Author: martintayler

A really pleasant hour spent at New Passage on the Severn Estuary this morning.

Redshank, flocks of Wigeon in the distance and a few closer up, Turnstone, Curlew, Little Egret, Grey Heron and spectacular Black-tailed Godwit in flight in front of the Old Severn Bridge. Even a Red Admiral before I took any of the birds. I would have loved to spend more time but the problem with retirement is that you never have enough time.

When I arrived at New Passage there were a few drops of rain, but I managed to get some lovely views of 2 Wheatear.

I beat a hasty retreat to the car when the rain increased but I ventured out again shortly after to get some shots of a Robin (looks as though it had been migrating), Canada Geese, 200+ Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, 2 Little Stint, several Grey Heron and an Egret. Also saw 400+ Widgeon but too far away for my lens.

A morning walk through Eastville Park and only a Grey Wagtail in the penumbra on Colston Weir.

In the afternoon a trip to Blagdon and Chew Lake where we saw a dozen or more Grey Heron and probably as many Little Egret. The highlight was 2 Great White Egret.There were also lots of Teal.

Great White Egret

Little Egret

Teal in flight with their flash of (teal) green

Black-headed Gull

Not a birdwatching holiday but you don’t stop looking and where the opportunity presents you click a few times.

The best were the White Storks and the birds of prey seen from the motorway driving from Santander to Salamanca but not much opportunity to take photos at 120 kph.

In Salamanca lots of House Martins.

The best opportunities for photos  were on the Galician coast where we saw Black Redstart, Pied Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, Turnstones, Ringed Plovers and a Whimbrel. The most startling photo for me was when I photographed an Egret on the Rías Baixas and found that there was also a Kingfisher in the shot.

Disappointingly we didn’t see much on the sailing out across the Bay of Biscay (only a few whales blowing and some dolphins in the distance) and nothing on the way back as we were not allowed on deck as it was too stormy. A Gannet up close as we approached Portsmouth but no camera to hand.

Quite a few birds but not so many photos; we saw a Kingfisher, Willow Warblers, Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinch, House Martins, Swallows, 2 Magpies, 2 Raven, a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and several different dragonflies.

The best of a brief visit to Chew Valley Lake on the way back from a quilting exhibition:

A pleasant hour spent at Duchess Pond in Stoke Park just 5 minutes from home. The highlight was a Kingfisher hovering like a Kestrel over the pond and a Green Woodpecker. Sorry for so many photos of Woodpecker but first time I have managed photos of this bird. Also enjoyed watching Willow Warblers and Long-tailed Tits on the island. The usual Grey Heron and the Moorhen. Damselflies too.

I was really pleased to meet 3 birders at New Passage this morning whose websites and twitter feeds I have been following regularly and which have been quite inspirational to me:

Paul Bannerman @severnsidebirds http://www.severnsidebirds.co.uk/ 

Martyn Hayes @southglosbirds , http://www.thebirdsofsouthgloucestershire.co.uk/

Lisegirl @Lisegirl1

They were all so friendly, helpful and encouraging.

Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Yellow Wagtail (no good photo) the best for me.

Apologies for so many photos of the same Northern Wheatear – just enjoying playing with new lens.

I’m so new to birding that I still get excited by seeing birds in the garden. Long-tail Tits one of my favourites.

Attempted a walk around the park but did not get very far as we were distracted at the bottom of the road by 2 Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail. Rain then drove us home before we really had any exercise. The heart was pumping though.

Not much activity on our (almost) daily walk around the park.

Lesser Black-backed Gull looked menacing but Grey Heron (another one present) looked quite majestic in the trees. The Mallard with new feathers was looking good; moorhen chicks quite handsome too.

Just a short walk out to the coast at Aust Wharf before it was too boggy.

Juvenile Curlew or Whimbrel flying over and then 2 Grey Heron which we disturbed. In the distance on the shoreline we could see Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Curlew and a Little Egret which flew off to the new Severn crossing. On the way back we got quite good views of a Meadow Pipit.