Field trip reports

Five members met at 0900 in Hatters Lane and joined one more at the entrance to the common. In fine weather, 15- 17°C with a light westerly breeze which strengthened toward midday, and dry underfoot, we proceeded up the incline on Trinity Lane past the golf club entrance onto the common. House Martin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Robin and House Sparrow had by now been seen or heard. As we passed the large house (marked The Windmill on OS map) we encountered a herd of cattle grazing with c.25 Yellow Wagtail amongst them in adult and juvenile plumage, with Swallow flying over. Going downhill into the scrubby area a Kestrel was moving between the bushes. A Green Woodpecker, a number of Blackbird, Stonechat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Linnet and Meadow Pipit were also present. One Stock Dove was amongst Woodpigeon in the boundary hedge. As we walked north east along both sides of a bushy hedge a number of Starling and a female Redstart were in the hedge. A Grey Heron flew over and a Buzzard was heard calling, and there were around 30 Starling atop a pylon. We stopped at a known Little Owl roost but the bird wasn’t showing. We walked back into the scrubby area where further Stonechat, Redstart and Meadow Pipit were seen along with Whinchat, Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat and presumably the same flock of Yellow Wagtail. At around 14:00, we returned along a scrubby hedge and back uphill out of the Common where there were more Starling in the hedge. The cattle were now resting which may have been why the Yellow Wagtail had moved into the bushes. Thanks to Mike for leading this walk. Alan Daniells

This was the Club’s first outing requiring COVID compliance, with the leader, three participants who committed in advance and two more who joined us knowing there was space on the trip. With the large airy hides at the two sites we visited, there was no reason to change anything about our usual mode of birding although the hide at Bowling Green may have been more crowded if we’d gone there earlier. This wader expedition began with the high tide at Black Hole Marsh, part of Seaton Wetlands, and moved west to Bowling Green Marsh as the tide fell. Note for next time: it would be better to catch the high tide on the Exe when the waders roost on the marsh, and move on to Seaton Wetlands with the tide falling to expose mud along the River Axe. Nevertheless, we found plenty to look at on the scrapes at Seaton, notably twelve species of wader: Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlins, two Knots, one (possibly two) Curlew Sandpipers, 50 each of Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, a Greenshank or two, one or two Common and one Green Sandpiper. A selection of the usual waterbirds were around – Mallard and Teal, a Little Egret, Grey Heron, gulls, Kingfisher and some heard a Water Rail. Of course, we had missed the tide and with it the Curlew Sandpipers at Bowling Green Marsh but there were more duck species, including three Pochards, a female Scaup, lots of Wigeons and many more Pintails than we are used to seeing in Avon. Hundreds of Black-tailed Godwits were still flying out a dozen at a time, and there were 20 Lapwings and a couple of Greenshanks hiding amongst the Redshanks. It was good to be out birding again! (Thanks to Jane for leading.) Jane Cumming

After the grim news of a ban on all meetings, we were destined to be the last Tuesday walk for some time. However, eight of us gathered for a steady ramble round the patch. Our list started with Chaffinch and Greenfinch singing from broadcasting vantage points by the village green. There were plenty of House Sparrows chirruping away in the garden hedges and a good flock of mainly Common Gulls rose from the fields behind the houses. Up past the birdfeeder house, where we collected Blue and Great Tits, towards the barn field but, alas, it did not have a decoration of Little Owl. During the walk three separate flocks of Jackdaws were seen numbering more than 30 in each and of course making their usual clamour. At the coffee stop, having waded through deep mud in Long Drove, we had the 11 o’clock Buzzards mewing and circling, a distant Yellowhammer on the power lines, a mixed flock of Fieldfares and Redwings and the spring song of Skylarks. Out along the airstrip there were many more Skylarks and a pair of Mallards in the stream in the valley. A photo opportunity was taken by the placard (explaining what the remains of the plague house were all about) to demonstrate our ‘social distancing’ skills (Picture on BOC Facebook page). The star birds of the day were then found as we headed along the valley bottom, Wheatear and Stonechat. We found a total of six Wheatears as we headed back through the horse trial fields but, alas, no Little Owl in the old oaks. The lake hosted Mute Swan, Canada Goose and a pair of Gadwall, with the trees by the gates holding a couple of Nuthatch and a singing Mistle Thrush. A tally of 36 for the day was a good total. (Thanks to Nick for leading, Ed). Nick Hawkridge

With a good weather forecast eight members met in Links Road, Uphill. Unfortunately, the high tide made walking along the beach impossible so we headed back to the marina. Before doing so we had good numbers of Shelduck (27), Teal (44), Oystercatcher (34), Curlew (22), and Redshank (15) and also saw a number of other water birds. The highlight however was a Mediterranean Gull. At the marina the non forecast rain started but we headed on to Walborough and the sluice. On route we were pleased to see a group of Stonechat and heard a Skylark. The sluice area was not very productive (it was still raining) but there was a Marsh Harrier hunting. We returned via the road/path which was less muddy than the walk out and heard a Chiffchaff, possibly an early migrant but maybe it had overwintered. In total 43 species were seen or heard over the morning. Thanks to Jane for an enjoyable morning. Looking forward to many more when the current coronavirus restrictions are lifted. Beth Yates

On a wet and windy morning 16 members met for a walk around Elm Farm. We immediately saw eight Yellowhammer in a tree near to the farmyard which was a good start. A Kestrel was perched in a hedgerow tree as we walked on and 32 Jackdaws appeared along with a couple of Song Thrushes. Moving down the farm across fields managed under a Defra Countryside Scheme, a few more Yellowhammers were in the hedgerows. A Buzzard flew overhead and some folk caught sight of a Jay. Both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were present as we crossed fields towards the lower end of the farm. A flock of some 60 Redwings passed by. A very co-operative Chiffchaff gave us a good view on the way and at the pond and wetland at the lotto corner of the farm, a Heron and a Snipe were seen. A quick walk to the local sewage works produced a Nuthatch, Greenfinch and Coal Tit. In all we saw 34 species. The walk was led by Philippa Paget who farms here with her husband John. Thanks to Philippa for giving her time to guide us around the farm and its wildlife. Mark Watson

A magnificent 42 people gathered at St Andrews Church, Clevedon on a beautiful if chilly morning. We headed out round the Pill and down to the sluice on the Blind Yeo, logging Stonechats and Rock Pipits on the saltmarsh. Telescope scanning of Blackstone Rocks produced 55 Wigeon scattered along its edge, as well as Shelducks, Oystercatchers and Curlews. The foreshore held its usual mixture of mainly Black-headed but also Lesser Blackbacked and Herring Gulls. We walked on across the golf course to the Dowlais shore where a couple of hundred Dunlin were swirling about low over the waves and down as far as the gate overlooking the River Kenn’s seaward exit. With the tide rising fast 30 Teal were sheltering in the creek and the wader roost held 50 each of Redshank and Curlew. Linnets bounced around over the saltmarsh, a couple more Stonechats were seen and Skylarks were singing. We retraced our steps to Dowlais Lane and walked down past the pools where unusually there were eight Mute Swans as well as a few Lapwings. Roadside fields held a big corvid flock, mainly Jackdaws. The scattered groups of walkers recorded Peregrine, Kestrel, Little Egret, Grey Heron, a Blackcap and seven Redwings. At Strode Road bridge (just two Moorhens) we turned back down the Pill where three late Goosanders were seen by a lucky few (but sadly there was no sign of the Otter I’d watched the previous day.) Thanks to Nick as always for keeping the score; he recorded 50 species in total. (Thanks to Jane for leading, Ed). Jane Cumming

On a bright but showery and blustery morning, twelve members gathered for a walk around the RSPB reserve. In the car park we saw Dunnock, Chaffinch, Blue Tit and Reed Bunting and a Kestrel overhead followed by a Great White Egret. We set off around the reed beds towards King’s Sedgemoor Drain and heard but did not see several more Reed Buntings. Moving along the drain a Water Rail was heard, a male Stonechat perched on a thistle on the bank of the drain, and a Cormorant flew over. In the distance a huge mixed flock of Golden Plovers and Lapwings swirled in the sky as well as a Marsh Harrier over the pools and five Pintail. A few Black-tailed Godwits were feeding at the edge of the pools. At the end of track the view point gave a closer view of the Golden Plovers and Lapwings along with numerous duck including Shoveller, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Teal. We then moved on to the hides for a close up view of the ducks as well as Little Egrets. A pair of Marsh Harriers again came in to view and almost in front of the hide four Snipe were wading amongst clumps of reeds. Whilst a few of the group were finishing their lunch in the hide we were very fortunate to get good views of a male Hen Harrier along the edge of the reserve near the hide. In all we saw 36 species. (Thanks for leading, Mark – Ed.) Mark Watson

Waking to battering rain and wind, I did not expect to be leading ten waterproofed birders around the tanks, including Vanessa, new to birding and the Club. The decision not to take a scope was easy, but I was glad that the relative shelter of the trees, at the top of the steps of Tank 3, allowed more robust kit than mine to be deployed by others. Through these we got our first glimpse of the overwintering Black-throated Diver. Reported as a juvenile in mid November 2019, the plumage now looked in fine shape. Walking clockwise round the tank we found the battering head wind was no deterrent to the flight of the Common Sandpiper that we flushed from its roost beside a pair of Teal. Coot moved over and away from us, save one further out, which made a useful marker for everyone to get a first sighting of the Great Northern Diver. This too arrived in November 2019. It was reported as a first winter and at first had fishing line fouling its beak but thankfully it seems to have shed this now. Having fought our way round the tank the shelter of the trees was most welcome as was a pair of Common Sandpiper, a Pied and Grey Wagtail and a really close view of the Black-throated Diver. For the finale, we crossed over to Tanks 1 and 2. There we could see a patch of over 100 Cormorants, snoozing along the tank edge, their white breeding patches brightly contrasting the black feathers. With the wind now a whisper of its earlier force, all scopes were arrayed and found, eventually, the Long-tailed Duck. This too was another November 2019 import, spending its time showing off its splendid male plumage to one, in fact any female, Tufted Duck. The total for the morning was 32 species. (Thanks Nick) Nick Hawkridge

After a brief shower of rain 18 of us set off to walk around the lake. The Gadwall pairs were the highlight, amongst the usual gulls, Mallard, Tufted Ducks, Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Moorhens and Coots. Two of the six Cormorants in the willow on the island flew off. The path to Youngwood Lane was muddy and the lane was underwater in places. The next mile gave us 42 Redwings, two Jays, several Buzzards, a pair of Kestrels, and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers – very much a couple! We saw Goldfinches in the wooded area, but no Siskins this time. We did however see 13 Dunnocks and four Chaffinches on the walk. There was plenty of bird song: tits, Wrens, Robins, a Blackcap, a Song Thrush and a Skylark. The birds obviously consider it is Spring! At Engine Lane the group split, some preferring the road to the very muddy track back to the cars. At least the sun briefly showed itself, and we had no more rain. The species count was 34. (Thanks to Sue and John for leading – Ed). Sue Prince

Early February with lots of sunshine ensured that Harbourside and Clifton were looking good for the 27 members who assembled for this regular winter – virtually mud free – Tuesday walk. As usual we set off across the Pero’s Bridge and followed the Floating Harbour past M Shed. There were plenty of Black-headed and Herring Gulls on the water, a couple of Cormorants and some Moorhens. The Cumberland Road flats were encased in scaffolding but the buddleia and brambles outside their back gardens yielded House Sparrows and a male Blackcap. Carrion Crows, Starlings and Robins were also seen. Mute Swans, Ravens and Mallards enlivened our coffee stop after which we continued to the Underfall Yard and then on to a deserted Cumberland Road, which is closed after the recent collapse of part of the riverbank. Goldfinch and Grey Wagtail were added to our list at the Create Centre and, because of Metrobus diversion owing to the road closure, we were able to spend time viewing from both sides of the Metro Bridge from which Redshank and Common Sandpiper were seen by most. More Redshank, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls were on view as we looked down river towards the Suspension Bridge, before our return route to the bottom of Jacob’s Wells Road. From here ten of us took on the first and only hill of the day climbing up Brandon Hill. Jackdaw, Redwing, Wren, Greenfinch, Collared Dove and Great Tit were added to the list making a total of 29 species. (Thanks to Margaret and Nancy forleading) Nancy Barrett