Thursday 31st July [Thundery showers locally, but it remained dry at the lake.]
I spent another disappointing hour at the lake early this afternoon between 1309 & 1404 hrs. At the Top End hide I could see four Teal-like birds, three of which were definitely Teal, but the other was so distorted by the heat haze and distance I couldn’t tell if it was a Teal or Garganey for sure. Aside from the 16 Little Egrets and nine Great White’s, nothing else caught my eye, apart from a Small Red-eyed Damselfy that landed on the road at Wood Bay Point. It’s the first I’ve seen this year, because lack of access to the water’s edge has made dragonfly watching nigh on impossible. I haven’t seen any Common or Ruddy Darters, although Migrant Hawkers are on the wing around the lakeside. 31 spp.
Wednesday 30th July [Warm & sunny. Breezy.]
Merv P. texted me this morning to say he’d had a look around, but it was pretty quiet. He was pleased to see a Jersey Tiger (moth) though. I saw one on our patio this afternoon too. I’ve seen quite a few when I’ve been out and about, and one or two friends have shown me photos they’ve taken of them too. Undaunted by Merv’s report, and after a hard gym session, I went for a look myself in the early evening. I saw a Garganey at Top End, six Shoveler, 11 Great Crested Grebes, five Little Egrets, 12 Great White’s and 12 Cattle Egrets. The tide is continuing to go out quickly, and there are fewer birds at the lake than I’d expect at this time of year. Normally, hundreds of male Tufted Ducks arrive to moult. Perhaps, they won’t this year. However, a few Teal have been arriving over the last few days so we may yet see a build up of dabbling ducks to look through in the coming month. But, where are all the waders? 29 spp.
Just before I went out this evening, I came across a Lesser Stag Beetle at our back door step. They are beautiful things and, after a few phone pix, I moved it to the relative safety of the back garden. I’ve seen a few at the lake over the years and, with the terrible destruction caused by Ash Dieback locally, I’m sure they will thrive with the abundance dead wood there is lying around for their larvae to feed on.
Phone pic. of a Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus © Nigel Milbourne 2025
Tuesday 29th July [Mainly overcast, with sunny spells & showers.]
I had a walk in the valley with friends Ann and Trevor today. We passed over the dam and saw seven Egyptian Geese there.
Monday 28th July [Sunny spells & warm]
I had an hour, or so, at the lake this evening. I spent some time going through the gulls in front of Lodge on Tiny’s Shallow and found:
- Great Black-backed Gull, sub-adult. Yellow D:JA left leg. Also noted on 6th July.
- Lesser Black-backed Gull, adult. Green A-Z right leg.
There was also a Herring Gull with a black ring that had yellow (possibly stained from white) letters/numerals on it.
At Holt Bay I heard a Grey Partridge calling continually, but couldn’t see it over the hedge. I moved on along the south side to the Top End hide where I saw one Garganey, 13 Little Egrets, nine Great Whites, and seven Cattle Egrets. 23 spp.
Sunday 27th July [A wet morning, drying out during the afternoon & evening.]
This afternoon I saw two Garganey at Top End, 18 Little Egrets, 13 Great White’s and two Cattle Egrets. There’ve been very few birds coming through over the last few days and the water level continues to drop fairly rapidly. 35 spp. I’m a little surprised at how rapidly the birds are emptying the feeder at the moment, I guess they’re tucking in to help the growth of new feathers after their moult. In the evening Skip H. Dave P. and I did another BTO Nightjar survey.
Saturday 26th July [Dull & overcast morning with showers. Drier later.]
I had a very enjoyable morning with my old running mate Chris H. at LarkRail in Bath – it was great to catch-up, having not seen each other since the exhibition last year. This meant I didn’t have much time for anything other than a quick drive along the south side of the lake early in the evening. I stopped for a quick look from the hide on the way and saw a single Garganey, 26 Little Egrets, nine Great White’s, and a Hobby. 28 spp. Later I met Skip H. to continue our BTO Nightjar survey work.
Friday 25th July [Hot & sunny]
This afternoon I met Mark and Ken A. to put up some bat recorders in a local woodland where we’re hoping to put some boxes up. I had a quick walk at Top End and saw two Garganey still present, along with 16 Little Egrets, nine Great White’s and a Cattle Egret. 18 spp.
Thursday 24th July [Dry & warm, with a rather beautiful evening.]
I was at the lake from 1900-2100 hrs and enjoyed a still, warm, evening’s birding, although there wasn’t too much to see around the shoreline or on the water until I got to Top End hide. Most birds were in Top End and quite distant, but I spotted the two Garganey again, and a Greenshank that didn’t stick around for long. More impressive were the 30 Little Egrets and 9 Great Whites, and a flight of 20+ Cattle Egrets over North Shore. I refilled the bird feeder, but it was probably too late to attract any passerines in by that time. NIck P. came over from t’other place while I was at Top End, and found a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull that I will have to look out for tomorrow – nice one Nick! 35 spp.
Tuesday 22nd July [Cloudy, with some sunny spells.]
I went to the lake this afternoon and, arriving at the dam, was a bit disappointed with how few birds I could see. There were seven Egyptian Geese and two Common Sandpipers with a handful of Mallards in the dam area. At the Lodge there were plenty of large gulls roosting but I could only find one ringed bird, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, Blue F 682 (Rt. Leg). At Rainbow Point there was an adult Redshank and a fly over Hobby. I took a few pictures of some Cattle and Little Egrets there too.. At Top End the water continues to drain away from the hide and I couldn’t find any Teal or the two Garganey I saw there yesterday evening. So it was time to tot up the egrets which came out at 23 Little, 15 Cattle and six Great Whites.
Hobby, Rainbow Point © Nigel Milbourne 2025
Monday 21st July [Changeable. Overcast with showers.]
Another busy day meant an evening visit, rather later than ideal to be honest. Nevertheless, I came across three Common Sandpipers resting on a buoy off the dam wall, three Black-tailed Godwits on Wookey Point at Top End, and two Garganey, I think, as well – although it was pretty dismal by the time I spotted them. The egret count was 18 Cattle, eight Little and nine Great White. 30 spp.
Sunday 20th July [Cooler, with some showers.]
There were four Egyptian Geese on the dam this afternoon, but despite working my way along the south side to Top End I didn’t see anything new, and because the Top End has been drying out, there was no sign of the Garganey where it had been feeding last week. The nearest water to the hide must be more than 100 metres away and, if things remain the same, the whole top end will be dry within a week or two beacause it is so shallow. The egrets are enjoying the situation and I counted 19 Cattle Egrets, 13 Little Egrets, seven Great White Egrets, and six Grey Herons. On the way home I saw a Kestrel hunting at Holt Bay. 32 spp. Reuben V. reported three Common Sandpipers this morning, and Mark H. saw a Hobby.
Great White Egret feeding on Odonata, Holt Bay © Nigel Milbourne 2025
Friday 18th July [Warm]
I birded on foot from Wood Bay Point to Top End and back this evening. There were two Egyptian Geese and two Common Sandpipers at the dam, and 21 Little Egrets, 10 Great White Egrets, four Cattle Egrets and five Grey Herons. A Hobby put in an appearance at the Top End, and the Garganey was still feeding in the heavily weeded shallow water. 37 spp.
Cinnabar Moth larva on Common Ragwort © Nigel Milbourne 2025
I haven’t seen a Cinnabar Moth, or caterpillar, at the lake for a while, but was pleased to see some today, even though the Ragwort is not welcome in the hay meadows because it is poisonous in livestock feed.
Thursday 17th July [Warm. Some showers.]
This evening I drove my way along the south side of the lake to the Top End hide, birding as I went. There were five Egyptian Geese and two Common Sandpipers on the dam, but just gulls, in the main, on Tiny’s Shallow. There were two Lapwings on Rugmoor Point. At Top End, I saw the Garganey again, 11 Black-tailed Godwits (10 of which flew off), and lots of egrets. I reckoned there were 19 Little Egrets, 10 Great White Egrets, and a number (eight plus) of Cattle Egrets which were constantly on the move and hard to count. 37 spp.
Wednesday 16th July [Dry & warm]
I walked 6.5 miles with friends this afternoon at Chew Valley Lake (there were seven Egyptian Geese on the dam wall) then, after tea, I went to ‘my patch’. It’s a bit strange at the moment, with the water level dropping noticeably day by day. The Top End is draining out leaving huge masses of weed that some dabbling ducks are raking through for food. Egrets are present in decent numbers but there are no waders coming through yet to take advantage of the situation. This evening I saw two Egyptian Geese at the dam, the Garganey and a Hobby at Top End, and counted 16 Little Egrets that went to roost at Hellfire Corner, and nine Cattle Egrets flying up the lake when I was at the Lodge. Five Great White Egrets were still hunting when I left. For some reason I couldn’t discern, Black-headed Gulls were swarming over the Top End feeding, before flying off to t’other place to roost. I feel sad looking at the place these days, when I compare it to my memories of birding there as recently as the 1990s and early 2000s. This year continues to be the worst in more than a decade, measured by the number of bird species seen, but if the water level remains low, extra wader species may drop in, compared to the years when the water level is high (like last year). However, even if some migrants do stop over, there are unlikely to be the numbers of even twenty years ago. The high water temperature (25 Celsius) is affecting fishing, and weed is choking areas of shallow water. Heron’s Green Bay at Chew Valley Lake looked pretty awful today as well. These are changing times, and not necessarily for the better it seems to me. Martin K. saw a Hobby at Green Lawn. 33 spp.
Tuesday 15th July [Cloudy, with a strong warm breeze.]
I spent a couple of hours at the lake this afternoon hoping to see some new birds that may have dropped in during the showers, and surprise, surprise, I found a Garganey and Green Sandpiper at Top End. I thought the Garganey was an adult female, but will need to spend longer looking at it in daylight. The four Lapwings were still present, and the egret count had changed with just three Great White and 12 Cattle Egrets, although 11 Litte Egrets were the same. Little Grebes are appearing, although I’m not sure if they’re local breeders or moult arrivals. They seem to have bred successfully, unlike the Great Crested Grebes which have failed to bring off any young this year. Dave P. saw a Hobby hunting at Green Lawn. 42 spp.
Probable, Painted Nomad Bee Nomada fucata © Nigel Milbourne 2025
I thought I’d share this, not so brilliant, photo I grabbed at the Lodge entrance gate on 30th June. It is one of a number of bees in the genus Nomada, which are cleptoparasites of other bees, in this case the Yellow-legged Mining Bee Andrena flavipes, if I’ve identified it correctly (I’ve asked for a more authoritative opinion – they are a difficult group to identify). The females fly low over the ground, often bare or sparsely vegetated soil on a south facing bank, looking for the holes of the host mining bee, in which they will lay an egg. When the grub hatches it will eat the host egg/grub and feed on the provisions made by the host mother. I saw several when I got out of my car to open the entrance gate where we hitch the gate to the post to keep it open.
Monday 14th July [Cooler, with a rain shower or two.]
Phil, Skip, Dave and I did the WeBS count this morning and managed to dodge the showers, thankfully. The water level was about 60% by my reckoning. Counts were: Canada Goose 206, Mute Swan 33 (inc. 3 juvs), Egyptian Goose 7, Shelduck 2 (both juvs), Shoveler 1, Gadwall 13, Mallard 414, Domestic Mallard 1, Teal 4, Tufted Duck 83, Moorhen 29, Coot 431, Little Grebe 10 (6 juvs), Great Crested Grebe 9, Lapwing 4, Common Sandpiper 9, Black-headed Gull c. 60, Herring Gull 8, Great Black-backed Gull c. 10, Lesser Black-backed Gull c. 30, Cormorant 6, Little Egret 11, Great White Egret 17, Cattle Egret 35 (6 juvs), Grey Heron 8, Buzzard 3, Grey Wagtail 5. There was no sign of the LRP along the south side of the lake. 37 spp.
Sunday 13th July [Very hot]
I decided not to go down to the lake today, given how hot it was. However, Nick P. reported two Lapwings and a Little Ringed Plover, so little change from yesterday. Tomorrow, the team will do the monthly WeBS count.
Saturday 12th July [Very hot]
I waited until early evening before venturing out to bird on foot from Home Bay to Top End gate and back. I was really struck by the amazing number of Gatekeeper butterflies there were along the hedges. There were far more than I think I’ve ever seen in a day previously. There were also quite a few large dragonflies patrolling along the hedges, mainly Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer and a single Lesser Emperor at Bell’s Bush. There were possibly Southern and Migrant Hawkers too but I didn’t get any definitive views of either. The only waders I saw were singles of Lapwing and Little Ringed Plover, but heard a Water Rail, saw four Little Grebes, five Little Egrets, 13 Great White Egrets, 16 Cattle Egrets, five Grey Herons, a male Sparrowhawk, a Red Kite, three Buzzards, and eight species of butterfly. 37 bird spp.
Wednesday 9th July [Hot]
Sadly there was no sign of the Otters this evening, possibly because the lake is being drawn down at present, and the Top End is badly weeded up. I counted Egyptian Goose 1, Little Ringed Plover 1, Lapwing 2, Little Egret 3, Great White Egret 3, Cattle Egret 15, Grey Heron 3, Green Woodpecker 3, and a Sedge Warbler. 33 spp.
Tuesday 8th July
Nick P., per BirdTrack, reported a Black-tailed Godwit and four Egyptian Geese of note today.
Monday 7th July [Warm & breezy]
I birded late this evening, having done a hard session at the gym in the late afternoon. I counted: Egyptian Goose 1, Great Crested Grebe 5, Oystercatcher 2, Dunlin 1 adult, Great White Egret 5, Cattle Egret 14+ (George S. suggested 25+ per Avon Birds), Grey Heron 2. While I was watching from the Top End hide three Otters swam past, with mum obviously hunting while the two youngsters (full grown) spent most of their time playing. I watched them for about 20 minutes before they moved on – it was quite delightful. On the way back I saw two Muntjac, one of which was a male standing looking at me less than 10 metres away. He emerged from the copse shortly afterwards with a female. 27 spp.
Sunday 6th July [Dry. Cloudy turning to sunny spells.]
An early evening visit was quite a revelation, especially as I was able to walk to the hide with some confidence of not picking up any ticks, as the path had been strimmed today. I used my car to move along the south side of the lake stopping and scanning as I went. There was an Egyptian Goose on the dam, and gulls and coots on Tiny’s Shallow at the Lodge, where I saw Great Black-backed Gull, yellow D:JA, again. Pete Rock emailed me to say it had been ringed on Denny Island in the Severn Estuary, and hopefully we’ll find out when, in due course – I thought it was probably a 3rd-calendar year. At Long Bay pines, I came across juvenile Woodpigeons, Robins, and a Green Woodpecker. When I got to the hide at Top End I spent a while scanning and was amazed to see a family of Mute Swans (three juvs.}, five broods of Mallard (seven, five, three, two and two), a Pochard, 45 Tufted Ducks, seven Great Crested Grebes, eight Black-tailed Godwits, an Oystercatcher, a Lapwing, 20 Cattle Egrets going to roost lakeside, and two Otters. I also counted seven Moorhens, two Little Egrets, six Great White Egrets, and four Grey Herons. 34 spp.
Saturday 5th July [Rain in the morning, drying later. Breezy.]
I had an easy day today, watching ‘Le Tour’, and went to the lake early evening. There wasn’t too much to excite, but I had a good walk and racked up a decent list.: Cattle Egret 14, Little Egret 12, Great White Egret 3, Hobby 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1+, House Sparrow 1, and juvenile Moorhen, Mallard, Goldfinch, Black-headed Gull, Grey Heron, Great Black-backed Gull and Canada Goose. 43 spp. Avon Birds additionally reported Oystercatcher 1, Little Ringed Plover 1 juv., Common Gull 1, Sand Martin and Mistle Thrush 1 juv. On the way back to the Lodge I came across the carcass of a dead Eel which was probably 30+ inches long. It had been partially eaten – a sad end for what was probably a mature fish awaiting the chance to return to the sea to attempt the long migration back to the Sargasso to spawn. In front of the Lodge I spotted a ringed Great Black-backed Gull, yellow D:JA, which I’ve submitted to the BTO.
Friday 4th July [Breezy with pleasant sunny spells]
Merv P. texted me this morning after an early trip to the lake and told me he’d seen a Black-tailed Godwit and a Redshank. Avon Birds had news of an Oystercatcher too, pictured by George S. I didn’t go to the lake today, but our survey team got together again this evening, to check an adjacent 3 sq. km. of forest and heathland to last night, and none of us heard or saw any ‘jars at all. We covered quite a lot of ground; I, for one, walked four and a half miles.
Thursday 3rd July [Breezy & cooler after the recent heatwave]
After a five mile walk with friends on Mendip in the morning, and a gym session in the afternoon, I met Dave P. and Skip H. to do a 3 sq. km. BTO Nightjar survey on Black Down at dusk. It wasn’t what I’d been hoping for, I have to say. Dave heard a churring bird distantly, but not in his square, and Skip had a brief encounter when one flew in front of him. I neither heard or saw any.
Tuesday 1st July [Hot]
I went to the lake this evening and spotted three adult Black-tailed Godwits and a Lapwing in front of the Lodge, five Cattle Egrets on North Shore (Melanie P. saw 12+ fly towards Chew later), two Common Sandpipers and a Little Ringed Plover at Green Lawn, seven Great White Egrets go to roost in the pines at Indian Country, saw a Hobby hunting at Home Bay Point., a Spotted Flycatcher at Bell’s Bush, and another six Lapwings on Wookey Point from the hide. 35 spp.