A record haul!

SOMERSET BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS TRIP REPORT:

January 20th-22nd 2022

Tour Leaders: Stephen Moss & Graeme Mitchell

Thursday 20th January

Our first afternoon was rather chilly but bright, as we picked up Stephen and then headed across his ‘ultra-local patch’ (Blackford Moor, behind his home), where we had good views of Fieldfares and Redwings feeding in the damp fields, and an obliging Stonechat – one of many we would enjoy during the course of our trip.

We then drove down onto Tealham and Tadham Moors, one of the best places in Somerset that isn’t a bird reserve! It lived up to its reputation, as at our very first stop we enjoyed views of a Tundra Bean Goose – a very rare visitor to Somerset – feeding amongst the local flock of 60 or so Canada Geese. We also saw our first two egrets – a Little and Great White – just as the sun came out, giving glorious views of Brent Knoll to the west, the Mendips and the Isle of Wedmore to the north, and Glastonbury Tor to the south-east. Just before the heronry we stopped to watch a small flock of 10 or so Cattle Egrets (our 3rd and final species in the very first hour!) feeding amongst cattle; we also saw another Stonechat, Stock Dove, Jackdaws, and Ravens.

We then drive on to RSPB Ham Wall, arriving an hour or so before sunset. Along the disused railway line, we enjoyed two distant Great White Egrets, a Little Grebe along the first drain, distant Cormorants and a perky little Chiffchaff, wagging its tail characteristically. On Walton Heath there were the usual ducks, Lapwings and two feeding Snipe; while the first viewing platform produced a further selection of ducks including Wigeon, Pochard and Tufted Duck, a dozen Snipe, and our first of many Marsh Harriers (a female) gliding low over the reeds.

From the Avalon Hide we again saw lots of ducks, Canada Geese, Little and Great Crested Grebes and a high-flying Great White Egret, along with more Marsh Harriers (including one perched), and heard a Water Rail calling. With sunset at 16.40, we guessed 16.36 as the time when the first Starling flock would appear – which they did, bang on time! Unfortunately, most of the largest flocks then headed over to the north-east, disappearing behind the trees, though a large flock did perch momentarily in a tree looking as if its leaves had suddenly come out!

As we left the hide a Cetti’s Warbler sang and was seen very briefly, as did a loud and persistent Water Rail. We then walked back to the car park and headed home to the warmth of Walls Farm for one of Kay’s magnificent suppers and a very convivial evening.

Friday 21st January

Again, the day dawned cold – the coldest of the year so far – but sunny, as we drove over to Steart Marshes on the other side of the River Parrett. As we arrived we were greeted by three loud and large Ravens flying low overhead, and we enjoyed good views of yet more Stonechats.

From the Quantock Hide we enjoyed the spectacle of several thousand Lapwings and 500-plus Golden Plovers, together with smaller numbers of Shelduck, and an obliging female Merlin (or perhaps young male, given its small size) – perched on the gate (as it had done the previous week!) Most of the waders took to the wing, for no obvious reason, but gave us a spectacular view as they flew overhead against the deep blue winter sky. We also saw some Skylarks on the muddy island, and on the way back, Stephen briefly spotted a Stoat running across the path, showing the black tail-tip that (along with its larger size) tells it apart from the tiny Weasel. 

 After coffee and biscuits, we then drove down the M5 to the RSPB reserve at Swell Wood. The car park feeders were thronged with Coal and Great Tits, and we saw an obliging Nuthatch too. From the viewpoint over West Sedgemoor we saw several distant Roe Deer, lots of Lapwings and some Golden Plovers, Great White and Cattle Egrets, and heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker, but sadly no sign of our target bird – the Cranes. We then called in to the ‘reverse hide’ near the car park, a delightful spot where the frontage is open, allowing a great view of the (as yet unused) Grey Heron’s nests, and small birds coming down to grab nuts eft by enterprising photographers. These included Coal Tit, Wren and Robin, and brief views of a Treecreeper; while on our walk back we spotted a Jay.

After seeing a Kestrel en route, we then called in at Stathe Bridge to search for Cranes – even though the bridge was closed for repairs we managed to see at least 40 (perhaps as many as 60) feeding in a damp field beneath the trees; Stephen also saw a Green Sandpiper (a scarce winter visitor to Somerset) flying up from the river, looking like a giant House Martin!

Having finally got the Cranes we enjoyed our usual excellent and hearty lunch at the King Alfred Inn at Burrow Bridge (some clients sampling the local cider), and then headed back north to the RSPB reserve at Greylake, noting the usual flock of House Sparrows in the car park. We were hoping to see the very rare Baikal Teal reported here for the past few weeks (a first for Somerset), but once we reached the hide we heard the news that not only had the bird flown, but so had all the other ducks. We did enjoy close views of Snipe, and also Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret and yet another Stonechat.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to search for the teal, as the Starlings called! At Ham Wall we enjoyed excellent views of a flyover Great White Egret along the path, lots of Coots and Gadwalls, and two Great Crested Grebes – these ones in full breeding plumage. From the Tor View Hide we saw a wide range of ducks and other waterbirds, including feeding Shoveler, squabbling Coots, Little Grebes, Teal and a lone (sleeping) Black-tailed Godwit. We were hoping to see another rare duck – a drake Ring-necked Duck from North America – when suddenly it briefly appeared out of the reeds, diving busily for food. A very smart bird!

Ring-necked duck at Ham Wall

Now it was time to head to the second viewing platform to await the Starlings – and just as well we did, as due to the cloud cover they arrived almost 20 minutes earlier than the previous evening. Again, tens of thousands landed far to the north, but fortunately an equally large number (maybe 100,000 birds in all) chose to land right in front of us, thronging the reedbed, murmurating and occasionally flying up into the air briefly, before finally landing and chatting to one another before dusk fell. Again, a brisk walk back and a drive to Walls Farm for another lovely supper.

Saturday 22nd January

Again, our final morning dawned sunny and cold as we headed west to Stephen and Graeme’s coastal patch, the ‘three rivers’ of the Huntspill, Parrett and Brue, our visit coinciding with a very high tide. Stephen had arrived at the Sloway Lane Bridge early so had the scope on four splendid Goosanders (including three beautiful males), while we also saw a Stonechat, Little Grebe and a Little Egret (flying right at us) here, and briefly heard a Water Rail calling.

The Goosanders later flew downstream so we could see them even more clearly below the sluice, the males showing off their salmon-pink plumage; here, we also enjoyed good views of a male Kingfisher perched below the sluice. Looking west from the sluice we saw 30 grazing Wigeon, some Shelducks and a female Marsh Harrier, while Graeme glimpsed a distant Peregrine and a small group of disappearing Brent Geese.

 Then it appeared! Stephen noticed a very pale bird with black wingtips cruising down the River Parrett on the far side – a male Hen Harrier – our first ever here and a very scarce bird in Somerset. To our delight it then flew right towards us, landing on the marshy area below the sluice and finally flying off downstream. This was our 144th species for the patch, and one of the most memorable. There were hundreds of Lapwings flying around in tight flocks, along with Golden Plovers and a flock of about 60 Black-tailed Godwits. We also had good scope views of the 5 Pink-footed Geese, about 300 Avocets, Curlews, and more Lapwings and Golden Plovers on the grassy area towards the point. On Stert Point itself there were about 30 Cormorants and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls. As the tide dropped, several Avocets were feeding along the Redshanks and Dunlins on the near side.

We headed back east to the Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve at Catcott Lows, where from the screens by the hide we had brief but excellent views of the Glossy Ibis that has been hanging around the area, plus a lovely Chiffchaff in the sunshine. The view over the marsh was fabulous: hundreds of Wigeon and smaller numbers of Shoveler, Teal and Pintail, all glowing in the sunshine. The drake Pintails looked especially smart, while the females were subtler but still very attractive. We also saw several Marsh Harriers (a male very close as it landed), a Great White Egret on a distant post, and nine Greylag Geese overhead.

Glossy Ibis

 For our final stop we headed back to Tealham Moor, driving past several flocks of Cattle Egrets on the way! Sadly, we didn’t see the otter cubs Kay had spotted a day earlier; but we did enjoy a distant fox, Ravens, very good views of an obliging Great White Egret with two herons and a Little Egret, Fieldfares and more Stonechats – seemingly our constant companion on the whole trip. We then said our goodbyes at the end of our most successful winter trip ever – 90 species!

TOTAL: 90 Species (winter trip record)