Bird News: June 2025

The Strawberry Line survey on the 4th recorded 172 birds on the Reserve with more in and over adjacent fields. 33 Species including seven warbler species were noted. Whilst counting a passing dog walker told us that she had seen a ‘White Kite’ over Congresbury Moor a few dats previously. This will have been a leucistic bird (not a separate species). An interesting report from Eaton Park concerned six warbler species in the boundary hedge, with Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Cetti’s Warbler and Common Whitethroat singing at the beginning of the month.

A short walk at Congresbury during the ‘ Know the Yeo’ event produced a pleasing number of House Martins and remarkably a family party of Treecreepers next to the bus stop by the bridge. Equally surprising amd pleasing was a Weasel carrying a kit in its mouth which scurried across the path. On the same day silage making on Kenn Moor attracted about ten Buzzards, four Kites a Kestrel and a Hobby. Nearby seven Cattle Egrets were in a field with cattle. A couple of days later a Cuckoo was calling for some time on Kenn Moor, but it didn’t stay.

A singing Garden Warbler at the Station end of the Strawberry Line on the 11th was the tenth warbler species recorded on the Yatton section of the line this Spring and Summer. On the same day a Kingfisher reappeared on the Little River and a Kite flew over Chestnut Park. Cadbury Hill yielded 26 species on the 13th, the highlight being a pair of Spotted Flycatchers.

Jill was out at North End, Yatton with YCCCART, the local archaeological research group and heard Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat singing, a Green Woodpecker calling and then a Red Kite flew over. Three successful Marsh Tit nests were reported from Cleeve Hill and Kings Woods all in dormouse boxes.

Yatton churchyard hosted two Mistle Thrushes, a family of Long Tailed Tits and at least 10 Blackbirds early morning on the 20th. A bird survey at Cobthorn on the 24th produced both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers but was perhaps more notable for the dozens of Ringlet butterflies on the wing. A Red Kite was missed by the observers but spotted by the wardens who were on tree watering duties.

It seems that 2025 will be a very poor year for Barn Owls locally, I have checked ten boxes and only found a single roosting Owl. Please do let me know via the email address below if you see one.

Finally a picture of a very rare Desert Wheatear at Keynsham photographed by Mark Savage.

Thanks to Jon and Mark and everyone who has contributed sightings.

The 2025 Strawberry Line bird survey report will be available from the 7 July – if you would like a PDF copy please email birds@yacwag.org.uk

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

Trevor Riddle