Now it's November!

Autumn is fast developing into winter with shorter days and not so much sun  - but Sunday (6th) was a sunny day and we went to Ashton Court deer park. The colour in the trees was stunning as usual and the herds of deer didn't disappoint either -they were close to the boundary fences and we had ample opportunity to photograph them.

Deer park with Bristol backdrop

Fallow deer grazing

Fallow buck

Fallow buck

Fallow does

Red Stags

Young red stag

Younger red stag

Red deer stag and his hinds

Red deer Stag

Red deer stag calling.

Rosemoor Visit

On a lovely sunny Sunday in August we visited the RHS gardens at Rosemoor in North Devon. The flowers were breathtakingly beautiful and the fruit and veg plots were amazing. Just a few photos to give an idea of the variety.

 

Other jaunts

We have been out on the Somerset levels a few times and the day we visited Catcott Lows we were rewarded with a meadow full of flowers and of course loads of butterflies.

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Now it's nearly Autumn!

Really don't know where the summer has gone -did I blink and miss it?! In late June we spent a good 2 weeks on the canals (Caldon/Leek/Macclesfield/ Trent and Mersey) and got up close and personal with a great many mallards, swans and Canada geese -but generally because of lack of warm sun there were few butterflies, dragonflies or damselflies which was a disappointment. Cruising though Stoke we saw a kingfisher and occasionally saw herons in the most unlikely places - of course there were large numbers of swallows, martins and swifts but the only raptors were buzzards.

Swans were friendly I think they saw canal boats as good feeding stations!

Spring at Last!

The weather in our part of the world has been amazing for April -now gone down as the warmest and driest on record. As a consequence we've been out and about rather a lot at weekends, visiting as many reserves as we could hoping to catch glimpses of the arriving migrants. At home (here on the west Mendips) we have seen larks, linnets and chiffchaffs, also some spectacular chaffinches in the garden as well as numerous goldfinches and green finches.

On a visit over to Newport RSPB reserve we saw mostly waders, including an enormous flock of curlews and ducks, we  were also lucky enough to see a Great crested grebe on her nest.

The following weekend 16th/17th April we were visiting family in Kent and on our way we stopped for a bite to eat near Wantage and caught sight of a red kite which flew directly over us. Too quick for a photo.

 On the Sunday we found ourselves at Elmley Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey -what a fantastic place and the weather was perfect. Quite along drive to reach the car park then a good walk to the reserve hides -we only had time to visit the nearest one. Well worth the effort -large numbers of nesting avocets were the main attraction but there were large numbers of other ducks and water birds, too many to list here. We watched a marsh harrier hunting and just as we were leaving someone pointed out a Little Gull amongst a flock of black headed gulls.

 

 Avocets

On the way back we saw reed buntings having a fine old time amongst the reeds next to the path.

Reed Bunting

We watched Skylarks flying up and one landed just by the car.

 

 Skylark

There was also a close encounter with a redshank.

 Redshank

 Lapwing

Finally we were positive that we saw Yellow Wagtails flying over the car - they had been reported the day before, a wonderful morning's birding for us.

April 9th -Around the reservoir and at home.

It was a brilliant, sunny, warm afternoon and we went for a stroll around Cheddar reservoir. We were pretty sure that we saw our first swallows. The great crested grebes were busy on the water - synchronised swimming?!

Swimming G.C. Grebes

Great Crested Grebe

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All along the banks of the Reservoir sheep graze and just now they have their new lambs with them, who are very laid back!

Some of the ewes were very concerned though.

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As we returned to the car park we watched a grey wagtail at the water's edge.

Grey wagtail

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At home in the garden the butterflies were enjoying the sun too, at least two tortoiseshells, a peacock and an orange tip were seen during the day. The tulips were looking especially good  as were some of the other spring flowers.

The tulip bed

Tulip

Dicentra

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March 26th

I was surprised to see a sparrow hawk perched in my garden this morning, it flew next door but I did get a photo albeit a not very good one.

Having spent the morning in Bath we headed back to Bleadon via Chew Valley Lake where we watched the usual assortment of Tufted ducks, great crested grebes, swans and mallards. There was a pair of jays in the trees opposite Green Heron Pool and here there were also shelduck, coots and cormorants.

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Birding day.

20th March -and a very lovely sunny Sunday morning. It started with our usual dog walk on Hellenge and straight away several blue tits were seen flying in their busy way. There was  a robin singing loudly by the path, we also  heard and saw chaffinches and chirping sparrows.On the way back we saw a meadow pipit, then a skylark soaring up, singing beautifully before dropping down suddenly to the ground.

The violets were flowering all over the hillside, both the  mauve and the more unusual white varieties,  the first cowslip of the year was out, and along the path the blackthorn was out in flower.

 

Blackthorn in flower

 

White Violets

First cowslip

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Later that morning we drove over to Swell Wood where we watched the woodland birds on the many feeders that are hanging there. All the tit family was represented including a Marsh tit. 

We also listed:- several nuthatches,, a robin, chaffinches, dunnocks, sparrows etc.

There was a very loud pair of Greater spotted woodpeckers heard but not seen. 

We also spent sometime in the hide watching the herons nesting -much coming and going! 

In the small muddy pond  in front of the hide  the blue tits were bathing and drinking. From the hide we were lucky enough to spot a tree creeper and a goldcrest.

Foraging on the ground close to the water was a grey squirrel who disturbed the birds more than somewhat but proved to be very photogenic! 

Nuthatch 

Grey squirrel

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We continued our woodland walk and were amazed at the number of primroses and wood anemones that were in flower

Primroses

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After our picnic lunch we headed off to Stathe to see if we could locate the cranes but we had no luck. We were told that that came back to roost later in the afternoon , we were too early! We did however spend some time there watching a buzzard, as well as catching sight of mistle thrushes, pied wagtails and many more blue and great tits.

From Stathe we went to Catcott Lows and were lucky enough to see many wigeon, shovelers, teal and herons. The lapwings were displaying well in flight and there was a flock of black tailed godwits in full breeding plumage across the water.

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Blossoms

In and around the village there are many cherry plum orchards and the blossom on these trees is amongst the first to show each spring. The sunshine we have had recently has brought it out all at once.

This is the footpath leading to Hellenge Hill where there are alpacas grazing in the orchards.

Sunny Monday

Quite a frost last night but the sun is shining this morning and all is well in the garden. Many birds on the feeders including a goodly number of goldfinches -welcome back chaps! Also seen sparrows, chaffinches, blue tits etc. the usual lot in fact. It was really warm by lunchtime and I saw a male brimstone butterfly - this is the first for the year here.

 

Five Goldies

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Meanwhile in the pond the newts are busy grazing on the frog spawn -best seen after dark!

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Late afternoon walk with the dog.

Have just walked on Hellenge Hill which is part of the Mendip range close to home -  and saw my first Stonechat of the year in the UK. (It was almost mandatory to see one every day in Andalucia)

Somerset garden

Many of the usual small birds are back!  Yesterday and today so far there have been blue tits, a great tit, several goldfinches, house sparrows and my friendly robin all feeding.I caught sight of the female blackcap but still no sign of the male. The starlings, magpies and jackdaws regularly harass the smaller species - but that's life - they have families to feed too!

 

Robin visits the feeding tray

 

Starling - one of many!

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The spring flowers are looking good in the morning sun too -

 

Hellibores

 

Pulmonaria