white chest ring. We counted the nesting House Martins and fortunately they were all still there despite the rapid transit of a Hobby. A wander down Long Lane gave us calling Chaffinch and Chiffchaff. The track back to the bottom corner of the common, tree lined and shady held a Great Spotted Woodpecker and Treecreeper. The two Bullfinches seen at the top were not at first recognised – until they flew, as they were using a call new to some of us. Alas, only Linnet and Gulls were noted for the final dash back to the cars as it was tipping it down. Many thanks to Melanie for leading us round and for finding some of our thirty species. Nick Hawkridge

It was a scorching day for our walk and most birds were keeping well out of the heat. It was very quiet walking down the valley along the old lead workings but the butterflies were out in force. Beautiful Dark Green Fritillaries, a speciality in the area, Brimstone, Small Heath and Small Skipper. Towards the bottom we had a glimpse of a Redstart and a Willow Warbler. A Green Woodpecker we heard earlier took off from the path as we settled down for the coffee break. Long Wood was pleasantly cooler and mercifully free of the biting horse flies we had encountered in the past. We heard Nuthatch, Chiffchaff and Stock Dove and with a bit of effort, we found a Spotted Flycatcher family in the tree tops. Further along the path we found a second Flycatcher family, this one handily posing for us. Nearby we saw Treecreeper and Goldcrest. When we reached the road, nine of us opted out and went back up the road to the cars. The rest tackled the open fields across the road for the final leg of the walk and had Skylark, a good flock of Linnet and our third encounter with Bullfinch. Swallows and Martins were notable by their absence. Finally, we found a Whitethroat family around the pond by the old lead kilns before making our way back to the car park. Thanks to Geoff for leading. Judy Copeland

Towards the end of a blisteringly hot day, our small party first assembled at Cannop Ponds. The ducks were not looking at their best, many of them being in eclipse plumage, but we picked out Mallard, Tufted Duck and (best of all) eight Mandarin. There was a sizeable Grey Wagtail family flying about at the end of the pond and a Little Grebe. Swift and all three common species of hirundine were identified flying over the water and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew across.    We reconvened at the car park near Crabtree Hill and were introduced to Ed Drewitt who enthusiastically explained the planned walk; evidently it was going to be a multi-sensory experience as Ed described the sights, sounds and even smells we could expect! Almost immediately after we started walking, a Treecreeper was seen and then a Goldcrest, first identified by sound. Noting a Slow worm on the path, we soon came to the edge of the heathland when a Crossbill was first heard and then seen flying overhead. On the heath, we were entertained by a flock of Goldfinches, some Linnets, several Stonechats, a Jay and then a Song Thrush eating a slug on the path. By now it was approaching dusk, so Ed led us to a suitable spot overlooking the heathland area. It was quiet until about 21:45 (with just a Southern Hawker and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying past us) when a distant ‘churring’ could be made out – Nightjar, our target species. We waited another 30 minutes before heading back to the car park as dark descended. The group had two or three brief glimpses of Nightjars in flight and some lucky people also saw a Woodcock. In the torchlight, we found a number of Dor beetles and Toadlets on the path. (Thanks to Jane and Ed for leading). Peter Bryant