Trip reports

Ashcott Corner - Thursday 17 September 2009

Wednesday, 23 September 2009

After a short walk along the old railway track towards Shapwick, a wide view over the scrape at Meare Heath revealed extensive flocks of waders and wildfowl. Outstanding bird was the great white egret that has been in residence for some time and it was most obliging, fearlessly standing in the water some fifty yards distant and allowing wonderful views, especially through telescopes. There were also several little egrets and a nearby grey heron, all of which made a brilliant size comparison.
Other really noticeable species among the many lapwing and gadwall included two little stints and a spotted redshank. There was a large flock of black-tailed godwits, a good number of snipe and many more wildfowl including teal, mallard and shoveler.
A male sparrowhawk was resting on the ground on the far side of the pool and large numbers of sand martins hawked above the surface of the water.
Noahs Lake was buzzing with gulls, cormorants and wildfowl but very little else so the party decided to head for the reserve at Greylake Moor in search of a spotted crake that has been showing well for some time.
In the event, in spite of spending some considerable time scanning the reeds at the edge of the pond, the crake failed to show. However, a whinchat was seen on a fence and from the hide a juvenile female garganey showed itself very well on the pond.
Several water rail were heard calling from the reed beds and a distant peregrine swept across the horizon.
A total of 44 species had been logged on what proved to be an excellent day of birdwatching