Trip reports

Autumn walk at Shapwick Heath

Wednesday, 16 September 2009

21 members attended this autumnal walk along Shapwick Heath track, across which a cool breeze blew at times. It is perhaps not entirely correct to label this field trip as a 'walk' because much of the time is spent searching for waders at the main Meare Heath lagoon. As the water is pumped out at this time of year and the mud islands appear, thereby attracting all manner of waders, it makes sense to take advantage of this. Along with resident little egret, gadwall, lapwing and snipe, we all had good views through the telescopes of the two juvenile little stint which had decided to drop in a few days previous, likewise the spotted redshank in winter plumage.
Not only is the autumn 'change-over' time for many birds as they come and go across the globe, but it also means a change of attire as they moult into their new feathers after the breeding season. Waterfowl can be notoriously challenging for us birders, as like us, many have summer and winter wardrobes. The mallard were coming out of their eclipse plumage and into their fresh, vibrant colours, two juvenile ruff looked very dapper in their buff colouring and some of the black-tailed godwit were still showing their breeding rusty colours, whilst the juveniles were more drab and pale in comparison.
Visible migration was in evidence as house martin, along with some sand martin, swept over our heads as they went to feed over the lagoon. Alerted by another birdwatcher we just managed to get a glimpse of a bittern before it disappeared over the wood, flying very high in the direction of Ham Wall.
We strolled up beyond the bridge a little way and Don found a red-eyed damselfly for us to marvel at, which was sitting on a lily pad. We concluded our morning with two marsh harriers which we could see quartering the reedbeds over Decoy and there was much joy that we were able to find a late hobby, not least because it meant Chris had at last seen his 'bogey' bird! Rosina Robinson