Saturday 25th May 2024 - Somerset Levels.

 

Saturday was our Bath RSPB’s monthly field trip and this time it was too the Somerset Levels. Our meeting point was the RSPB Ham Wall carpark. 16 members arrived and we all set off starting at Ham Wall. Lucy our leader is great at bird song and after seeing Magpie, Robin, Cormorant, and  Goldfinch while we waited for everyone to arrive, we set off and soon saw Mallard, Woodpigeon, Grey Heron and Buzzard. Lucy then asked us to keep quiet as a Reed Warbler was singing in front of us and she explained to those who did not know, how to tell it was a Reed Warbler. As we continued another warbler called out, or in the case of this bird shouted, it was a Cetti’s Warbler and very unusually was calling from an exposed perch giving everyone great views of a normally very secretive bird. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over and several Mute Swans were on an area of open water. Rook, Chaffinch and Great White Egret were all seen as we approached viewing platform 1, here we added Canada Goose, Coot, Lesser Black Back Gull and our 1st of many Marsh Harriers we were to see during the day. We then started to walk a long loop opposite the viewing platform adding Blackcap, Long Tailed Tit and Carrion Crow. On one piece of open water we found 2 Great Crested Grebe’s and on close inspection one was carrying 2 chicks on its back, something many of the group had never seen before. 

Great Crested Grebe with chicks - Ham Wall (Bath Birdwatcher)

The next bird was only found as it was singing and Bryan found it in a bush a male Reed Bunting. A Wren was next, many had been heard but this was our 1st sighting. A few butterflies  were on the wing Brimstone and Red Admiral were our 1st 2, we also found 2 Clouded Border Moths. 

Clouded Border Moth - Ham Wall (Bath Birdwatcher)

While walking with Bryan at the back of the group we spotted a Herring Gull, not sure how many others spotted it. Our next bird was quite exciting a Garden Warbler in full song enabling us all to note the difference between it and Blackcap which sound similar. Walking back to VP1 3 Swallows flew by and at VP1 a Lapwing was seen in flight. Back in the car park we all split up for lunch and later regathered to walk to Noah’s Hide noting our 1st Jackdaw of the day. The highlight of the afternoon was seeing so many Hobby’s with 6 in the binocular view at one time, a fabulous bird and well worth the trip too see. A pair of Gadwall was in the drain giving a good chance for a photograph. 

Gadwall - South Drain (Bath Birdwatcher)

A new butterfly for the day a Speckled Wood was seen on the footpath to the hide. Nothing new was seen from the hide but Simon King of Spring Watch fame was in the hide guiding another group of birders. Just outside the hide Lucy found a Scarce Chaser Dragonfly and was quite excited to see it as it was much earlier than you would expect to see them, we later found several more. Our next sighting was a bird we had heard regularly during the day but unable to see, a Chiffchaff silent but the dipping tail and dark legs were a giveaway. A Banded Demoiselle or should I say several were flying close to the bridge over the drain and while here I found a small flock of Swifts flying high overhead. Time now to call it a day and get back to the cars but we did add a calling Greenfinch on the way, and our final sighting of the day was a Collared Dove as we drove home.

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