There's only one f'in fog!
Wednesday 30th November
After a fairly dry week, following several months of heavy rain, there was a little drizzle as we headed down to nearby Tealham Moor for our first stop on this early winter birding trip. The fields here – including ‘the Waterings’ – were much wetter than they have been for several winters, and as we scanned we saw a female Marsh Harrier (which flew low and then landed), a male Stonechat and several distant Little Egrets. Wen continued to Jack’s Drove, where we met the talented young bird photographer Ben Pulletz; and saw several Buzzards, Fieldfares, a Great White Egret and flocks of Lapwings in the distance and flocks of Wigeon overhead. On the way out, near the main road, we came across a Kestrel, and then no fewer than 85 Cattle Egrets, with Black-headed Gulls and Jackdaws (and nearby a very noisy flock of Starlings).
From there we headed the short distance to the RSPB reserve at Ham Wall, arriving just under an hour before sunset, giving us enough time to stroll down to the first viewing platform. The reeds have been cut to the left of the path so we could see a Great White Egret and the first of several more Marsh Harriers (one on the ground); and the usual waterfowl including Tufted Duck and Coots on the way down, as well as small flocks of Teal flying overhead plus three high-flying Snipe; and Graeme saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and we heard several Water Rails. Loxton’s Marsh was covered with wildfowl: mostly Gadwall, Coot and Shoveler.
We then waited a short while for the Starlings – a decent crowd of about a hundred people were entertained by a flock of Long-tailed Tits, Great White Egret and a Sparrowhawk, 6 distant Stock Doves, and a singing Cetti’s Warbler. The first birds came in at 15.51 (ahead of sunset at 16.08), and from then on numbers built up quite rapidly, with flocks coming in from all directions and splitting up from about 16.10 to land in front of and behind us, in both reedbeds. There have been up to 500,000 Starlings roosting at Ham Wall over the last few weeks.
On the walk back, we heard the Starlings chattering in the reeds, and could see their dark shapes like burnt reeds! On the return journey we glimpsed a Barn Owl across Tealham Moor, and then returned to Walls Farm ready for drinks and Kay’s lovely dinner.
Thursday 1st December
After a cold night, the morning dawned very foggy – and unfortunately, the fog stayed for the whole day. Nevertheless, we decided to head over to the western side of the county to visit the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve at Steart. Once there the fog was if anything even worse, so we walked over to the Quantock Hide, where we enjoyed close-up views of male and female teal – the males displaying by lifting their tails and bobbing their heads! – together with Wigeon, Shoveler, Shelducks, a Redshank and flocks of Lapwings and Dunlin, the former with two Golden Plovers seen briefly in flight. On our walk back, we had brief views of a female Stonechat; and after an early coffee we headed inland to Greylake RSPB reserve.
At Greylake we heard Cetti’s Warbler and responding Water Rails; from the hide we saw the usual ducks – mostly teal – and a few Snipe flying in; but sadly, not much else. The same was true at Stathe, so we called it a morning and headed to the King Alfred Inn at Burrowbridge, where we enjoyed our usual warm welcome and excellent food and drink. From here we headed on a route around the Levels (still not seeing much!) and then walked into Meare Heath. Again, we were limited by the fog, but did enjoy good views of a male Bullfinch who was calling to an unseen mate somewhere nearby; and a lovely little Goldcrest hunting for tiny insects in a bush; as well as ducks on the pool, a pair of Stonechats and a Great White Egret. We then strolled back into Ham Wall for our second Starlings encounter, the first flock arriving at 15.53. At first this was rather frustrating, but we then heard the birds calling from the path down towards the Tor View Hide; here we had a splendid and intimate view of thousands of Starlings landing on a small but close reedbed; and then periodically shooting up into the air, before eventually deciding that perhaps the reedbed was indeed too small, so they headed back towards a larger one! Sometimes, when you have had a frustrating day with little reward you deserve a surprise – and this was certainly that!
There’s only one f’in fog….
Friday 2nd December
Unfortunately, today dawned just as foggy as yesterday; however, we had some hope from a forecast that suggested it would clear later in the morning. We headed down to Catcott Lows (Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve), where at least the birds are fairly close to the hide! We were rewarded first by a splendid adult Whooper Swan, then the sight of Wigeon doing a slightly grumpy courtship display, along with plenty of Shoveler, a Great White Egret, female Marsh Harrier, and some Greylag and Canada Geese. Small birds were also showing themselves: including a pair of Stonechats (do they always stick together in winter?!) Then a real treat: a smart adult Water Rail walking along between the rushes at the edge of the water, so close we could almost touch it! The rail then flushed a single Common Snipe, which posed beautifully for a minute or so. We then took a good look at the whistling Wigeon, and noticed that several males looked like immatures, with lots of brown and some black on their usually grey back and flanks. They were so close we could hear the females growling as well as the males whistling! We also saw more Snipe flying in, and another Great White Egret.
For our last visit of the trip, we headed west to Graeme and Stephen’s ‘coastal patch’, just as the fog finally cleared! At Sloway Bridge we heard a Water Rail calling (the first of this winter) in its usual place upstream and saw Moorhens and a family group of Mute Swans (2 adults, 5 young) plus very brief views of a Kingfisher in flight. At the Sluice, there were lots of Starlings calling noisily in trees; below it there were about 50 Wigeon, a few Shoveler and Redshanks. We had coffee and then walked past the copse where we saw Greenfinches and Redwings overhead.
On the River Parrett, at first most of the birds were on the far side, but we did see a Raven close by on the grassy ridge, 33 Canada Geese along the grass on the near side; and as the tide began to rise, lots of waders came across: Curlew, Avocet, Grey Plover and flocks of Dunlin, while Skylarks burst into song, along with a few Meadow Pipits, a Linnet flock, and then our usual young male Merlin, first on a rock and then on a post, where it preened, showing beautifully through scope. Meanwhile, four young Ravens played high above; two flocks of seven and six Black-tailed Godwits headed inland; and we saw a distant Oystercatcher on the island and a nearer pair of Stonechats. Finally, as we walked back, the Merlin and one Raven flew off to the south. A splendid end to a frustrating tour, because of the fog – but still with some real quality birds and sights!
Photo Steve Deeley (Stephen’s pal) taken a week earlier, probably same bird.