Tuesday 25th April 2023 - Somerset Levels

 

This week was the last time for a few weeks that the 3 Amigos will be able to get out as a threesome so we chose to visit the Somerset Levels and what a great choice it was, as we had some of the best bird watching that we have had in years, in fact the best in decades. Our first stopping point was going to be Westhay and to get there we drive over what is no more than a single track road and it was here we started our days list with Stock Dove, Blackbird and Pheasant seen. As we approached a field with one of the small drainage channels running down it we noticed a flock of about 20 Egrets and on closer examination they were all Cattle Egrets (year tick no1). Great Crested Grebe, Greylag and Canada Geese as well as Mute Swans were all logged before we reached the Westhay car park. As we set off on our walk up Dagg’s Lane Drove Great Tits were in the trees to our left and a single Coot was in the water at the end of the car park, a Blue Tit and a Buzzard was our next 2 sightings and as we left the car park a familiar bird started to sing (year tick no2) a Sedge Warbler. Sand Martins were flying overhead, and a calling Willow Warbler was our next sighting. 

Willow Warbler - Westhay (Bath Birdwatcher)

Cetti’s Warbler is a bird often heard but hard to see due to its sculking nature but today one showed very well giving us good views. Orange Tip butterflies were on the wing and we saw them all day. Marsh Harrier was next with several birds seen. Long Tailed Tits were working there way through the bushes and from the start of the walk we could hear Reed Warblers singing from deep in the reeds, another bird that its often easier to hear than to see but again luck was on our side as this individual was seen singing on the edge of the reedbed (year tick no3).

Reed Warbler - Westhay (Bath Birdwatcher)

Wren and Chiffchaff were ticked off and amid a flock of Sand Martins was 1 or 2 House Martins. A Moorhen was on an open patch of water and a Great White Egret and a Cormorant flew over. Our next 3 sightings were also fly overs Raven, Kestrel and Woodpigeon. David heard a Reed Bunting which we found singing from a bush.

Reed Bunting - Westhay (Bath Birdwatcher)

Carrion Crow and Lesser Black Back Gull flew by and a Robin flew along the drove, it mush have been a good day for flyovers as our next new sighting was a Grey Heron. As we reached the wooded area a Blackcap was singing from an exposed branch and a Chaffinch was close by. Jackdaws came next feeding in a field where Magpies were also spotted. A Peacock butterfly flew past and a Goldfinch called from the top of a tree, a Speckled Wood butterfly was our 1^st of the year. One of the main reasons for walking the length of the drove was to try and find a Whitethroat which we had been told was at the end, but no sign of it so retracing our steps I heard one or 2 notes of its call coming from a bush to our right and there it was (year tick no4). Walking back to the car we added a Herring Gull and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly. Next stop was Ham Wall and on the way we added Rook to our days total. After having lunch we headed for viewing platform no1 but as we crossed the bridge over the 1^st drain a Gadwall was seen and from the time we arrived at Ham Wall we could hear the distant call of a Cuckoo and from the bridge we were sure it was singing from a distant line of trees but even with a telescope it remained out of sight. As I scanned the sky looking for a Marsh Harrier a Swift flew through my vision and as we scanned around 6 or more were flying high up (year tick no5). A Song Thrush flew past. While at viewing platform 1. Tufted Duck, Little Egret and Shoveler were all new for the day, a flock of birds flew up from in front of us Whimbrel which flew around before flying off leaving 3 behind (year tick no6), Black Tailed Godwits were in the shallows and a single Ruff worked its way through the reeds (year tick no7), Redshank and Black Headed Gull were next. Then in flew 4 Glossy Ibis the most I have ever seen together (year tick no8).

Glossy Ibis - Ham Wall (Bath Birdwatcher)

Scanning with my telescope Lapwing and Teal were seen, I then found a different wader but it had its back to us and it wasn’t until it turned its head that I realised I was looking at a Spotted Redshank (year tick no9). A Pochard was on the water behind us, as I continued scoping a Garganey appeared by the reeds but before David could find it, it disappeared behind a reed bed never to be seen again (year tick no10). We then walked to viewing platform no 2 and on the way we added Little Grebe. Nothing new here and as it was time to leave we set off back stopping at platform 1 just to see if the Garganey was showing but it was a no. but we did add a Dunnock finally just before we reached the bridge a bird sang from a bush very similar to a Blackcap but we realised it was slightly different and when we found the bird we confirmed it was a Garden Warbler (year tick no11).

62 species seen in the day a great total and a fantastic days bird spotting.