Saturday 19 March – Portbury Wharf Leader: Judy Copeland

Eleven people set off along Sheepway Lane on a beautiful but chilly morning. A Goldcrest was heard in a tree
bordering the road, and for the first part of the walk along the path between hedges we were reliant on those with
sharp ears but most of us heard the first of four Chiffchaffs. We had a new birder with us and hope she can now
recognise Chiffchaff! A Song Thrush was singing, another in a field, also a Rook and frequent Jackdaw flying over
as well as four Starlings and two Cormorants. A Great Spotted Woodpecker showed and a Wren sang close to
the path. Next, a Stock Dove sitting atop an owl box. We arrived at the sea wall to find a couple of Shelducks on
the shoreline and some Canada Geese on the salt marsh. Along the bank, we struggled to hear a distant Curlew
and a few Skylarks ‘chirruping’, a Cetti’s Warbler called and only two Black-headed Gulls flew over the marsh.
From the North Pool hide we could see on the island four Shelduck and one Oystercatcher, but mainly gulls, with
35 Lesser Black-backs counted – they breed there I’m told. Then a Marsh Harrier appeared, dipping over the
reeds, giving good views. Most of the Gadwalls, seven, were on the South pools, making a total of eleven
between the pools, also Mallard, two Teal, Coot and two Mute Swans, plus Little Grebe at each of the pools,
producing some nice trilling. A total of 40 species. (Thanks to Judy for leading). Judy Copeland