9th March - herons
March 9th
Another of those magic moments today, this time by the riverside near Hencliffe Wood, Hanham.
Grey herons have begun to congregate at their usual nesting spot just past the east entrance to St Anne's railway tunnel on the south bank of the Avon. On the day I visited there were around a dozen birds but I would expect numbers to rise as more arrive. Last year there were around 18-20 pairs.
On the Hanham side rooks are also begin to gather to nest in the stand of tall trees almost opposite the herons. In addition, several buzzards were seen slightly west towards Bristol, with evidence of a nesting pair that were frequently calling. Around 200 jackdaws were roosting in the same area as the herons, frequently taking off together with their argumentative 'jack-jack' calls. A great spotted woodpecker was hammering out his mating summons, and a green woodpecker's laughing call was heard. Add to that the resonant 'teacher-teacher' call of a nearby great tit and the bright cheerful song of a robin, and the end result was a wonderful cacophony of noise! A cormorant was seen with wings spread nearby. A cracking day out!
Coming in to land in the treetops. With that huge six foot wingspan it looks a precarious business!
Taking time away from the nest to preen and just chill out for a while.
Around 200 jackdaws were roosting in amongst the herons, frequently taking off with lots of argumentative 'jack-jack' calls.
Look out for buzzards circling overhead with their high contact calls.
The herons will be nesting and rearing young until May so there's plenty of time to catch sight of these huge birds, frequently taking off to rest away from the nests or to feed. The best views are from the Hencliffe Wood bank where you can look across the river to see them. If you're driving, from Hanham head east along the A431 to the Whittucks Road traffic lights and turn right into Whittucks Road. At the bottom of Whittucks Road, turn left onto Abbots Road then second right into Castle Farm Road. At the bottom of Castle Farm Road is a car park. Leave the car there then walk through the two gates at the far end of the car park. Follow the lane down to riverside, branching right along the lane through the woodland. As you pass a stand of very tall trees to your left planted in rows you will hear the rooks overhead and there is a path leading down to the riverside past a stone ruin. You should now be almost opposite the eastern entrance to St Anne's Tunnel. The herons' nests are slightly west of the tunnel entrance across the river from where you are standing.
Mike.
Another of those magic moments today, this time by the riverside near Hencliffe Wood, Hanham.
Grey herons have begun to congregate at their usual nesting spot just past the east entrance to St Anne's railway tunnel on the south bank of the Avon. On the day I visited there were around a dozen birds but I would expect numbers to rise as more arrive. Last year there were around 18-20 pairs.
On the Hanham side rooks are also begin to gather to nest in the stand of tall trees almost opposite the herons. In addition, several buzzards were seen slightly west towards Bristol, with evidence of a nesting pair that were frequently calling. Around 200 jackdaws were roosting in the same area as the herons, frequently taking off together with their argumentative 'jack-jack' calls. A great spotted woodpecker was hammering out his mating summons, and a green woodpecker's laughing call was heard. Add to that the resonant 'teacher-teacher' call of a nearby great tit and the bright cheerful song of a robin, and the end result was a wonderful cacophony of noise! A cormorant was seen with wings spread nearby. A cracking day out!
Coming in to land in the treetops. With that huge six foot wingspan it looks a precarious business!
Taking time away from the nest to preen and just chill out for a while.
Around 200 jackdaws were roosting in amongst the herons, frequently taking off with lots of argumentative 'jack-jack' calls.
Look out for buzzards circling overhead with their high contact calls.
The herons will be nesting and rearing young until May so there's plenty of time to catch sight of these huge birds, frequently taking off to rest away from the nests or to feed. The best views are from the Hencliffe Wood bank where you can look across the river to see them. If you're driving, from Hanham head east along the A431 to the Whittucks Road traffic lights and turn right into Whittucks Road. At the bottom of Whittucks Road, turn left onto Abbots Road then second right into Castle Farm Road. At the bottom of Castle Farm Road is a car park. Leave the car there then walk through the two gates at the far end of the car park. Follow the lane down to riverside, branching right along the lane through the woodland. As you pass a stand of very tall trees to your left planted in rows you will hear the rooks overhead and there is a path leading down to the riverside past a stone ruin. You should now be almost opposite the eastern entrance to St Anne's Tunnel. The herons' nests are slightly west of the tunnel entrance across the river from where you are standing.
Mike.
posted by Mike Dimery at
8:23 AM
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