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Twenty five walkers met at the White Horse, Hambrook, on a mild overcast but dry day. Beyond the car park, we met the Frome, and from the old bridge, watched our first Dipper of the day. We followed the Frome Valley Walkway to a road bridge, below which were Mallard and Moorhen. Then we saw

A slightly earlier start than normal for 13 members including the leader but it was worth it. Our route took us up Dagg’s Lane Drove and over to London Drove. Along the way we visited a number of hides with varying success but avoided The Mire as it was flooded. The weather was benign although

17 members turned out on a cold and windy morning for a dual site trip. The first was Hengrove Mounds, a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) cared for by Avon Wildlife Trust. The mounds are doughnut shaped and we were able to walk around the rim. The birds were not impressed with the weather

The climb through the woods south of the river was noisy – the wind thrashing the trees and the River Frome gushing over the weirs. SO it was only a few tits, Woodpigeons and Crows in the tops, with the cackle of a Magpie and the squawk of a Jay being all we could hear.

Herons Green, Chew Valley Lake, on an overcast cold morning, was the venue for 22 of us to meet for a walk over Breach Hill and down past Blagdon Lake and the Ubley hatchery. Before setting out we saw a pair of Goldeneyes, two dabchicks, and a flyover Cattle Egret. As we climbed the lane

An intrepid group turned up at Herriott’s Bridge on this cold damp morning. While we hoped to be looking AT Chew Valley Lake, for most of the time we were looking FOR the lake as thick fog rolled in and around. The forecast suggested a brightening later on, but it turned out this must have

We started in rain but finished, thankfully, without rain. The lake was only marginally wetter – it did however contain the usual mix of Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Black-headed Gull. They were all nicely concentrated around a local lady, who arrived on a red mobility scooter with what looked like the

The wind was strong and the drizzle heavy as 18 members set off alongside the Reservoir. We saw six Tufted Ducks on the rough water and six Great Crested Grebes, and a Cormorant on a buoy. A few Pied Wagtails were in the paddock below us. Coot numbers were high with well over 1200 estimated

We gathered in bright sunshine, belying the freezing air temperature. First stop was the feeding station where the usual suspects gave us some easy ticks. In the extensive reed beds we immediately targeted Bearded Tit but none showed for us despite checking every little brown job we saw which were invariably Reed Bunting. Little Grebe,

The mist and cold stayed with us all day, but being well coated and gloved it meant nothing to 24 walkers at Hawkesbury Upton. The Chaffinches, Starlings and House Sparrows that decorated the roofs and TV aerials in the village were keeping strange company – a Common Gull, so close that views of all its