Saturday 30 August – Chew Valley Lake

 Twelve members met at Herriotts Bridge for this morning only walk around the lake area. From Herriotts Bridge 14 Black Terns were observed flying low over the water on the Sailing Club side of the lake. There were Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler as well as a single Great Black-backed Gull and two Grey Herons on the pool. As we were about to move on to Herons Green Bay a Hobby was observed being mobbed by a Crow. At Herons Green Bay the Spotted Crake that had been showing up to about 0840 had decided to elude us but still we had four Little Egrets, a flock of 20 Sand Martins and a very good view of a Kingfisher which obliged by sitting on a bare branch on the opposite side of the Bay. (Well spotted Jane and Geoff!) A Whinchat was observed on top of the bushes at the rear of Herons Green Pool. We moved to Villice Bay where on the approach to the hide we saw a Blackcap and a Common Buzzard. From the hide all the members were able to observe a single Garganey as well as Pochard, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, three Green Sandpipers, two Greenshanks, six Little Grebes, a Great Crested Grebe and three Common Terns. A Sedge Warbler perched on top of the reeds at the left of the hide and Kingfisher flew past. As we were getting ready to leave the hide we were treated to a further Hobby, which put in an appearance over the top of the trees on the opposite side of Villice Bay. All in all, a very good mornings birding, with 34 species being noted. (Thanks to Charles for leading) Charles Stapleton