Kenn Village

The local bird-watching community was stunned when news broke of a Red Flanked Bluetail in, well on the edge of, the Avon recording area near Marshfield in South Gloucestershire. This species breeds in Russia and winters in Southern China so this Robin sized bird was a long way off course. Bristol wildlife photographer Allan Chard has kindly supplied the pictures and I am very grateful to him.  To put its rarity status in context, it is the 116th ever recorded in the UK, the first ever in winter and the first ever in our region. After a few days, when I felt that the initial rush to see the bird had abated, Bryan Thompson, Jill  and myself set off. Car parking was on a wide grass verge, which with torrential rain and much use had      become very muddy. The walk to the site was half a mile along a beautiful valley, but a sea of mud. We were more concerned with staying upright than looking for birds. Eventually we came to a group of about 20 watchers and photographers and were told that the Bluetail was at the back of a nearby  bush. After a few minutes, it appeared, constantly flicking its blue tail like a Redstart. A photographer placed some mealworms on the ground and the Bluetail did come down, but it looked to me as if it could hardly face another mealworm – that trick had been tried for days!  Numbers of admirers, some from distant parts, continued to arrive and when we left the crowd was about 40 strong. 

We slid off of our parking place and headed home, but earlier that morning Bryan had been told of a Black Redstart in Lower Knowles Road, Clevedon by Shane, his fence repairer – Bryan does have some contacts! So, the plan was, whilst I was washing all the acquired mud off the car at Morrison’s Garage, Bryan and Jill would scout it out.  Bryan soon found Shane who took them next door where he had seen the black redstart, announcing to the property owner ‘I’ve got a couple of twitchers here’. They were taken through to the back garden but there was no sign of the bird – it was a case of ‘you should have been here earlier’. You just can’t win them all!  Turning to more local events, Treecreeper, Mistle Thrush and a dozen Siskins have been seen in Littlewood. On the adjacent moor there were three Little Grebes on Blackditch and a large Starling flock appeared. News from Yatton relates to a pair of Ravens noisily displaying around St Mary’s Church tower – sent out by Noah we   wonder! A Peregrine has also been spotted a few times, maybe interested in the  aforementioned Starling flock.  A rare sunny and calm morning at the Sea Wall saw several Skylarks singing so perhaps Spring is not too far away. The Dunlin flock numbered about 2,000 and made a wonderful sight wheeling around when put up by a passing helicopter. 

Three Stonechats were a welcome find and hopefully the first Wheatears are only a couple of weeks away.

Trevor Riddle 01934 835208.

Book group was held on Wednesday 4^th December.  Owing to festive and family commitments we are rolling over our chosen book for another month.  The evening was our book group Christmas outing.  We arrived early at The Drum for a delicious meal.  We ate and drank heartily and enjoyed reviewing our book group choices over the last year. 

Convivial conversation and banter was exchanged.  We then stayed for the quiz.  To complete our festive outing we won!

We will next meet at The Drum on Monday 20^th January 2014 (this is a provisional date).   We will discuss ‘Dear Life’ by Alice Munro.  This is a collection of short stories with an interwoven theme.

December has continued, much as November left off, bird wise with no really cold weather to drive birds this far south. There has been a general lack of Fieldfares and Redwings and on a recent survey walk Bullfinches (7) outnumbered Fieldfares (6). Birds of prey have been fewer, probably because there isn’t the normal volume of prey available. However there has been a Kestrel on Kenn Moor and another along Wemberham Lane, Yatton, which I saw capture a small mammal from its telegraph pole perch, albeit it flew about 60 metres to make its kill. It does demonstrate that they have fantastic eyesight.

The first Woodcock of the winter was in Littlewood, along with Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a flock of Goldfinches.

The Dunlins at the sea wall increased to at least 1,500 and Bryan Thompson watched a  Merlin harrying them ;- a good spot as there have been hardly any raptors there either. 

400 Lapwings were a nice sight with half a dozen Golden Plovers flying with them.

I have just received a report of Redpolls in a Claverham garden and our garden has Blackcap, Bullfinches and this morning a Great Spotted Woodpecker and the birds are feeding  furiously.

To conclude with some information from Bird Atlas, over the last 20 years Magpies have  increased their distribution by 0.04% and there has been a slight decline in abundance in Somerset.  They are much more numerous in the home counties. 

If you would like information on any particular species, please get in touch , and I will try to oblige.

Trevor Riddle 01934 835208