Two Blackcaps were still singing at the Littlewood Reserve on the 1st, with a Wheatear, Stonechat and s flock of 20 Linnets nearby. There was no sign of Barn Owls on Congresbury Moor on the evening of the 4th, the young owls had presumably dispersed, but a Tawny Owl was on the Strawberry Line near to Gang Wall.
Nailsea Environment and Wildlife Trust’s Reserve at Moorend Spout hosted two calling Peregrines on the 6th, they are unusual there. A flock of 75 House Martins gathered on the high voltage cables by the Little River on the 8th.
The media reported that the ‘birds would stop singing’ when the solar eclipse occurred on the 12th. This wasn’t correct as birds aren’t singing during the evening in mid August! The eclipse seemed to have no effect on birds or farm animals at Wemberham.
A large mixed flock of Linnets and Goldfinches was feeding ( and drinking) by Wemberham Lane on the 13th. Around 100 birds in total, mostly Linnets. Two calling Peregrines flew over Kenn Moor Reserve on the 19th.
Two Green Sandpipers, a Snipe and a Grey Wagtail along with a Roe Deer were at Phipps Bridge sluice at Wemberham on the 22nd. There was a little clear water there whilst the river was completely covered in weed so no doubt the water was the attraction. There was an influx of Cattle Egrets from the 25th with around 20 observed from the train between Yatton and Nailsea and seven the next day by Wemberham Lane. A visit to Footmead on Congresbury Moor on the 27th produced what I am fairly certain was a Quail. It flushed so I only got a going away view but everything tied up.
Towards the month end small birds started to emerge from cover more as they completed their moult and the temperature returned to what used to be normal. Goldcrest and Chaffinch were noted in a Congresbury garden along with a flock of Long Tailed Tits.
Finally, it is my pleasure to report that a brood of seven Barn Owlets have fledged from a box on our member, Roland Griffin’s land at Kingston Seymour, a record for our local area.
Please mail your sightings in September to [email protected]
