Field trip reports

 The horrendous forecast of gales and heavy rain for Saturday obviously put off many people attending what turned out to be a really good walk, so it was six hardy souls who set off. We only had one short shower and the sun was out for most of the morning! We took the telescopes to look over the beach at Brean Down. High tide was at 13:00 so at 09:30 the birds were rather scattered but we saw a large flock of Lapwing, some Oystercatchers along the tideline along with Redshank, Dunlin and a few Curlews. In the marshy grass opposite were five Grey Herons standing like sentinels. A few Teal, Wigeon and Mallards were present. We then walked up past the quarry in the local nature reserve. In the lake by the boatyard we found three Dabchicks. From here we walked through the AWT reserve at Walborough adding the usual Robin, Goldfinch and Chaffinch. We also listened to a Goldcrest in the ivy but could not see it. Two Chaffinches were singing, a Reed Bunting called and Skylarks sang as we drank our coffee. There was little to be seen at the sewage works but from the sea wall we saw Snipe and Stonechat. On the return journey we had excellent views of a Kestrel hovering and a lovely rainbow. We should not overlook the masses of Corvids and Woodpigeon in a stubble field. In all we managed a list of 42 species.

Thirty three is a very respectable total for a Tuesday walk and an even more respectable number for lunch afterwards.  This walk was the last with our organiser, Hazel Wilmott, before her move to Dorset in two weeks. At the start we had a fine pair of Mistle Thrushes who were searching the grass behind the pub car park and on the wing and Jackdaws – mostly as couples – were riding the brisk south easterly wind. Across from the car park and down a narrow lane, a Robin wanted to play at our feet and a Wren sat atop a thorn bush and blasted forth with full song. A couple of flocks of Starlings (one of over 200) flew over and in passing, attracted our attention to the Redwing in the trees. On the ground close by a Dunnock and above three Bullfinches were noted sitting in the sun, a great attraction for the year-listers. The first Buzzard circled overhead and a Green Woodpecker called and flew over the brook at Hancock’s Well. Our second Buzzard, accompanied by a Sparrowhawk circled together above the trees. Those at the front and middle saw a Kingfisher and a few saw it or another on a post, again by the Avon, a little further on towards Sherston, within whose bounds a Little Egret was spied roosting in a tree. Our final Buzzard was seen off by various Corvids, over 20 of which were Rooks who, when not chasing raptors were busily probing the grass for food. On the final part of the walk we followed The Macmillan Way where the fields either side of the path had plenty of Skylarks, some singing and others playing chase. Our final species was a distant flock of 50+ Lapwings giving us an excellent tally of 38. Big thanks and goodbye to Hazel who led this lovely (and hopefully to be repeated) new walk.

 14 walkers met at Morgan’s Hill in Nailsea. There were two heavy showers during the morning but we escaped getting really wet and when the sun broke through it felt mild. We even found a few snowdrops in flower. A circuit of the lake gave us good views of two male and a female Goosander, Tufted Ducks and a female Pochard. The usual Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Mallard, Coots and Moorhens were joined by a mixed bag of farmyard ducks and two Muscovy ducks. We were much amused by a Herring Gull that had found a tennis ball and was playing bouncy ball and rolling it down a slope. It flew off with the ball. Finally a Grey Heron was seen by the reeds. Along Youngwood Lane we had Buzzards, Redwings and Fieldfares, a Mistle Thrush and two Goldcrests in a Holly bush. The lanes were very muddy but we saw all the usual small birds, Blue, Great, and Long-tailed Tits, Robins, Dunnocks as well as Woodpigeons and a Collared Dove. We had four good-sized flocks of Goldfinches keeping up a stream of contact calls as they flew through the trees. One person managed to see a Bullfinch and another found a Jay. We also found three Common Gulls where a field was very soggy. Altogether a pleasant quiet walk with goods views of Chelvey Church and across to Backwell Hill. In one place, the lane had flooded but most had come prepared with wellington boots. A total of 37 species were seen, fewer than usual, which reflects the mild winter so far.

 19 members met in the Natural England car park on an overcast and breezy afternoon. We first walked down to the viewing platforms overlooking the Ham Wall reedbeds. A couple of members were really lucky on the way down to have a brief glimpse of an otter swimming in the adjacent South Drain; a rare sighting during daylight. The open water areas contained a good variety of birds including Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Greylag and Canada Goose. A female Marsh Harrier drifted over the reedbed and Sparrowhawk and Buzzard completed the raptor list. We had a couple of views of a Great White Egret and it was nice to compare size with a nearby Little Egret. We then walked through part of the Meare Heath reserve as we had heard that the starlings had roosted there on the previous evening. On the way a few Redwings and Fieldfares flew over and a Water Rail “squealed”. Groups of Starlings, some of several thousand in number began to swirl in from every direction. Unfortunately, they chose to roost in a part of the reserve that was partly obscured by trees and they were not in the air for long. The spectacle, therefore, was not as impressive has had been hoped. 45 species however was a respectable total for the afternoon.

 Eight BOC members turned out on a grey day; the rain held off until 1pm and we had sunshine for part of the walk. From the car park we followed the path round the playing field, then went on the Frome River Walkway, passing the lake and along the river path and the Jewish Cemetery before returning to the car park. We spotted approx 30 Black-headed Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Herring Gull and a small flock of unidentified finches flew over. We saw Moorhen, Mallard, Canada Geese, Mute Swan and a Grey Heron busy fishing in the lake. Great Tit, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Robin, Wren, Dunnock and Blackbird were singing and calling repeatedly. We also saw Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Raven, Rook, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow. We also had a very good views of Jay and a Tree Creeper. Whilst we were looking for a Great Spotted Woodpecker a Sparrow Hawk flew over our heads. House Sparrows were foraging on the common, which made the magic total of 30 species to be recorded on the day.

 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.