Field trip reports

 Due to the previous rain and the state of the fields adjacent to the River Chew it was decided to change the usual walk. So, on a dry morning, part overcast, part sunny, 29 members ambled around the edge of the lake until we reached the new Bittern Hide which is a great improvement on the original one. On the way there and back 33 species were recorded, notably: Bewick’s Swan, a pair of Goldeneye, a female Red-breasted Merganser and two male Goosanders. There were no waders, apart from three lonely Lapwings.

 The morning’s field meeting was very well attended and we got off to a great start with excellent views of two adult Yellow-legged Gulls at the Lodge. Then, and before we’d even started the walk, we saw an extremely late juvenile Swallow fly over (it’s the latest date I have in my lake database by some margin with the previous late date being 13th October 2012). A couple of Skylarks were heard flying over at the Lodge and Mike Johnson spotted a ringed Mute Swan, yellow ‘BJB’, there too. Chris Perrins wrote to me later to tell me: “Yellow ‘BJB’ (BTO ZY5592) was ringed at Abbotsbury, Dorset 06/10/11 as a first-winter ? (not hatched at Abbotsbury). It was reported at Chew Valley Lake on 25th July this summer.”The rising wind seemed to keep the small passerines well hidden, though Meadow Pipits were very much in evidence. We even saw a few Red Admirals in sheltered, sunny, spots. A flock of Siskins gave us good telescope views in the Alders at Hellfire Corner and a few of the group found some Redwings at Bell’s Bush where we stopped to check over the wildfowl at Top End. ‘Jonitor’ and ‘Willows’ the two adult Bewick’s Swans were still present despite the rising water level, and we found the Black Swan, two Little Egrets, a handful of Northern Lapwings and some good-looking ? Pintails that have just about attained full breeding plumage. Thanks to everyone who came, it made for a very enjoyable morning walk.

 There were 18 participants on this birding walk led by David Body, who took us on a walk devised by, and last walked with, Stan Willmott in July 2010. Soon after leaving the Griffin pub we had Pied Wagtail, Buzzard, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Dunnock and Wood Pigeon on the list. It was an excellent and sunny weather morning, clouding over a little towards midday. On reaching the high ground, and seeing a roe deer on the way, we had already noted Bullfinch, Raven, Magpie, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Long-tailed Tits and we just stood there to take in the magnificent views of the southern edge of the Cotswolds, the distant Mendips, and Dundry and Lockleaze hills. Then, after climbing yet again and with a view of the River Boyd below, we came upon a wooden gateway covered with hundreds of ladybirds of many colours. By the time we had returned to the Griffin pub for lunch, Jay, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Moorhen, Green Woodpecker, Robin and Chaffinch had also been seen, bringing the total to a respectable 28.

 Despite the less than promising forecast 16 members joined me for a walk from Wains Hill down to the Yeo. The very strong wind was a constant reminder that a storm was heading our way the next day and it made birding difficult. Clevedon Pill was quiet with just a small group of Redshank and Lapwing of note, a Grey Wagtail was on the sluice at the Blind Yeo. The coast from Blackstone rocks to the Kenn was also quiet but the Kenn had a few waders with around 100 Dunlins, some Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers present along with Wigeon and Teal. There was also a group of ten Little Egrets just inland here. Carrying further on down the coast we saw small numbers of Meadow Pipits, Rock Pipits and Linnet. Four late Wheatears were enjoyed by all as they bounced on ahead of us and eventually circled back on themselves. A few Turnstones and more Curlews were seen as we approached the Yeo but very little else. After a brief rest at the Yeo we headed back (with the wind now at our backs) and then the first heavy rain shower arrived and soaked us. The only other birds of note on the way back were three Grey Plovers, otherwise it was much the same. Thanks to those who joined me. Around 30 species in total on a difficult morning.

 Despite the weather forecast 22 members walked along the seawall from Severn Beach to New Passage in time for the high tide roost. Conditions were not pleasant, being very windy with driving rain at times . The only birds of note were three Shelducks flying south. When we reached New Passage the weather improved and we were rewarded with good views of the winter visitors: Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Redshank, Turnstone, and a flock of wheeling Dunlins and Starlings. A few of the group spotted a distant Peregrine hunting. We then moved on along the seawall to look over the new Severn Wetlands reserve but the weather turned foul so we finally gave up and returned to Severn Beach, driving several Wheatears on the rocks before us. Altogether 30 species recorded during the shortened morning’s walk.

A windless and reasonably warm morning with a clear blue sky saw 21 birders assemble at the Swan Inn. After a slight delay, while lunch orders were taken, we set off with a spring in our steps and were soon walking dew-fresh paths to one of the many viewpoints in the area, noting Jackdaws, Crows, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Raven, Song Thrush and Pied Wagtail on the way. A refreshment stop in a churchyard was accompanied by the music of strimmers as a gardens team cut back the grass around the stones of my namesake. Later, on the Bristol – Bath cycle path and footway, we noted Green Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Jay, Grey Wagtail and three Goldfinches but the star birds were Kingfisher, Grey Heron and two Buzzards as we walked beside the River Avon on the way back to the pub, ably led by Duncan Gill. A total count of 25 species was recorded.

20 people set off, but before even leaving the car park we had already seen Pied Wagtail and a flock of Starlings, some flying through and others sitting on a telephone wire along with a Mistle Thrush enabling us to see the difference in size. As we walked up Hobbs Lane, we pushed a Kestrel from telephone post to post, and at the top of the lane we saw Blackbird, House Sparrow and Robin. We had a distant view of a Cormorant on a buoy on Barrow tank, and in fact we then found one sitting on each buoy! As we approached the tanks several Mallards, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Ducks, Coot, Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were seen. Just as we were leaving the tanks a Grey Heron was spotted. Continuing on our way we added Goldfinch, Wren and Blue Tit to our list, with one lucky member seeing a Jay and a Buzzard. Goldcrest was heard, but proved too elusive to see. At the very end of the walk, we caught sight of a Sparrowhawk overhead. Altogether 28 species seen or heard.

 About a dozen members met at Ferrybridge on the causeway to Portland on a lovely, sunny day. The Fleet at Portland was a bit quiet but notable sightings were 15 Mediterranean Gulls, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Brent Geese with Wheatear, Kestrel and Swallow on the shingle bank. We then went to Wyke Regis where Jane had heard of some rarities and, with a bit of patience, we were lucky to see a Red-backed Shrike and a Red-breasted Flycatcher in the same patch of hedgerow and brambles. The Shrike was sitting up nicely on the hedge and the Flycatcher was flitting about in some ivy, both giving good views, albeit at a distance. These were lifetime firsts for most of us. Chiffchaff, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch and Pheasant were also in the area.Portland itself was a bit lacking in the migrants we hoped for and some of the scrub areas were exceptionally quiet. However, while we sat and ate our lunch, we were entertained by a Wheatear hunting ants very close to us. Walking down through the farmland we saw Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard. A dark-coloured mystery bird of prey sitting on a wall raised hopes of a Black Kite or some other exotic but the consensus was that it was another Buzzard. Whinchat, Stonechat, Linnet, Wheatear and Meadow Pipit were also seen. The final stop was the RSPB’s Lodmoor reserve in Weymouth. The brackish ponds had one Spoonbill, Wigeon, Little Egret, Lapwing and Dunlin, and Cetti’s Warbler could be heard in the bushes. A few of us walked a bit further round the path and were lucky enough to get a glimpse of a male Bearded Tit moments before we set off back to the cars. A Water Rail could be heard in the reeds. The Marsh Harriers did not make an appearance but we did see a Peregrine, mobbed at first by Rooks then soaring and stooping from a great height. Twenty or so other common species were also seen through the day.

Instead of one of those “misty, moisty” autumn mornings with shafts of sunlight catching the seasonal colours, 21 members turned out on a wall-to-wall grey morning. However, before we set out our leader told us “This is a lovely walk” – and it was, through a varied habitat of lanes, open hillsides, deep tracks with overhanging trees, which were surely very ancient ways, and typical Cotswold villages. Jackdaws were the first birds on our list and we saw and heard many more of them throughout the walk and also added other corvids – Crows, Raven and Rooks. Harking back to summer, several groups of House Martins were seen, a few Swallows, Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler. Everybody got a good view of a Mistle Thrush perched on a bare branch but there were no winter thrushes about. Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were spotted and a Grey Wagtail from one of the several bridges we crossed. The beady-eyed picked out a Stock Dove and some Common Gulls feeding with others. Altogether 38 species were recorded and a couple of group photographs taken on a new “Monet” bridge which took the footpath past a former mill.

14 members met on a mild but foggy day for a walk circling Tickenham Moor and the Blind Yeo River, the fields and wooded slopes up to Tickenham Ridge, and prehistoric Cadbury Camp at the top. The moors showed Mute Swans, Mallards, Heron, and Buzzard; one member said there were moves to turn this area into a Lapwing reserve, which would be valuable. We found a good variety of common birds in the Ridge area, most strikingly a Nuthatch posing for great views on top of a tree. Plenty of late Swallows and House Martins chased the abundance of insect life, particularly crane flies, but by far the commonest sounds were the Robins who seemed to have marked out almost every meter of the terrain. Cadbury Camp is literally the high point of the walk and usually gives great views down the Bristol Channel, but today the fog blotted out everything. However the mist highlighted beautiful displays of autumn cobwebs and the group settled happily for coffee into the furthest perimeter ditch between two banks. There were many plants and fungi of interest, including species of the dainty, ephemeral, cowpat-loving Dung Fungi and brightly flowering Field Scabious, Red Bartsia and Common Gromwell; and some members even collected Field Mushrooms for their tea. By the end of our walk – with a Kestrel near the church – we had counted 30 bird species.