4th January 2022 – Weston Airfield (disused)

Written by

After a drab morning at Chew Valley Lake where the best I saw was a great crested grebe, several snipe, a jack snipe and a pair of distant marsh harriers I moved on to the nature reserve on the disused airfield at Weston-super-Mare.

View of the former Weston airfield – now a nature reserve

I was hoping to see the penduline tits which I have never seen and which had been reported here recently. There was a fresh breeze and it was very cold but I was encouraged by the excellent light. However, for the first hour I only saw reed buntings and stonechats. My patience was well rewarded , however, when two penduline tits appeared and stayed around feeding on the bull rushes until I felt I could take no more photos.

Penduline tit

My first view of the penduline tits

I was quite excited by this addition to my life list but my exaltation was rather tempered by the fact that I tore my achilles tendon (which had been sore for some time) slopping around on the muddy path and limped back to my car in some pain.

Reed bunting

Stonechat

https://videopress.com/v/67LccPFh?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata

Comments

9 responses to “4th January 2022 – Weston Airfield (disused)”

January 5, 2022

Stephen G. Hipperson

Hopefully your leg will repair itself soon – otherwise you might be confined to garden window birding (not to be sneezed at, though!).

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. January 5, 2022
  
  martintayler
  
  Thank you Stephen. That would be like the lockdown all over again. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. January 5, 2022
    
    Stephen G. Hipperson
    
    🤞
    
    LikeLike
January 5, 2022

paula graham

Wow, yet again some gorgeous photos, never seen a curiously named penduline tit before, very pretty indeed.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
March 13, 2022

Dave Parker

Is that the old Locking RAF base?

LikeLike

Reply
1. March 13, 2022
  
  martintayler
  
  Yes, but there’s not much sign of it now – only new housing and this nature reserve.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
  1. March 14, 2022
    
    Dave Parker
    
    Thanks Martin
    My one and only visit was to deliver one of our young wingers to play for the county colts on the rugby pitch there. I am from Clevedon
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
March 17, 2022

Linda snape

Fabulous photo’s. Where exactly is the Nature Reserve you where at – WSM? Is there parking? Could you give me directions please? I’m local and having googled the reserve, nothing comes up. Would love the chance of adding the Penduline Tit to my list.

LikeLike

Reply
1. March 17, 2022
  
  martintayler
  
  Thank you Linda. I approached the reserve from the village of Hutton (to the east of Weston-super-Mare). In the middle of Hutton you turn into Moor Lane, follow the lane north as far as you can go (1/2 mile) and park on the lane. Cross over Cross Rhyne and turn right. The views on my blog are taken from the path.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply