What have you seen

Hi OP

How did the Crane spotting go, we had a few around the Slimbridge area but I do not know if they migrate. There is very little around at present, the only places where there is an abundance seem to be Chew Valley Lake and Slimbridge, I guess the swans will be returning soon for the winter.

Have you got your camera back yet and is all fixed. 

Today was the day for Kingfisher spotting. We were sat at the Cross Guns, Avoncliff, having lunch today, with Moulesy & Mrs M, and spotted one at least 3 time flashing up and down the river. Reading other postings, in General Chat, they've also been spotted by two other contributors. It must be the fine sunny weather that's making them easier to spot.

Nice viewing, NTH. You'll find at this time of year that juveniles are being pushed out of the parents territories so there are more around and pretty soon some of the parents will be leaving their own areas if these areas are higher up rivers and making their way down to estuaries for the winter. Good news for us watchers.

There is very little around at present, the only places where there is an abundance seem to be Chew Valley Lake and Slimbridge

BM - What's around the Chew Valley area at the moment as we will heading somewhere in a couple of weeks and that might be one of the places we end up at? Many thanks for any info.

Hi Had a pair of Hawfinches on the feeders today and yesterday a red squirrel running on top of one of our walls and 31st October we went to our local skip and had 3 wild boar running across the road all females  not something we see every day here in the Lot France.

We saw 2 female Goosander also various other birds & waterfowl/geese & some medium sized waders (too far away to identify) on our 1st visit to St Aidan’s Nature Reserve (RSPB) Nr Leeds Yorkshire a couple of weeks ago.  It’s a very large ex NCB opencast mining site with good footpaths, no hides, small reception area with drinks machine/chill cabinet snacks & tables/chairs inside & out.  We will return when next in the area  to walk around the Reedbed area as we only managed to walk around half the site this time.

N1805, if in the area then I would recommend visiting the reserve at Fairburn Ings, which as the Goosander flies, is quite close to St.Aidans and of a similar ilk.

Wherenext- thanks for the reminder about Fairburn Ings.  Some years since we visited there. Usually go to Blacktoft Sands  RSPB if in the area.  Went to St Aidan’s as we were visiting Leeds Armouries the previous day which we both found really interesting.

Just retutned from a short break around Glastonbury, so not totally up to date, but if you look on Avon Bird blog, there are daily Chew Valley reports. A couple of weeks ago there were over 40  Egrets at Herons Gate section of the lake. 2 weeks might see the Short Eared owls at Uphill near Weston super Mare.

The starling murmeration at Ham Wall is already quite impressive with upwards of 20000 arriving at about 4.00 between platform 1 and 2 and numbers expected to approach 750,000 in the coming weeks.

hope this helps,

where are you staying?

Ta, BM. Haven't booked anything just yet as not finalised dates or even where we are headed. It's either Chew Valley (maybe the site itself), but not yet checked out CLs with H/S, or over towards York or Goole area.

Knowing us we'll probably end up somewhere near the Solway Firth and go goose watching!