Field trip reports

Five of us met in the car park on a lovely morning and were surprised at how much the reserve had dried out after the recent flooding. Some members went on the Bristol Naturalist?s walk that was also happening that day. We bumped into each other a few times and shared our sightings. Ham Wall is alive with birds in the spring and gives a good opportunity to learn the different bird songs. Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Garden Warblers sang near the car park and a sunbathing Grass Snake gave good views too. Great White Egrets and many other water birds were present as always, including Pochard and Pintail, and we heard some Bittern booming. A distant Hobby chased the local dragonflies and a Cuckoo called but did not show itself. A mystery squirrel like mammal was seen and on the way back we saw a Mink swimming. (Thanks to Nick for leading.) Nick Page

Fifteen of us met in the evening in the hopes of hearing Nightingale in one of their last local strongholds. Lewis, the RSPB warden for Gloucestershire, led us around the reserve explaining how they manage it for the iconic songsters. He pointed out many different fauna and flora and answered our questions on these topics. The reserve has many species of insect; we did not see too many on this trip but sounded a good excuse to visit again in the summer. We saw Newts and Tadpoles as well as hearing many Song Thrushes, some who try to mimic the Nightingale song. Other species like Blackcap sang and several Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen. We heard two Nightingales, one was not singing as much – Lewis said it was paired up – and the other gave us an excellent demonstration of its repertoire. Let?s hope they continue to survive here so there are more opportunities to hear them in the future. Later that night we were treated to an excellent display of the Northern Lights. Many thanks to Lewis for leading the walk. Nick Page

We had a wonderful walk at Oldbury Power station with a group of 31 people in total. We spotted a Buzzard while waiting for everyone to arrive at the car park. The sun was shining and became quite warm during the walk. Lots of song by Chiffchaffs and Blackbirds along the way. There was a debate whether we were hearing two Cuckoos or just the one, which made us all smile. We stopped first at the lake and saw Mute Swans, Little Grebe, Tufted Ducks, Moorhens and Mallards with chicks. Along Lagoon 3 was the constant song of Reed Warblers, but rarely popping into view. A Linnet perched for a short while for some of the group to admire. We paused on the coastal path at the Severn Estuary for coffee and saw Oystercatchers, Shelducks, a few Grey Herons, gulls and a Whimbrel. We stopped at Lagoon 2 and heard lots of Whitethroat and Blackcap. On the way to lunch we saw a beautiful male Bullfinch. Finally, we had our picnic in the old orchard where we saw a Blue Tit in and out of a nest box. We recorded a total of 42 species. A great day had by all. Thanks to Di for leading. Caron Thornton-Trippit

Five of us met in Lower Woods car park on a gloriously sunny morning where we watched a Coal Tit taking food to its concealed nest on the other side of the garden wall of the Lodge. As we set off for the Common, a Willow Warbler sang, psychologically helping us cope with the standing water that was persistently underfoot. Here, two more members joined. The scrub on Inglestone Common provided excellent habitat for Whitethroat, Blackcap, Goldfinch and Linnet. Buzzard and Skylark enjoyed the free space above the grassland, and a small raptor kept us momentarily guessing until its hovering declared it as a Kestrel. Three Swallows flew near human habitations and two Song Thrushes foraged with a Blackbird on a horse paddock where we heard our only woodpecker of the day, a Great Spotted. The denser scrub and overgrown hedgerows flanking the north of the common bore Stock Dove, more Whitethroat, two Lesser Whitethroat and Bullfinch, while a Nuthatch called from the trees. Ravens were never far away and we probably saw four throughout. The Willow Warbler welcomed us back to our cars where we took a moment to absorb its dreamy notes. Thanks to the group for achieving 30 species (and thanks to Mike for leading.) Mike Jackson

Twenty walkers met by the church with its leaning tower for a walk round Avon Wildlife Trust’s Puxton Moor reserve. The cold wind initially had the birds keeping their heads down, but it settled and the sun brought some warmth. Leaving the village a flock of 13 Canada Geese flew over, and four Swallows in the distance. Along the road approaching the reserve we heard the first of eight Reed Warblers. Sedge Warblers were newly arrived and we heard four, with a brief glimpse of two in the wind. There were also five Cetti’s Warblers and six Reed Buntings, one giving very good views. A Cormorant was trying out one of the new design pylons. Six Skylarks were seen and heard. Two Bullfinches were heard calling, and briefly seen, along the tree-lined lane, where we had song from Chiffchaff, Blackcap, and Chaffinch. A sunny interval brought an early Hairy Dragonfly. A number of tracks were seen in the soft mud of the bridleway by the river, including Grey Heron, badger, deer, and, best of all, otter. Nearby a Lesser Whitethroat sang, and one of three Green Woodpeckers flew low over an ant hill field. In all we had 38 bird species. Thanks to Graham for the bird list, and to Simon Reece for the mud print expertise. (Thanks to Gareth for leading) Gareth Roberts

Our party of 29 were mostly prepared for the chilly north wind that saw us zipping up our coats and fleeces good and tight. An obliging Corn Bunting stayed on its wire until we’d trooped over the road up the lane and could stand virtually beneath it. Skylark started to sing, a couple of Swallows headed east over the track and many Rooks and Carrion Crows could be heard up ahead. Another Corn Bunting stayed on its perch for us to admire, while a couple of Chaffinch trilled from Culverslade Farm and more Skylarks sang and chased around the fields. The first of the Buzzards appeared, suitable escorted by a corvid or three. A distant Yellowhammer was good to see as were the ones we found at the coffee stop on Rushmead Lane. A wander to and from Tormarton Road saw a couple of Red-legged Partridges scuttle up the hedge line before being lost to sight. Deer and a Brown Hare were an added attraction and by the turn, up to seven Yellowhammers and many Linnets had been counted and seen. The local Red Kite put in an appearance as did a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel. Nearly back, we caught site of a pair of Ravens hedge hopping over the fields heading west. Many thanks to Chris for leading. Nick Hawkridge

Five members made the trip to Franchises Lodge, the only inland RSPB reserve in the New Forest. Izzy, the reserve manager, led us around a large and varied woodland and described the ongoing work to build a mosaic habitat including felling and removal of rhododendron. A Wood Warbler was heard in the car park and it didn’t take long to hear many more and get great sightings as we moved into open birch woodland where we also saw a pair of dancing Marsh Tits, Treecreepers, Nuthatch, Coal Tit and Blackcap, and a recently fledged Song Thrush. Hearing 30+ Firecrests (probably outnumbering the Goldcrests) the group only caught two or three glimpses but this was made up for by some unfamiliar raspberry noises in an overgrown hedgerow leading us to a flock of Siskins with Redpolls amongst them. A pit-stop at a new RSPB residential centre replete with bird, bat and swift boxes gave us a pair of Grey Wagtails that ignored the facilities to nest in a shed roof. Our sunny lunch stop in some open ground filled out the species list with Long-tailed Tit, Grey Wagtail, Greenfinch and Goldfinch before a brief sighting of a Redstart on our way to a large pond with Canada Goose, Tufted Duck and Little Grebe. We also came across a large herd of Fallow Deer complete with a White Harte which we were told is left alone by hunters to make the herds easier to identify. The highlight of the day was seeing a Buzzard overhead chased away by a Goshawk which followed with a brief victory lap. The walk gave us 42 bird species and unusually no gulls, Woodpigeon or Pheasant. Thanks to Mike Jackson for coordinating and to Izzy for leading. Ian Price

Thirty walkers set out on a bright and breezy day through woodland full of wood anemones, wild garlic and bluebells, and then back along the River Avon past the heronry. Thirty six bird species were seen or heard including a Treecreeper feeding its mate, Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Song Thrush, Moorhen, Buzzard, ten Mallard ducklings and, of course, the Grey Herons. Surprisingly there were no Cormorants to be seen but we did watch a roe deer sitting peacefully in a field, unperturbed by us walkers. (Thanks to Karen for leading). Karen Birmingham

This joint walk with the Bristol Naturalists’ Society had more than 30 people meet in the car park with high hopes of hearing Grasshopper Warbler and seeing some spring migrants. It was a beautiful day and we all enjoyed the lovely views as well as good company. The birds did not disappoint either with displaying Whitethroat and Linnet at Sand Point, as well as singing Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap. The local Peregrine patrolled while Meadow Pipits, Tree Pipits and Goldfinches migrated overhead on their journey across the water to Wales. Whilst the first Avon Cirl Bunting since 1991 (seen the week before) was not repeated, we did find an almost equally rare bird for Sand Point in the shape of a very smart looking Marsh Tit. This was the first one seen on Sand Point since 1996 and was keeping the company of a Coal Tit. Two Grasshopper Warblers gave their distinctive call. On then to Middle Hope where we didn’t see any Wheatear but a very smart male Redstart gave great views, while a Sparrowhawk gave its best Merlin impression. Skylarks delighted with great views and their iconic song, while smart looking Stonechats and singing Greenfinch added to the day. Overall, 37 species were seen by the main group, with another ten seen during the visit. Thanks to Giles for leading. Nick Page

Seventeen members met at the overflow car park of the American Museum, a re-arranged meeting place as the original meeting point was inaccessible due to road works. Coran, a new member, met with us for the first time. Wind gusts up to 35mph and cold temperatures meant that bird sightings were fewer than usual. We were rewarded early on with a clear view of a Mistle Thrush at the top of a tree. Robins were out in force, (twelve seen or heard in total) and 15 Blackcaps were heard, (but not seen) as we wandered through Bathampton Wood. Nine Herring Gulls and seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls were gathered on Bathampton Down and four Linnets were seen in flight there. We had sightings also of four Blue Tits, one Greenfinch, three Goldfinch and one Jay. Near the end of the walk, two Great Tits were spotted courting and a single Pied Wagtail was in one of the university’s playing fields among numerous Jackdaw. The total bird count for the morning was 21 species. Thanks to Graham for leading and to Nick for the species list. Alison Hooper