Trip reports

An evening on Ham Wall

Wednesday, 15 July 2009

As several of our members were enjoying a birding break in East Yorkshire it was a smaller than usual party of seventeen that met at Ashcott corner on an overcast but dry evening.
John Crispin was our guide and we were joined by Steve Hughes the Reserve Manager and Becky Thorpe, Warden at West Sedgemoor and Greylake, so we were in good hands.
Cetti's warblers made their presence known as always and several reed warblers chattered away. Otherwise it was a fairly quiet but a great crested grebe with a well grown chick gave good views and the inevitable little egret flew past. A few swifts screamed overhead whilst a cuckoo called distantly. A male reed bunting showed but of the barn owl there was no sign.
We walked back along the railway track hearing but not seeing great spotted woodpecker. Next we heard what sounded like a small do baring in the reedbed . . . But John and Steve told us this was a little bittern calling - it had been present about a week attracting many twitchers. We listened to it calling continuously for some time but it didn't fly. Still, I reckon it was rarer to hear a little bittern than to see one. Shortly afterwards a barn owl was spotted and then another flew past very close carrying food to its box. A hobby gave a masterclass in aerobartics before we made our way back to the car park.
Our thanks go to John, Steve and Becky for the usual enjoyable and informative evening. Trevor Riddle