Long-tailed Duck
Kittiwake
Yellow-legged Gull
 |
| 29-2-20 Sparrowhawk, Bath (Lauren Tucker) |
Eastville, Marlborough St:
1 Peregrine, 1 Raven, 1m Blackcap
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Oldbury Power Station:
10 Oystercatcher, c80 Turnstone, 9 Kittiwake, 12 GBB Gull, pair Peregrine, 1 Coal Tit
Aust Wharf:
Peregrine chasing waders, 1 Raven, pair Stonechat
 |
| 29-2-20 Bullfinch, Severn Beach (Rod Holbrook) |
Portbury Wharf:
c.60 Teal, 12 Little Grebe, 7 Lapwing, c.100 Dunlin, 10 Snipe, 60 ad LBB Gull, Skylark singing, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Stonechat, pair Bullfinch - Wharf lane badly flooded at entrance and farther down, North pool almost duck-less with deep water
BELOW M4 & BANES
Marshfield, Down Rd:
1 Buzzard, 11 Stock Dove, 1 Kestrel, 2 Raven, Skylark, 60 Linnet, Yellowhammer, 9 Corn Bunting
Paulton:
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 6 Stock Dove, 4 Rook, 34 Starling, 32 Redwing
RESERVOIRS
Barrow Gurney Tanks:
1 Long-tailed Duck
Blagdon Lake:
1 ad♂ Goosander, 3 Great White Egrets, 1 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper
Chew Valley Lake:
14 Goldeneye, 4 Goosander at the Dam, 10 Great White Egret to roost, 1 Marsh Harrier from Herriot's, 1 4th winter Yellow-legged Gull at Heron's Green, 3 Barn Owl, 1 Cetti's Warbler
Reports: Paul Chapman, Peter Coslett, Andy Davis, Patrick Hancock, Peter Hazelwood, Nigel Milbourne, Matt Plenty, Dean Reeves, Cliff Smith, Chris Stone, Larry Sweetland, Bri Thompson, BUPP, blagdonlakebirds, nsl-birding, opsbirding, severnsidebirds
Two Surveys you may like to participate in:
Breeding Waders of Wet Meadows Survey
AND
Request for Volunteers
B&NES
ST5958 -White Cross, S of Bishop Sutton
ST6159 - Farmland W of Clutton
ST6356 - Hallatrow ST6954 - Radstock *
ST7057 - Peasedown St John*
ST7160 - Farmland N of Dunkerton *
ST7257 - Wellow Road, E of Peasedown St John*
ST7559 - Twinhoe, NE of Wellow*
ST7659 - Midford Brook Valley
ST7868 - St Catherine's Brook
North Somerset
ST3960 - Moorland Farm, N of Banwell *
ST3962 - Rolstone * ST4158 - N of Winscombe*
ST4257 - Sidcot * ST4364 - Congresbury Moor
ST4367 - Farmland of Kenn Moor, North of railway
ST4659 - Upper Langford*
ST4869 - SE Nailsea
South Gloucestershire
ST5786 - Olveston Drainage Rhyne ST6088 - Elberton
ST6389 - SW Thornbury Somerset (but in Avon BTO region)
ST3150 - N of Burnham-on-Sea*
ST3850 - Levels W of Chapel Allerton*
ST4353 - Cheddar Reservoir
ST5256 - Green Plantation, S. of Ubley
ST5454 - Lamb Bottom
ST6850 - Lipyeate
ST7050 - Wincanton Racecourse *
ST7452 - Hardington & surrounding farmland
ST7652 - E of Hardington
ST7853 - W of Woolverton (nr Rode but W of A36)* * Not previously surveyed
There are many others particularly in the south of our Region particularly around the Mendips - please contact Dave Stoddard ( dave.stoddard@tiscali.co.uk tel 0117-924-6968) who will be able to let you know which squares are available.
Local “Avon” Breeding Bird Survey
As mentioned above we also use the basic BBS methodology to survey additional squares in the Avon Region in order to get a more complete picture of our local bird populations. Unlike the BTO’s National scheme you may choose any square of your choice though please check with Dave to avoid duplication. Suitable squares can be suggested that should be convenient for you. You might like to consider doing the kilometre square around your home – additional urban/suburban squares would provide particularly valuable additional data as the habitat is rather under recorded though bird numbers are often quite high. If you have any queries about the Breeding Bird Survey, whether the national BTO scheme, the local Avon scheme or the training session please don’t hesitate to contact me, Dave Stoddard - dave.stoddard@tiscali.co.uk tel 0117 9246968).
BBS Training Session
A training session for new BBS observers, or anyone who just wishes to know more about what the Survey involves, has been scheduled for the morning of Sunday 29th March. This will incorporate a practical session in a sample square in North Bristol followed by coffee with discussion of the practical issues arising from the BBS methodology. Please let me know if you are interested. If you have any queries about the Breeding Bird Survey, whether the national BTO scheme, the local Avon scheme or the training session please don’t hesitate to contact me dave.stoddard@tiscali.co.uk tel 0117 9246968).
Marshfield, Down Rd:
1 Buzzard, 11 Stock Dove, 1 Kestrel, 2 Raven, Skylark, 60 Linnet, Yellowhammer, 9 Corn Bunting
 |
| 29-2-20 Peregrine, St John's Church (BUPP) |
1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 6 Stock Dove, 4 Rook, 34 Starling, 32 Redwing
 |
| 29-2-20 Yellow-legged Gull, CVL (Peter Coslett) |
 |
| 29-2-20 Long-tailed Duck, Barrow Tanks (Cliff Smith) |
Barrow Gurney Tanks:
1 Long-tailed Duck
Blagdon Lake:
1 ad♂ Goosander, 3 Great White Egrets, 1 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper
Chew Valley Lake:
14 Goldeneye, 4 Goosander at the Dam, 10 Great White Egret to roost, 1 Marsh Harrier from Herriot's, 1 4th winter Yellow-legged Gull at Heron's Green, 3 Barn Owl, 1 Cetti's Warbler
Reports: Paul Chapman, Peter Coslett, Andy Davis, Patrick Hancock, Peter Hazelwood, Nigel Milbourne, Matt Plenty, Dean Reeves, Cliff Smith, Chris Stone, Larry Sweetland, Bri Thompson, BUPP, blagdonlakebirds, nsl-birding, opsbirding, severnsidebirds
Two Surveys you may like to participate in:
Breeding Waders of Wet Meadows Survey
AND
BREEDING BIRD SURVEY
Request for Volunteers
Knowing to what extent bird populations are increasing or decreasing is fundamental to bird conservation.
The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is a national scheme organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and is the main scheme for monitoring the population changes of the UK’s common and widespread breeding birds.
The Survey consists of two visits in the breeding season to a one kilometre square counting all birds seen or heard. Comparing these annual bird counts enables us to monitor population changes.
You do not have to be a great ornithological expert to help – you just need the ability to identify common birds by sight and sound – if you can recognise the songs and calls of the likes of Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Blackcap then you will probably be fine. The time commitment is very limited - three mornings in the first year (one to check the route/habitat) and then two in subsequent years. Visits normally take between one and a half and two hours. Returns can be made online. A Training session or sessions will be held on March 29th (see below) for anyone interested.
National squares are allocated to us on a random basis by BTO to ensure that we get a representative picture across the country. The following Squares currently available:-
B&NES
ST5958 -White Cross, S of Bishop Sutton
ST6159 - Farmland W of Clutton
ST6356 - Hallatrow ST6954 - Radstock *
ST7057 - Peasedown St John*
ST7160 - Farmland N of Dunkerton *
ST7257 - Wellow Road, E of Peasedown St John*
ST7559 - Twinhoe, NE of Wellow*
ST7659 - Midford Brook Valley
ST7868 - St Catherine's Brook
North Somerset
ST3960 - Moorland Farm, N of Banwell *
ST3962 - Rolstone * ST4158 - N of Winscombe*
ST4257 - Sidcot * ST4364 - Congresbury Moor
ST4367 - Farmland of Kenn Moor, North of railway
ST4659 - Upper Langford*
ST4869 - SE Nailsea
South Gloucestershire
ST5786 - Olveston Drainage Rhyne ST6088 - Elberton
ST6389 - SW Thornbury Somerset (but in Avon BTO region)
ST3150 - N of Burnham-on-Sea*
ST3850 - Levels W of Chapel Allerton*
ST4353 - Cheddar Reservoir
ST5256 - Green Plantation, S. of Ubley
ST5454 - Lamb Bottom
ST6850 - Lipyeate
ST7050 - Wincanton Racecourse *
ST7452 - Hardington & surrounding farmland
ST7652 - E of Hardington
ST7853 - W of Woolverton (nr Rode but W of A36)* * Not previously surveyed
There are many others particularly in the south of our Region particularly around the Mendips - please contact Dave Stoddard ( dave.stoddard@tiscali.co.uk tel 0117-924-6968) who will be able to let you know which squares are available.
Local “Avon” Breeding Bird Survey
As mentioned above we also use the basic BBS methodology to survey additional squares in the Avon Region in order to get a more complete picture of our local bird populations. Unlike the BTO’s National scheme you may choose any square of your choice though please check with Dave to avoid duplication. Suitable squares can be suggested that should be convenient for you. You might like to consider doing the kilometre square around your home – additional urban/suburban squares would provide particularly valuable additional data as the habitat is rather under recorded though bird numbers are often quite high. If you have any queries about the Breeding Bird Survey, whether the national BTO scheme, the local Avon scheme or the training session please don’t hesitate to contact me, Dave Stoddard - dave.stoddard@tiscali.co.uk tel 0117 9246968).
BBS Training Session
A training session for new BBS observers, or anyone who just wishes to know more about what the Survey involves, has been scheduled for the morning of Sunday 29th March. This will incorporate a practical session in a sample square in North Bristol followed by coffee with discussion of the practical issues arising from the BBS methodology. Please let me know if you are interested. If you have any queries about the Breeding Bird Survey, whether the national BTO scheme, the local Avon scheme or the training session please don’t hesitate to contact me dave.stoddard@tiscali.co.uk tel 0117 9246968).
