Field trip reports

A magnificent weather day brought out 41 walkers – quite a crowd – to the White Horse car park. The walk was firstly beside the motorway where, thankfully, traffic noise was reduced by the easterly breeze. By the time we had reached Quarry Barton and Bradley Brook Bridge 16 birds, including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Jay and Mallard, had been seen. Then, at a bridge over the River Frome, we spotted Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Goldfinch, Goldcrest and Treecreeper. A refreshment break was held in Huckford Old Quarry Nature Reserve before walking beside the Frome and then up to Bury Hill Iron Age Fort. Dropping back down to river level, Dipper, Bullfinch, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron and Moorhen brought the total to 37 species on a very varied habitat walk of about four miles in perfect conditions. David Tombs

26 members gathered on a mild spring morning for this walk through varied habitat. Near the start, some agitated corvids drew attention to a Sparrowhawk which flew into a dense hedge and disappeared. Two Jays were seen and the walk was notable for the number of Jays recorded (eight by this observer.) A Blackcap was heard and then seen sitting prominently on a garden hedge. The walk followed the dramway footpath at the start. Its tall hedges proved excellent cover for birds and as well as the more common species there were stunning male Bullfinches. Re-crossing the A420 we entered the Warmley Forest Park where hawthorns were beginning to show green shoots and there was a bank of flowering primroses. Another Sparrowhawk flew over and several Buzzards were seen during the morning. A Mistle Thrush was heard and finally located. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was watched and a distant Green Woodpecker was heard. Ravens flew over as we watched bees busily entering and leaving a hole in an oak tree. Two Mad March Hares galloped around the fields, where two Roe Deer were lying beneath a hedge. The total number of bird species seen was 27. Thank you to David for leading this enjoyable walk. Margaret Gorely

It was a cool misty morning, but 34 birders arrived in The Perrings to walk around the lake, along Youngwood Lane and out towards Chelvey church and manor. The lake held the usual Coots, Swans and Canada Geese, but seven Shovelers gave us a fly past and there were a pair of Gadwalls, a few Tufted Ducks and a female Pochard. A Sparrowhawk was spotted whilst we waited to start our walk, and a Buzzard was down in the field. It then sat in a tree studying us studying it! The male Wood Duck and male Muscovy Duck were still present, and the trees around the lake had Goldfinches, Greenfinches, tits and a Song Thrush singing. One lucky person saw a Bullfinch and a few of us heard a newly-arrived Chiffchaff. In the field by Coombe Grange Farm the wild daffodils were in flower and the horse fields held Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and Greenfinches. Further along, a Romanian lorry had got stuck, having been misdirected by sat-nav into an unsuitably narrow lane. We located the farm he needed and he was linked up with the farmer! Later, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were added to the list, the latter heard drumming, and Geoff found another Chiffchaff. We also saw Jay, Ravens and a Heron. 48 species were seen altogether in spite of poor visibility – a good morning. Sue Prince

14 members met up at the car park by Speech House on a bright and sunny morning to walk the surrounding woodland and look at the nearby pools. Leaving the car park we observed Nuthatch, Tree Creeper and Redpoll moving through the trees plus a Mistle Thrush. Moving on towards Woorgreens Lake we saw Brambling, Green Woodpecker, more Redpoll, a small flock of Siskin, heard and then observed a Willow Tit, and also saw Longtailed Tit, Coal Tit and a number of Goldcrest. At the Lake we saw Goosander, Tufted Duck and Grey Wagtail and a Reed Bunting was spotted by most. We took a route from the car park past the rear of Speech House and back through the Arboretum to the car park, where we observed a pair of Crossbill in the trees above us. We moved to New Fancy View where we observed a Goshawk sitting in a tree at fairly close distance, plus another four birds soaring above the forest tree line. We saw Raven and a Sparrowhawk before leaving for Cannop Pools where we saw Mandarin, plus Little Grebe and Marsh Tit. An early pre-meet walk in the woodland area of Parkend Church by four members produced Hawfinch, Brambling, Redpoll and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Total number of species recorded was 47. A good day’s birding was enjoyed by all. Charles Stapleton

As I arrived to meet up with the club members on the coach at Exminster, the rain which had been heavy all morning in Devon stopped. As we made our way down the lane towards the river, wildfowl such as Teal, Shoveler, Pintail and Wigeon were busy feeding on the flooded pools and in amongst the Wigeon we were rewarded with good views of the American Wigeon that had been in the area all winter. Canada Geese were also feeding in the fields and five Barnacle Geese were with them; these birds, presumably of wild origin, had arrived a couple of days earlier. As we started to look at the waders in the flooded fields, such as Lapwing, Golden Plover and Blacktailed Godwit, all the birds lifted and a Peregrine passed through them and gave us all good views as it sat on the nearby electrical pylon. As we arrived at the canal we managed a glimpse of some Avocets on the river – this would be our only view of the day. Large numbers of Brent Geese flew over our heads into the fields but alas the Red-breasted Goose reported recently had presumably left. As we made our way towards the Turf Hotel Cetti’s 10 Warbler was heard in the nearby bushes. Reaching the hotel (open for Coffee in March, usually closed when we visit in January!), waders were feeding on the mud on the incoming tide – Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Knot, Grey Plover, Bar and Black-tailed Godwits, with a few Red-breasted Mergansers swimming in the tidal passages. Making our way down to meet up with the coach at Powderham we saw Little Egrets in the fields and more Brent Geese, with Buzzard and Sparrowhawk over the distant trees. On arrival at Dawlish Warren we made our way to the hide on the point for the wader roost. From the lifeguard station en route we managed to see Common Scoter, Slavonian Grebe, Eider Duck and Great Crested Grebe on the sea. As the tide was not that high the wader roost was not that numerous but we did see Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone, Redshank, Greenshank, more godwits, and Oystercatchers. At the Visitor Centre on the walk back, some of us checked out the bird feeders and in amongst the Greenfinch and Chaffinches we were rewarded with good views of a pair of Brambling. Gordon Youdale

31 members turned out on the annual Tuesday visit to The Forest of Dean. The chosen time was perfect, a bright clear and almost cloudless day, perfect Goshawk watching weather. The Goshawks did not disappoint us. We witnessed some brilliant displays by at least three birds high in the sky, which included an aerial battle between Goshawk and Sparrowhawk, keeping us entertained for some time. The group then moved to Speech House corner to look for Hawfinches, but drew a blank. The walk through the woodland to Beechenhurst Lodge produced little except the tit family. Lunch was taken at Cannop Ponds picnic site. Afterwards we walked around the larger lake. Several Treecreepers were sighted in the trees between the two lakes, also Grey Wagtail feeding in the stream, Mandarin Duck, Bullfinch, Siskin and Greylag Goose A very close view of a male Great Spotted Woodpecker above our heads was a highlight of the day. Most of the group finished our walk back at the picnic site, but two of the party moved on to Nags Head Reserve. A beautiful bright spring day was enjoyed by all. Colin Morris

What a treat – three balmy days in West Wales with an accompaniment of glorious soaring Red Kites for the latter part of the outward journey, in an elegant new minibus driven in turn by three cautious drivers over what was often truly exhilarating terrain. Our first luncheon stop alongside Tregaron Bog (Cors Caron) produced the only rainfall of the weekend but also the explosive flight of three nearby Snipe. The first sea watch began just south of Aberystwyth where two Goosanders could be observed, in the breaking waves, with a Great Crested Grebe. Behind our group, three more drifted down the rushing River Ystwyth, with Stonechat, Song Thrush and Meadow Pipit busy nearby. Below the main town sea front a successful search for Purple Sandpiper, accompanied by Turnstone, was the prelude to a truly spectacular evening build up of Starlings un-numbered. This, together with their eventual descent to roost beneath the pier was absolutely spectacular. We were now thirteen in number. After a superb supper followed by a most comfortable night in our remote but idyllic Brynarth Country Guest House setting, one member claimed to have added 25 species to his list in just ten minutes before breakfast. Even the later risers ticked one of the many Nuthatches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker from the dining room window during the meal. We travelled back to Cors Caron where two of our target species were soon to cause delight. Firstly a drifting male Hen Harrier, where, with good optics, even his white upper tail coverts could be identified, followed later by a ring-tailed female or juvenile. Next, at least four busy Willow Tits, in nearby leafless bushes and against last year’s dried marsh grasses, were a sight to behold. Lunch was taken on the beach at Clarach Bay before walking along the cliff path until close enough to count at least 25 Red-throated Divers wondrously spread and feeding along the Sarn Gynfelyn (a submerged shingle bank). Further north, at Borth, a minor twitch was suggested and behind a café, only yards from the sea front, on an uninviting looking horse paddock, was a very hungry Glossy Ibis. It fed constantly whilst being close enough for everyone to record its ring numbers. Eventually it flew away southwards, presumably to roost. Scanning the Dyfi Estuary revealed Ringed Plover, accompanied by Sanderling, plus Curlew, Wigeon and Shelduck. The final stop of the day was inland alongside the Ystwyth, in full torrent flow, making it both impressive and very noisy. A Grey Wagtail crossed into thick Rhododendron and then an active pair of puffed up Dipper became the final treat of the day. Sunday morning started with a walk up the hillside to ‘greet the sunrise’ and be greeted by the end of the dawn chorus. Our ‘resident’ Mycologist had trained us to identify the aptly named Yellow Brain fungus on Gorse, with many other enquiries kindly satisfied as necessary. The group arrived to spend four wonderful hours at RSPB Ynys-hir Reserve, which mixes … Read more

Drizzle has accompanied us several times when we’ve done the February urban walk and this year was no exception. However, it was very light and intermittent and 18 members set off from Millennium Square without any opened umbrellas. Several Cormorants were soon spotted with breeding patches showing. Searching the buddleia and brambles past the new M-Shed museum was at first unrewarding – quite a bit of cutting back had been done and the houses above seemed to be devoid of any feeders. However, patience paid off as we eventually saw Blue and Long-tailed Tits, Robin, Blackbird, Goldfinch and Collared Dove – and the bacon sandwiches at the Buttery did smell good! Leaving the water to cross Cumberland Road, a high altitude Wren was singing on the roof of an abandoned warehouse. We scanned the mud in the New Cut for Redshank and Common Sandpiper and everybody eventually managed to see both as well as plenty of Black-headed Gulls – heads in various stages of colour – and Herring and Lesser Black- backed Gulls. There were more signs of spring with both Greenfinch and Song Thrush heard. Margaret led us on a new bit of path with views across to Rownham Hill and down river before we turned back towards the Centre, adding Pied and Grey Wagtail to our list. Some of the group left us before the climb up Brandon Hill, where we were rewarded with good views of both Redwing and Mistle Thrush, bringing our total to 31 species. Many thanks to Margaret for leading. Nancy Barrett

Ten members met at 0930 hrs at Monkton Combe car park for the walk to Midford and back. We had a brief stop to see the grave of Harry Patch in the churchyard, where Goldcrest were seen and we also saw five species of Tits at bird feeders nearby. We went on to Tucking Mill and to the fishing lake, viewing stretches of the river on the way and then on to Midford where we stopped by the Mill and looked down from the old viaduct. The return walk gave views of Midford Castle, and we were back at the car park by 12.30 hrs. Birds seen included two Kingfishers and two Dippers, Marsh Tit, Raven, Siskin and Buzzard and birds heard were Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker and Song Thrush, making a total of 27 species altogether. We also saw evidence of occupied Badger setts with fresh earth scattered about. We were led by local resident birder Terry Doman who gave us a most interesting informative talk on the history and geology of the area as we went along. Our grateful thanks to him for making the walk so enjoyable. Roy Curber

On a bright winter’s morning 17 members met at the RSPB Greylake reserve in Somerset to view the mixed flock of wintering wildfowl – Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Tufted Duck plus Mute Swan, Little Egret, Snipe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Lapwing and a very close view from the hide of a Water Rail. Following a picnic lunch we headed for the nearby village of Stathe to find 31 Common Cranes picking in the fields adjacent to the feeding-station – a first view of this species for most of the party. Spring must be in the air as one of the Cranes was jumping up and down as in displaying. The final part of this trip was spent in the RSPB Swell Wood hide inspecting the heronry but only two Herons put in appearance. A good day with a total count of 38 species. Peter Holbrook