Date: 12th February 2017
Location: Newton St Loe - Patch
Weather: Cloudy, Overcast and Cold
Other Species: Full List Here: https://goo.gl/MD3xy6
Observation: As this weekend was a WeBS count, we done a patch walk to the Lake and return. Plenty in our garden as we left, 2 Bullfinch (pair), Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greater-Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit and Long-Tailed Tits all present.
The walk started off slow with all the normal species through Bath Mill; Blackbirds, Long-Tailed Tits, Wood Pigeons and Blue/Great Tits.
We swiftly walked through onto Seven Acre, where again, pretty quiet with just 5+ Magpie, Blackbirds and Crows were present (mostly fly-overs). Onto the Globe fields the normal small group of Gulls were present; 33 Black-Headed Gulls and a single Common Gull.
Into the Village and a single Pied Wagtail feeding on flies in the wet grass.
Also a group of 20+ House Sparrows, Goldfinches and Robins in the Village Square.
Another family group of Long-Tailed Tit's around by the
Duchy Offices all calling away to each other.
At Send-A-Cow, a single Robin and the normal groups of 20+ Jackdaw and 30+ Rook were present feeding in the fields. We visited the Heronry out the Lakes to check on any nesting progress, but only the 2 present today and no visible signs of nesting just yet.
As we were walking to the Lakes a group of 9 Goosander's flew from the Lakes and headed towards Saltford over our heads (would be interesting to see where they go and why they keep returning to the Lakes).
On Bottom Lake, 3 Black-Headed Gull's, 2 Mallard, 1 Coot, 1 (Male) Goosander and 2 Moorhen were present along with 2 Treecreepers in the trees.
A further 6 Goosander flew from Top Lake and out in the same direction as the first group, we don't normally see them leaving the Lake at this time (so we were initially thinking some sort of disturbance at the Lake).
At Top Lake, there was no-one around at all, so very strange as all ducks seemed very flighty. The Little Grebe was present today feeding along the left banks. A further 6 Moorhen, 3 Coot and 36 Mallard were the first counts. 2 Lesser-Black Backed Gull, 20 Black-Headed Gulls, 1 Cormorant, 31 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan and a further 5 Goosander completed the WeBS counts.
Whilst walking around the first group of 9 Goosander returned. A single Marsh Tit and a few Goldcrest also seen today.
On the return route, whilst looking for the Stonechat's (which weren't seen today), we seen a distant bird of prey, after a few record shots, it was a RED KITE! With picture proof we can count this and it takes our patch species list to a decent 91!
Here's a few distant records shots of the Red Kite:
The Red Kite was spotted thanks to the 150+ Redwing and Fieldfare flock that were all flying around the fields (maybe because of the Red Kite flying over)
A single Buzzard was the last sighting of the day.
Thanks For Looking!
The walk started off slow with all the normal species through Bath Mill; Blackbirds, Long-Tailed Tits, Wood Pigeons and Blue/Great Tits.
We swiftly walked through onto Seven Acre, where again, pretty quiet with just 5+ Magpie, Blackbirds and Crows were present (mostly fly-overs). Onto the Globe fields the normal small group of Gulls were present; 33 Black-Headed Gulls and a single Common Gull.
Into the Village and a single Pied Wagtail feeding on flies in the wet grass.
Also a group of 20+ House Sparrows, Goldfinches and Robins in the Village Square.
Another family group of Long-Tailed Tit's around by the
Duchy Offices all calling away to each other.
At Send-A-Cow, a single Robin and the normal groups of 20+ Jackdaw and 30+ Rook were present feeding in the fields. We visited the Heronry out the Lakes to check on any nesting progress, but only the 2 present today and no visible signs of nesting just yet.
As we were walking to the Lakes a group of 9 Goosander's flew from the Lakes and headed towards Saltford over our heads (would be interesting to see where they go and why they keep returning to the Lakes).
On Bottom Lake, 3 Black-Headed Gull's, 2 Mallard, 1 Coot, 1 (Male) Goosander and 2 Moorhen were present along with 2 Treecreepers in the trees.
A further 6 Goosander flew from Top Lake and out in the same direction as the first group, we don't normally see them leaving the Lake at this time (so we were initially thinking some sort of disturbance at the Lake).
At Top Lake, there was no-one around at all, so very strange as all ducks seemed very flighty. The Little Grebe was present today feeding along the left banks. A further 6 Moorhen, 3 Coot and 36 Mallard were the first counts. 2 Lesser-Black Backed Gull, 20 Black-Headed Gulls, 1 Cormorant, 31 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan and a further 5 Goosander completed the WeBS counts.
Whilst walking around the first group of 9 Goosander returned. A single Marsh Tit and a few Goldcrest also seen today.
On the return route, whilst looking for the Stonechat's (which weren't seen today), we seen a distant bird of prey, after a few record shots, it was a RED KITE! With picture proof we can count this and it takes our patch species list to a decent 91!
Here's a few distant records shots of the Red Kite:
The Red Kite was spotted thanks to the 150+ Redwing and Fieldfare flock that were all flying around the fields (maybe because of the Red Kite flying over)
A single Buzzard was the last sighting of the day.
Thanks For Looking!
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