The Bioblitz at the Cobthorn Reserve on 29 June was generally quiet for birds but a Kestrel obliged and a Red Kite paid a brief visit. Both Whitethroat species were recorded, along with Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swifts and plenty of hirundines.
The following day a juvenile Stonechat was present on ‘Smiths’, our new fields by the river.
There was Spotted Flycatcher activity on Cadbury Hill, hopefully indicating successful breeding. Several Blackcaps were still singing on the 4th and a Sedge Warbler by the Yeo at Congresbury was the first that I had heard for a month. Elliot Lomas was pleased toe see two Green Woidpeckers by the cycle path at Chestnut Park. Two days later a huge bird of prey seen briefly by Jon Thobroe over the Strawberry Line was almost certainly a White Tailed Eagle from the Isle of Wight reintroduction scheme.
Just as exciting and even less predictable was a Barn Owl in Barn Owl Road late at night on the 8th. Its call alerted Mike Salter and he was able to see it from his window. He had seen a Peregrine over his property earlier in the day. Congresbury wasn’t to be out done as Danny and Rosy saw a Barn Owl fly over the Old Inn at Congresbury from the pub garden. By the 25th the three juvenile Barn Owls at Congresbury Moor had dispersed.
A Peregrine was on a pylon on Congresbury Moor on the 19th and an early returning Black Headed Gull was by Wemberham Lane. It flew close to a hedge by the Rhyne and this startled a Sedge Warbler into brief burst of song. Half a dozen each of Goldfinches and Linnets were around thistles there.
By the end of the month Goldfinch flocks were appearing on thistles with around 20 on Congresbury Moor with a couple of Greenfinches and there was a family party of Stonechats that had a Whitethroat associating with them.
Please mail your sightings in August to [email protected]
