Trip reports

Steart - Sunday 6 September 2009

Wednesday, 23 September 2009

The customary walk along the coastal path brought sightings of many farmland birds plus several very good migrants. Most noticeable was a superb wheatear that suddenly appeared on a fence post within a few short yards of the group and remained fearlessly still for a lengthy period. Other good sightings in the shrubs included whitethroats.
Across the fields was a manure heap which was like a magnet to birds and species seen included greenfinch, meadow pipit, linnet and best of all a beautiful whinchat.
Swallows were numerous above the meadows while along the foreshore were curlew, shelduck, many gulls and several flocks of small waders including dunlin and ringed plover.
From the tower hide there were panoramic views over the sea and the wet meadows and ponds. A greenshank was picking along the edge of the water and little egrets were constantly coming and going.
The tide had ebbed until the water was in the far distance so it was decided to walk back to the cars, on the way noting kestrel, buzzard, Cetti's warbler and pied wagtail, and take a ride over to Ashcott Corner where several good birds had been reported.
The first open area had a good stretch of exposed mud and held numbers of lapwing, black-tailed godwit and snipe. Also seen were two ruff, a green sandpiper and some wildfowl including gadwall and shoveler.
Noah's Lake was however the focal point with an osprey perched on one of the dead trees. It remained there until the party left so there was ample opportunity for excellent views. Also seen was a black tern that flew up and down the lake, occasionally dipping quickly to the surface of the water. A hobby flew in and rested in a distant tree for a while and other birds included numerous cormorants, little grebes, great-crested grebe, greylag and Canada geese, tufted duck, kingfisher and some distant sand martins.
There was an overall tally of some sixty species, what a wonderful day!