Field trip reports

 A sparkling sunny, frosty morning attracted 19 members. The walk, led by Peter Holbrook, began with a flurry of activity with feeders in a garden and the woodland on the edge of the village producing Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Robin, House Sparrow, Mistle Thrush and Buzzard to name just a few. As we continued along the fringe of the wood we saw Jackdaw, Collared Dove, Raven, Wren and Dunnock. Then things became strangely quiet and for an hour or more we saw no birdlife whatsoever, even though conditions were perfect. Those who had been on previous winter walks here recalled seeing large flocks of Yellowhammer adorning the hedgerows and drystone walls as well as other species. This time they were all absent. We consoled ourselves that the glorious morning compensated for the lack of birds, and it was not until we reached the Badminton estate that things perked up. We knew a Little Owl had been seen here on previous walks and right on cue a Little Owl was seen briefly on the roof of a dovecot. As we walked through the estate we saw Pied Wagtail, 200-plus Starlings wheeling above the oaks, and flocks of Redwing busily feeding on the grass. The “chack, chack” calls of a distant flock of Fieldfare could be heard and a pair of Mute Swan glided on the lake. Total species, 32.

 Leaving Bristol on a bright but cold Sunday morning 37 members were looking forward to a day’s birding on the Exe and at Dawlish Warren. Our first stop was at Exminster Marshes where the extensive flooding precluded a planned walk to Powderham Church; it was, however, a bonus for the wildfowl. From the bridge and road, good numbers of Wigeon were seen, along with Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Mallard and Shelduck. Small flocks of Canada and Greylag Geese flew across the flooded fields along with many Lapwings and gulls. Redshanks fed along pool edges and the occasional Grey Heron appeared from deeper ditches. In the distance a small group of Black-tailed Godwits was spotted. Starlings and Redwings were a welcome sight but the good views of a Chiffchaff captured the group’s interest. Leaving Exminster for Dawlish Warren, Little Egrets were spotted from the coach, along with a sizeable flock of Dark-bellied Brent Geese on Starcross Golf Course. Upon arrival at Dawlish Warren Jane outlined the identification features of Bonaparte’s Gull and so the group set out for Langstone Rock with high hopes. Sadly, sea conditions were not conducive to comfortable sea-watching with a strong onshore wind and heavy swell. Several Shags, a few auks, gulls and a doughty Kestrel battling into the winds appeared to be our lot, until some Common Scoters were spotted. As luck would have it, some white wing patches confirmed the presence of at least one Velvet Scoter. After lunch the group headed for the hide and, despite some serious “sand-blasting”, a Long-tailed Duck was spotted close to one of the groynes. The relatively sheltered river held Red-breasted Mergansers, a Little Grebe, Shelduck and Cormorants with some members spotting a Slavonian Grebe. From the crowded hide the group enjoyed excellent views of waders as the tide continued to rise: Oystercatchers, Knot, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Redshanks and some Bar-tailed Godwits – identification niceties were aired and debated. Just before we left, ten, very wet, richly-coloured Skylarks and a Meadow Pipit flew in front of the hide prompting further discussion. Despite a wet walk back to the coach all agreed that it had been a wonderful finale. Many thanks to Judy for organizing and looking after us, and to Jane for leading in challenging circumstances – your pre-trip checking and research was much appreciated – we’re only sorry that the Bonaparte’s Gull did not oblige!

Eight of us started walking from the Pub car park, first seeing Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Pied Wagtail and Robin. As we passed over the fast flowing River Chew there was nothing in sight, in fact when we walked along it from Woollard to Publow it was the same. Up over the fields out of Pensford there was a large party of Jackdaws and Crows feeding on the ground. It was not till we got to Lords Wood that we began to see anything of significance. First in the bag a Great Spotted Woodpecker, then two to three Goldcrests, two to three Coal Tits and then Siskins in a flock of 40 to 50 feeding in the Alder trees, a lovely sight. A lone Wigeon was on the lake, a very odd place to see one too. Nearby appeared a Treecreeper, then a Nuthatch and some Redwing. A bit later we saw a Mistle and Song Thrush with a Kestrel sitting on a power cable. Some lucky people of the group saw a Sparrowhawk but our final birds of the day were a Mute Swan and a Grey Wagtail. Considering the awful wet weather we have had, the ground all through the walk was merely soggy. A total species count of 40 either seen or heard.

 As the rain poured down on my arrival I wondered whether there would be anyone else there. I shouldn’t have doubted. BOC members are made of tough stuff! Nine appeared, well kitted out for the weather and we were soon in the shelter of the hides. The Tack Piece and Dumbles were full of water and birds. As usual, it was where to look. Wigeon, Teal, Lapwing, Curlew, Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Pintail, Bewick’s Swan, Canada Goose, Dunlin, Redshank, Ruff… it goes on. Because of the near continuous rain it was a challenge to sort out the smaller birds, like Little Stint and Skylark, even a distant Mistle Thrush, unless they were very close. Then we got wind of the Green -winged Teal and soon found it, after a dash through the rain, at the Zeiss hide, right in front of us. There were more birds there (mostly Teal) but searching did not produce one bird of prey, but a Grey Heron showed us its head and shoulders. At the Kingfisher Hide the feeders were busy with Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great and Blue and Long-tailed Tits. The star there was a Great Spotted Woodpecker. At the South Lake Great Crested Grebe and Cormorant were noted. With gulls and other species not mentioned we noted a total of 52, which was not too bad for such a rotten day. So it was a Happy New Year.

 As my record book’s crinkled pages attest it was wet when we set out. Our first birds were a party of four male Blackbirds at a standoff atop a TV aerial. Nothing delicate could survive the roaring, white topped water as it dived under the bridge, although a Mallard pair had found sanctuary in a small inlet and a Moorhen not much farther off. Up the south bank of the Frome we eight marched where we counted one then two Jays and noticed the Tit families were making spring-like noises. Across the recreation ground towards the Oldbury estate were nine Carrion Crows on the ground feeding and a Song Thrush in full song. Once into the estate Black-headed Gulls – up to 60 at one time with a couple of Common Gulls – adorned the football pitches and posts. The hedges of Perrymans Close had many House Sparrows, ten counted but more were close by, with a Raven seen going fast over the pavilion heading NNW. At coffee more Jays were seen and then as we descended back towards the Frome a distant Green Woodpecker was heard and a fine male Great Spotted Woodpecker showed well. Little new was seen along the bank as we returned although one spot was alive with Long-tailed Tits mixed with Coal, Blue, and Great Tits and not far away a pair of Grey Heron roosted in the trees. Our final species was a Buzzard, stationary at first while he eyed us up before departing over the ridge. We were then back to the start with a count of 32 species.

 We were lucky to enjoy a fine bright morning for our walk from Heron’s Green at CVL over Breach Hill past Ubley Hatchery and back along the lanes to CVL, a total distance of nearly five miles. The views over Blagdon Lake were lovely and the mixed habitats of water, fields and woods made for a good range of birds. All the usual ducks, swans, Coots, herons and Little Egrets were at Heron’s Green. As we climbed the hills the hedges and fields held Woodpigeons, Crows, Blue Tits, Chaffinches, Robins and, at the farms, Pied Wagtails and Sparrows. We saw one Sparrow taking a long piece of grass into a hole in the wall – a bit early for nesting? We heard a Raven croaking and saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker fly to a tree. There were a few Redwings and Fieldfares about and at one wooded stop we had Treecreeper and two Goldcrests along with Long-tailed Tits. At Ubley Hatchery there was another Treecreeper and a Coal Tit with good views of two more Goldcrests. Along the stream we noted Goldfinch, Siskin and a Grey wagtail. On the return route we saw another Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Common Buzzard and a field of Common Gulls. Back at CVL there were two female Goosanders. The walk produced a total of 43 species seen by 28 walkers. It was an excellent morning with good conditions underfoot and the country lanes were quiet.

 35 members set off on a grey but very mild morning from the car park of the Fleur de Lys in Pucklechurch, soon to be joined by a 36th member, who had cycled from the centre of Bristol. This is always a slightly shorter walk than our usual Tuesday ones so we can be back at the pub in good time for our annual Christmas lunch. While still walking through the village, already on the list were Starling, House Sparrows, Jackdaws, Woodpigeon and Collared Dove, plus a Pied Wagtail. We soon saw Redwings and Fieldfares in abundance and then a group of Meadow Pipits was spotted by our chairman, Ed Drewitt, who was invited to come more often to Tuesday walks! Four Bullfinches on the ridge of a barn roof were quite a find and most people saw at least one. A couple of Goldcrests were heard and, for those of us who can no longer hear them, one obligingly flew over us. A Song Thrush was also heard as we stopped for coffee. It was such a still morning that even as we approached the part of the route that takes us near the M4, there was little motorway noise until we were quite close to it. Very good views of Dunnock and Wren were had in nearby hedgerows and crossing the fruit farm yet more winter thrushes were seen. Altogether 28 species were listed. Thanks to Duncan Gill for leading and Pat for bringing up the rear of such a large group. We were back at the pub as midday was striking and a good meal was had by all, joined by quite a few members who hadn’t taken the pre-meal exercise. After the meal, which had been arranged by Peter Holbrook once again, Ed Drewitt thanked Hazel Wilmott for organising the Tuesday walks and Mark Watson was warmly welcomed as our next organiser, as Hazel is moving away from the area next year.

 Twelve members met at the Newbridge Sluice north of the village of North Curry. This was a new location for a Club field meeting on a different part of the Somerset Levels than normally visited. We commenced the walk along the southern bank of the River Tone giving extensive views of the surrounding area. Mixed flocks of Fieldfares, Redwings and Starlings were feeding in the adjacent fields. The willows and hedges contained Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Linnet. The river contained surprisingly few birds although small numbers of Mallards,Teal and Moorhens were seen together with a Little Grebe. We diverted off the bank for a while and stopped at a Wetlands and Willow interpretation Centre which contained a number of interesting information displays about the area, its wildlife and river control measures. We walked round a small adjoining copse and added a few common woodland species. On the return walk we heard a Raven “cronking” as it flew over and a number of Skylarks were seen. The Moor is susceptible to flooding in winter and is known to attract substantial numbers of wildfowl and waders. It would be well worth a visit after prolonged rainfall. Forty-one species were encountered during the morning.

 What has not been said about this national resource?! We 22 set out – not for us the duck or goose preservation ponds – but into raw boned and wild, windy bird hides. We had to break ourselves in slowly – the luxury and heating of the Peng observatory was just the job. From behind clear glass we were afforded close views of Bewick Swan, the youths in a pleasing grey plumage with the magnificent adults in almost ‘brilliant white’. The Tufted Duck and Pochard were ducking beneath the surface creating a mad flurry by frantic paddling of webbed feet in their haste to hoover up the last of that morning’s feed. From just outside the window slots of the Rushy hides there were many male and female Pintail. At the back of the ponds a small troop of Teal crept from rush bed to rush bed, so noticeably smaller in comparison to the many Shelduck, and the rotund “lump” of a single, very brown hybrid Ruddy – Cape Shelduck. Moving along to the Martin Smith hide one sharp-eyed watcher spied a Snipe in the grass and on the banks a Black-tailed Godwit feeding to the depth of that strikingly long bill. Along at the Robert Garnett hide we found half a dozen Curlews and the fields full of Greylag Geese, Lapwings, and hiding away at the back by the pollarded willows, a small group of White-fronted geese. At the Holden Tower we saw an aerial swirl of several hundred Golden Plovers, three stately Common Cranes feeding and three Great-Black-backed Gulls asleep on the mud. When everything suddenly got up we knew a raptor would be somewhere and, sure enough, a Peregrine swished past. Along to the Zeiss hide for, we hoped, a Bittern but, alas, none on show. However, our reward was a sharp red billed Water Rail, a ball of feathers that resolved into a Buzzard and away among the Wigeon and Lapwing some Dunlin foraging in the grass. At our penultimate stop – the Kingfisher hide – provided not only the eponymous bird but a Little Grebe and Greenfinch. After a tortuous slog to the South Lake hide only Grey Heron, Cormorant, and Great Crested Grebe could be added to our list. However, with a total of 62 species, not a bad days birding. Thanks to Gordon Youdale for escorting us most of the way, smoothing our entry, and making the morning most rewarding by pointing out some unseen treasures.

Eight BOC members were joined by a couple of local birders to explore the Torbay area and surroundings. Having met on the front at Paignton, we made straight for the Clennon Valley (an inland park area with woodland and ponds) to find a Yellow-browed Warbler that had been in this sheltered valley for a couple of weeks. After some persistence most of the group managed brief glimpses. A walk around the pond area then gave views of more common woodland birds, four duck species, Grey Heron, gulls, Mute Swan, Snipe and Little Grebe. Lunch was consumed whilst sea-watching at Goodrington Sands where we added Gannet, Common Scoter, Oystercatcher, Cormorant, Great-crested Grebe, Shag, Kittiwake and an Auk species to the list. We then moved further south to Broad Sands to catch Cirl Bunting which didn’t disappoint, with excellent views of the brightly coloured males and a few females feeding on the ground. A Great Northern Diver was another highlight here (on the sea). Our final destination was Brixham breakwater where Turnstone and [frame src=”http://bristolornithologicalclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/PurpleSandpiper13.11.11Portisheadsh.jpg” width=”200″ height=”200″ align=”left” linkstyle=”normal” title=”Purple Sandpiper”] Purple Sandpiper finished the day off nicely.