The Kenn Moor Snipe count on the 1st recorded 26 Snipe along with ten Meadow Pipits and a pair of Stonechats. One of our volunteer counters had earlier watched Siskins and a single Redpoll in her Cleeve garden. A Song Thrush was collecting food for young in St Mary’s Churchyard Yatton on the 4th.
The following day Emily recorded 24 species at Goblin Combe including a calling Tawny Owl, two Green Woodpeckers, four Marsh Tits, five Nuthatches, seven Siskins and a Firecrest. Meanwhile, Mark noted a pair of Goosander, a Water Rail (seen) a Chiffchaff and two Reed Buntings on Congresbury Moor.
Despite the dull damp weather on the 7th and 8th there was plenty of song. Chaffinches continue their resurgence- there were four singing by Wemberham Lane with two Blackcaps, two Song Thrushes along with Robins, Wrens and Dunnocks. A Kingfisher added a welcome splash of colour on a dreary morning. Most of the winter thrushes seemed to have departed so a flock of 50 Fieldfares by the Little River, Yatton on the 12th was notable.
The 14th was a glorious Spring day and there was plenty of activity in our Littlewood Reserve, including a Goldcrest. Chiffchaff, Blackcap. A Song Thrush was singing and a Peacock butterfly was on the wing. There were 150 gulls (mostly Herring Gulls) on the adjacent fields. The warm settled weather (19th) brought lots of Chiffchaff song and reports of soaring Buzzards as well as a Red Kite over Horsecastle, Yatton. Bullfinches were the highlight on the Strawberry Line at Congresbury while at least three Green Woodpeckers were active at Cadbury Hill.
The dry spell led to low water levels which proved attractive to Little Egrets, seven were along Wemberham Lane along with several Ravens. A Blackcap was singing there with another near the station. In Congresbury, Reed Buntings were attracted to a garden feeder. Two Green Sandpipers and a single Teal were on the river at Wemberham where a confiding Raven followed me closely!
A Swallow was seen on Clevedon Moor on the 25th and a House Martin at Chestnut Park, Yatton on the 27th, both early dates. On the same date Goblin Combe was still hosting a wide suite of species similar to that noted above. The Congresbury Moor Snipe count on the 28th realised just two Snipe, the Reserve was remarkably dry. Our compensation was a Swallow hawking over 10 Acres. The following day we counted four Snipe at an equally dry Kenn Moor and more unexpected a Cetti’s Warbler.
Finally, a picture of a Bittern at the RSPB Ham Wall Reserve near Glastonbury by Mark Savage and a Black Redstart at Brean by Emily Lomas.
Thanks to everyone who sent me records and photos. Please send interesting sightings and pictures to [email protected]
