July 2024 News

Wednesday 31st July [Another warm day]

This afternoon, when I got to the lake, the first thing I saw were 5 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca on the dam, and a Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope patrolling right in front of me at the south corner of the dam. I started looking around the Lodge area and photographed a pair of Small Red-eyed Damselflies Ceriagrion tenellum in tandem ovipositing, and saw another Lesser Emperor. So, I went in search of more, and found a total of nine males between the dam and Rainbow Point. Also noted were 3 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, but no obvious bird arrivals. I had hoped to look around at Bell's Bush and Top End, but ran out of time.

Tuesday 30th July [Scorchio again]

It has been boiling hot for the last few days, and I didn't spend any time at the lake yesterday, but thought I might go for a walk this afternoon. However, when I got to the Lodge I got sidetracked by the dragonflies again. I saw one definite male Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope, but there could have been 3 patrolling in front of the Lodge. They were patrolling just a little far out to be sure because you have to be so sure you're not looking at a worn Emperor that has lost some of its blue pruinescence as they do with age. After spending a while in the hot sun, I decided not to walk but to drive to Green Lawn instead. I looked from the west end and saw few Odonata in the breeze, but at the sheltered east end, Emperors were patrolling and a couple of Black-tailed Skimmers were hugging the bank. Then all of a sudden another Lesser Emperor male appeared in front of me. I moved on to Rainbow Point to look on the east side, and sure enough there were two more Lesser Emperors. Wow! I wonder how many there actually are around the lake? Access to most areas of the bank is exceedingly difficult so I'll never know, but have reason to believe there will be more next year after seeing them egg laying last weekend. I don't know what the national picture is, but they must be colonising the UK now I guess. I saw a tractor at Top End from Rainbow Point and sure enough the hay meadows are being cut, which will make birding a little easier again.

There were 10 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca on the dam (two family groups), and one each of Little Egretta garzetta and Great White Egrets Ardea alba. As I left the Lodge entrance gate, I spotted a Speckled Wood butterfly Pararge aegeria, the first for quite a while. I noted 33 bird species, 1 mammal, 7 dragon- and damselflies, and 3 butterfly species.

Sunday 28th July [Scorchio]

I had cause to go down to the lake mid-morning to deal with a bat box, so I toook my camera in order to see if I could get any more photos of the Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope dragonflies. I met Steve and Sue M. at Green Lawn and we had a chat about the dragonflies. I gave them a lift back to the Lodge, and after a quite a while we were able to get some photos of them ovipositing again. We also saw another male in flight. I had seen 10 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta and a Great White Ardea alba, on the way through from collecting the bat box and, as I left, I saw 6 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca on the dam. In the evening I added Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos on the dam.

Saturday 27th July [Sunny and warm all day]

I went down to the lake this afternoon to try and get some pictures of the male Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope dragonfly I reported yesterday. Sure enough it was still present but I spent at least two hours getting fleeting views and wasn't able to get a picture of it as it patrolled way out over the water's edge in front of me (too small to focus on). However, I donned a lifejacket and went onto the boat quay (with permission), to photograph Small Red-eyed Damselflies Ceriagrion tenellum and blow me, the Lesser Emperor was there in tandem with a female which was ovipostiting. I've managed a few shots and I'll try to upload one in due course. I saw a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos fly past the Lodge while watching for the dragonflies.

Friday 26th July [Sunny and warm all day]

I enjoyed a leisurely stroll from the Lodge to Top End hide and back this afternoon. I notched up 40 bird, 7 butterfly and 4 dragonfly species, including a male Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope in front of the Fishing Lodge. There were 2 Siskins Spinus spinus on the feeder, 4 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, a single Great White Egret Ardea alba, and a Hobby Falco subbuteo among those I saw, but I met a couple ladies later who'd seen 4 Hobbies, and a Treecreeper Certhia familiaris that I'd missed. Hopefully, the Lesser Emperor will still be present tomorrow and I'll try and get some pics.

Thursday 25th July [Overcast with mizzle for much of the day]

It was miserable at Blagdon today, with fine driving drizzle on and off of for much of the day. It promised to dry up in the evening , so I drove through the south side of the lake birding as I went, on the way to meet Mark and Jean L. at Compton Martin to video a couple of bat roost emergences. I didn't see anything terribly exciting, just a Little Egret Egretta garzetta of note. We had a very respectable count of Soprano Pipistrelles Pipistrellus pygmaeus from a new maternity roost, but the church roost count had to be abandoned due to the onset of rain again, unfortunately.

Wednesday 24th July [Mainly overcast. Mild.]

I popped over to t'other place this morning, and while I was there I saw the Barnacle Goose, Blue B00 (ringed at Slimbridge), and 2 Little Egrets near the dam. Late afternoon, I popped down to the lake in the car for a nosey and saw 3 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos, a Common Tern Sterna hirundo, a Great White Egret Ardea alba, 2 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, a Hobby Falco subbuteo, 3 Pochard Aythya ferina, and checked through all the Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula that I could get the scope on, for something unusual. I didn't really hear or see many small passerines because I spent far too much of my time sorting out the identity of the tern.

Tuesday 23rd July [Mainly dry & sunny]

I birded on foot to Flower Corner from the Lodge and met Meryn P. along the way. After a catch-up he went on ahead in his car. I'd seen a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos on the dam, and was adding butterflies to my list as I made my way. While chatting to Merv., an Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus flew down the lake past us, and we logged 12 Little Egretta garzetta and 1 Great White Egret Ardea alba. He then drove on to the hide and I walked to Flower Corner and had just turned back and got to Hellfire Corner when he phoned. He'd heard an unusual call while in the hide, went outside and spotted a parrot on the path in the wood. It flew up into a tree and stayed put until I ran back and was able to watch it with him. My first thought was that it was going to be a Ring-necked Parakeet, but this was probably a young bird and a different species with blue wings. It was a Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus. Merv. got some photos on his phone, but I failed dismally before it upped and flew overhead, over the hide and out of view. What a turn up! We both saw a Hobby Falco subbuteo from the hide and I saw a Siskin Spinus spinus on the bird feeder. I managed to see Small White, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Red Admiral butterflies and quite a few 6-spot Burnet Moths during the walk.

In the evening, I met Mark at Hollow Marsh (Farrington Gurney), where we spent a couple of hours with a bat detector trying to establish which species might be found there. We had both Common and Soprano Pipistrelles, Noctule, and a probable Serotine, and picked up lots of stridulating grasshopper/crickets. Mark recorded some, so we might be able to identify at least one more species than the ubiquitous Dark Bush Cricket.

Monday 22nd July [A little drizzle, breezy & overcast in the morning, then dry with some sunshine.]

This morning Phil, Rob, Skip and I carried out the monthly WeBS count. The lake has stayed at roughly the same level, 78%, for the last few weeks so, unless things change, we are heading for another disappointing autumn with little wader passage. The totals were as follows: 190 Canada Geese, 28 Mute Swans, 1 Egyptian Goose, 11 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 157 Mallard, 1 male Pochard, 398 Tufted Ducks, 1 Little Grebe, 22 Great Crested Grebes, 11 Moorhens (8 juvs.), 581 Coots, 4 Common Sandpipers, circa 30 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Herring Gull, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 14 Cormorants, 12 Little Egrets, 2 Great White Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, 2 juv Hobbies, 4 Grey Wagtails (3 juvs.) and a Reed Bunting.

Saturday 20th July [Drizzle & overcast]

There were 10 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos and an Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca on the dam along with the usual suspects, plus 7 Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus and a Little Egret Egretta garzetta of note.

Friday 19th July [Overcast & cloudy.Warm.]

There was a Redshank Tringa totanus, a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos and 7 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca at the dam when I arrived, although all but one of the 'gyps' flew off up the lake. A couple of Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, a single Great White Egret Ardea alba and a Hobby Falco subbuteo were also seen while birding on foot from the Lodge to Top End hide and back in the evening.

Wednesday 17th July [Overcast]

I arrived at the Lodge to be told by Ethan that one of the Mute Swan Cygnus olor cygnets (of the brood of four at the Lodge) had been killed. It seems it might have been by another swan or, more likely, by a Mink Neogale vison. Considering how big they've got by now, it was quite a surprise. There were 2 Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca and a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos at the dam, 6 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta and a Great White Ardea alba, plus 6 species of butterfly.

Tuesday 16th July

I didn't get to the lake today, but Rich A. sent me his sightings as follows: 2 Hobbies, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, House Martin, 2 Treecreepers, Chaffinch, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Coot, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Stonechat, 3 Little Egrets, Magpie, Wren, 10+ Long-tailed Tits, Tufted Duck, Great Tit, Goldfinch, 1 Buzzard, Mute Swan, Reed Warbler and Coal Tit. Additionally he saw Ringlet and Red Admiral butterflies. Thanks, Rich.

Monday 15th July

During the morning, I went for a run (and walk if I'm honest) up to Beacon Batch where I saw a Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe (probably the same one as last night) and a Stonechat Saxicola rubicola near the trig point. Later, in the evening, at the lake I counted 177 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, a Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, 4 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, and a female Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus.

Sunday 14th July

A mid-afternoon look around at the lake produced a reasonable bird list of 36 spp. including an Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca, a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos, 4 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, a Great White Egret Ardea alba, a female Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, a Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata, my first Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum dragonfly of the year, and a Painted Lady Vanessa cardui butterfly. In the evening (before the football) I walked/ran to Beacon Batch trig point on Black Down where I saw a Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe on the path in front of me, before taking in the spectacular evening view and then legging it back down the hill before kick-off.

Saturday 13th July [Broken clouds & cool]

Another evening visit to the lake, which produced 4 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos on the dam wall, an Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca, a Shoveler Spatula clypeata, 2 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta and a Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata. It was also nice to see a Swallow Hirundo rustica over Bell's Bush meadow - they seem to be few and far between this year.

Friday 12th July

I birded on foot from the Lodge to Top End gate and back this afternoon, and saw 36 bird species including 17 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta at Rugmoor, and 3 Hobbies Falco subbuteo (including 2 juveniles) from Top End hide, of note.

Wednesday 10th July

I birded at the lake late this afternoon, from Green Lawn to Flower Corner and back. New in, was a passing adult Redshank Tringa totanus on the dam wall with a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos nearby, 6 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, and 3 Sand Martins Riparia riparia on their way back south.

Tuesday 9th July

I had quite an exciting evening stroll, as I came across a flock of 12 Common Scoter Melanitta nigra while counting a flock of about 100 Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula. Unfortunately, I only had my binoculars with me and had walked to the lake from the house. Luckily, one of the rangers came past and gave me a lift back to Park Lane where I jumped out and made my way back home as quickly as possible to collect my telescope. I drove back to Rainbow Point and scrutinised the Scoters more closely to be able to age and sex them. There were 2 females and 10 males, the latter comprising 9 adults and one 2nd-calendar year. It turned out that they were the same flock that had been seen at t'other place earlier in the day. I also saw 4 Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos, 7 Black-headed Gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus, and 10 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta.

Sunday 7th July

I saw a juvenile Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis this evening, although with no recent sightings of adult birds, I guess it probably flew in seeking others rather than having been raised at the lake. Nevertheless it was nice to see it. I birded from home to Top End gate and back, during which I also saw 2 Black-headed Gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus, a Little Egret Egretta garzetta, and a Fox Vulpes vulpes, of note.

Friday 5th July

I had to go to Chew Magna this morning, so I decided to drive home via the lake, and birded my way along the south shore. I saw a Hobby Falco subbuteo, 4 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, 2 Black-headed gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus, and a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos.

Wednesday 3rd July

I spent the morning with Chris Sperring, Melanie & Lionel P. checking Barn Owl boxes. We found two broods, one of four and one of two, which was a relief because we weren't sure how breeding had been going in the area this year. Chris told us it hasn't been one of the better years for Barnies and the brood of four was only the second he'd seen of that size this year. In the evening I popped down to the lake and saw a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos and 3 Great White Egrets Ardea alba, of note.

Tuesday 2nd July

I didn't visit the lake today, but had two reports of sightings, one from Mark of a Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus at Park Lane, and one from angler Jeff H. who watched an Otter Lutra lutra swim up the lake. I've only ever seen one Hedgehog at the lake in all the years I've been visiting, although we do have them in the village - even coming to our patio for a drink and spilt bird food on occasion.

Monday 1st July

I birded my way around the lake this evening, while checking the bat boxes were all hanging safely. I noted 41 bird species, including 25 Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula, a Greenshank Tringa nebularia, a single Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus, a Hobby Falco subbuteo, a Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata, and a Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus butterfly.