Langford Lakes, Wiltshire & Chew valley Lake, Somerset

Herring Gull Larus argentatus

Monday 5 February

Dull and cloudy and a hint of light drizzle as I set off for Sand Bay near Weston Super mare in Somerset.  A Pheasant as I cam off the M27 to take the A36 westwards and a first stop at Langford Lakes, west of Salisbury, arriving just on 1 o'clock and staying for just under the hour.

Mainly Canada Geese on these waters plus a small assortment of ducks including Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal and Tufted Duck.  Both Moorhen and Coot along with six Little Egrets and seven Mute Swans. Lovely to see a Wren as I started out on the walk to the far pool where, in addition to a male Blackbird, I came across a quartet of Snipe. Corvids were represented by Jackdaw, Rook and Carrion Crow along with a few Woodpigeons. But, perhaps, vest was the sighting of a pair of Red Kite as I left the A36 to drive down to the reserve and almost immediately, in the lane, came across a Yellowhammer.

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

Continuing on for the next sixty miles to Chew Valley Lake I concentrated on the Herriott Valley Pool at the south-earn end of the water.  Here, numerous duck and heron family members resulting in 25Mute Swans, Shelduck, Mallard (over 40), Tufted Duck, Teal and Shoveler.  At the back of the water five Great White Egrets and a Heron plus a huge raft of gulls, mainly Black-headed but also many Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls.  More Coot than Moorhen but so many resting Cormorants.

Great White Egret Egretta alba

As expected, a number of Magpies seen on the final part of my journey and even a pair waiting to greet me upon my eventual arrival at Sand Bay!

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Birds seen:    

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Heron, Red Kite, Moorhen, Coot, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Yellowhammer.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Great White Egret with Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

A tiny portion of the many gulls in the raft

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