December 16, 2018
It’s a hundred miles to Paignton, albeit well under two hours’ drive from the west side of Bristol, but six members made the trip (postponed 24 hours owing to Saturday’s drenching rain). The forecast still wasn’t very encouraging, but in the event we only got properly rained on once and the birding was well worth
Twenty-one birders met at Herons Green on a cool but fine winter’s morning. Water levels are now higher. Two Goosanders were present along with all the usual ducks, swans and geese. On a patch of mud by the reed bed two Black-tailed Godwits, two Grey Herons and several Cormorants were observed through the telescopes. We
December 8, 2018
Cancelled courtesy of storm ‘Deirdre’.
A record number of 50 members arrived for this year’s pre-Christmas lunch walk from Holy Trinity Church – but could we get 50 bird species? We set off in the welcome sunshine. Our group was well spread out, with Peter kindly waiting to gather up latecomers, so not everyone saw the single Bullfinch and Greenfinch.
Clevedon was windy, overcast with a hint of drizzle as 19 members set off along the promenade towards Wain’s Hill. Half a dozen Turnstones were seen as well as at least 90 Black-headed Gulls. As we moved on to Poets’ Walk, Blue and Long-tailed Tits were seen and heard and a solitary Jay was sitting
November 25, 2018
Eventually 14 BOC members met in the WWT car park for this all-day visit. Unfortunately, some arrivals had been delayed by the loading of bullocks into transport vans, which temporarily blocked the access road. The day was rather cold and cloudy with a 15 mph wind adding to the chill factor. However, whilst in the
November 20, 2018
Forecast as a very cold day with a biting wind, 36 walkers still turned out for this walk – a good deal of which followed the Frome Valley walkway route. A Dipper was an early spot, along with various tits, 12 Long-tailed among them. The narrow path did mean the group was well strung out
November 13, 2018
On a fine, sunny morning 36 of us arrived in Saltford; so many that car parking had to spread all along the river. Those parked in the designated “The Shallows” were treated to the sight of a hovering, diving Kingfisher, soon joined by a second flash of electric-blue. A Greenfinch wheezed as we set off
November 6, 2018
Orange was a theme for this new walk through Goblin Combe as, despite the overcast weather, the beeches and birches were at their late autumn best. Before entering the wood we had seen Blue Tit, Great Tit, and the first of eight Long-tailed Tits. A Mistle Thrush stood out on a bare tree and Goldfinches
Thirty six of us set off from Elm Farm on a fresh, dry autumnal morning. Initially we went along a level track for about 30 minutes before turning right into the valley crossing several fields with adjacent hedgerows and woods. Two Roe Deer eyed us suspiciously from a nearby field. Early birds included a Green Woodpecker,