Oct-Nov 2022

We headed down to the Somerset Levels to see the Male American Wigeon. The bird had been present on Meare Pool for a few days & while some people viewed from the Tower Hide, we had good views of it swimming from the path. A quick visit was made to Noah's Hide over the lake, but the light was at it's worst during the middle part of day. A Great White Egret & Marsh Harrier were the only highlights from there. As always, we should have been there sooner as we were told that an Otter had been showing well. Back on Meare Pool, we saw the Male American Wigeon still swimming with other Widfowl plus a Female/1st Winter Garganey. We then headed to Catcott Lows NNR as a report on Rare Bird alert said that a Green-winged Teal had been seen earlier in the day. Plenty of Shovelers & Eurasian Wigeons were showing in front of the viewing screen & hide. Unlike the American Wigeon by contrast, this individual only showed intermittently during the late afternoon at times, mainly at the back of one of the smaller pools.

In the roadside fields between Westhay & Burtle, there was unsually a Great White Egret foraging. We had a quick drive around Tealham Moor for Cattle Egrets, but sadly saw none this time. We had a very nice Common Buzzard perched on a fence post.

American Wigeon [Male]

Wildfowl in flight

Marsh Harrier [1st Year Male]

Garganey [Female/Juvenile type]

Shoveler [Female]

Shoveler [Male]

Common Buzzard [Adult]

Marsh Harrier [Female]

Green-winged Teal [Male]

Forest of Dean 19th November 2022

We went to the Forest of Dean to see what was about. First bird we saw mainly was a fairly obliging Common Buzzard. A few Redwings and Song Thrushes were feeding on Yew Berries with Mistle Thrushes [which kept out of sight]. Other usual garden birds were Chaffinches, Goldfinch, Nuthatches, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits & Marsh Tit. Also a few Blackbirds including the white-eyed Female which was still present since we last saw her in March. Grey Squirrels & Carrion Crows were also present around the forest.

Common Buzzard [Adult]

Common Buzzard [Adult]

Song Thrush [Adult]

Carrion Crow [Adult]

Chaffinch [Male]

Nuthatch [Adult]

Great Spotted Woodpecker [Male]

Coal Tit [Adult]

Goldfinch [Adult]

Blackbird [Female]

Marsh Tit [Adult]

Blue Tit [Adult]

Winterbourne 10th October 2022

While I was doing contract work in Winterbourne with Organic Blooms, during my lunch break, I photographed a Red-legged Shieldbug.

Yate 15th October 2022

A few Moth species in our Moth Trap this morning include a November Moth, Beaded Chestnut & Lunar Underwing & loads of Large Yellow Underwings.

November Moth

Lunar Underwing

Beaded Chestnut

Chew Valley Lake 16th October 2022

We went to Chew Valley Lake to see what was about. We started at Herriott's Bridge, where a Grey Wagtail foraged along by the water's edge. The Kingfisher was perched in the tree at the far end of the channel. Three Little Stints were still present on Herriott's Pool. We then popped along to Stratford Hide, but due to low water meant all the birds were rather more distant than normal. A Male Marsh Harrier & a Sparrowhawk were the only highlights. Next was Moreton Hide, but we didn't see many birds from there. Three Goldcrests were flitting in the trees along Moreton Lane. It was fairly quiet at Heron's Green Bay, so we went back to Herriott's. A couple of Carrion Crows perched in a nearby tree & a Female Marsh Harrier was feeding on a unknown prey item. It was spotted by the local Crows and they took off with it. The Marsh Harrier managed to snatch it back off the Crow & continued to feed in peace. We went back via Marshfield, but was very quiet except for a few Linnets, which we saw on Down Road.

Carrion Crow [Adult]

Kingfisher [Male]

Grey Wagtail [Female]

Goldcrest

Linnet [Female]

Marsh Harrier [Female]

Little Stints

Latteridge 18th October 2022

While I was working at Organic Blooms, I photographed some Common Darter Dragonflies

Slimbridge WWT 23rd October 2022

We went to Slimbridge WWT to see the Collared Pratincole that had been present on site since 20th October. The 1st Winter was mainly seen from the Discovery Hide on South Lake & showed very well. It flew around a few times catching the last of the Small Flies and Bees of the year, before settling on the bank. The bird was last seen on 31st October & continued on it's journey south before the cold weather comes. A Avocet was present on South Lake & a couple more were in the Rushy. A few Common Teals were also in the Rushy. One of the Male Eurasian Wigeons in Eclipse plumage was on the Tack Piece, viewed from the Robbie Garnett Hide. We went back to South Lake for the Collared Pratincole in the late afternoon.