Westbury & District

Bird Watching

Leader: John Osborne
Tel 07890 047431 email Bird Watching.

Meets on 3rd Thursday with the location and time being dependent on the event (usually all day).

PAST EVENTS

In May a group of five visited Franchises Wood on the edge of the New Forest. Chris led the way. A quality list of species was recorded with Wood Warbler seen and heard in the wood and Firecrest heard. On the adjoining heathland a Redstart was found as well as Cuckoo, Tree Pipit and Woodlark. Thank you for leading Chris.

Salisbury Plain was our venue for the June meeting and eight of us gathered at Haxton Down prepared for a very hot day. Chalkland flowers and butterflies showed well as we set off and we saw our first Marbled Whites. Pyramidal Orchids were in flower and Vipers Bugloss attracted Skippers and a Humming Bird Hawk Moth. Few birds were recorded until we we were close to Badens Clump when Corn Bunting and Stonechat were seen. Deciding to return to our cars for lunch on an alternative route, the valley proved more productive for birds with Whinchats at two locations, Meadow Pipits, more Corn Buntings and a Reed Bunting bringing our list to just 16 species. It was a relief from the heat to get back to the shade of trees to enjoy our picnic before heading home.

In September we visited Portland and Weymouth.

In October we visited Westhay and Catcott in the Somerset Levels.

In November five of our Birding Group met up at Knowle Beach, Studland, on a glorious sunny calm day. We walked along the sand to Middle Beach and enjoyed spotting Mediterranean Gulls and Brent Geese as well as Shags out at sea. We also explored the woods behind the beach, but they were very quiet. After lunch we crossed to the other side of the peninsular and sat in the hide overlooking Brands Bay, where there were plenty of ducks and waders, including godwits, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Turnstones and more. But they were all eclipsed by the star bird of the day: a White-tailed Eagle (one of those that have recently been released on the Isle of Wight). This majestic bird flew in and stood on a muddy bank for some 25 minutes, giving us plenty of time to watch, admire and attempt photos with our phones through the telescope.

Three of us stayed overnight on 22nd and 23rd which gave us the opportunity to visit Arne RSPB reserve on the afternoon of 22nd and watch birds on the Wareham Channel, including Avocets and Spoonbill. On the morning of 24th, we decided to explore Lychett Bay which none of us had visited before, gaining access from Upton, near Poole. Here we added a few more species, including Marsh Harrier and Peregrine Falcon, bringing our overall total for the trip to 60 species.

In December, on a very windy morning, 8 members set off to walk along the side of Fonthill lake as far as the dam and back. There were not as many wildfowl on the lake as we usually expect, but we enjoyed seeing good numbers of birds in the trees and bushes alongside, such as Redwings, Siskins and tits, including Marsh Tit. We then drove up to the arch and spent some minutes looking in the yews as sometimes Hawfinch can be seen there in winter. Indeed, one member found a Hawfinch and one or two other people caught glimpses of one, keeping company with Greenfinches. Altogether, 36 bird species were seen.
After the walk, we drove to the Royal Oak in Corsley for a festive Christmas lunch and were joined by our group leader, John, who unfortunately hadn’t been able to attend the walk.

Thirteen of us started the new year with our traditional birdwatching walk around the Mead and other lakes, led by Mike. Although the ground was very muddy, it was a mild, dry day and we were rewarded with sightings of 35 different birds, including eight siskins (see photo), which were absent last year, and six goosanders. The water rail eluded us, although it had been seen earlier in the month.

In March, 11 of us enjoyed a muddy but, at times, sunny, spring walk along the By Brook at Box. The target bird was the Dipper, and before we had walked more than a few yards, one alighted in the fast flowing stream! It bobbed up and down for a good long time, enabling many photos to be taken. Other highlights were a Kingfisher zipping along the river, a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and several Brimstone butterflies. In less muddy areas, spring flowers, especially violets and primroses, bloomed, interspersed with a few early bluebells.

See also Natural History.

Dates for your Diary
Thu Apr 18th Great Ridge Wood
Thu May 16th Martin Down
Thu Jun 20th Ham Wall and Collard Hill

Click on a picture below to see it full-size with more details.

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More Group Pages
"Something Snappy" Photography Art - Painting for Pleasure
Art Appreciation Bird Watching
Book Club Book Club 2
Canasta Computing
Creative Textiles Creative Yarn Group
French Conversation Gardening
History & Archaeology Mahjong
Music Lovers Natural History
Photography Pilates
Strollers Table Tennis
Travel Buddies Yoga