Field trip reports

 On a dry but overcast morning 26 members assembled in Natural England’s car park for a day’s birding on the Somerset Levels. We were not disappointed; whilst waiting for the group to assemble we were entertained by Song Thrush, Greenfinch, Cetti’s and Garden Warbler, and Blackcap singing. On the way to the first main pool Swifts were overhead, with Whitethroat and more Cetti’s Warblers in the undergrowth. Our first major bird was a male Marsh Harrier displaying over the reed bed giving good views to all watchers. At the pool the water level was higher than normal with only a single Little Egret to be seen. Although ‘Big John’ advised that more waders were under the bank, at last they moved producing a small flock of Black-tailed Godwits, a Ruff and a Curlew Sandpiper – our second major bird. It was then on to the hide at Noah’s Lake where again the water level was high. In the distance were ‘comic’ terns, and Hobbies catching prey and eating on the wing. It was almost lunchtime so it was back to the cars with another stop at the wader pool to see a small flock of Whimbrel which had flown in to join the Godwits. After our picnic lunch the party crossed over the road into the RSPB Ham Wall reserve but we soon split up into small groups to explore. From the Tor View hide in the middle of the reed bed Great White Egrets and Bitterns were the highlights. This was a brilliant day producing 49 species seen or heard with at least four major birds. Regretfully, Otters were absent again this year.(Thank you for leading this walk Peter)  Peter Holbrook  

 Three National Trust members, including Dyrham Park’s well-informed head gardener Dale Dennehy, joined six from the BOC for this walk through the parkland of Dyrham Park, north of Bath. Dale made this a most interesting walk as he identified various plants and trees and told us about the NT’s ongoing plans for the park and gardens. The house is currently under wraps while its roof is being replaced and there is a lot of work going on around the chapel walks to clear shrubbery and open up new paths. With the disturbance by workmen, birds were hard to find in this area but there will be a nice section of open woodland habitat when they have finished. The terrain is hilly, well wooded, grazed by cattle and the NT’s herd of Fallow Deer. On a rather windier morning than I would have chosen, some expected species such as Stock Dove (several pairs normally breeding) could not be either seen or heard, but we did manage to find woodland birds like Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Coal Tit although we weren’t able to see them all. Swallows were zooming in and out of the barns on a hilltop, probably nest-building, and songsters included three Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap and a Goldcrest. The rookery is doing fine though the original large colony seems to have sub-divided into several smaller ones. Finally some of us located the usual Raven’s nest in a vast Cedar tree by the main drive, where they have been nesting for some years. Thanks so much to Dale for his very informative contributions which really made walking the park worth the chilly wind! Jane Cumming

Rain and strong winds abated to allow eleven of us to set out into the green world of Prior’s Wood. However, Nick pointed out that there were white horses on the distant Severn and the sound of the wind and the motorway made it hard to hear any song. We had already notched up nesting Starlings in the village, Jackdaw and House Sparrow, and eventually we heard Wren song, followed by Chiffchaff, and a Herring Gull flew overhead. The sun came out and we managed to hear Marsh Tit, Robin, Goldcrest, Blackbird, Blackcap and Nuthatch, but sightings were few and far between. We found an ideal place for coffee in the sun by some felled tree trunks, surrounded by bluebells which gave off some scent when the sun reached them. Great Tit, Chaffinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker called, a Song Thrush flew across our path, a Mistle Thrush sang and some lucky people spotted a Fox trotting past beyond the bridge over the stream – a Weasel was seen a bit later. Much clearance has been done by Avon Wildlife Trust, removing the rhododendron, replanting many trees and creating two ponds, but there was no activity here. A single Whitethroat was heard outside the wood, and after a brief shower on our way back we finally found House Martin in the village. Nick counted 30 species. (Thank you for leading this walk Judy). Judy Copeland  

 A group of about 20 members gathered at the Snuff Mills car park to be welcomed by the spring sunshine and a cool breeze. We set off towards Eastville Park then crossed over the motorway bridge where a Greenfinch was heard and a perched Buzzard was spotted. From here we made the climb up to the BT Tower which was rewarded by the sighting of a Sparrowhawk, fields of dandelions and lovely views over Bristol. We walked through the fields towards a wooded area. Between the gaps in the canopy a soaring Buzzard could be seen and among the trees Blackcaps, Nuthatches, Chiffchaffs and Long-tailed Tits were heard and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen. We left the warm shelter of the woods and headed over the fields, where a Mistle Thrush was spotted. A fishing pond supporting a Moorhen, two Canada Geese, some Coots and Mallards. A couple of agile Swallows could be seen speeding through the sky and a singing Whitethroat was observed emerging from a thick tangle of brambles. Many thanks to Rich Scantlebury for leading this enjoyable walk. Hannah Meinertzhagen  

 Five members gathered on a rather chilly morning, but the sun and walking soon warmed us – not to mention the bird song! A very loud Song Thrush started us off and soon we added Dunnock, Great Tit, Blackcap, Robin and Chiffchaff as we headed off down the valley. The fields and borders were magnificent with a brilliant display of primroses, cowslips, bluebells and much more. We soon added Blackbird, Chaffinch, Green Woodpecker and Buzzard to the list, the latter trying to kid us with its Kestrel-like hovering. Great Spotted Woodpecker eventually showed itself well, but calling Stock Doves were elusive. There was the usual – ‘is it a Mistle or Song Thrush’ moment – both were seen and heard! Jay was heard as was Goldcrest, the latter always difficult to see. When we got to the mill pond we added Swallow, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Moorhen and Tufted Duck. As we walked through the village more Buzzards were overhead and two Sparrowhawks were seen in brief display as well as Raven. House Martins appeared as well as more Swallows. Then the long climb up to Hawkesbury. Near the top we added Treecreeper and Marsh Tit. Then, as we emerged above the woodland, Whitethroat was heard and Yellowhammer sang and showed itself, if rather distant. Linnet and House Sparrow ended the list which totalled 40 species. A good tally! Robin Prytherch  

 We set off from the car park on the edge of Castle Combe under a cloudless sky, albeit a bit chilly to start with. We had some early sightings in the adjacent field including a Pied Wagtail, Stock Dove, numerous Corvids, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. The initial part of the walk took us up a steepish hill through a copse to some quiet country lanes to the north of the village. A Nuthatch called long and loud en route but avoided visual detection. Birds that were less shy however included a Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Swallows, House Martins, Coal Tit and the first Buzzard of the day. After the coffee break (where some had an excellent view of a Goldcrest) we gradually descended through a long valley back towards the village. White tree blossom and wild flowers were abundant and at one point we passed alongside a small wood full of freshly bloomed bluebells. The warming sunshine also seemed to encourage the butterflies to emerge with Brimstone, Large and Small White, Peacock and Orange Tip amongst those recognised. Birdsong was noticeable all morning and sightings on this leg included Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, and several Wrens. In the village itself a Grey Wagtail was spotted as was a Mistle Thrush on the walk back up the hill to the car park. Also during the morning two active Rookeries were seen. Warm sun continued to shine on 33 of the righteous (I can’t really vouch for the other 32) throughout the morning and a total of 40 species was recorded. Thanks to Dave for leading a very enjoyable walk on a very pleasant morning. John Lees

 It was at nine o’clock when a baker’s dozen of members embarked on a circumnavigation of Woorgreens Lake, led by Keith Williams, serenaded by Nuthatches, Wrens and Great Tits. Thoughts of Asterix the Gaul came to mind as we spied a large wild boar that appeared to be shadowing our party! Arriving at the lake we encountered what appeared to be a battle royal between various factions of Canada Geese with a score of Goosanders spectating. Climbing gradually up to Crabtree Hill, where we met a party from the Dursley Birdwatching Society who appeared to be on Shrike duty, we too loitered to gaze and admire the Great Grey Shrike before returning to the start of our walk. The next port of call was New Fancy View, the Raptor view point, where our planned stay was curtailed by drizzle and poor visibility, but a number of Ravens, Siskins and a pair of displaying Buzzards were duly observed. As usual there was a large number of the brightly- plumaged Mandarin Ducks on Cannop Pond, while Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and a Kingfisher were discovered on the edges of the pond. In all over forty species were seen, noted, recorded and photographed on this trip. Many thanks to Keith for leading the trip.  Richard Belson  

 Outside the pub at the end of the walk, as the stragglers rolled in, I met Nick who asked if I’d seen anything else in the Skylark field (at least three were singing). I said no, we were hurrying as late for lunch. But he and Annie had seen seven Wheatears! Anyway, apart from that major lapse on my part, it was a lovely springtime walk on a gorgeous morning, once the sun gradually emerged, with a beautiful display of flowers – kingcups (marsh marigold) beside Glebe Pond, and a mass of primroses and celandines in the lanes. Some of us had our first glimpses of House Martin and Swallow as they swooped across the first field, and Chiffchaffs sang everywhere, with almost as many Blackcaps tinkling away and Nuthatches calling. We had Buzzard and Sparrowhawk, the usual Green Woodpecker on the apple trees by the track near Failand House Farm, which then flew to a telegraph pole, and we heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker call. A couple of Song Thrushes sang, also one or two Willow Warblers, our most recent arrivals and a Bullfinch called though was not seen. Stock Dove was noted, flying faster than the many Woodpigeons, and two Coal Tits were seen on a feeder. Nick’s count was 39 species – and there were 28 of us walking. Judy Copeland  

 It was a bright, sunny morning with a fresh south-westerly breeze and a rising tide as Paul Gregory led a group of five out past the cliffs of Uphill onto the Bleadon Levels. The many singing hedgerow birds included plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, probably newly arrived. Out on the marsh, Shelduck and Redshanks were the most numerous species. We noted some Little Egrets (at least five at high tide) and compared leg colour and mantle differences on the larger gulls. As we strolled on to the Weston Sewage Works area we started collecting in the freshwater birds – a Dabchick here, Coots there, and in the end five more ducks including a smart male Shoveler and some lingering Tufted Ducks. Shorebirds were harder to come by, just a couple of Oystercatchers but no sign of the smaller waders we expected. We did have a fly-by Peregrine and a Kestrel, nice views of singing Willow Warblers, Reed Buntings, and a Green Woodpecker flying off. Skylarks added their voices to the chorus, and we were pleased to see a few Swallows which only started arriving in numbers this week. The geography is very interesting around here with Crook Peak behind us and Brean Down in front. We could also see Brent Knoll to the south and the Brecon Beacons stretching away in the distance in glorious sunshine. Thanks very much to Paul for his leadership and a total of 42 species on my list – and I probably missed a couple. This is an area well worth further visits. Jane Cumming  

 The morning started misty but by the time we were leaving the car park – in a part of Eastville Park unfamiliar to many, the sky was beginning to break up. Almost immediately we spotted an occupied Carrion Crow nest which, as it turned out, was the first of several. We headed down through the park towards the River Frome accompanied by the sound of a Chiffchaff and a Song Thrush melodiously serenading from the top of a tree. The river brought us a Grey Wagtail and a group of Long-tailed Tits together with the expected river birds. The lake was relatively quiet although a Mute Swan and a Canada Goose were observed on nests on the island. The highlight of the morning, however, came shortly after the coffee break when a Kingfisher dived and caught a fish directly in front of the leading part of the group. It then conveniently flew a few yards to another twig level with the rear of the group where it proceeded to adjust the position of the fish ready for swallowing, The latter part of the walk took us out of the park along some scrub and woodland behind houses at the edge of Fishponds and by now we were bathed in sunshine. Other notable species seen included Blackcap, Goldfinch, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit and a group of five Jays all giving chase to one another. All in all 34 walkers saw some 33 species. The accompaniment of birdsong throughout the morning and the appearance of several butterflies suggested that spring had truly arrived. Thanks to Rich for leading, and especially for taking us to places many of us had never walked before. John Lees