News - Blagdon Lake Birds

October 2024 News

I am in the process of updating the website now that I have been very kindly helped by HeklaDesign. We have agreed to move over to WordPress as the platform. This will take some time, but I'm hoping to be able to keep the daily blog going in the meantime, although I have no plans to post more pictures until this is complete - they will come in due course.

Monday 21st October [Overcast but warm and dry - unlike the WeBS count last month!]

Rob, Skip and I did the WeBS count this morning. It wasn't exactly the sunny morning the weather forecasters promised, but it was nice for the count. The totals were as follows: Mute Swan 26, Shoveler 5, Gadwall 2, Wigeon 4, Mallard 58, Pintail 8, Pochard 123, Tufted Duck 898, Moorhen 18, Coot 1735, Little Grebe 2, Great Crested Grebe 34, Common Sandpiper 1, Black-headed Gull c.80, Common Gull 2, Great Black-backed Gull 4, Cormorant 16, Cattle Egret 4, Great White Egret 1, Grey Heron 4, Red Kite 1, Buzzard 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Grey Wagtail 1. We also saw a Redwing at Top End in a list of 45 spp.

Sunday 20th October [Wet overnight & morning. Turning sunny in the afternoon.]

Late afternoon, I met up with Mark at t'other place to do the four bat boxes at Woodford Bank. We didn't see any bats, but cleared the boxes out ready for next year. My word there have been some changes along that bank with erosion, and scrub growth, during covid. Anyway, to be fair, there has been a great job done recently, clearing scrub and opening out the woodland a bit, which has made checking the bat boxes a whole lot easier than of late. It also looks like quite a bit of work has been done along the south side of Villice Bay too since I last saw it. Tomorrow, we will be doing the Blagdon WeBS count.

Saturday 19th October [Dry & sunny]

Mark and I met up at 0900hrs to do the bat boxes at the Pumping Station, then we drove along the lake looking for birds on the way to t'other place, where we did the boxes at Moreton. In the 16 boxes at Blagdon we saw at least 15 Soprano Pipistrelles.

Friday 18th October [Dry in the morning, drizzle later.]

I had a quick drive through late afternoon but didn't see anything of note.

Thursday 17th October [A beautiful day to be out]

It was warm and sunny, so I birded from the Lodge to Top End gate and back this afternoon. I met Martin K. at Top End and while chatting to him saw 2 Marsh Harriers, a male and a probable juvenile, over the lake that flew off towards t'other place. Then, the 26 Cattle Egrets that were on Rugmoor Point followed them. I heard a Cetti's Warbler sing, and saw 2 Migrant Hawkers, a Common Darter, a Red Admiral, 2 Comma's and a Speckled Wood, still on the wing in the mild autumn weather.

Tuesday 15th October [Overcast]

I birded from the Lodge to Top End hide and back. I saw the Stonechat again, Common Gull, Lapwing, Kestrel and Raven in a list of 33 bird species and a Migrant Hawker.

Monday 14th October [Dull & overcast with low mist on the hills]

I arrived at the lake around 1500 hrs this afternoon and after checking the dam, drove on to the Lodge. There were some fishing boats in Pipe Bay, but quite a large flock of waterfowl over Tiny's Shallow. So, I got the scope out and went through the Coots, Tufted Ducks and Pochard, then looked around and spotted a white gull off Spinney Point. I spent some time looking at it but was a bit puzzled by it's almost completely white appearance sitting on the water. A boat angler approached quite close by but it didn't spook, it just stayed there on its own with nothing else to compare it with for size. It looked long (the wings extended well beyond the tail) and I thought of a possible Glaucous Gull, but desperately wanted it to move. Eventually, it flew, and I thought it was going to go up the lake, but it veered and came in towards Green Lawn where it landed. In flight I could see biscuit coloured feathering in the wings, and curiously, the remains of quite a broad tail band. I thought this latter feature probably ruled out Glaucous and Iceland Gull. I decided to whip up to the house to get my camera in the hope of getting some photos while it was on the Lawn, but it had gone by the time I got back. I drove to Rainbow Point in the hope that it might have landed on Rugmoor Point. When I scoped the point, there were white 'blobs' everywhere - at least 31 Cattle Egrets and 16 Lapwings, but eventually I spotted the gull among a small flock of Black-headed Gulls. It was smaller than I'd first thought, so my mind turned to one of the medium-sized gulls e.g. Iceland, Kumlien's, Thayer's or even an abberant Common. I rang Chris C. to see if he was around and would be prepared to come to Rugmoor Gate, for a closer look, because I was really puzzled by it. We met at the gate and scoped it. It had a stoutish bill, black at the end and pink for the basal two thirds, with a blackish cutting edge. It was almost pure white when standing, with pale pinkish legs. There was one darker mark on the left side, lesser coverts or mantle, which Brian T., who'd also arrived, said appeared greyish to him. We all thought the bird looked long-winged, rather-dainty looking, and stood not much taller than the Black-headed Gulls. It was dwarfed by the Great Black-backed Gull nearby. It flew back down the lake and west over the dam while we were still there, and Brian got a few flight shots as it went by which show the brown feathering in the wings well, so at least we have these to look at - well done mate. We debated the possibilities at the time, but couldn't come up with anything other than a probable hybrid and/or leucistic gull. But the question, still remains that even if it was a leucistic specimen, or hybrid, what was it? Brian shared some of his pictures later, and Chris a short video, on our local birding WhatsApp group, so I went through the gull books and websites and am really none the wiser. Brian shared his pics. on our local birding WhatsApp group and there seemed to be some consensus that it looked like a Lesser Black-backed Gull, with a suggestion that it might be one of the northern races. I could see that as a possibility due to its long-winged appearance. I hope it gets seen again, because it's worth some close-up pictures to, hopefully, throw a bit more light on its parentage. While I was stalking across Green Lawn hoping to photograph the gull there, I noticed what I assume to be the male Stonechat that I'd seen in Long Bay hedge last Friday. I also noted 2 Great White, and a Little Egret during all the excitement.

Sunday 13th October [Cold overnight. Increasingly pleasant as the day wore on.]

Mark and I decided to try and get a few more bat boxes checked at Chew Valley Lake today, so arranged to meet up at 0830 hrs. We concentrated on the Picnic Site #2 area to Hollow Brook, then Wick Green. There seemed to be fewer bats in the boxes today, perhaps as a result of the cold night. We found 16 Soprano Pipistrelles in the 25 boxes we checked, which means we've just got Moreton and Woodford Bank to do before the end of the month (which is something of a relief). Although there weren't many bats in residence, most of the boxes had plenty of evidence of use over the year left in them! I didn't go to Blagdon Lake today.

Saturday 12th October

Having spotted a curiously small bat in one of the Blagdon boxes last Monday, we decided to go back to have another look for it this morning. Where there had been, what we took to be 8 Soprano Pipistrelles in the box last time, turned out to be just three this time around, with no sign of the 'little' bat. After that, we drove over to Chew Valley Lake to check a few of the boxes there, on Nunnery Point and at the Ringing Station. We found 20 Soprano Pipistrelles in 13 boxes, before calling it a day - I had to leave to go and get my winter 'jabs' at the surgery. On the way along the south side of Blagdon, on the way to t'other place, I counted 6 Great White Egrets and met Andy M. who told me he'd not found anything of interest by the time he'd got to Bell's Bush.

Friday 11th October [Sunny with a nip in the air]

I drove slowly along the south side of the lake stopping at several spots to scan this afternoon, and at Rainbow Point to scope the bulk of the wildlfowl just east of there. I saw 21 Cattle Egrets fly over Holt Farm and off over the Mendips, where I also saw a Red Kite in flight, a male Stonechat at Long Bay, a Great White Egret at Holt Bay, 16+ Lapwings on Rugmoor Point, and 5 Pintail at Top End. The water level has come up to about 73% now, and there are few places for waders to drop in and feed on, but I live in hope. Avon Birds had a report of 13 Grey Partridges at the lake today - without doubt birds put down by the shooting fraternity and, possibly, not Grey Partridges either. Mark saw two groups of Red-legged Partridges a few days ago, which I haven't seen since, and, I photographed a slightly curious 'game' bird on the neighbours drive in the village on Sunday 29th September that resembled a Grey Partridge but may have been another of the released birds..

Thursday 10th October [Broken cloud & cool]

I birded on foot from Home Bay to Flower Corner and back late in the afternoon. I didn't notice anything new on or around the lake. Not even an egret.

Wednesday 9th October [A warmish, mainly dry, day.]

After a visit to the physio. early in the morning, followed by a trip to the dentist, I was about to go to the lake when Merv. P. texted me to say he'd been at the lake in the morning and had very little to report, apart from saying the work on Wookey Point has now been completed. He said the last few willows have been removed and the cut wood was being burned - the view from the hide was much better now. Once again, thanks to BW for managing to get this done before the water level beat the contractors - it was really nip and tuck. Teal, a dabbling duck, are the one bird species named in the SSSI designation for the lake, especially the aggregations that occur when the water level falls sufficiently for them to be able to feed around the lakeside margins. Clearing the vegetation from Wookey and Rugmoor Points will, hopefully, encourage that to happen again when the water level drops next time. On the 8th Jan. 1956, 2900 Teal were counted at the lake, and although I've only counted a maximum of 1750 during the 28 years I've been doing WeBS counts, it is important to manage the reserve in order to provide suitable habitat for them. As Merv hadn't seen much, I decided to go for a quick walk through the woods instead of going to the lake, before the forecast showers arrived. Later, I read that Pat H. had seen a couple of Cattle Egrets in the dairy herd, I assume, at Holt Farm on the south side of the lake.

Tuesday 8th October [Heavy rain & short sunny spells]

I didn't venture down to the lake until just after tea for a quick look around, therefore, I haven't got anything to report except for lots of coloured water running into the lake as the heavy rain drains off the fields.

Monday 7th October [Dry early, showers later.]

I met up with Mark just after 0900 hrs this morning, to clean and check the bat boxes around the lake (except for those in the Pumping Station grounds). We managed to get all the boxes donejust as it started raining. We did 44 Schwegler boxes, Jane's House and 3 Kent boxes and found one Lesser Horseshoe, 54 Sporano Pipistrelles and 11+ Natterer's Bats. It took us 6 hours. After that, and with the rain falling, I decided to go home rather than bird my way back. I had seen a Great White Egret, Kestrel, and heard yaffling Green Woodpeckers during the day but was really focussed on getting the boxes done to be honest.

Sunday 6th October [Remaining warm although some heavy rain showers]

I only got to the lake at last light, in order to refill the bird feeder, so didn't see very much in the way of the birds, although a single Great White Egret and 3 Little Egrets shone out like beacons in the failing light. Tomorrow, Mark and I are going to check some bat boxes at the lake.

Saturday 5th October [A warm sunny, afternoon.]

I birded from the Lodge to Top End hide and back, but to be honest although I scoped just about every Tufted Duck I could see, and there were several hundred, I could't find anything thing else hiding among them. So, when I got to Bell's Bush, I resorted to counting Wigeon -there were a surprising 110. When I got to the hide, although there were still some bushes on Wookey Point, I counted 11 Pintail, but there may have been others I couldn't see well enough sleeping up against the bank. I also noted the Common Sandpiper, 8 Lapwings and a single Great White Egret.

Friday 4th October [A warm afternoon in the sunshine]

Rejoice! I was greeted with the sound of chainsaws and the Green Mantle team clearing willows on Wookey Point thjis afternoon. Thank you BW, Kirsty, Green Mantle and all those who kept chipping away to try and get this work done - you know who you are. They hadn't quite cleared all of it by the time I left, but they told me they hope to burn the cut wood next week and, I presume, finish off. That might depend on the weather and rising water level of course. Fingers crossed. There were still some butterflies and Migrant Hawkers flying, but the waterfowl were mostly gathered in a huge flock between Wood Bay and Rugmoor Points, due to the pike fly anglers at the dam end and the chainsaw action at the Top End. I counted 5 Great White Egrets, 2 Lapwings and saw most of the usual ducks with the exception of Pintail. There was the added bonus of an adult Yelow-legged Gull at the Lodge and Red Kite over Yeo Valley Farm too.

Thursday 3rd October [A warm sunny afternoon]

It was a pleasant afternoon to spend birding at this time of year. I saw the Commoon Sandpiper, 1 Great White Egret, 8 Lapwings, 8 Pintail and 3 Great Woodpeckers, of note. While I was in the hide a stunning Fox showed on the water's edge, but I didn't quite have time to grab a photo. Butterflies included a Painted Lady, one Red Admiral, and several Small White and Speckled Woods, plus a few Migrant Hawker dragonflies. There seem to be lots of wasps and more than a few Hornets about too.

Wednesday 2nd October [Mainly overcast]

Today, I went to the lake late morning and birded Rainbow Point to Top End gate and back unitl early afternoon. Things are very quiet at the moment, and the only thing that was of much interest was a juvenile Marsh Harrier that was hunting around the Top End for most of the time I was there. It was being chased and harried by an adult Black-headed Gull that seemed to be on a personal mission to drive the harrier to into bankside trees. At one point, a pair of Crows joined in the fun too. I did a little better than Monday with 3 Lapwings, 2 Great White and 3 Little Egrets, in 35 bird spp. plus some Migrant Hawker dragonflies.

Monday 30th September [Breezy]

I birded from the Lodge to Top End hide and back. I didn't manage to find anything worth reporting I'm afraid. At the Top End hide, all I could see were 4 Gadwall until 2 Shoveler flew up behind the vegetation at the water's edge. There were a few Teal, mainly hidden at Wookey Point, but the nearest other birds I could see were at Burmah Road and Rugmoor. With the winds we've had the last couple of days there haven't been any boats out on the lake and most of the waterfowl have moved towards the dam end. I recorded 3 Pintail in a paltry list of just 30 spp. with most passerines well hunkered down. WIth the recent weekend of rain a few fungi are putting up fruiting bodies, and I noticed several Shaggy Ink Caps on the way back to the Lodge.

Sunday 29th September [Dry but blustery morning, with rain & strong winds later.]

Mike O'C. messaged me this morning to say he'd seen an Oystercatcher on the dam wall. Thanks Mike. I was back at the lake this afternoon for just over an hour, using my car to get between viewpoints. The level continues to rise, and I only saw 6 Pintail today, although some may have been hidden from view from the hide (to be frank, you can see very little from the hide these days, and it looks like BW are going to miss the opportunity to get Wookey Point cleared of the growing willows this year either). I only saw 2 Great White and 4 Little Egrets, with little else to report of note, except perhaps for a small gathering of Pied Wagtails and a sparse, but steady, stream of hirundines moving east over the lake.

I've got to the point now, where I find it hard to see how BW can possibly justify the very significant increases in Bird Watching permit prices, given the absolutely minimal investment in facilities and maintenance by comparison with just about every other site you visit around the south-west of England - Chew and Blagdon must be among the worst now. We no longer have the regular dialogue we used to have with the company, even as wardens. The issues at Blagdon that we have asked to be addressed are largely being ignored, and even being able to do the monthly WeBS counts with any accuracy is getting very difficult in the circumstances prevailing. There are increasingly large areas of the lake where you just cannot see the birds, that are present, well enough. If birders were to stick to the rules, which say they have access to Top End and Home Bay Point hides, then there would be little point in buying a permit. Luckily, for now, we are tolerated using the south side road, but are being increasingly discouraged from venturing onto the north shore track, even during the fishing season. I fear that just one accident along the south side road will end that privilege too, because just about no-one sticks to the 15 mph speed limit, including staff driving with weighty trailers behind them. It's an appalling state of affairs BW.

Saturday 28th September [Broken cloud with some sunny intervals]

I decided to walk the south side this afternoon with my binoculars and camera. The island in front of the Lodge has almost become inundated again and apart from gulls, Cormorants and a few ducks there wasn't much to see. So, after checking the bird feeder, I concentrated on looking for some insects along the back of Home and Long Bays while the sun was out. There were 3 Comma, 2 Red Admiral and a Speckled Wood on the wing, plus a few unidentified Whites, a Common Darter, a Common Blue Damselfy, and I also had the good fortune to spot a small Grass Snake disappear into a crack in some tree roots. At Rainbow Point I photographed Small and Large White butterflies but couldn't get any shots of the Migrant Hawkers. Birds were unexceptional, although a Raven in Lodge Copse was nice, and I noted 3 Great White Egrets, 6 Little Egrets, and 18 Pintail. I met a couple of ladies who told me they'd seen 8 Lapwings too. It was a pleasant and leisurely afternoon's walk.

Friday 27th September

I used the same itinerary as yesterday during the afternoon. I saw the 2 Egyptian Geese by the dam, but no waders in front of the Lodge, also 6 Lapwings and 20 Pintail from the Top End hide, and counted 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Hobbies, and saw a steady trickle of hirundines moving east while walking.

I had to go for a late afternoon appointment in Cheddar to pick up my new glasses after leaving the lake, and not long after I got home around 1700 hrs I had a call from Martin K. to say he'd just spotted a Nightjar sitting on his neghbours back garden wall. He invited me around, and we went up to the landing on his stairs to look out of a window at the resting bird. It was a Nightjar, not the Nighthawk I'd hoped for, but nevertheless an amazing sighting. We went into his back garden and stood on a flower bed to see over the wall and the neighbours drive to get some pictures before the rain came down again. We returned to the landing and opened the window to continue watching. The bird shuffled along the wall a bit during the heavy shower but settled again. I asked Martin if his neighbour was at home or likely to come home any time soon, but they weren't. I went home and Martin got a chair and sat watching through the upstairs window until the bird, a female, made two short circuits and landing, before flying off at around 1900 hrs. What an unexpected treat - thanks Martin.

Thursday 26th September [Heavy showers]

I birded on foot from Rainbow Point to Top End hide and back early afternoon, after checking the dam and Lodge. The 2 Egyptian Geese were back, 5 Common Sandpipers were on the dam, and despite the rising water level there were still 2 Ringed Plovers at the Lodge plus, as I walked towards Wood Bay Point, 12 Black-tailed Godwits flew down the lake past me, but I didn't see them again later. There were 7 Great White Egrets, but no Little Egrets, on view today, and I watched a Hobby and Kestrel hunting, and counted 21 Pintail from the hide. I noted Migrant Hawker, 2 Green-veined Whites and a Speckled Wood still on the wing.

Wednesday 25th September

I only had a quick drive along the south side in the evening because it got dark so quickly. There was little to report.

Tuesday 24th September [Dry & overcast]

After a trip to the physio, I did my WeBS count again this afternoon. The lake has certainly come up, with Tiny's Shallow and the bare margins almost wholly covered again, especially at Top End. There were many fewer Teal to be seen, although they had spread out to some extent to find margins where they could feed, but I would say at least as many had gone as those I counted - there were probably around a thousand present on Sunday. My counts today were as follows: Canada Goose 27, Shoveler 301, Gadwall 280, Mallard 276, Pintail 15 (many of these had gone too), Teal 446, Ringed Plover 2, Lapwing 12, Common Sandpiper 4, Cormorant 76, Little Egret 6, Great White Egret 7, Grey Heron 5, Buzzard 1, Kestrel 2, and Hobby 2. Black-headed Gull c. 30, Herring Gull 6, Lesser Black-backed Gull c. 35. Counts over the last two days in italics will be used for the WeBS count.

Monday 23rd September [Near torrential rain all day]

What a day to do a WeBS count! Phil and Rob managed to get their species counted but I failed dismally when we went on to Bell's Bush with our brollies and put almost the whole of the Top End dabbling ucks up. Oh dear - not my finest hour, and I wasn't going to start again under the circumstances. Anyway our partial count was: Mute Swan 51 (incl. 4 juvs), Shoveler 125+ (abandoned), Gadwall 55+ (abandoned), Wigeon 52+ (abandoned), Mallard 54+ (abandoned), Pintail 21+ (abandoned), Pochard 46, Tufted Duck 616, Moorhen 78, Coot 1243, Little Grebe 38, Great Crested Grebe 35, Ringed Plover 2, Lapwing 2, Snipe 3, Common Sandpiper 2, Green Sandpiper 1, Great Black-backed Gull c. 15, Little Egret 1 Great White Egret 10. Well done guys! I'll do my species counts tomorrow, although with all the rain they may be very different to what they might have been if they'd been done on Sunday.

Sunday 22nd September [Thundery showers & heavy rain. Some sunny spells.]

I spent a large proportion of the day at the lake today (ever hopeful), but didn't manage to turn up anything exciting. I counted 43 adult Mute Swans (there are some juvs. too), 33 Pintail, 6 Lapwing, 5 Common Sandpipers, saw a flock of 5 Snipe in flight, 5 Little Egrets and 13 Great White Egrets, 2 Hobbies, and a Barn Owl. It was all a bit disappointing once again. I wonder why there aren't any waders dropping in to the lake this autumn.

Rugmoor Point was being cleared of Willows last week, and I think the plan is to clear Wookey Point in the week coming, which will undoubtedly have quite an effect on bird numbers at Top End. We're due to do the WeBS count in the morning, so I hope we get that done before the team start work at Wookey.

Saturday 21st September [A wet morning drying out later.]

I was hoping the thundery weather might bring some migrants in to the lake today, so I went down twice, for an hour in the morning and two and a half hours in the evening. My look in the morning resulted in 4 Common Sandpipers on Tiny's Shallow, 36 Pintail and 72 Wigeon, 11 Lapwings, 4 Little and 6 Great White Egrets, a Kestrel and a Hobby. In the evening I was hoping that the flock of 12 Spoonbills that had dropped in to t'other place might fly west at dusk, but if they did, Martin K. and I didn't see them. I counted 2 Common Sandpipers, and saw 11 Little Egrets and 9 Great White Egrets go to roost.

Friday 20th September [Overcast early then brightening up.]

Dabbling ducks have been on the move, and over lunchtime I counted 83 Wigeon and 28 Pintail, plus one each of Snipe and Common Sandpiper, 9 Great White and 13 Little Egrets, and 6 Grey Herons, in a list of 41 species.

Thursday 19th September [A cool morning, but warming as the day wore on.]

I birded this afternoon from the Lodge to Top End hide and back. I noted a single Common Sandpiper, 6 Lapwing, 14 Great White and 11 Little Egrets, 53 Wigeon and 16 Pintail in a list of 38 species.

Wednesday 18th September [Breezy, but still pleasant.]

I spent about 2-3 hours looking for the glasses I lost last night without success before trying to find the Lesser Scaup. After a couple of hours not being able to locate it, I'd had enough. The ducks were being moved around again, and even a quick trip down to the dam after the fishing boats had gone, I was frustrated by one of the rangers zooming about in the rib putting all the gathering Aythya ducks to flight again at the dam end. I recorded 2 Egyptian Geese, 11 Pintail, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Ruff, 8 Little and 11 Great White Egrets, and my first Small Copper butterfly of the year. I noted 39 bird species, although almost all my time was spent looking for the Lesser Scaup.

Tuesday 17th September [Warm & sunny]

The Lesser Scaup was still present today albeit being moved around by the boats like most of the diving ducks that are preferring to feed at the dam end of the lake. Rich M. and Andy D. saw it off Rainbow Point late morning and I saw it off Spinney Copse/North Shore in the afternoon. I birded on foot from Green Lawn to Top End hide and back, and popped back down to Bell's Bush again in the evening. I saw 2 Egyptian Geese, 23+ Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 6 Lapwings, 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Little and 7 Great White Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 4 Buzzards, and a Hobby, of note. I spent a lovely couple of hours with Tina B. leading a group of youngsters and some parents at Top End and over Ubley Farm fields. They particularly enjoyed trying to get pictures on their phones of the rising supermoon through my telescope! The only downer of the day was losing my glasses during the walk.

Monday 16th September [Warm & sunny]

What a lovely sunny day! I got to the Lodge at around 1530hrs and saw a couple of Ringed Plovers (an adult and juvenile) and Common Sandpipers on Tiny's Shallow. I scanned around the dam end with my scope and saw an Aythya duck near Butcombe Bank that appeared to have a grey back, although it was hard to be sure, as many of the Tufted Duck drakes also appeared to have grey backs in the bright sunlight at times. Anyway, after several minutes observation I was more convinced it actually had a grey rather black back, so I got back in my car and drove around to the dam near the Spillway and Butcombe Bank. A short walk allowed me to see the bird in question but it was still quite a way off the bank. Eventually it came towards me and I could see the tell-tale vermiculations on the back and narrow black nail on the bill. I was confident it was an adult drake Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis. Bingo! I spent much of the afternoon watching it with MJ and Brian T. from the dam until I was called home for tea. After my meal, I went back to the Lodge and birded my way along to Hellfire Corner and back as the sun went down. I had the most extraordinary encounter with a Barn Owl. I walked around a corner and saw the bird flying towards me along the bank between the waters edge and the road. I took a sidestep to stand against the hedge and stood stock still. The bird looked over and flew straight towards me until it was about a foot from my face - I thought it was going to land on my cap. It didn't land, but wow, what an experience that was. I saw a Pintail, Red Kite, 2 more Common Sandpipers and a few egrets with MJ during the afternoon, but didn't have the time, or light, later in the day to count anything. The sunset was amazing, and the rising moon equally spectacular. It rounded off quite a day.

Sunday 15th September [Overcast with a little drizzle in the evening]

There were 2 Common Sandpipers on the dam when I got to the lake this evening, and 4 more on Tiny's Shallow at the Lodge, together with a juvenile Dunlin. The only counts I made during my walk to the Top End hide and back were 6 Great White and 8 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons and 26 Little Grebes (not necessarily all those present). Apart from washing cars and gardening I spent most of the day working on the website update - it shouldn't be too long before we change it over to the Wordpress format now.

I had an email from Rich and Jo today asking about access for birders to the north shore, and as they point out the permit says it gives us access to the bird hides only. This is the official line and I can't really refute that, of course. However, provided we don't stray from the road it has been generally accepted that we can look along the south side road, and exceptions can be made to access the north side if there's something special to see there. I usually check with the fisheries team first, before publicising a bird in a part of the lake that we don't usually have access to. They also told me they saw lots of Egrets, Herons, and a Treecreeper today. Thanks guys.

Saturday 14th September [Another warm & sunny day]

Another beautiful day, and I went to the lake in the afternoon when it had warmed up. The 2 Ringed Plovers and 6 Common Sandpipers were on Tiny's Shallow with the gulls, Mute Swans, herons and waterfowl. Again, there were lots of Migrant Hawkers on the wing, and I even saw a Common Darter, plus Speckled Wood and Green-veined White butterflies. Other birds noted included 2 Egyptian Geese, 11 Wigeon, 10 Great White and 5 Little Egrets, 8 Grey Herons, and a Hobby in a list of 46 species. I met Pete and Charlotte C. who told me they'd seen a juvenile Marsh Harrier at Top End.

Friday 13th September [Cold to start, but warm & sunny in the afternoon.]

It was a beautiful afternoon, and I really enjoyed my walk birding from the Lodge to Top End hide and back. I noted 9 Wigeon, the first 2 Pintail of the autumn, 2 Ringed Plover, an adult and juvenile, 4 Common Sandpipers, 7 Little and 9 Great White Egrets, 6 Grey Herons, an Osprey, and 2 Marsh Harriers in a total list of 45 species. There were loads of Migrant Hawker dragonflies on the wing in the warm sunshine. When I was walking back to the Lodge angler Martin Cottis stopped to tell me he'd watched a Marsh Harrier over Pipe Bay reeds and an Osprey fishing overhead three times at the dam end during the day.

Thursday 12th September [Some rain showers in the afternoon with a cool breeze, but clearing later. Cold after sunset.]

I went to the lake to meet Mark this afternoon, as we looked for suitable places to run our bat trap in the evening alongside friend Jim M. who was bringing his bat worker trainees to the lake to trap as well. The team based themselves at the Fishing Lodge, and I noted a Ringed Plover and 2 Common Sandpipers out on Tiny's Shallow among the waterfowl and gulls. Mark and I caught 2 Soprano Pipistrelles and a male Nathusius' Pipistrelle which had already been ringed. When I have looked up the details I'll share them. While we were running the trap we were serenaded by a Fox for quite a while - perhaps a bit upset by the bat workers. We didn't stay long as the temperature dropped rapidly and Jim was happy with our catch of 4 Nathusius' Pips., several Soprano Pips., and a Daubenton's Bat for the trainees to identify.

Wednesday 11th September [Stormy. A cool breeze, heavy thundery showers & occasional sunny spells.]

This afternoon I managed to dodge the showers, and birded on foot from the Lodge to Top End hide and back. There were 2 juvenile Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula and 2 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos still on Tiny's Shallow in front of the Lodge, even after a juvenile Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus flew across the lawn in front of the Lodge before I got out of my car! There were Great White Egrets Ardea alba everywhere, I counted 11 around the lake, and just 3 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta that I could see. I heard a Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti singing at Home Bay reeds and a Hobby Falco subbuteo flew past me down the lake as I approached Bell's Bush for a look over the Top End. I think the Marsh Harrier may have got there before me and caused some disturbance because there were no birds in the usual roosting spots then, while I sat out the thunderstorm and downpour, it came back and settled on a bankside branch opposite the hide. When the sun came out again, I headed back to the Lodge and the hirundine flock started hunting over the water again. It felt very autumnal today.

Tuesday 10th September [Breezy, with sunny spells & showers.]

There were no boats out today and, by coincidence perhaps, I found 2 juvenile Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula, a Dunlin Calidris alpina and 2 Common Terns Sterna hirundo on Tiny's Shallow in front of the Lodge this morning. Other counts included 2 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegytiaca, 11 Wigeon Mareca penelope, 29 Little Grebes Tachybaptus ruficollis, 2 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos, 8 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, 7 Great White Egrets Ardea alba, and a juvenile Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus.

Monday 9th September [Breezy, but warm & sunny.]

I enjoyed a pleasant afternoon birding on foot from the Lodge to Top End gate and back. I didn't see the Osprey, but there was a Hobby Falco subbuteo hunting at Top End, 10 Wigeon Mareca penelope, an Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus that flew down the lake, 7 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos between the dam and Green Lawn, 2 Siskins Spinus spinus on the birdfeeder, a Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti (almost) singing at Pipe Bay reeds, 8 Buzzards Buteo buteo, 2 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca on the dam, and the heron count was 8 Greys Ardea cinerea, 7 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta and 5 Great White Egrets Ardea alba. I noted 45 bird and 5 butterfly species. Later, Ce and I met up with Mark, and we released the bat I've had in care back at Woodford Lodge car park. Happily, he flew off strongly - bon chance little guy!

Sunday 8th September [A few sunny spells at lunchtime, then rain again in the evening.]

After an early tea, I birded on foot from the Lodge to just beyond Top End hide and back. I saw 3 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos, the remains of the Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula flock that I missed yesterday, the Osprey Pandion haliaetus, 5 Wigeon Mareca penelope, 4 Great White Ardea alba and 4 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, plus House Delichon urbicum and Sand Martins Riparia riparia.

Saturday 7th September [Overcast but warm. Rain late afternoon.]

I spent most of the day in Taunton watching cricket with my mate Nick, and even though Ce produced our evening meal as I walked back through the door, I was quite late getting to the lake. However, two things stood out, the Osprey Pandion haliaetus was in it's usual roost tree at dusk, and there appeared to be virtually no waterfowl at the dam end of the lake and very few Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, although it's possible I may have missed them if they'd gathered together to roost against the North Shore. I counted 7 Great White Ardea alba and 5 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta roosting, but couldn't spot any waders at all in the gloom - not even a Common Sandpiper. Later, I noticed on BirdTrack a report of 6 Common Sandpipers, 2 Egyptian Geese and a Kingfisher reported by Tom W.

Friday 6th September [Overcast, rain & drizzle for much of the day.]

I spent a couple of hours at the lake mid-afternoon. I saw 2 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos, 6 Great White Egrets Ardea alba, 4 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, a juvenile Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe at the east end of Green Lawn, the Osprey Pandion haliaetus, a juvenile Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, a Hobby Falco subbuteo and several hundred hirundines of all three common species. After all the rain, there is quite a lot of water flowing into the lake, but the level doesn't appear to have risen much, if at all. A reminder that there will be a boat fishing competition this weekend on both days at Blagdon and Chew.

Thursday 5th September [Rain all day]

My, did it rain today? I went to the lake just before teatime for an hour. I saw a single Mallard Anas playrhynchos on the dam, but there were 2 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca near the overspill. There were quite a few birds on Tiny's Shallow in front of the Lodge, but no waders unfortunately. As I drove along the south side I counted 7 Great White Egrets Ardea alba, 6 Grey Herons Ardea cinerea, 4 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, 4 Wigeon Mareca penelope, 2 bedraggled Buzzards Buteo buteo, the Osprey Pandion haliaetus on its usual perch, and a Hobby Falco subbuteo nearby.

Wednesday 4th September [Warm & overcast]

Merv P. texted me to say the Osprey Pandion haliaetus was still present this morning, but it was otherwise fairly quiet. I went birding on foot, for a change, from the Lodge to Top End hide and back. I saw 2 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca near the overspill, 4 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos between the dam and Green Lawn, but not much at the Lodge - probably due to the large number of fishing boats out today. By the way, this is likely to be the case until after the weekend because there is a big fishing match on both lakes over the weekend. I counted 8 Grey Herons Ardea cinerea, 7 Great White Egrets Ardea alba and 6 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, and saw the Osprey, a Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, and a Hobby Falco subbuteo. However, the best birds for me today were 2 Whinchats Saxicola rubetra, an adult and a juvenile, and a pair of fighting Treecreepers Certhia familiaris rolling around on the road at Holt Copse.

Tuesday 3rd September [Wet & misty in the morning then the sun came out in the afternoon]

I spent two hours at the lake over lunchtime and then went back in the evening for a few minutes to check the dam, Tiny's Shallow and to see if the Osprey Pandion haliaetus was roosting at Top End again. I saw 4 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca, 4 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos, 4 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, 4 Great White Egrets Ardea alba, 16 Grey Herons Ardea cinerea (that included a flock of 7 that flew over in the evening), the adult female Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, the adult female Osprey, and a Hobby Falco subbuteo. The Osprey roosted again at Top End on its usual perch.

Monday 2nd September [Close, warm, rain & sunny spells.]

I got to the lake just after midday which was way too late to be honest. There was news from all over the area of migrants, and Mark saw 3 small waders at the Lodge at first light when he arrived for work. Sadly, they had gone by the time I arrived. However, the Osprey Pandion haliaetus was still present but spent the first hours I was at the lake in a tree until the rain stopped. An adult female Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus flew across the lake from Wood Bay to Rugmoor Point and landed on the water side. While I was looking at the harrier the Osprey finally took off unseen but Mark and I saw it hunting at the dam end. It made several dives all of which it pulled out of before hitting the water, then finally flew back along the North Shore and off towards Breach Hill and, presumably, to t'other place. Later, we picked up an Osprey heading towards the Top End that flew straight down the lake and spent some time hunting at the dam end. Mark went home and I drove to Green Lawn hoping to get some decent photos of it, but I didn't see it again. Frustrating, to say the very least. A flock of 7 (2 adult & 5 juvenile) Common Terns Sterna hirundo dropped in, and I eventually relocated them on Tiny's Shallow when scanning the gulls. I noted three gulls with darvic rings:

Black-headed Gull, adult, white, TOWR - see details on 1st Sept.
Great Black-backed Gull, juvenile, yellow, D:JA - first record at Blagdon Lake.
Great Black-backed Gull, adult, yellow, D:EK - Ringed 2018 on Denny Island, Severn Estuary. First recorded at BL on 26th Aug. 2020, also 2021 & 2022.

While I was checking through the comings and goings of the gulls, they all suddenly flew up. A juvenile Marsh Harrier had come down the lake, the second such harrier of the day. It looked over Pipe Bay reeds, then flew across the dam and I lost sight of it, so I don't know if it left or not. I logged 48 bird species during my 5 hour stint, including 4 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca, 3 Wigeon Mareca penelope, 3 Lapwings Vanellus vanellus, 1 Snipe Gallinago gallinago, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis, 25+ Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus, 5 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, 7 Great White Egrets Ardea alba, and 3 Hobbies Falco subbuteo.

Sunday 1st September [Close, with an afternoon thunderstorm & rain.]

There was an approaching thunderstorm rumbling in the distance when I went down to the lake in the afternoon, so I birded using my car to get around. It started to rain as soon as I arrived at the Lodge, having seen 3 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos on the dam wall. I was scanning the gulls when Pete and Charlotte C. arrived too, and they pointed out 4 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca near the Spillway. As I went along the south shore I counted 5 Great White Ardea alba and 3 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, and from Rainbow Point I spotted the Osprey Pandion haliaetus hunkering down as the rain got heavier. From Top End hide I saw 3 Wigeon Mareca penelope but couldn't see anything else new as the visibility got worse. At that point I decided the Osprey was unlikely to fly in the prevailing conditions and headed home.

While I was at the Lodge, I spent time looking at the gulls and saw two with darvic rings on them:

Black-headed Gull, adult, white, TOWR - I first saw this bird at Blagdon Lake on 24th Sept. 2014. Ringed in Poland by Marcin Sowa at Zwirownia Bielinek, Bielinek, Cedynia, Zachodniopomorskie on 7th May 2013 as an adult. I've recorded it at the lake in 2016 & 2021 also. The bird must be at least 12+ years old. This species has been recorded at over 32 yrs old.
Great Black-backed Gull, juvenile, yellow, D:LE - first record at Blagdon Lake.