Tuesday 19th April 2022 - Somerset Levels.

 

This week’s bird spotting day out took us to the Somerset Levels but only 2 of the 3 Amigos were able to go. Bryan was unable to come so David and myself set off just before 9am and the bird sightings started almost immediately with Magpie, Woodpigeon, Starling and Lesser Black Back Gull all seen before we reached Radstock. Here we would normally turn right and head for Midsomer Norton but the road was closed so we had to go via the White Post pub and take the Wells road, we continued adding to the days list with Collared Dove, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Buzzard all ticked before we turned off the B3139 onto Leaze Drove  and followed the lanes all the way to Westhay. Again as we drove across the moors we added Carrion Crow, My 1^st 2 Swallows of the year sat on wires, Little Egret, Kestrel, Stock Dove, Pheasant, Herring Gull, Blue Tit, Robin, Chaffinch, Mallard and Mute Swan. After parking in the carpark I spotted 2 Jays flying over, we started the walk along Dagg’s Lane Drove, soon adding Gadwall and a fly over Cormorant to the days list. A Cetti’s Warbler sang from deep cover and we knew from previous experience that they usually move after singing and this one truly obliged, we had a good day for this species as one sat in the open for ages allowing us great views of a normally very secretive bird. Great Crested Grebe, Canada and Greylag Goose were spotted. The Greylag’s had 5 very small goslings swimming along with them. As we approached the 1^st hide on the right a calling Chiffchaff was ticked off Moorhen and Coot were soon added. Our 1^st Marsh Harrier of the day was spotted by David and a Reed Bunting flew by. The next 3 sightings were all butterflies with Orange Tip, Peacock and Green Veined White all seen. As we moved further along the Drove a Great White Egret was seen, and when we reached a wooded area a Great Spotted Woodpecker called and flew into a tree where it was joined by another which turned out to be a female as the two started mating something in over 40 years birding I have never seen before. When we arrived at a bridge which spans on of the drainage ditches we could hear a Whitethroat singing which we duly found on a patch of bramble some 50 yds further along the drove. Time to retrace our steps with 2 Great Tits showing well in the woods and we could hear a singing Willow Warbler which we had been hearing for a few weeks but until now could not see one, but this one kindly sat in a tree singing its heart out, another year tick.

Willow Warbler-Westhay(Bath Birdwatcher)

Our 4^th butterfly a Speckled Wood was our next sighting while a Wren was our last sighting of the morning. We then drove to Ham Wall where we had our lunch and after we decided to walk to Noah’s hide  and leaving the car park a baby Robin fully fledged was sat on a branch but flew off when it had enough of us looking at it. A Blackcap called and was found with others also seen in the same area. Our 5^th butterfly a Holly Blue was our next sighting. As we walked by the South Drain David spotted 4 birds of prey and on closer inspection we could see 2 were a pair of Sparrowhawks displaying and the others were 2 Hobby’s another year first. In the open water we added Pochard, Tufted Duck and Shoveler. The hide proved to be an anticlimax with just a Grey Heron and several Sand Martins seen. Walking back 2 Ravens flew over, we then continued on to Ham Wall where I found a Glossy Ibis another year tick and a bird that proved interesting to several people passing by, in fact one chap had made 3 visits to try and find the bird so was very happy that we could point it out to him. Walking on towards the 1^st viewing platform Long Tailed Tit and Dunnock were day ticks. At the viewing point we added Lapwing, Black Tailed Godwit, Ruff yet another year tick, Teal and Pied Wagtail were our last sightings on the Levels. On the return to Bath Rooks were added to our day list bringing our total to 58 species plus the 5 butterflies.

Speckled Wood-Westhay(Bath Birdwatcher)