Friday 7 April 2017

7th April '17 - Tree Pipit - Firecrest

Another beautiful sunny day with real warmth in the sun

Little Ringed Plover on Severn Estuary edge sites
Tree Pipit at Sand Point
Red Kite over 'The Anchor at Oldbury-on-Severn
Cattle Egret at Chew Valley Lake

7/4/17 Swallow drinking in front of Stratford hide at Chew (Ian Stapp)

BRISTOL

Whiteladies Rd:  - Tawny Owl calling this evening

Sea Mills:
6 Shelduck, 1 Cormorant, 15 Redshank, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel (flew from ground to tree with small rodent in claws, then flew off), 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 4 Greenfinch.

Narroways NR, St Werburghs:
1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 2 Raven, 4 Chiffchaff and 3 Blackcap

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Oldbury Power Station:
58 Shelduck, 2 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Curlew, 1 Little Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 
2 Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 5 Bullfinch

Oldbury-on-Severn:
Red Kite over 'The Anchor at Oldbury-on-Severn at 2.15pm

New Passage/Northwick Warth:
Grey Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 21 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Swallow, 
1 Sand Martin, 2 Pintail, 2 Little Egret, 102 Redshank, 35 Turnstone

Chipping Sodbury Common:
2 Kestrel, 1 Jay, 8 Skylark, 11 Chiffchaff, 2 Redstart, 1 Greenfinch, 7 Linnet, 1 Reed Bunting

Wick, Golden Valley:
3 Mute Swan, 2 Coot, 6 Mallard, 2 Buzzard, 6 L BB Gulls, 2 Raven,  20+ Jackdaws,  Magpies,
8 Stock Doves, 4 Nuthatch, 1 Dipper, 2 Mistle Thrush, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Swallow, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch,  5 Blue Tit, 6 Great Tit, 12 House Sparrow, 4 L T Tits, 

Alveston - Stroud Common: 
Firecrest - up high in the trees.
07/04/2017 Firecrest Alverston (Vic Savery)

NORTH SOMERSET

Severn Estuary edge site:
2 Little Ringed Plover

Portbury Reserve:
Wigeon - 2♂ (no ♀). Is this a bit late? Gadwall - several including possible pairs. Teal - several including some on sea and at least one possible pair on left hand pool. Again is this a bit late?
Shelduck - several both on right hand pool and sea. Canada Goose - pairs. Curlew - 2 on mudflats.
Oystercatcher - small group. Great Black-backed Gull - 1 on mudflats. Black-headed Gull - still some on right hand pool. 1 Buzzard. 1 Blackcap, Chiffchaff - everywhere, Willow Warbler - 1+ (heard and seen but not sure if same one). Cetti’s Warbler - 1 heard. Greenfinch - only 1 and only heard.

Portishead:

10 Redshank on the foreshore and a Robin singing by Portbury ditch.

Sand Point:

4 Tree Pipit, 7 Willow Warbler, 1 Swallow, 1 Siskin, 1 Redpoll, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and possibly 1 Chiffchaff (see photo)

7/4/17 Possible Chiffchaff - Raoul Chandrasakera would like help with ID
"Eye ring split by eye stripe, legs/bill not particularly dark and not dipping tail,
single 'huit' type call and confused by green edge to primary".

BELOW M4 & BANES

Clevedon- Yeo:
90 Black Tailed Godwits at Kingcotts Pool and 1 Whimbrel near Channel View Farm.

Marksbury Plain:

Lapwing displaying - seen from the car along the A39.

Uphill: 
Short-eared Owl

7/4/17 Short-eared Owl at Uphill (Bill Hewitt)

RESERVOIRS:

Chew Valley Lake:

Picnic Parks 1 and 2:
Between 9.30-10.30am. the area was awash with bird song. 3+ Blackcap, 3+ Chiffchaff, 
1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, lots of Chaffinch, 1 Song Thrush, Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks, 
Great Tits, Blue Tits and more. 4 Pied Wagtail (no song), usual Mute Swans, Geese (including Egyptian), Ducks and Cormorants. 3 Buzzard together low over cafe. Two 'small' ones circling one another; and one much larger one with them calling.

Denny Island:
2 Little and 2 Cattle Egret

Herons Green:
220 Tufted Duck 3 1f Pochard, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldeneye (M),

Moreton:
2 Shelduck, 1 Cetti's, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Raven 

Stratford Hide:
9 Scaup (4m 5F), 4 Shelduck, 1 Cetti's, 3 Buzzard, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Swallows (taking a drink),


7/4/17 Buzzard at Stratford lane (Ian Stapp)
Herriotts End:
14 Shelduck, 1 Cetti's

Chew Valley Ringing Station:
Another Reed Warbler ringed this morning. The second of the year.

Other:
Butterflies 6 Speckled Wood, 4 Brimstone, 4 Orange Tip, 2 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell

7/4/17 Male Siskin on garden feeder (Peter Evans)


One of our members Clive Holman died last month. He was a lovely chap who helped on many BOC trips and at field meetings.
A service for Clive is to be held at Memorial Woodlands, Earthcott Green, Alveston, Bristol, BS35 3TA on the 19 April at 12.30.
All birders are welcome. Donations will go to St. Peter's Hospice.



Reports: Des Bowring, Dru Brooke-Taylor, John Clark, Peter Evans, Paul Gregory, John Griffiths, Patrick Hancock, Robert Hargreaves, Bill Hewitt, Brian Lancastle, John Martin, Andrew Middleton, Chris Perry, Lois Pryce, Trevor Riddle, Mrs Trellis, Vic Savery, Ian Stapp,  blagdonlakebirds,  BUPP, CVRSnslbirdingopsbirdingsevernsidebirdsTBOSG