Bristol/Avon Birding

[Darren Pearce]

As yet we do not have a thread for our area so I thought I might kick one off. When I suggested it a while back the feedback was positive. I haven't really thought about what area it should cover but here goes. If the thread dies a death at least we have had a go

17 Black Terns reported from Blagdon Lake early morning. Anybody going for them ? Are they likely to be some left tommorrow morning ?

Quail reported singing yesterday in Rushmead Lane,Marshfield. I went for it yesterday evening but no sight nor sound

[Darren Pearce]

4 x Med Gulls on Portishead boating lake. I suppose this would be a good spot for them in with the Black Heads

[Darren Pearce]

My local patch is Yate and Chipping Sodbury which are two towns just outside of Bristol.

The area is mainly residential but there are a few wild areas that I visit everyday in my lunch hour these being Wapley Bushes LNR and Westerleigh Common.

I have had some good birds visit and today was especially good with a Hobby hawking Dragonflies over a flooded field en route to Wapley Bushes.

I also had Common and Lesser Whitethroats, A family party of 4 Green Woodpecker, GS Woodpecker and a Jay.

Good birds in the past have been

Hawfinches
Spotted Flycatcher
Jack Snipe
Garden Warbler

On the Bristol/Avon front I went to Marshfield on Saturday looking for Quail but no joy again. Good number of Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer and a party of 4 Red Legged Partridge

I went to Severn Beach hoping for Sanderling or Yellow Wagtail to push my yearlist to 200 but didn't find either.

I did see loads of Turnstones and Dunlin a few Redshank and Curlew. I heard a Whimbrel but could not locate it

Any other local birders who would like to post sightings, please do so, it is quiet at the moment but a thread like this may have it's uses come the Autumn

[scfmerlin]

Hi Darren,
The Arboretum at Leyhill is quite good and the lake at Tortworth is also good but access was only a few Sunday's a year. Do you know if that is still the case? Also did you get the Cranes a few years ago just up from Leyhill Prison?
regards
Merlin

[Darren Pearce]

Hi Merlin,

Tortworth Lake is only open on the first sunday of the month March - Sept inc.

There is a good flock of Mandarin there.

Also if you carry further down the road over the motorway there is a gateway on your right hand side. If you go over the gate there is a footpath which leads to the Heanage Pools. I have seen Mandarin, Little Egret, Cormorant, Green Sandpiper and Grey Wagtail there. Also last year there was an Egyptian Goose.

I didn't get the Cranes at Tortworth as I was not actively birding then

[scfmerlin]

Cheers for that Darren,
regards
Merlin

[Larry Wheatland]

Hi Darren,

Are there still Nightingales up your way at Inglestone Common? I've just driven through Marshfield this afternoon on the way back from twitching the Black-veined White, and was wondering if any Quail had been reported this year. Have you got directions to Rushmead Lane?

I'm glad you started this thread as it's a bit wider than the already existing excellent websites for Severnside Birds and Clevedon/Portishead Birds. I managed to get out a lot locally in Spring, mostly to Portbury Wharf area, but haven't been out as much as I should since.. I didn't really find much mind, with Crossbill, Gropper and Med Gull being highlights. Don't really get much in our yard in Easton either !

[Darren Pearce]

Hi Larry,

Quail have been reported from Marshfield this year with the most recent being last week. I went up there on Saturday but didn't hear any.

Rushmead Lane is easy to find. If you go along the main road between Marshfield and Tormarton it is called Tormarton Road travelling from Marshfield it is on your left hand side. It is difficult to park and often you meet other traffic and have to reverse back. There are one or two places that you can pull into. Copy and pasted this link into your browser for a map.

http://www.multimap.com/maps/#t=l&map=51.47332,-2.32149|13|4&loc=GB:51.47332:-2.32149:17|rushmead%20lane|Rushmead%20Lane,%20MARS HFIELD,%20SN14.

I was at Lower Woods/Inglestone Common yesterday looking for White Admiral. I left it too late in the day and there was nothing about. There were Nightingale there last year and there probably is this year but they are hard work and this year I cheated and popped up to the Cotswold Water Park where they were guaranteed.

[Darren Pearce]

The Hobby was still hawking insects over the flooded field at lunchtime today along with a Kingfisher,Sedge Warbler,Little Grebe and a party of Bullfinches

[Larry Wheatland]

Hi Darren, thanks for the Quail gen. Can't get to it now though cos Van with girlfriend at festival:-C

Another Bristol titbit though, my mate texted me yesterday to say he'd just had an adult Med Gull over his house in Easton.

[Darren Pearce]

And you say you don't get anything in Easton

I had a Yellow Wagtail yesterday at the same site as the Hobby that I saw earlier in the week

[Darren Pearce]

I saw a Peregrine in Yate this lunchtime. It was chasing Starlings around Westerleigh.

I managed some record shots via mobile phone


Anyway I'm off to Norfolk for a fortnights holiday, hopefully Bristol birding won't be too good while I am away

[Darren Pearce]

Just came through that there is a Sabine's Gull at Chew. Anybody going for it.

I am stuck in work

[scfmerlin]

Me too Darren,
Merlin

[Darren Pearce]

Hi Merlin,

Wednesday is a nightmare, I can't even go after work as I have to take my daughter to her swimming lesson GRRRRRRRR. Did you get the Spotted Crake or the Spotted Sand at Chew recently ?

[scfmerlin]

Darren,
Would a swimming lesson near Woodford Lodge not be an acceptable alternative?? Is it worth suggesting ?

Merlin

[Darren Pearce]

Never thought of that. But I don't think the missus would be to impressed

[Darren Pearce]

Lesser Scaup at Blagdon this morning for anyone who didn't see the ones earlier in the year.

[keviano]

Hi Darren

I'm based over near Bath, will post what i see here on this site. But I'm new to birding and dont get much time! Plenty of buzzards over here though!

[Darren Pearce]

Hi Kev.

Welcome aboard,any postings welcome.

Chew looking interesting at the mo, Fudge Duck still there, two BN Grebes, Little Gull and Black Tern.
Still need Black Tern for the year list so hopefully will get over there at the weekend.

And Lesser Scaup still at Blagdon with 2 Black Terns

[Darren Pearce]

We have had our share of good birds lately, what with the Cattle Egret at Chew and now the Glossy Ibis.

Anybody know if the Great Northern Diver is still knocking about at Barrow? I might pop down if it is.

[stephen p]

Hey Everyone,

Just been reading throught the Thread.
Good to see some people on here reporting in the area.

Any of you guys go to Chew Valley Lake? I want to spend a day there soon and was wondering what are the best spots?


Not much to update from me to be honest.

In the Garden:
Bullfinch,
2 Wrens(not seen them before in the garden),
1 Collared Dove,
2 GreenFinchs,
3 Blue tits.
And the Heron that lands on the roof of the house.

Steve.

[PaulS]

useful web site for chew...

http://www.cvlbirding.co.uk/

Taken from the access page...

The main centre for birding at Chew is Herriott's Bridge - the A368 causeway at the southern end of the lake. It's probably the best single place on the lake for birds, and you can usually find other birders here who can tell you what's been seen. Good views of Villice Bay and Heron's Green Bay can be had from the B3114 that runs down the west side of the lake, although the wacky new lay-by and cycle path makes parking a little tricky. The only other viewpoint from public roads is overlooking the north end of the lake from the minor road that runs along the main dam.

[Stranger]

useful web site for chew...

http://www.cvlbirding.co.uk/

Taken from the access page...

The main centre for birding at Chew is Herriott's Bridge - the A368 causeway at the southern end of the lake. It's probably the best single place on the lake for birds, and you can usually find other birders here who can tell you what's been seen. Good views of Villice Bay and Heron's Green Bay can be had from the B3114 that runs down the west side of the lake, although the wacky new lay-by and cycle path makes parking a little tricky. The only other viewpoint from public roads is overlooking the north end of the lake from the minor road that runs along the main dam.

Bernard North hide is open to public.Park in main car park and walk up the lane along the trail,I think its called the Bittern trail.
Permits are available for other areas.

[stephen p]

thanks for that guys.

Im planning to visit next week, weather permiting.

[Stranger]

Cheddar reservoir this morning two Blacknecked Grebes and one Goldeneye by the cheddar tower.
The grebes have been around ror about three days now and look settled.

[Darren Pearce]

Hey Stephen P,

I see you are from Chipping Sodbury. I am from Yate.

We have some reasonable sites in CS/Yate.

Westerleigh Common is good at the moment with a wintering Water Rail and Snipe. Also plenty of Stonechats down there at the moment. If you are lucky you may see the Kingfisher that is hanging around the trees around the small lake.

PM me if you want anymore local info.

[Stranger]

Great Northern diver reported at Cheddar reservoir today.
Also present are the RC Pochard,Blacknecked Grebes,Female Ruddy duck and some Goldeneye

[Stranger]

Blacknecked Grebes,Great Northern Diver and Goosander at Cheddar this morning.
Also unconfirmed report of possible Greater Scaup.

[Darren Pearce]

Went up to Marshfield on Saturday morningto look for the flock of Brambling that have been at the playing fields. No problem finding them.

Yesterday we went to Cheddar Reservoir. I saw the Great Northern Diver, Black Necked Grebes and the flock of Goosander. Couldn't find the Greater Scaup though, probably through lack of trying as the weather was abysmal and I was nearly blown into the reservoir twice.

[stephen p]

Hey Stephen P,

I see you are from Chipping Sodbury. I am from Yate.

We have some reasonable sites in CS/Yate.

Westerleigh Common is good at the moment with a wintering Water Rail and Snipe. Also plenty of Stonechats down there at the moment. If you are lucky you may see the Kingfisher that is hanging around the trees around the small lake.

PM me if you want anymore local info.

Hey Darren,

Thanks for the information, had no idea there was a kingfisher at Westerleigh Common, I havent been there since i was a kid.
Where abouts is the lake in Westerliegh common?

Cheers,

Stephen

[Darren Pearce]

Hi Stephen,

Sorry for the delay in replying. The small lake is right at the back of Westerleigh Common. The best way to approach it is to go via Westerleigh Close which is opposite Yate Station just after the Esso Garage. If you walk through the stile and along the track you will come to an opening and the lake will be in front of you. I go there most lunchtimes and saw the Kingfisher yesterday.

Kingsgate park is quite good at the mo with 2 Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck and a female Pochard. The Great Spotted Woodpeckers are drumming every morning and there is a reasonable flock of Redwing about.

Maybe I'll see you about

[luke]

Any chance someone could give me a grid ref for the pond that the ring necked duck hangs around at avonmouth sewage works?

[Darren Pearce]

Hi Luke,

ST531798 is the grid ref. Accessed from the A403 into Kingsweston Lane and then left onto the road to the refuse works. The small square is viewed from the road through a wire fence.

The RND commutes between here and Portbury Wharf NR ST482770. If it is not in one place it can usually be found in the other.

[luke]

thanks, will hopefully catch up with this bird one day!

[stephen p]

Hi Stephen,

Sorry for the delay in replying. The small lake is right at the back of Westerleigh Common. The best way to approach it is to go via Westerleigh Close which is opposite Yate Station just after the Esso Garage. If you walk through the stile and along the track you will come to an opening and the lake will be in front of you. I go there most lunchtimes and saw the Kingfisher yesterday.

Kingsgate park is quite good at the mo with 2 Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck and a female Pochard. The Great Spotted Woodpeckers are drumming every morning and there is a reasonable flock of Redwing about.

Maybe I'll see you about


Cheers Darren,

Sorry i took so long to reply aswell. Thats brilliant he's still around.
What is the area like around the lake? is it clean?
Only reason i ask is, i remember going down to there and there was a quite a bit rubbish about. But i have heard the whole area has been cleaned up.

Im still wanting to go up to Wapley Woods to see the Great Spotted Woodpecker.

My parents had a Green Woodpecker the other day which was great and the Goldfinches are in strong form lately

stephen

[Darren Pearce]

Hi Stephen,

Great Spotted Woodpecker is easy every morning in Kingsgate Park. I hear them drumming at around 8am .

Westerleigh common is ok. The area I refer is the back along the railway line. It has the small lake and the woodland. I have recorded some good birds ie Spotted Flycatcher, Jack Snipe, Hobby and Whinchat.

[stephen p]

Any interesting updates then guys?

Having seen much lately as i cant walk! but the Green Woodpecker is back out the front of my house.

Steve

[rupertbox]

Hi All

had pretty good day a work today with seeing the green woodpecker that hangs around im glad i found the Bristol thead im pretty surprised that there isnt more responce to this

i go out most weekends birding ,so will keep you updated with what i see

[rupertbox]

Not much going on for the last few days as the weather is so great:)

hopefully the weather will be better at the weekend ,off to the birdfair on sunday cany wait

Can i just ask guys why are the posts on this thread so few and far between ?

[delia todd]

Sorry to butt in guys, but have any of you a habitat-type picture that could be uploaded to the Opus article Chew Valley Lake (http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Chew_Valley_Lake).

The article is nearly complete and would look great with a piccie or two added

Thanks

D

[Johnny Allan]

Hi there,

I'm trying to find out which Counties still use the Watsonian Vice County system to record birds in and which go by whatever the political boundary may change to (and why).

The Watsonian Vice County system was set to accurately record and compare historical and modern data and it seems that there can be/is confusion when some counties no longer use this system whilst others do. Does anyone in your county have a view on this ? Discussion here if anyone has a comment:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=142074

ps this is not about getting more or less county ticks, more a question about uniformity in recording.

Johnny Allan

[jfmgb777]

2 x Cattle Egret, 2 x Little Egret reported seen to West of Heron's Green Pool, Chew Valley Lake sometime around 17:45 on 30 July 09.

3 Barn Owls seen hunting over reeds there between 20:00 and 21:00. [Also (Roe?) deer mother and fawn + two other adults.]

[jfmgb777]

Why not contact Rich Andrews (mailto:RichAndrews@cvlbirding.co.uk) who maintains the CVL Birding website:

http://www.cvlbirding.co.uk/

[karle]

hi

new to this forum

i was a very avid birder from 10 to 16 years olds.

after the long break i've decided to restart my birding.

now a much fuller 42 years i have just bought some new bins and been out a few times.

see the following over the last few weeks in my travels (not really looking)

quite a few kites (oxford)

a few harriers (norfolk/ somerset)

tufted ducks (tewkesbury)

blackcap (my garden)

meadow pipits (cornwall)

k

[karle]

oh sorry ... i'm also in bristol hence responding to this thread

[AKE]

We live in Siston

In the summer we watched a family of green woodpeckers taking their first flight.

Red Kites are frequent visitors to our area too. We also saw a Kite at Thornbury castle in September

[scfmerlin]

Hi Stephen,

Great Spotted Woodpecker is easy every morning in Kingsgate Park. I hear them drumming at around 8am .

Westerleigh common is ok. The area I refer is the back along the railway line. It has the small lake and the woodland. I have recorded some good birds ie Spotted Flycatcher, Jack Snipe, Hobby and Whinchat.



Darren
The pub garden is still good for Nuthatch & Treecreeper and had a Lesser Spotted in the park many years ago.

Over thirty years ago I worked in a factory that overlooked the common and spent most of my lunchtimes birding there, apart from friday when I went to the Railway Inn.

regards
Merlin