Chew Valley Lake, 26 Nov 2025

Above: Kingfisher at Herriott’s Bridge © Phillip Delve

Leader: Phillip Delve

At first light, while the lake was obscured by low mist and the surrounding fields enveloped in hard frost, I observed a flock of Redwings drinking the water running down Stratford Lane. With frost and mist all but gone by 9.30, eleven of us met at Herriot’s Bridge in sunshine under a blue sky. Here we were treated to sustained views of a male Kingfisher, fish in beak, perched close by, beside the outlet channel.

In spite of recent weeks of rain, the water level of the main lake was still very low and the shoreline distant. Fortunately our group was well equipped with telescopes to view waterfowl there. Notable on Herriot’s pool were a few Pintail and Shelducks along with the usual Mallards and Black-headed Gulls

Sharing cars we moved on to Stratford Hide. A Tawny Owl is known to roost here and to avoid too much disturbance, I went ahead to find the bird before the rest of our party approached, a few at a time, to see the owl in my telescope. From the hide Carol Rust spotted a distant female Marsh Harrier. In the distance an Avocet feeding in shallow water was notable, along with a good variety of ducks and further out Great Crested Grebes.

As the sky began to cloud over we moved on to Morton Hide. As at Stratford Hide, there were a good selection for ducks. Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Pochard, Tufted and Shoveler Ducks.

A pair of Goldeneye were a little further out.  Indicating the presence of a predator, a flock of teal suddenly sprang into the air followed by a male Marsh Harrier. On our way from here to Herron’s Green causeway we added Buzzards to our bird count.

The shallow pools, inlet channel and exposed mud at Herons Green had attracted a large number of birds including: 6 Whooper Swans, 40 Great White Egrets, several Little Egrets and Grey Herons. A few  Black-tailed Godwits were feeding in shallow pools. Small birds included Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits, a Grey Wagtail, Chaffinches and House Sparrows.

After a picnic lunch at Woodford Lodge, we finished the meeting with a walk along Wally Bank footpath towards the dam. Here we saw Goosanders, a flock of Lapwings and on return to the lodge distant Cattle Egrets. We recorded a total of 57 bird species around the lake between us on this rewarding day out.

Phillip Delve