Bird News: August 2024

A young Sparrowhawk was still calling continually by Yatton railway station on the 3rd and another was chasing a frisbee (yes really) in a garden in Congresbury. This was also likely to be a young bird. A Chiffchaff was singing its Autumn song on the Strawberry Line. Unlike Robins, Chiffchaffs sing the same song, there is just a brief gap in July when they are mostly silent. It’s been a bumper year for Green Woodpeckers, birds were calling on Congresbury Moor, Congresbury Cricket field and our Stowey Reserve (all on the 3rd).

Siskins were back in a garden in Congresbury and I am as certain as it is possible to be in the natural world that they are breeding locally. In Yatton it is good to see lots of House Sparrows and Starlings at Chestnut Park Estate with House Martins overhead. A male Sparrowhawk drifted closely past me and over the allotments there.

Birds are generally quiet in early August but Swans can’t hide and it was good to see a pair with two well grown cygnets on New Rhyne by 10 Acres Reserve with another pair at the Strawberry Line end. Sadly one of the cygnets was found dead a week later. A Buzzard hunted over 10 Acres and a hundred Starlings flew in to feed.

A juvenile Peregrine was reported from the tower of Yatton church on the 10th and what is likely to have been the same bird was on electricity cables south of Yatton the next morning. Later in the month another raptor, a Sparrowhawk attacked a Pigeon which it dropped and then retrieved from the Congresbury bowling green to the amazement of the bowlers present.

Emily reported 50+ House Martins over Chestnut Park and the environs, a very encouraging sign. A pair of Tawny Owls were calling to each other by Osmond Bridge, Wemberham Lane very early on the 13th. On the 16th I was astonished to see 20+ Swallows perched on the roof of a house on Chestnut Park. There were several House Martins as well, probably including a number of juveniles that seemed to be prospecting nest sites for next summer.

There were sightings of a Hobby by Kingston bridge on the 20th and 21st and a Kingfisher was active at Crossman’s Pond, Wemberham Lane on the 23rd with two by Kingston Seymour church on the 26th. One perhaps two Yellow Wagtails and a ‘lot’ of Swallows and a pair of Stock Doves were by the Little River (25th). A Mistle Thrush by Wemberham Lane on the 26th was the first that I had seen for a couple of months but there was a flock of 12 by Lampley Road, Kingston Seymour the following day. A Hobby was over the stables in Wemberham Lane on the 30th with attendant Swallows mobbing it until it circled high and drifted off.

Another scarce raptor flew over Yatton on the 31st, a juvenile Marsh Harrier. This is likely to have been a bird from the thriving Avalon Marshes population dispersing to seek a territory.

Your reports and pictures are always very welcome at birds@yacwag.org.uk

Trevor Riddle