Photos:
Knot at Meare Heath, Somerset and sunset views from Noah's Hide, Shapwick Heath
23rd September
Arrived back from a day in Brum this evening at a decent time so I headed off to HGF. The local farmer was ploughing the fields opposite the kennels and around 640 Black-headed Gulls were present. Patient sifting through this flock couldn’t produce the recent leucistic bird, never mind a Med. A covey of 42 Grey Partridges was on the lawn in the south field, five Skylarks were also there. A couple of Swallows passing through summed up the hirundine interest and the Teal is still there. Three Mute Swans were also new on, an adult pair which have a 2cy type bird with them. The latter is ringed but the characters seem to be worn and are illegible.
At home I found the remains of a Collared Dove on the lawn, presumably killed by a Sparrowhawk.
I then took Bill for a walk down Barrow Lane. Again I seemed to see nothing on the outward leg and then bird started cropping up on the return leg. A couple of Buzzards appeared and one dark looking individual perched on the lime mound whereupon it was mobbed by a Kestrel. I then picked up a female/juvenile Merlin perched in a ploughed field roughly west of the lime. Because of the angle of the hedges it couldn’t be seen from further down the lane. A covey of 5 Grey Partridges put in an appearance (I wonder where the other 60+ birds I saw recently have gone?) and scanning the edge of the small Christmas tree plot I found 6 Brown Hares all emerging from the edge of this small plantation. When I looked back the Merlin had gone – this coincided with the appearance of 11 Skylarks flying through south.
Late evening we set off for the van. Driving down Waterworks Lane I stopped briefly to check out the feeding station. It was a bit late and I didn’t expect to see much, however I immediately heard the loud chatter of Tree Sparrows in their usual roost site over near the water treatment works. Looks like some are back though how many I couldn’t tell. A pair of Grey Partridges were at the feeding station and further up the lane in the field full of round bales I spotted a Kestrel perched on top of one of the bales, eating supper. Also perched on top of a nearby bale, as though keeping an eye on the Kestrel, was a Wheatear with a second one in the stubble at the foot of the bale.
24th September
No birding today (Saturday). At the van I saw a Coal Tit and a Jay while a flock of 20 Mistle Thrushes were also hanging around.
25th September
I started this morning at Glasson – trying to see if yesterday’s Lesser Yellowlegs was still around. When I arrived Ian Woosey was already there so I joined him. To be honest the lighting wasn’t that good and the views of waders here are distant at the best of times. I spent 20 minutes watching one wader which was clearly longer-billed, longer-legged and more pointed at the rear end than a Redshank. It was also feeding with its head completely submerged and occasionally sweeping it from side to side, a bit like an Avocet. It turned out to be a Spotted Redshank.
I picked up a couple of adult Meds on the far shore and Ian found a Sparrowhawk quartering the marsh. A Little Egret also appeared and quite a few other waders were around including a Curlew Sandpiper, two Knot, 45+ Bar-tailed Godwits and at least 500 Golden Plover. A small flock of 26 Great Black-backed Gulls also provided a bit of interest and six Wigeon were present in the channel. Lots of Goldfinches around too.
We walked down the track and scanned from the bridge but the views were probably worse so we headed back to the cars and drive round to Conder Pool. Oddly there were no waders roosting on the pool. Eight Little Grebes and a single Wigeon were the sole birds present. Later mssrs Rigby, Raynor and Chorley arrived and we spent an hour or so nattering. I can’t believe how much weight Riggers has lost – apparently around 6 stone on the Atkins diet. Well done that man!
I then decided to wander off to Sunderland Point, changed my mind and ended up at Teal Bay where a fisherman had flushed everything and then got summoned back to the van as Karen wanted to go home.
After an afternoon of gardening back home I ventured out once more with Bill. First stop was the feeding station where at least 48 Tree Sparrows were in residence with 20+ House Sparrows. A Buzzard was present nearby and a second one in Highfield Lane where 4 Stock Doves were with the woodie flock.
At HGF the usual line up was present including sole Wigeon and the Teal. A fourth, male, Mute Swan has arrived and was cosying up to the younger bird from a few days ago. The large cob that was present took exception top this and chased him off. Also of interest was the behaviour of the Great Crested Grebes with at least 8 birds continually flying around the surface of the pool before engaging in posturing with each other. This went on for a good 20 minutes. A couple of Skylarks were still in the south field and a flock pf 35+ Linnets were buzzing around nr Midhops. Eight Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 7 Common Gulls were on the water but few BHG’s.
This evening a female Sparrowhawk was observed circling over the garden. Later when I emerged from the Chinese in Newton-Le-Willows I spotted a male Spar flying overhead. I had called in briefly at Newton Lake on my way to collect the take away – the only noteworthy birds were 4 Little Grebes with 3 adults and a juvenile present.
26th September
HGF this morning in the early sunshine provided a little interest. The long-staying Teal is still present plus the sole Wigeon. These were accompanied by a female Shoveler and an eclipse drake Ruddy Duck. A Chiffchaff was singing in the east hedge. Two Buzzards and two Kestrels were also around – the male Kestrel caught a small rodent. A covey of Grey Partridges were on the lawn with at least 25 birds present though part of the covey was clearly hidden in the stubble. A single Skylark was in the south field. The Great Crested Grebe numbers are gradually dropping off now with 17 birds present today – curiously Coot numbers are also falling.
Late afternoon I arrived at Shapwick Heath / Ham Wall (working down here). It was a nice sunny day and birds seemed to be everywhere. I started by walking along the path to Ham Wall viewing screen. A large tit flock was passing down the hedge in the same direction and it clearly contained a number of warblers, however I didn’t quite get to see what they were. A female Marsh Harrier appeared over the western side of the marsh and briefly tangled with a Buzzard before disappearing. Three Little Egrets were also flitting around the place. I noticed that Swallows were constantly moving through south in dribs and drabs so I started trying to keep track. Around 260+ birds moved through in the 90 minutes or so I spent near the viewing screen.
An adult Hobby flew leisurely past with the evening sun lighting up its rufous trousers. I then noticed a very small wader lift off the water and start flying circuits over the marsh. From the size comparison with the Swallows drifting through plus grey/brown looking upperparts (not pale enough for Sanderling) and clean white underparts it had to be a stint species. The bird then started calling and I made careful mental note of the call – a chup chup. The bird then disappeared.
A Bittern gave good if somewhat distant views when it flew over the marsh. The tit flock came back and this time I got in a position to see it approach. In total there were 19 Long-tailed Tits, 15 Blue Tits, 8 Great Tits, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Garden Warblers and 2 Willow Warblers. I think a few that I didn’t count got through! A couple of Cetti’s Warblers were singing nearby and a few Water Rails screaming. On the way back towards Shapwick Heath a second female (darker bird) Marsh Harrier appeared over the marsh to the south and flushed a load of Teal.
I then headed off towards Noah’s Lake. First I stopped at the lagoon at Meare Heath and watched a mixed wader flock comprising 84 Black-tailed Godwits and 92 Knot. The latter were extremely flighty but provided entertainment in regularly whizzing over the pool while being illuminated by the sun. Eventually a juvenile Marsh Harrier appeared and this seemed to permanently spook them and they flew off. A Green Sandpiper somewhere was calling, three Snipe flew up, a Kingfisher flew across the pool and more Cetti’s Warblers and Water Rails called.
I also met a birder here who had just been watching a Little Stint that had departed with some Lapwings. Same bird I saw? When I got back to my hotel later I checked out the flight call of Little Stints and it exactly matched the bird I had been watching at Ham Wall.
When I got to the hide a woman there was watching what she thought was a Barn Owl perched in the window of the old tin hut which, rather oddly, protrudes out of the water out in the lake. I got my scope on the bird and confirmed her ID – we then watched the bird quartering the reedbed. She then called a Peregrine – when I found the bird it was a Hobby busy catching dragonflies. It was very noticeable that there were dragonflies everywhere down here, unlike back home.
The woman left and another birder arrived just as the sun started setting. Little Egrets had been drifting in to roost and very favourably they have decided to roost on a small island very much like the one at Leighton Moss and off to the left of the hide. Eventually a Great White Egret arrived and perched up. Five minutes later a second GWE arrived and this was clearly a much larger bird, easily a third larger than the first one. It also took exception to the smaller bird and chased it round and round the island for at least five minutes before appearing to become bored. 27 Little Egrets were also in the roost.
Two more Hobbies appeared over the back with all three together here feeding on dragonflies. A Bittern finally flew out of the narrow strip of reeds directly in front of the hide and off over the back. A Tawny owl then started calling in the trees behind the hide and a Kingfisher flashed past.
I then headed back to the car park in almost total darkness. At one point I glanced up and saw a dark shape above me – through the bins I could just make out the shape of another Bittern. As I walked past the lagoon I stopped for a while and listened to the noises of Black-tailed Godwits interspersed with a calling Green Sandpiper and various other birds. What an evening! This place never lets me down.
Arrived back from a day in Brum this evening at a decent time so I headed off to HGF. The local farmer was ploughing the fields opposite the kennels and around 640 Black-headed Gulls were present. Patient sifting through this flock couldn’t produce the recent leucistic bird, never mind a Med. A covey of 42 Grey Partridges was on the lawn in the south field, five Skylarks were also there. A couple of Swallows passing through summed up the hirundine interest and the Teal is still there. Three Mute Swans were also new on, an adult pair which have a 2cy type bird with them. The latter is ringed but the characters seem to be worn and are illegible.
At home I found the remains of a Collared Dove on the lawn, presumably killed by a Sparrowhawk.
I then took Bill for a walk down Barrow Lane. Again I seemed to see nothing on the outward leg and then bird started cropping up on the return leg. A couple of Buzzards appeared and one dark looking individual perched on the lime mound whereupon it was mobbed by a Kestrel. I then picked up a female/juvenile Merlin perched in a ploughed field roughly west of the lime. Because of the angle of the hedges it couldn’t be seen from further down the lane. A covey of 5 Grey Partridges put in an appearance (I wonder where the other 60+ birds I saw recently have gone?) and scanning the edge of the small Christmas tree plot I found 6 Brown Hares all emerging from the edge of this small plantation. When I looked back the Merlin had gone – this coincided with the appearance of 11 Skylarks flying through south.
Late evening we set off for the van. Driving down Waterworks Lane I stopped briefly to check out the feeding station. It was a bit late and I didn’t expect to see much, however I immediately heard the loud chatter of Tree Sparrows in their usual roost site over near the water treatment works. Looks like some are back though how many I couldn’t tell. A pair of Grey Partridges were at the feeding station and further up the lane in the field full of round bales I spotted a Kestrel perched on top of one of the bales, eating supper. Also perched on top of a nearby bale, as though keeping an eye on the Kestrel, was a Wheatear with a second one in the stubble at the foot of the bale.
24th September
No birding today (Saturday). At the van I saw a Coal Tit and a Jay while a flock of 20 Mistle Thrushes were also hanging around.
25th September
I started this morning at Glasson – trying to see if yesterday’s Lesser Yellowlegs was still around. When I arrived Ian Woosey was already there so I joined him. To be honest the lighting wasn’t that good and the views of waders here are distant at the best of times. I spent 20 minutes watching one wader which was clearly longer-billed, longer-legged and more pointed at the rear end than a Redshank. It was also feeding with its head completely submerged and occasionally sweeping it from side to side, a bit like an Avocet. It turned out to be a Spotted Redshank.
I picked up a couple of adult Meds on the far shore and Ian found a Sparrowhawk quartering the marsh. A Little Egret also appeared and quite a few other waders were around including a Curlew Sandpiper, two Knot, 45+ Bar-tailed Godwits and at least 500 Golden Plover. A small flock of 26 Great Black-backed Gulls also provided a bit of interest and six Wigeon were present in the channel. Lots of Goldfinches around too.
We walked down the track and scanned from the bridge but the views were probably worse so we headed back to the cars and drive round to Conder Pool. Oddly there were no waders roosting on the pool. Eight Little Grebes and a single Wigeon were the sole birds present. Later mssrs Rigby, Raynor and Chorley arrived and we spent an hour or so nattering. I can’t believe how much weight Riggers has lost – apparently around 6 stone on the Atkins diet. Well done that man!
I then decided to wander off to Sunderland Point, changed my mind and ended up at Teal Bay where a fisherman had flushed everything and then got summoned back to the van as Karen wanted to go home.
After an afternoon of gardening back home I ventured out once more with Bill. First stop was the feeding station where at least 48 Tree Sparrows were in residence with 20+ House Sparrows. A Buzzard was present nearby and a second one in Highfield Lane where 4 Stock Doves were with the woodie flock.
At HGF the usual line up was present including sole Wigeon and the Teal. A fourth, male, Mute Swan has arrived and was cosying up to the younger bird from a few days ago. The large cob that was present took exception top this and chased him off. Also of interest was the behaviour of the Great Crested Grebes with at least 8 birds continually flying around the surface of the pool before engaging in posturing with each other. This went on for a good 20 minutes. A couple of Skylarks were still in the south field and a flock pf 35+ Linnets were buzzing around nr Midhops. Eight Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 7 Common Gulls were on the water but few BHG’s.
This evening a female Sparrowhawk was observed circling over the garden. Later when I emerged from the Chinese in Newton-Le-Willows I spotted a male Spar flying overhead. I had called in briefly at Newton Lake on my way to collect the take away – the only noteworthy birds were 4 Little Grebes with 3 adults and a juvenile present.
26th September
HGF this morning in the early sunshine provided a little interest. The long-staying Teal is still present plus the sole Wigeon. These were accompanied by a female Shoveler and an eclipse drake Ruddy Duck. A Chiffchaff was singing in the east hedge. Two Buzzards and two Kestrels were also around – the male Kestrel caught a small rodent. A covey of Grey Partridges were on the lawn with at least 25 birds present though part of the covey was clearly hidden in the stubble. A single Skylark was in the south field. The Great Crested Grebe numbers are gradually dropping off now with 17 birds present today – curiously Coot numbers are also falling.
Late afternoon I arrived at Shapwick Heath / Ham Wall (working down here). It was a nice sunny day and birds seemed to be everywhere. I started by walking along the path to Ham Wall viewing screen. A large tit flock was passing down the hedge in the same direction and it clearly contained a number of warblers, however I didn’t quite get to see what they were. A female Marsh Harrier appeared over the western side of the marsh and briefly tangled with a Buzzard before disappearing. Three Little Egrets were also flitting around the place. I noticed that Swallows were constantly moving through south in dribs and drabs so I started trying to keep track. Around 260+ birds moved through in the 90 minutes or so I spent near the viewing screen.
An adult Hobby flew leisurely past with the evening sun lighting up its rufous trousers. I then noticed a very small wader lift off the water and start flying circuits over the marsh. From the size comparison with the Swallows drifting through plus grey/brown looking upperparts (not pale enough for Sanderling) and clean white underparts it had to be a stint species. The bird then started calling and I made careful mental note of the call – a chup chup. The bird then disappeared.
A Bittern gave good if somewhat distant views when it flew over the marsh. The tit flock came back and this time I got in a position to see it approach. In total there were 19 Long-tailed Tits, 15 Blue Tits, 8 Great Tits, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Garden Warblers and 2 Willow Warblers. I think a few that I didn’t count got through! A couple of Cetti’s Warblers were singing nearby and a few Water Rails screaming. On the way back towards Shapwick Heath a second female (darker bird) Marsh Harrier appeared over the marsh to the south and flushed a load of Teal.
I then headed off towards Noah’s Lake. First I stopped at the lagoon at Meare Heath and watched a mixed wader flock comprising 84 Black-tailed Godwits and 92 Knot. The latter were extremely flighty but provided entertainment in regularly whizzing over the pool while being illuminated by the sun. Eventually a juvenile Marsh Harrier appeared and this seemed to permanently spook them and they flew off. A Green Sandpiper somewhere was calling, three Snipe flew up, a Kingfisher flew across the pool and more Cetti’s Warblers and Water Rails called.
I also met a birder here who had just been watching a Little Stint that had departed with some Lapwings. Same bird I saw? When I got back to my hotel later I checked out the flight call of Little Stints and it exactly matched the bird I had been watching at Ham Wall.
When I got to the hide a woman there was watching what she thought was a Barn Owl perched in the window of the old tin hut which, rather oddly, protrudes out of the water out in the lake. I got my scope on the bird and confirmed her ID – we then watched the bird quartering the reedbed. She then called a Peregrine – when I found the bird it was a Hobby busy catching dragonflies. It was very noticeable that there were dragonflies everywhere down here, unlike back home.
The woman left and another birder arrived just as the sun started setting. Little Egrets had been drifting in to roost and very favourably they have decided to roost on a small island very much like the one at Leighton Moss and off to the left of the hide. Eventually a Great White Egret arrived and perched up. Five minutes later a second GWE arrived and this was clearly a much larger bird, easily a third larger than the first one. It also took exception to the smaller bird and chased it round and round the island for at least five minutes before appearing to become bored. 27 Little Egrets were also in the roost.
Two more Hobbies appeared over the back with all three together here feeding on dragonflies. A Bittern finally flew out of the narrow strip of reeds directly in front of the hide and off over the back. A Tawny owl then started calling in the trees behind the hide and a Kingfisher flashed past.
I then headed back to the car park in almost total darkness. At one point I glanced up and saw a dark shape above me – through the bins I could just make out the shape of another Bittern. As I walked past the lagoon I stopped for a while and listened to the noises of Black-tailed Godwits interspersed with a calling Green Sandpiper and various other birds. What an evening! This place never lets me down.
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