Field trip reports

This was asplendid weather day. The air was still, the sky a light blue, the sun was warm and there were 19 walkers all eagerly waiting for the off. While walking across the cricket field we admired a stand of majestic Scots Pines and then descended the hill leading to the village of Tockington. There were a few birds noted on the way including many Pied Wagtails on the cricket ground and several Crows, a Robin, House Martin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, Wood Pigeon and Jackdaw further on. The paths across the fields were bone dry and we reached our view-point refreshment area, overlooking part of Alveston, having added Blackbird, Starling, Mistle Thrush, Raven, Magpie and Blue Tit. We then followed a footpath behind a row of houses with large gardens and crossed a road, climbed a stile, and then walked beside part of Old Down Country Park, by which time the sun had become rather warm and birds were in hiding, so we added only a few more species to our list, including Lesser Black-backed Gull, Dunnock, Bullfinch and Long-tailed Tit. A total count of 25. (Thanks to David for leading)       David Tombs

 Fourteen of us started from the pub car park, seeing a Raven, House Martins, and Swallows above us. As we walked up Hobbs Lane we had good views of two Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk. Around the tanks the usual suspects were seen, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot, and Great Crested Grebe, with a Cormorant on each buoy. As we left the tanks, five Grey Herons had gathered and were standing in one field together, looking like soldiers on sentry duty. Further along, Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen, and as we approached our coffee stop by the old barn, two birds were seen briefly and heard calling – Hobby/ Kestrel? It was only as we got nearer that we confirmed that they were Hobby, and a tick for the patch, this being the first time Hobby had been seen on this walk. We were seeing Buzzards throughout the walk, at least six or seven, with also four Jays and two Green Woodpeckers seen just after our stop. Towards the end of the walk four Whinchats were seen, perching on old railway sleepers acting as posts. They were at a distance but confirmed by scope views and photos – a brilliant sighting and again a first on this walk. We also had Wren, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Stock Dove, Nuthatch and Meadow Pipits, to give total of 38 seen or heard. Geoff Harris  (Thanks Geoff for leading)    

 Twelve members met at Herriotts Bridge for this morning only walk around the lake area. From Herriotts Bridge 14 Black Terns were observed flying low over the water on the Sailing Club side of the lake. There were Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler as well as a single Great Black-backed Gull and two Grey Herons on the pool. As we were about to move on to Herons Green Bay a Hobby was observed being mobbed by a Crow. At Herons Green Bay the Spotted Crake that had been showing up to about 0840 had decided to elude us but still we had four Little Egrets, a flock of 20 Sand Martins and a very good view of a Kingfisher which obliged by sitting on a bare branch on the opposite side of the Bay. (Well spotted Jane and Geoff!) A Whinchat was observed on top of the bushes at the rear of Herons Green Pool. We moved to Villice Bay where on the approach to the hide we saw a Blackcap and a Common Buzzard. From the hide all the members were able to observe a single Garganey as well as Pochard, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, three Green Sandpipers, two Greenshanks, six Little Grebes, a Great Crested Grebe and three Common Terns. A Sedge Warbler perched on top of the reeds at the left of the hide and Kingfisher flew past. As we were getting ready to leave the hide we were treated to a further Hobby, which put in an appearance over the top of the trees on the opposite side of Villice Bay. All in all, a very good mornings birding, with 34 species being noted. (Thanks to Charles for leading) Charles Stapleton  

 I can hardly contain myself. We started with Jackdaw hordes – their calls and fuss all around during the walk. There was a nice field full of approximately 80 Herring Gulls feeding with 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls but by far the best was to get to a corner of the Blue Lodge estate and hear a terrible racket of Corvid versus raptor! What a raptor, a pale underwinged, tatty headed Osprey, who gave us good views before dropping from his perch and leaving away south westward into the valley and out of sight. This walk is one of those much favoured by Stan Wilmot and, notwithstanding the Osprey, gave all nine walkers splendid views of a Dipper posing mid-stream just above the bridge over the Boyd, near Court Farm in Wick. Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail were also there but departed before most of the party had arrived. So, after all that, even the masses of Swallows nearly taking our eyes out and the 300 plus flock of brown Starlings and the dozen Long-tailed Tits obligingly crossing a hedge gap to allow counting, and the fir tree full of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs feeding voraciously could really match the Osprey. There was a total of thirty two species for the day. Many thanks to Dave Body for leading.  

 19 members turned up for this extended walk on what the weather forecasters predicted to be a dry, and at times, sunny day. It was just as forecast and rather humid too. Our first noted birds were House Martin, Swallow, House Sparrow, and Collared Dove as we passed Redhill Farm on Marshacre Lane. Easy,level walking through a crop of head-high maize and then down a lane and through several fields, one with grazing sheep, brought us to Littleton-on-Severn village. We had by then added Buzzard, Jay, Goldfinch, Raven, and Robin to our list. We climbed a hill, savouring the splendid views across the Severn Vale, at which point five members took the ‘morning-only’ breakaway leaving the 14 remaining walkers to continue up the hill to enjoy spectacular vistas to the north. Further on lunch bags were opened on a hill overlooking Thornbury as a Kestrel flew by. Then came the long slog through wheat fields and lanes, both with a considerable amount of mud, before we reached our vehicles, having only 23 birds on our list. A most splendid, scenic walk with good company. David Tombs (Thanks to David Tombs for leading).

19 members turned up for this extended walk on what the weather forecasters predicted to be a dry, and at times, sunny day. It was just as forecast and rather humid too. Our first noted birds were House Martin, Swallow, House Sparrow, and Collared Dove as we passed Redhill Farm on Marshacre Lane. Easy, level walking through a crop of head high maize and then down a lane and through several fields, one with grazing sheep, brought us to Littleton-on-Severn village. We had by then added Buzzard, Jay, Goldfinch, Raven, and Robin to our list. We climbed a hill, savouring the splendid views across the Severn Vale, at which point five members took the ‘morning-only’ breakaway leaving the 14 remaining walkers to continue up the hill to enjoy spectacular vistas to the north. Further on lunch bags were opened on a hill overlooking Thornbury as a Kestrel flew by. Then came the long slog through wheat fields and lanes, both with a considerable amount of mud, before we reached our vehicles, having only 23 birds on our list. A most splendid, scenic walk with good company. (Thanks to David Tombs for leading).

 It was a warm and sunny day following the heavy rain on Saturday. The main target was Stone Curlew. As these are best seen in the afternoon we took the chance to visit Langford Lakes first. The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has created an attractive and accessible reserve. The reserve is being extended beyond the lakes to include some additional wetland and water meadow. Having said that, the species list was not extensive on the day. Great Crested Grebes were there in number; one pair with a second brood, the first having been eaten by a pike. A pond in the extended reserve had five Gadwalls. Coots and Canada Geese were present in large numbers along with a couple of Herons, three Little Egrets, Tufted Duck, Cormorant and Moorhen. Kingfishers were well evident. We saw three different birds, possibly four, with a fifth calling. Green Woodpecker and Blackcap were heard in the car park with a Buzzard overhead. Damselflies, dragonflies and butterflies were everywhere and were worth the visit in themselves.Normanton Down is not far from Stonehenge in a landscape rich with barrows and ancient monuments. The Stone Curlews can be found on bare ground. The farmer leaves patches in the fields especially for them. So, we were looking for a well camouflaged brown bird in a brown, bare field about half a mile away with heat haze adding an extra challenge. What could be simpler? Well, almost anything as it turned out. Stone Curlew were not to be seen in spite of some realistic, bird-like earth clods fooling the unwary. However, a Red Kite overhead and a Little Owl sitting stoically in the eaves of a barn were some compensation. Brown Hare, many Common Blue butterfly and a Clouded Yellow were also a delight to behold. Thanks to Roger for organising the trip. Other species: Starling, Pied Wagtail, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Rook, Magpie, Raven, Robin, Mallard, Mute Swan, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit. Alastair Fraser  

 A Goldfinch in the car park gave a good start to a varied walk, enjoyed by 24 of us. It was again hot and sunny as we passed under shady trees by the side of a barley field and climbed to Upton Cheney, from where there was a wonderful view. Leaving the village some mature trees gave welcome shade and Goldcrest were identified. There was a lively flock of ten Mistle Thrushes, some of which followed us as we dropped downhill, looking towards Fry’s Factory in the valley. There was a pair of noisy Ravens in a treetop in the fields and two Buzzards soaring, whilst various butterflies, particularly Meadow Browns, fluttered on the brambles and nettles alongside our path. A couple of “late-to-leave ” Swifts were seen. Our coffee break was at Bitton church-yard after which Duncan had a glimpse of a Grey Wagtail by the stream. There were beautiful blue/black damselflies against pink Himalayan Balsam and a Green Woodpecker was heard. A Kestrel flew away along the hedge-line and Martins and Swallows swooped as we crossed a field. A few of us almost had to duck as a young Grey Heron flew low above our heads. We reached the busy Bristol/Bath cycle path, alongside the railway and were lucky to have the “Earl David “steam train chuff along with lots of children waving from the carriages. Moving along the field edge by the river we heard a Moorhen, before a narrow boat and a motor boat passed by. On the bank there were numerous Small Tortoiseshell and Small White butterflies and more damselflies. By the end of the morning we had noted 32 species – not bad for a hot July day! (Thanks to Pat and Duncan Gill for leading.) Sue Watson  

Titchfield Haven is a wetland reserve on the Solent not far from Fareham. The reserve has several good hides and a range of habitats; salt/brackish water, fresh water, reed beds, wet pasture and woodland. The weather was warm and sunny with some cloud cover and light winds.. Tern breeding platforms held a few Common terns, a Little Egret, Black -headed Gull, Oystercatcher and a group of Turnstones pushed up by the rising tide. Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler were visible in the reeds around the edge of the pool. Just inside the reserve itself is a raised platform looking over the reed beds where we saw more Reed/Sedge Warblers and two Bearded Tits in quick succession flying across the bed, the second making the characteristic pinging call. Linnet were on the blackthorn bushes. From the first hide there were Common Sandpiper, Godwit, Gadwall, a Fulvous Whistling- Duck (a tropical duck most likely an escapee, so we are not counting that), Avocet, Shoveler and Dunlin. Walking further round the reserve we could hear Water Rail in the reeds and finally spotted one skulking at the edge of the reed bed, a first for Jane’s year list. A walk through the woodland part of the reserve produced Blue Tit, Tree Creeper, a family of juvenile Goldcrest, a Great Spotted Woodpecker (and a Green Woodpecker calling from behind us), a family of Coal Tits, Chiffchaff, Robins, Wren and Blackbird. A hide overlooking a wet pasture produced Canada Geese, the only Swallow of the day and a soaring Buzzard.  On to Farlington, another coastal wetland just across the water from the NE corner of Portsea Island (Portsmouth). One entrance to the reserve is closed until September because of repair works so we had to use our imagination to get in. An open pool a short way into the reserve held a good number of Godwit, large flocks of Oystercatcher and Redshank, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Egret, Avocet, Shelduck with Reed and Sedge Warbler round the edge. At some unseen signal a large, mixed group of waders took off, passed over our heads and flew to the emerging mud flats off shore. We (i.e. Jane) were convinced the godwits were both Black and Bar- tailed. A glimpse of them in flight confirmed both kinds. A group of six juvenile Bearded Tits appeared in the reeds on the far side of the pool and a Kingfisher flashed by (twice).We saw two Red Kites around Newbury on the way down and three more Buzzards on the way back, but no other raptors. Around 60 species in total.

 Never have I led a walk in such hot sunny conditions – ten people survived the course, seven went back before “the extra bit”. We started off with Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greenfinch, Wood Pigeon and a family of eight Long-tailed Tits. These were in a tree at Glebe Pond, where we stopped to look for dragonflies, seeing either a Four-spotted or a Broad-bodied Chaser and some Azure Damselflies. (As here, each bit of shade was crowded into by the group to get away from the sun.) We had our first Buzzard as we walked up the fields, and later on our return saw a white blob on a distant telegraph pole, which I identified as Blondy, another of “Robin’s Buzzard’s”- a very pale individual. To our delight she flew right over us giving a superb view of her pale face and wings in the sunshine. Just after coffee break, Elaine spotted not one but two Peregrines soaring high and some of the group witnessed a food pass between them. Brilliant! We saw 14 Crows adorning another telegraph pole, a Pied Wagtail feeding on the grass near some cows, and a lone Linnet on a bare twig. Swallow and House Martin were noted, but Swifts seemed to have left the previous day. Otherwise, many of the species were just heard, including Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, Coal Tit, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Wren, Nuthatch and Blackbird. The butterflies made up the numbers, at least nine species being noted. Nick’s total species count was 33, though most of us saw less than that! Judy Copeland