October 27, 2013
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
October 22, 2013
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
October 15, 2013
We found ourselves in a spirit-level landscape of vast horizons, towering cloudscapes and pastel colours, where the acres of tilled fields are lined by hedgerows or punctuated by picturesque clumps of trees, like something out of a painting by a Dutch or German Old Master. To put it in English terms, imagine the Levels or
October 15, 2013
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,
October 8, 2013
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
October 6, 2013
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
October 1, 2013
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
September 24, 2013
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
September 21, 2013
Thirteen members met at the Meare Heath car park on a pleasant early autumn morning. A number of passerines were noted in the car park including Dunnock, Robin, Chiffchaff and Blackbird. The willows and alders on the first part of the Meare Heath reserve track held Great, Blue, Coal and Long-tailed Tits. As soon as
September 17, 2013
Thirteen optimistic birders set out from Kendleshire Golf Club on a dry morning, heading towards the ponds. Lesser Black-backed gulls and Black-headed gulls were flying overhead. Moorhen were spotted on the first pond and Mute Swans on the second. Four Coots were swimming across the lake where there was a new bridge. As we continued