Trip reports

MINIBUS TRIP TO SOMERSET LEVELS - TUESDAY APRIL 28TH 2009

Tuesday, 28 April 2009

17 set out from Salisbury on a bright cold morning. The forecast showers kept away allowing us to maximise our time at a variety of locations. To start, we met up with 2 of our members from Newbury, and local contact, Richard Pither, at the Greylake RSPB Reserve. This was a first visit by most present. During the short stroll to the large hide, reed buntings and reed warblers were in song, the former perched up conspicuously, the latter invisible! Sedge warblers obligingly threw themselves into the air on song flights. The reported yellow wagtails failed to show, but the arrival of 5 whimbrel in front of the hide was ample reward and the return walk to the car park yielded excellent views of several reed warblers.

At Richard's suggestion we next tried the Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve at Catcott Lows. Still no yellow wagtails, but a fine drake garganey instead.

To Shapwick NNR and lunch in the company of many hobbies, for which this reserve is famous as a refuelling stop. During the walk west along the old railway line, there were as many as 16 within view at any one time. The first lake north of the line held tufted ducks and a drake pochard, but the next lake, with lower water levels, hosted small numbers of waders, all in stunning breeding plumage, enhanced by the sunshine. Probably the most gorgeous were the 5 black-tailed godwits, but a single dunlin ran them a close second. 2 greenshank, 3 redshank and 4 ringed plovers were also enjoyed, the latter at some distance. Behind us in the reeds, several unseen cetti's warblers gave their explosive song, and a common whitethroat was watched by some of the party. Noah's lake was full of tree-nesting cormorants, some already with young, but the only additional species seen from the Meare Heath hide was a distant soaring sparrowhawk. During the return walk, several willow warblers were heard, but not located, although a singing chiffchaff and 2 blackcaps were seen by most. On scanning the wader lake again, it was pointed out to us by a local birdwatcher that 2 of the "ringed plovers" were in fact little ringed plovers! Winding up the telescope magnification to 50x, some could make out the yellow eye ring. All could appreciate the little ringed plovers' slightly sandier plumage, paler leg colour , darker bill and thin white "forehead" line.

By now we only had time to reach the observation platform at Ham Wall, in the hope of hearing bittern booming. Unfortunately, we had missed seeing 2 birds in flight by 10 minutes. Nevertheless, it was good to see great crested grebe with downy young, little grebe, jay and some more good looks at common whitethroat to end an excellent day out.


Additional species recorded :- Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck (2), Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Buzzard (many), Kestrel, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, BH Gull, LBB Gull, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove,
Swift (first of summer for all), GS Woodpecker, Skylark (h), Sand Martin, Swallow,
Pied Wagtail, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit,
Coal Tit (h), Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, Rook, Chaffinch, Goldfinch (63 species in total)

Reported by Steve Oakes