Sightings


This is a page where visitors have posted their sightings of wildlife on the Trap Grounds. Please use the form at the bottom of the page to submit your own sightings. Post your own sighting.


112 Sightings:


  1. Diane Wilson

    Sun 01-August-2010

    Migrant hawker dragonfly hawking along the main path

  2. Catherine Robinson

    Fri 09-July-2010

    Lots of bats - Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle, and Daubenton’s - identified on a walk led tonight by Hannah Bilston, of the Oxfordshire Bat Group.

  3. Diane Wilson

    Fri 02-July-2010

    Southern Hawker dragonfly, female, hawking back and forth on the main path.

  4. Catherine Robinson

    Sun 27-June-2010

    Spotted Flycatcher in the willows near Frog Lane; Hay Rattle in the meadow.

  5. Catherine Robinson

    Sat 26-June-2010

    “Thank you for looking after this nice jungle” - 3-year-old boy, taking part in a birthday-party treasure hunt on the TG.

  6. Catherine Robinson

    Tue 22-June-2010

    Grass Snake basking in the sun in the Frog Lane ditch. Fish seven inches long (approx) in the pond.

  7. christine Standing

    Tue 25-May-2010

    5.30 am muntjac deer - singleton near the edge of the boardwalk

  8. Peter Higgins

    Sat 22-May-2010

    Sumer is icumen in
    Lhude sing cuccu
    Heard today at about 9.45am - sounded quite close to the pond

  9. David Grieveson

    Sat 01-May-2010

    Willow Warbler singing on Burgess Field, but not in full song yet. Recently arrived?

  10. Alan Allport

    Sat 01-May-2010

    On our May Morning birdsong walk we heard and/or sighted two dozen bird species. The dominant singers were Wrens (everywhere: so they have survived the cold winter), Robin, Song Thrush, Great Tit, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, and the Reed and Sedge Warblers. But no Willow Warblers - usually all around the willow carr. Has anyone heard them?

  11. Alan Allport

    Fri 30-April-2010

    A pair of Bullfinches busy in the Ash trees and feeding on Apple buds, to the North of the meadow - the male looking splendid in his garnet waistcoat and black cap.

  12. Mary Gregory

    Mon 26-April-2010

    A mallard duck was dozing in the swan nest. The brooding swan was showing no interest.

  13. Catherine Robinson

    Sun 25-April-2010

    Reed warblers very vocal in the reedbed: first time I’ve heard them this year.

  14. Catherine Robinson

    Mon 19-April-2010

    Baby muntjac (the size of a piglet!) running along the boardwalk; mother going frantic in the Railway Wood.

  15. Michael Treacy

    Sat 17-April-2010

    Several male (bright yellow) Brimstone butterflies, as well as a myriad of Peacock butterflies. One Comma butterfly was seen. All of these were on the perimeter path.

  16. Michael Treacy

    Sat 17-April-2010

    At least one male Orange Tip butterfly. I looked for, but did not see, any females. The butterfly was traveling fast, and my multiple sightings all along the perimeter path may have been of the same individual.

  17. Diane Wilson

    Sat 17-April-2010

    The duck family sailing proudly down the Frog Stream, Dad, Mum and 5 very young ducklings. Mrs Swan on her nest fussing about with bits of reed.

  18. Mary Gregory

    Fri 09-April-2010

    A green woodpecker, often heard recently, was seen today near the den swamp. A couple of woodpecker holes in the familiar tree nearby have been worked on.
    Also in the trees a couple of long-tailed tits and a chiffchaff.

  19. Catherine Robinson

    Fri 09-April-2010

    Crows mobbing a heron over the reedbed. Swan on nest. Brimstone and Peacock butterflies.

  20. Mary Gregory

    Fri 02-April-2010

    A muntjac near the flight path moved off towards the swamp

  21. Mary Gregory

    Thu 01-April-2010

    A swan has been sitting on the nest for two days now, with partner on the pond.

  22. Polly Holbrook

    Fri 19-March-2010

    4.04 pm a beautiful kingfisher in Frog Lane Ditch - clearly seen from Frenchay Road Bridge.

  23. catherine robinson

    Mon 15-March-2010

    Small quantities of frog spawn in the Frog Lane ditch. I hope the ducks don’t eat it all.

  24. catherine robinson

    Mon 15-March-2010

    Swan Family survey: visitors please look out for the rings on our pair and record their ID numbers on this website so we can follow their progress over the years.

  25. Catherine Robinson

    Sat 13-March-2010

    Swans now building a nest in the traditional place on the west bank of the pond.

  26. Mary Gregory

    Sun 07-March-2010

    A pair of swans checking out the pond in bright sunshine this afternoon.

  27. Mary Gregory

    Sun 07-March-2010

    Two redwings crossing the glade; surprisingly late for them still to be around.

  28. Mary Gregory

    Wed 17-February-2010

    A muntjac buck at the north-east swamp.

  29. Catherine Robinson

    Fri 05-March-2010

    Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the big willows this morning.

  30. Diane Wilson

    Tue 02-March-2010

    A large red-tailed bumblebee. A lovely sign of Spring on a lovely day.

  31. Mary Gregory

    Wed 27-January-2010

    A green woodpecker got up noisily from the reedbeds, flew across the canal and took up position in a tree at the bootom of a Hayfield garden.

  32. Mary Gregory

    Sat 23-January-2010

    A flock of long-tailed tits (10+) moving busily around in the trees just north of the wildflower meadow.

  33. Catherine Robinson

    Fri 22-January-2010

    First snowdrops in flower on the bank of the reedbed stream

  34. Mary Gregory

    Wed 13-January-2010

    Lots of deer prints in the snow along the Mill Stream, through the flight path, in the wildflower meadow and on the west perimeter path. Some were probably muntjac but others could be roe deer which are in Burgess Field daily at present.

  35. kate wilson

    Tue 12-January-2010

    A redwing in the trees in the trap grounds alongside the canal.

  36. Anonymous

    Wed 30-December-2009

    Snowdrop shoots are emerging esp where the main path turns south towards the wild flower meadow

  37. Anthony Skillicorn

    Tue 13-October-2009

    Another muntjac in broad daylight. They are getting bolder!

  38. Mary Gregory

    Fri 02-October-2009

    3pm a muntjac deer in the corridor behind the school playground.

  39. Polly Holbrook

    Sat 26-September-2009

    At 10.15, beside the sycamore habitat piles, a very pretty chestnut brown deer about 2ft 9ins at the shoulder and a cream blaze surrounded by a black stripe between its eyes. Possibly pale spots on its sides? We watched each other for about 5 minutes.

  40. Polly Holbrook

    Tue 08-September-2009

    A slow worm about 15 inches long on the path near the south west corner of the site.

  41. Mary Gregory

    Sun 06-September-2009

    Honeysuckle in bloom beside the western path towards the wildflower meadow

  42. Diane Wilson

    Mon 31-August-2009

    2pm A fox by the path down by the stream. Quite a small animal, maybe a vixen or a youngster. It fled away silently when it saw me.

  43. Mary Gregory

    Sat 22-August-2009

    Lots of delicious blackberries!

  44. Norman Gregory

    Sat 22-August-2009

    A muntjack deer near the western end of the Frog Lane path.

  45. Catherine Robinson

    Fri 07-August-2009

    Young sparrowhawks stopped their ceaseless demands for food from the parent birds today

  46. Diane Wilson

    Sat 08-August-2009

    Dragonflies - 2 brown hawkers hawking over the pond. They look like gold in the sunshine.

  47. Peter Higgins

    Fri 24-July-2009

    Humming-bird Hawk Moth - not quite on the Trap Grounds but close. It was feeding on the Buddleia by the canal just north of the Frenchay Road bridge.

  48. Catherine Robinson

    Sat 18-July-2009

    Red Kite circling over the Trap Grounds and Hayfield Road

  49. Peter Higgins

    Sat 18-July-2009

    Suddenly a few more butterflies about. Several commas, red admiral, peacock and several painted ladies. Not a particularly hot day so I wonder if they have just emerged?

  50. Andrew Stalewski

    Mon 29-June-2009

    Glow Worm (one) at about 22:00, between the NE corner of The Glade and the perimeter path. (My first ever Glow Worm. Thank you, Catherine).

  51. Diane Wilson

    Fri 26-June-2009

    Leopard Slug (Limax Maximus) in a fox hole on the northern edge of the meadow.

  52. Clive Hambler

    Wed 24-June-2009

    Adult Slow Worm near the southern end of the main path

  53. Norman Gregory

    Sun 21-June-2009

    Pyramidal Orchids at the southern end of the main path; Common Spotted Orchids on the streamside path

  54. Mary Gregory

    Thu 18-June-2009

    One common toad near the swamp - not a common sighting at least for me

  55. Fiona McAnaney

    Mon 18-May-2009

    A group of long tailed tits, just inside trap ground, beside canal entrance.

  56. Catherine Robinson

    Tue 12-May-2009

    Six (?) newly hatched coot chicks on the pond

  57. Mary Gregory

    Sun 10-May-2009

    Six mallard chicks on the pond

  58. Peter Higgins


    Not exactly a sighting, but at about 12.20 Sunday 10 May we heard a cuckoo calling. Difficult to tell but it seemed to come from the south west of the Trap Grounds

  59. Adam Hartley

    Tue 28-April-2009

    Reed and sedge warblers singing in the reeds, blackcap, garden warblers, willow warblers and chiffchaffs all singing elsewhere. A water vole skulking around the west side of the reedbed.

  60. Mary Gregory

    Thu 16-April-2009

    A second coot nest is now occupied on the west side of the pond. The first nest was used only spasmodically and seems to be abandonned.

  61. Catherine Robinson

    Mon 13-April-2009

    Orange-tip butterflies in the reedbeds and scrubland, enjoying warm sunshine on Easter Monday afternoon.

  62. Adam Hartley

    Mon 30-March-2009

    A kingfisher on the west side of the pond, a female bullfinch in the trees and a singing chiffchaff near the glade.

  63. Catherine Robinson

    Mon 23-Mar-2009

    Frogspawn in the Frog Lane ditch (where else!)

  64. David Gosling (Environmental Artist)

    Fri 20-Mar-2009

    A parakeet flew over the children on the art project.

  65. Alan Allport

    Thu 19-Mar-2009

    Chiff-Chaff just arrived, and singing in the woodland. There is also a Daphne mezereum in flower on the South edge of the meadow, among the goldenrod. (This species is not currently listed in the TG wildlife booklet.)

  66. Mary Gregory

    Thu 12-Mar-2009

    A coot sitting on a nest at the edge of the reeds on the south margin of the pond. Also a swan sitting on a nest in the reeds, in a different position from Catherine’s sighting a couple of weeks ago.

  67. Alan Allport

    Mon 02-Mar-2009

    Kingfisher perching on Willow branch overhanging the Frog Lane ditch.

  68. Catherine Robinson

    Fri 20-Feb-2009

    Swans nesting on the south bank of the pond, at the opposite end from previous years. (New swans, new nest-site.)

  69. Alan Allport

    Thu 05-Feb-2009

    A pair of Snipe in the reedbed; pair of Teal in the stream; flock of 8 Redwing foraging in willows and scrub.

  70. Adam Hartley

    Fri 06-Feb-2009

    A snipe flew off to the north. Also several reed buntings by the stream to the north of the Trap Grounds, within the Waterways area.

  71. Mary Gregory

    Sun 01-Feb-2009

    A pair of swans now daily on the canal headed for the pond at dusk

  72. Diane Wilson

    Mon 26-Jan-2009

    Kingfisher seen at 2.15 and again at 3.15 by the Frog Stream

  73. Adam Hartley

    Fri 23-Jan-2009

    two foxes within the woods

  74. Mary Gregory

    Wed 14-Jan-2009

    Snowdrops coming into flower beside the main path in the northwest section

  75. Norman Gregory

    Sun 11-Jan-2009

    The foxhole in the wildflower meadow is back in use with the entrance cleared

  76. Mary Gregory

    Sun 11-Jan-2009

    Muntjack buck in the wildflower meadow; moved off into the scrubland

  77. Adam Hartley

    Fri 09-Jan-2009

    A snipe and three teal along the still unfrozen west bank of the Mill stream.

  78. Mary Gregory

    Sun 04-Jan-2009

    A snipe flushed from the western edge of the Mill Stream zigzagged across the reed beds.

  79. Norman and Mary Gregory

    Fri 02-Jan-2009

    Red kite over the Trap Grounds - seen from our kitchen window on Woodstock Road

  80. David Grieveson

    Fri 02-Jan-2009

    Red Kite seen flying lazy circles over the Trap Grounds.

    (Seen and heard south of the Trap Grounds - a single Ring-necked Parakeet).

  81. Adam Hartley

    Wed 10-Dec-2008

    A water vole seen at close quarters in the reeds along the north side of the pond.

  82. Catherine Robinson

    Wed 03-Dec-2008

    Woodcock flushed from scrubland today. Drake Teal in the stream. Green Woodpecker in the woodland near Frog Lane.

  83. Mary Gregory

    Wed 01-Oct-2008

    Kingfisher sitting on a branch at the edge of the reed beds, then flew south along the Mill Stream

  84. Adam Hartley

    Fri 19-Sep-2008

    A water vole along the north side of the pond. A singing chiffchaff near the glade and a goldfinch flew over.

  85. Catherine Robinson

    Mon 04-Sep-2006

    Water Vole colony confirmed by BBOWT Water Vole Project Officer: signs of activity on northern bank of pond and eastern bank of stream.

  86. Adam Hartley

    Fri 22-Aug-2008

    A kingfisher on the west side of the pond

  87. Rupert Sheppard

    Sun 17-Aug-2008

    Brown hairstreak butterfly, in good condition.

  88. Mary and Norman Gregory and Varga

    Wed 06-Aug-2008

    One water vole, a youngster, near the notice board at the pond

  89. Polly Holbrook

    Wed 06-Aug-2008

    FOUND ON FROG LANE ‘Kood’ UV Filter (46 mm) tel. 01865 511307

  90. Mary and Norman Gregory

    Tue 05-Aug-2008

    One glow worm still glowing, at the corner of the path towards the school fence

  91. Peter Loudon

    Fri 01-Aug-2008

    3 or 4 sparrowhawk, including two juveniles, calling and chasing a jay and a magpie around the Magic Kingdom. Also muntjac, 2 green woodpecker, 2 great spotted woodpecker.

  92. Mary Gregory

    Thu 31-Jul-2008

    Two glow worms still glowing - will they survive into August?

  93. Catherine Robinson

    Mon 28-Jul-2008

    Water Vole colony identified by the BBOWT Water Vole Project Officer: evidence of activity found on the banks of the stream and the pond

  94. Mary Gregory

    Sun 27-Jul-2008

    One reed warbler flitting among the reeds at the edge of the pond.

  95. Mary Gregory

    Thu 24-Jul-2008

    (Probable) one lizard on the path near the slow worm habitat; scuttled off into the undergrowth

  96. Catherine Robinson

    Mon 28-Jul-2008

    Water Vole colony confirmed by BBOWT Water Vole Project Officer in July 2008. Signs of activity along northern boundary of pond and on eastern bank of stream towards the south.

  97. Mary and Norman Gregory

    Fri 13-Jun-2008

    A badger trotting along the concrete strip behind the school fence at dusk.

  98. catherine robinson

    Tue 22-Jul-2008

    A day-flying bat flitting over the wildflower meadow at 3.30 pm

  99. Peter Loudon

    Sun 13-Jan-2008

    4 siskin, 2 kingfisher

  100. Peter Loudon

    Mon 24-Mar-2008

    2 water rail sharming in the reedbed

  101. Peter Loudon

    Mon 21-Jul-2008

    Water vole - chewing thru reeds on the edge of the main pond. Also kingfisher

  102. catherine robinson

    Mon 21-Jul-2008

    Adult Slow Worm under a piece of slate on the meadow

  103. Brinny

    Mon 21-Jul-2008

    Common lizard on rocks in the clearing

  104. Peter Loudon

    Sat 19-Jul-2008

    Kingfisher

  105. Norman and Mary Gregory

    Tue 15-Jul-2008

    Four Glow Worms near the Pyramidal Orchids on the meadow

  106. Peter Higgins

    Sun 06-Jul-2008

    Common Spotted orchid near the swamp on west bank of stream

  107. Alan Allport

    Tue 08-Jul-2008

    3 Bee Orchids (one on main path, one on wildflower meadow, one near the school fence).

  108. catherine robinson

    Fri 04-Jul-2008

    20 Pyramidal orchids on the wildflower meadow where we cleared the brambles in February. Also a juvenile Slow Worm.

  109. Catherine Robinson

    Sat 02-Feb-2008

    Water Rail in ditch north of Trap Grounds

  110. Peter Loudon

    Sat 03-Mar-2007

    Water Rail in reedbed stream

  111. Rupert Higgins

    Tue 27-Dec-2005

    Water Rail on icy pond

  112. Peter Loudon

    Fri 11-Feb-2005

    Two Water Rails, one in reedbed, one on west bank of stream




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