More great September birds as the seasons change
Monday 26th September
A bright but very windy afternoon brought us to the River Brue estuary and an exceedingly low tide – in fact, on the seaward side there was no water in the river at all, just a rather gloopy muddy sludge, with the occasional trickle of water in places.
From the Sluice gates at the end of Clyce Road (Clyce being a local Somerset word for sluice – not actually listed in the OED) on the landward side of the gate, a Little Egret was fishing in the shallow water of the Brue, and a Grey Heron tried his luck further beyond.
Walking into the teeth of an uncomfortably strong wind we saw many Redshanks, with two lighter-coloured Spotted Redshanks along with a single Greenshank and several smaller, darker Turnstones, all trying to get shelter from the wind.
Greenshank
We battled on up to the river estuary, where it joins the larger River Parrett and the sea – here there were good numbers of Shelducks, gulls and a couple of distant Curlews. Heading back to the van we got a much better view of the Greenshank before the whole flock of waders were spooked by a passing female Sparrowhawk that cruised over the river on an opportunistic foray.
To escape the wind, we drove inland to the Somerset Wildlife Trust’s reserve at Catcott Lows and found space in the hide overlooking a scrape/pond. We were met by a smart female Marsh Harrier – dark brown with long wings and a bright cream-coloured cap on her head. From the hide we got good views of Teal, Mallard and some Wigeon (all in eclipse plumage) along with many Gadwall that all seem to already have donned their fine winter plumage. Several Snipe shot up out of the rushes along with passing Meadow Pipits and a flock of House Martins, no-doubt fattening up before their imminent migration south. A rather stately Great White Egret stalked the marshes, and a good group of much smaller Cattle Egrets did exactly what they say on the tin, and hunkered down at the feet of a herd of distant cattle.
Returning to Walls Farm we saw our first hovering Kestrel and our second Sparrowhawk of the afternoon. In the evening we were joined by Stephen for one of Kay’s special welcome suppers which was enjoyed by all.
Tuesday 27th September
On a cool and breezy morning, we headed up to Cheddar Reservoir, where the summer drought has led to very low water levels, with lots of mud and vegetation, and hopefully lots of birds. We were greeted by at least 1000 Coots and a range of ducks (including Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Tufted and Pochard) several Great White Egrets and Little Egrets, and a host of Swallows (and a few House Martins, plus a single Sand Martin) feeding up before they head south. There were also flocks of Great Crested Grebes diving together, Cormorants, about 100 Canada Geese, Mute Swans and a single (feral) Black Swan – which despite Graeme’s pleas, we do not count! A flock of about 30 Linnets and a few Meadow Pipits fed on the mud, just as the sun appeared and warmed us up a little!
We then headed down to RSPB Ham Wall, which was quieter than usual – and it had also started to rain a little. After coffee, tea and posh biscuits the rain fortunately stopped, and we headed down the old railway line towards the first viewing platform. A very obliging Great White Egret was feeding along the edge of the drain, seemingly oblivious to passing walkers, birders and photographers – and showing off its custard-yellow bill, pea-green face and large black feet.
A steady stream of House Martins feeding in the drizzle was interrupted by very brief views of a close Kingfisher, and a Reed Bunting and Chiffchaff, plus a male Marsh Harrier giving much better views as it hunted low over the reeds – one of several we would see today, and a calling Jay. The open areas of water and cut reeds held another Great White Egret, and plenty of Coots and Gadwall (often seen together, as the Gadwall will steal food from the Coots!) From the more sheltered second viewing platform we saw another male Marsh Harrier, Snipe and a much more obliging Kingfisher, which hovered like a Kestrel several time, right in front of us! That seemed to pick things up after a quiet morning, as Stephen spotted an Osprey flying into the wind. We also saw flocks of Lapwings, several Buzzards, and a dozen Black-tailed Godwits, before a walk back produced several dragonflies, hornets and Specked Wood butterflies as things warmed up. We then paid a brief visit to the Tor View Hide, where we saw no fewer than five Little Grebes (probably a family group) diving for food.
After a fine lunch at the aptly-named Duck and Burtle, we headed over to a very quiet Westhay Moor (the Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve) to be greeted by a Great White Egret and a Water Rail calling from deep in the reeds. Having thought there was nothing to be seen from the Tower Hide, we enjoyed a show performed by three young and very pale Hobbies, which were chased by Rooks as they hunted for insects, a Stock Dove and three Jays – maybe the start of an autumn invasion, as this species is fairly scarce on the levels. We then took a walk across the raised mire, and then to the Lake Hide, where along with a Great White Egret perched oddly halfway up a tree, another juvenile Hobby came so close as it flew past you could have touched it – but sadly too quick for a photo! We also saw lots of Swallows and a female Marsh Harrier as we left.
En route back to Walls Farm, we stopped briefly at the flooded field known as ‘the waterings’ on Tealham Moor, but the wind was now too strong for any birds (apart from two hovering Kestrels) to be showing themselves, so we headed back.
Wednesday 28th September
Today dawned brighter and breezy after overnight rain, and we started at the RSPB reserve at Greylake, where an advance party saw a Sparrowhawk, flushed a Great White Egret, heard a Water Rail and flushed a Snipe from the cut reeds along the path to the hide.
At the hide itself we heard a Cetti’s Warbler singing, and saw a steady stream of Swallows heading south-east, a female Marsh Harrier, Kestrel and a Buzzard, and at least 25 Cattle Egrets with cows in the distance, all against a rainbow.
We then headed over to Stathe (where the River Parrett appeared to be flowing the wring way!), which was very quiet: no Cranes, though lots of Grey Herons, more Kestrels, Stock Dove and Swallows; so, we drove up to the RSPB reserve at Swell Wood, one of our favourite spots. Tea and coffee in the car park were accompanied by excellent views of Coal, Great and Blue Tits and a Nuthatch on the feeder, and also Goldcrests. From the viewpoint over West Sedgemoor we enjoyed an excellent view, a Great White Egret in the pond, a Kestrel, Marsh Harrier and a pair of Cranes – our target bird – about halfway out, with at least another 20 Cranes some distance behind. We then walked back to the lovely ‘inside-out hide’, where we got good views of Nuthatch and Goldcrest, as they came down to feed and bathe.
After yet another fine lunch at the King Alfred Inn at Burrowbridge, we headed across to Steart WWT reserve. We had a sunny and breezy walk, accompanied by at least three Kestrels, Reed Bunting and Mute Swans with several cygnets by the path. From the Quantock Hide we saw about 20 Linnets, Meadow Pipit, a tatty male Marsh Harrier, Lapwings, distant Black-tailed Godwits, and Little and Cattle Egrets (the latter a new bird for here). Outside we saw several Stonechats (including a smart male) and two distant hares, crouched down in the field, and recalling John Clare’s line ‘Where squats the hare to terrors wide awake, like some brown clod the harrows failed to break’. We then headed back to Walls Farm for our final and very convivial supper with Kay.
Hiding Hare
Thursday 29th September
Dark clouds and passing rain showers meant for a slight deviation to our plans by visiting the sheltered churchyard at West Huntspill. We enjoyed the various specimen trees dotted through the graveyard whilst tits and Wrens flitted between the lichen-covered headstones. To avoid a particularly heavy shower we took shelter in the church itself which in part dates back to the 13th century.
From Sloway bridge a Kingfisher was spotted perched on a bramble bush at the edge of the Huntspill River – three Grey Wagtails flew overhead and a Blackcap was herd ‘ticking’ from deep within a dark shrub.
Down at the sluice gate we were met by a very high tide at the Parrett estuary. Below the sluice was a single Common Sandpiper and large gathering of Redshanks beyond. On closer inspection, amongst the Redshanks were several much smaller Dunlin, a single Spotted Redshank, and a rather fine female Ruff (known as a reeve). Soon this group of waders were joined by some 20+ Grey Plovers showing off their distinguishing black patches on their underwings (or armpits).
On the river and above were many Shelducks, Teal and Wigeon toing and froing, and for a short moment we caught a glimpse of a huge flock of Avocets - possibly numbering between 700 to 800 birds – which were momentarily lit by a shaft of sunlight in a mini-murmuration. Meadow Pipits and Linnets were on a swath of samphire and a single Skylark rose above us on its liquid song.
Along the sea wall we had a quite chat with a couple of fishermen who had been out for some time working the high tide (to no avail!), however one told of a whopping 10.5 lbs Bass that he had caught earlier in the year, which he said always made him return in hope. Two grand Ravens followed us all the way back to the van where we had a warming tea/coffee and chocolate biscuit stop, to close our birdwatching break, with a very creditable total – given the windy weather – of 88 species.