Burton Bonanza

Photos:

Tree Pipit, Little Egret and Short-eared Owl at Burton Marsh
A Goldfinch which stunned itself against one of our windows and was released fine and well half an hour later
Roe Deer, Catcott Lows

9^th April 

The first bird of today was a male Sparrowhawk which briefly visited the feeders in the garden and, finding them empty, departed over the back fence. 

An early morning trip to HGF in windy and wet conditions produced very little. 

Late morning I headed off to Burton Mere Wetlands. I still can’t get used to this place and despite spending an hour or so here, I still left dissatisfied with the experience. A loose flock of around 40 Meadow Pipits was seen passing through while I walked between hides and 3 Avocets and a Spotted Redshank was observed from the main hide. It was interesting to see good numbers of Pintails still present with at least 25 birds there. There was also a Cape Shelduck or a hybrid of this species present. 

Next I went to Inner Marsh Farm. One kind chap pointed out a Wheatear for me on the path to the hide though there was little else moving around. I did meet a non-birding family who had just seen an albino, totally white heron and were just as impressed when I told them it was a Little Egret. Nice to see the enthusiasm. A Water Rail typically played peep in front of the hide and there were lots of waders on the pools including good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits, 13 Avocets, a Spotted Redshank and a Dunlin. Eventually a ring-tail Hen Harrier appeared just to the right of the hide and showed well quartering the reeds etc before heading over to Burton Mere where it seemed to fly around directly in front of the visitors centre. 

Finally I stopped off at Denhall Lane and had a walk up to the Decca Pools. Large swathes of the salt marsh were still flooded from recent high tides and birds seemed to be everywhere. Opposite the parking area I picked up two more Spotted Redshanks in amongst the various other waders. I also noted lots of pipits flying about (though most were distant) and started scanning the nearer ones hoping for a Water Pipit. I got the next best thing. While watching a Meadow Pipit on a fence, I was briefly distracted by an owl flying past and when I looked back it seemed as though the mipit had moved about 6 feet onto a rotten tree trunk fragment. I nearly walked away but decided the “mipit” now offered better digiscoping opportunities on its new perch and, putting the scope onto it, I was chuffed to find it was actually a different bird and was a Tree Pipit! 

Walking further up I encountered a fairly showy Short-eared Owl and watched this bird for a while. I then started scanning around the marsh and after several repeats, I counted at least eight different birds. I also spotted, with two Shelducks, a goose which put me in mind of Bar-headed Goose but seemed odd for reasons I couldn’t put my finger on. I quickly lost it when the bird entered tall vegetation. 

I also noted a flock of around 115 Pink-footed Geese and two Peregrines, perched up distantly out on the marsh. Two Ravens, a Kestrel and a Buzzard were also seen. Little Egrets seemed to be everywhere here and I counted at least 42. Careful scrutiny couldn’t produce a Great White Egret or a Spoonbill though. 

This evening I popped round to the feeding station (28 Tree Sparrows, 5 Yellowhammers) before taking Bill for a walk around HGF. A Common Sandpiper and 2 Little Ringed Plovers top the charts and a single Canada Geese dropped in – a relative rarity here these days (but isn’t everything?). 

10^th April 

HGF this morning was wet and miserable and a singing Blackcap was the only highlight. On my way into the office I nipped round Rixton mosses – 5 Wheatears were present with four in Holly Bush Lane and one in Prospect Lane. Two Corn Buntings were also seen on this very brief visit. 

This evening I arrived in Somerset where I am working tomorrow so, as ususal, I nipped over to Shapwick Heath. I had a stroll through Ham Wall to the first viewing screen – lots of singing warblers (mainly Blackcaps) and one of several Cetti’s Warblers showed very well perched up in a bramble patch by the track. I heard at least three booming Bitterns here but to be honest, by the usual standards of this place, it was a little disappointing. In part I think this was due to the weather which was back in winter mode. 

Walking along the track by the south drain that splits Shapwick and Meare Heaths, it was pretty much more of the same. The Black-tailed Godwit flock had increased to 58 birds since my last visit and the ringed bird was still present. This bird was ringed by the Axe Estuary group in 2010 and has spent most the last two winters down there in Devon. The Long-billed Dowitchers were skulking out of sight so I carried on to Noah’s Hide where I didn’t see much but heard loads of warblers, including my first Reed Warbler of the year. I did see a male Marsh Harrier from Noah’s though I didn’t even see an egret of any kind or much else (though three more booming Bitterns excepted) and I headed back. Along the way I found the LBD’s had showed briefly while I was in the hide and gone back to skulking now I had returned. I couldn’t be bothered waiting for them to come out so I headed off to check out Catcott Lows. 

Catcott Lows is really a large flooded field with woodland fringes. Lots of Teal and Wigeon were present in front of the hide but no sign of the Garganey which showed yesterday. I did spot a male Marsh Harrier flying over the back and, as dusk arrived, six Roe Deer crept out of the woodland to feed. Not much but still better than sitting in a hotel room. 

11^th April 

As predicted, a Willow Warbler has arrived back at HGF today and the Chiffchaff has disappeared. Coincidence? I think not given the sparcity of suitable habitat for both species here. A pair of Little Ringed Plovers, a pair of Redshanks and 17 Sand Martins also present. At the feeding station it is very quiet though to be fair I haven’t spent more than a minute or so on each visit recently – 11 Tree Sparrows and a single Yellowhammer today. On my way home from work a quick look at Rixton – the Green Sandpiper was present on the back of Moat Lane pools and 4 Wheatears were present on the mosses. 

12^th April 

A fine morning at HGF with a little mist. A female Sparrowhawk gliding over the south field was a nice start during my early morning walk with Bill. The Willow Warbler was singing again and it looks like the Chiffer has definitely gone. Five Canada Geese were welcome visitors. Back at home a Grey Heron was briefly in the garden. 

After work I showed Martyn Jones a few placed around Rixton. Typically when you take someone new round, all the birds feel obliged to absent the area and this evening was no exception. We walked round Moat Lane pools and I heard the Green Sandpiper call briefly as it departed unseen – we didn’t relocate it on any pools so I suspect it flew to hide in the drainage ditch which bisects the moss. 

On Holly Bush Lane there was just a single Wheatear and no signs of any buntings etc. Nice to spend some time with Martyn though – below is a link to his blog and also to a very good idea he has had called “where to watch birds” which provides information on where to park and what species of birds can be seen where. This is still in its infancy, however I think it will be a valuable resource for many birders when fully developed. 

http://gt-birding-scrapbook.blogspot.co.uk/ 

http://where2seebirds.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Back home late on I took Bill back to HGF and in the gloom I found 3 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers around the shoreline.