Tuesday 25th March 2025 - Somerset Levels

 

Mute Swan - Ham Wall (Bath Birdwatcher)

This week David and Tony visited The Somerset Levels where we were to start at Westhay. On the way we started with several Pheasants in the fields approaching Wells, nothing more until we drove along the road from Fenny Castle to Westhay where we spotted Goldfinch, Rook and Little Egret, we also passed 2 fields that were full of Cattle Egrets which must have numbered in excess of 100 birds, I have never seen so many of these birds together. Approaching Westhay we added Mute Swan and Cattle Egret. From the car park we followed the Drove which runs through the middle of the reserve and here our 1st sightings were a pair of Gadwall and a Coot as we walked on a singing Blue Tit and a Raven calling and doing aerobatics were soon logged along with a Robin and a Cormorant. 

Coot - Somerset Levels (Bath Birdwatcher)

From the beginning of the walk, we could hear calling Canada Geese but not seen until a few flew over along with a Woodpigeon. From the island hide we added a Wigeon and walking back to the main track we found 2 Great Tits followed soon after by a calling Chiffchaff. Mallard and Moorhen were next then David spotted a lovely male Marsh Harrier the 1st of many but this one had stunning plumage. A Carrion Crow landed on the path beyond us and a Great Crested Grebe was on one of the larger bodies of water. Walking through the wooded area we picked up a Blackbird and Long Tailed Tit and at the bridge a Great White Egret. At this point we made our way back making a slight detour along a side path and here David found a Cetti's Warbler, but it disappeared before I could find it but luckily it reappeared, a year tick. Chaffinch and a solitary Lapwing were also seen. Nothing more was seen as we returned to the car but on the way to Ham Wall we did add Reed Bunting, Herring Gull and Magpie. We sat at the picnic tables at Ham Wall and had our lunch spotting a small flock of Starlings. After lunch we set off heading for viewpoint no1 on the way we spotted Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Shoveler and Teal. From the viewing point a flock of Black Tailed Godwits were sleeping on a grass bar and amongst them were several Snipe, on the open water was a single Pintail and through the tops of the reed stems a Glossy Ibis was seen. Later in the afternoon a second flew in. We then decided to move on to the Avalon Hide on the way we did find a small flock of Pochard but nothing new was seen from the hide. On our walk back to the viewpoint simultaneously the 2 of us heard a Willow Warbler singing its unmistakable song, another year first. Back at the viewpoint we found a Spotted Redshank and David came up trumps again finding a male Garganey, both year ticks. As we continued looking a Redshank was found amongst the godwits. We were chatting to another birder when he heard the call of Mediterranean Gulls as half a dozen flew over, another year tick. Time to call it a day as walking back to the car a Grey Heron flew past. Two butterflies were seen during the day a Peacock at Westhay and driving home a Brimstone was seen, we also added Jackdaw and Collared Dove. Another great day with some great birds seen including 5 year ticks.

Great White Egret - Avalon Hide (Bath Birdwatcher)



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