On a lovely spring day eight members set off from the car park for a five mile picnic walk in a pleasant slightly overcast 17 degrees C with hardly any breeze. From the car park Swifts and Swallows were seen high above us. Very soon we walked by a paddock field with a couple of … Read more
Fourteen of us met in the car park on a lovely morning, with Red Kites flying over, and set off to Shapwick to try to see the Purple Heron. No luck then, though many did connect at the end of the club walk. Shapwick and Ham Wall are alive with birds and dragonflies in the … Read more
Twenty of us, including twelve young people from seven families, met at Woodford to walk down the path to the dam. A combination of young eyes and ears, and experienced birdwatchers made for a productive and enjoyable morning. Chiffchaff and Blackcap (twelve) were in good voice, and some of the group heard a Garden Warbler. … Read more
Thirty members met at the RSPB car park on a perfect evening, the numbers being a testament to the allure of the Nightingale. In common with the picture in the rest of England, the number of singing males here has fallen from 20 in 2001, to only two in each of the last three years. … Read more
Sixteen members met on a cool but fine morning. At the Centre we were treated to a Little Grebe in fine breeding plumage with four ‘punky’ chicks. Soon after, we heard our first Reed and Sedge Warblers of the day, and commented on the large number of Whitethroats. A Reed Bunting was seen, and a … Read more
On a glorious warm, sunny morning, 35 members met at New Passage. The high tide had covered all the mud and spilled onto the pill side banks so we found Oystercatchers, Whimbrels and two Common Sandpipers pottering about in the grass waiting for the beach to reappear. At the pools the first wader to be … Read more
An early start was rewarded by a lovely walk in the New Forest, led by Jane over heathland and woods on a warm spring day. The first patch of woodland proved as reliable as usual for Redstarts and Willow Warblers. Highlights included a Dartford Warbler, a Cuckoo giving great views, Buzzard, Kestrel, Stock Dove, Stonechat, … Read more
Despite the bright sunshine, the 24 walkers who set out from Hanham Mills were grateful to get into Bickley Wood and out of the sharp wind. The bluebells, wood anemones, and wild garlic were appreciated as well as a field of cowslips when we emerged from the woods. Many Orange Tip butterflies were seen. The … Read more
To celebrate the 1,500th Tuesday walk, we enjoyed a very interesting and informative three hours, when 45 members visited the Chew Valley Lake Ringing Station. We met, and spent time both before and after, at Herriotts Bridge, where there was a wide variety of birds seen, including Little Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Bittern, Pintail, Green … Read more
Seven families, with nine young people, joined the first BOC family walk, held at Watercress Farm rewilding project, Wraxall. We visited a range of habitats on the site and were rewarded by listing 35 species. Blackcap, Whitethroat, and Goldfinch songs were heard, and checked with the Merlin app. Green Woodpecker called loudly, and two were … Read more
