Category: Blog

Just one bird of merit (a Kestrel) on a walk along Sand Point near Weston-Super-Mare.

A morning walk around Eastville Park. Not much about but did get sight of a Kingfisher just as I was coming home along School Lane.

A fabulous morning’s birding at New Passage/Northwick and then back to Severn Beach whilst waiting for my car to be serviced at Cribbs Causeway. Glorious sunshine giving ample opportunities to take photos and enjoy the 5 mile walk; full compensation for the stressful hour-long journey (mainly caused by the works for MetroBus).

The stars of the morning were 4 Ruff who posed for my photos (I’m not the first photographer they have encountered). Don’t know that I can identify all the birds but plenty of ducks and waders, Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Starlings, 100+ Turnstones mingled with Ringed Plover. Also saw a Hobby.

The usual birds (Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Black-headed Gull) on a beautiful morning walk through Eastville Park. Neither sight nor sound of a Kingfisher though.

Steart Marshes – Bridgwater Bay

There wasn’t an awful lot to see as it was low tide but this new WWT site is well worth a visit with plenty of new hides/viewing points and, I imagine, loads to see when the tide is higher. Nonetheless on this magnificent day it was a beautiful walk along the tracks around the site and the House Sparrows and Wheatears certainly performed for us and we could see waders and Egrets (both Little and Great White) in the distance. A flock of linnets flew over too.

A walk through Eastville Park and along through Snuff Mills to Frenchay Common on a beautiful day: the highlight was seeing a Kingfisher twice and the cheerful song of Robins all along the Frome Valley. If these Robins don’t migrate the sun certainly made them make their presence known.

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: