A whopping 107 species - but as always it is not about the numbers...
Monday 25th April
After all guests were settled into their accommodation at Walls Farm, we headed off at 2pm on a bright, warm and breezy afternoon. Jays and Green Woodpeckers had been seen in the garden before we left, along with a Great Tit popping in and out of one of the nest boxes on the side of the garage.
Our first stop was Tealham Moor – where most of the laybys had cars parked with sinister large telephoto lenses sticking out of open windows like bazookas. At lunchtime, two Wood Sandpipers had been reported on one of the national bird alert sites, and now a twitch was on. We had a scan over a flooded corner of a field, but to no avail other than a very brightly coloured Yellow Wagtail and a dapper Pied Wagtail. A fine male Marsh Harrier cruised by, soon followed by an immature harrier (probably another male). A Great White Egret landed in the middle distance, Skylarks sang above our heads and Meadow Pipits parachuted down to the flower-strewn meadow. Further along the moor we saw two agitated Curlews chase off a passing Red Kite before settling down in the grass where hopefully their nest with eggs or chicks were safe. A Sedge Warbler sang from a low willow and also a Common Whitethroat with its scratchy song.
We continued to Somerset Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve at Westhay Moor. As soon as we got out of the van a Cuckoo was calling out from a distant tree; the the bird was sitting out on a high branch, and we were all able to get good views through the telescope.
At this time of year, the reedbeds are full of bird song, including Reed, Cetti’s, and Sedge Warbler. On the water were Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Great Crested and Little Grebes, while we heard but did not see Water Rail. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed tit, Chaffinch, and Blackcap all sang from the scrub willows and birch trees. From the Tower Hide we were entertained by a couple of birders who explained what we had just missed – just as three Hobbies flew overhead, and a Cetti’s Warbler took off from nearby reeds. Greylag Geese preened themselves and a Moorhen bobbed by.
We concluded our circular walk round Westhay by way of a recently opened footpath which passed a nesting Mute Swan, more wildfowl, warblers, and a group of House Martins hawking for insects. Graeme also pointed out a large Raven’s nest in a pylon nearby. En route back to Walls Farm we thought we would try once more for the Wood Sandpiper, and were rewarded with excellent views of this splendid, speckled wader – a really top bird. And just as we thought we had peaked, two large Common Cranes appeared in a thermal, low at first, and circled together gaining height, giving us a wonderful, almost balletic performance, as they circled higher and higher into the Somerset evening – but we could not linger as Kay was preparing a splendid Welcome Supper, where we were joined by Stephen – rather envious at our success this afternoon!
Wood Sandpiper
Tuesday 26th April
Stephen’s Birthday (don’t ask the number!) dawned bright and sunny, if a little chilly, as we headed back to Tealham Moor to check the flooded scrape for waders. No Wood Sandpipers today, but compensation in the form of 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Golden Plovers (in full breeding plumage), Greylag Goose, and great views of the splendid Yellow Wagtail, as Skylarks sang above. En route to Ham Wall we also saw a female Wheatear by the road and several Kestrels hovering in the warm sunshine.
Ham Wall RSPB reserve really is the jewel in the crown of Somerset birding, and today was no exception. We began with good views of a pair of Moorhens and chicks, and were also greeted with a chorus of birdsong – mainly warblers, including Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow, Reed and Cetti’s, most (apart of the resident Cetti’s) recently returned from Africa. A pair of Long-tailed Tits accompanied us along the old railway track, and we looked down on hundreds of swimming roach from the bridge over the cut.
Marsh Harriers soon began to appear – mostly males at this time of year as the females are on eggs; and the first Great White and Little Egrets from the viewing platform. Here we also saw Great Crested and Little Grebes, several drake Garganey (mostly asleep, after a long journey from Africa), a very dark male Ruff (initially mistaken by Stephen for the Spotted Redshank, which appears to have departed), 3 Pintails (one splendid male) and several Lapwings. Then, on cue, 6 Glossy Ibises flew in and began to feed. We then spotted a Bittern, which flew obligingly across our field of view. A Dunlin was chased by a Common Redshank, and then a Cuckoo (probably a female, as it didn’t call) flew past.
We walked down to the Avalon Hide for coffee and biscuits, past several Cetti’s, a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and a splendid male Sedge Warbler; while from the hide itself we saw a pair of Garganey (which at one point briefly mated), Gadwall, Canada Geese with 5 goslings, Little and Great Crested Grebes, a Coot pair with 3 chicks, Pochard, and a brief view of a Bittern – which then flew walked along the edge of a reedbed as if playing grandmother’s footsteps.
By now the sun had warmed up and we had started to see lots of butterflies, including Orange-tip and Speckled Wood, as well as a few Hairy Dragonflies – the first to emerge in spring. The Iberian Water Frogs were also calling as we walked back, accompanied by a flyover Bittern, Whitethroat and a Swallow. From the viewing platform we had several distant Hobbies, and one much closer (albeit briefly) over Loxton’s Marsh.
En route to the aptly-named Duck in Burtle we enjoyed close views of at least 30 Cattle Egrets feeding amongst cows; at lunch itself there was a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying back and forth, and several Ravens and a Jackdaw going in and out of the pub chimney; as well as excellent food!
We then headed down over the Polden Hills to RSPB Greylake – a small but always very active reserve, packed with singing Reed Warblers. From the hide we saw a very close Little Grebe, distant Great White Egrets and two Marsh Harriers, one of which dropped down towards the reeds and was attacked by a Bittern, while another carried nesting material into the nearby reedbed. Meanwhile, in the air, a Hobby was mobbed briefly by a Snipe.
From here we drove down to the bridge over the River Parrett at Stathe – no cranes, alas, but a distant Cuckoo calling and two Swallows on the wires – a welcome sight as they have been very few and far between this spring. We then headed across the main railway line and up the hill to RSPB Swell Wood. In the car park and its environs, we enjoyed a chorus of birdsong, brief views of Treecreeper and Nuthatch, and two Goldcrests. From the viewpoint over west Sedgemoor we saw a Sparrowhawk with a Buzzard and at least 8 Cranes (rather distant) including 2 in flight, and 1 with green rings on each leg.
We then returned to the ‘inside-out hide’, always a restful spot, where we had great views of Coal Tits (bathing), Nuthatch and various songbirds attracted by the bathing pool and some food put out by bird photographers, as well as views of the heronry (with 1 Little Egret). By now it was time to drive back to Walls Farm, for another splendid supper.
Wednesday 27th April
A much cloudier and chillier morning as we headed down to the coast, via a secret heronry with Grey Herons, Little and Cattle Egrets all nesting (the latter in their splendid orange breeding garb).
We then drove through Bridgwater and round to Steart Peninsula, to the WWT reserve, seeing a feral Bar-headed Goose on the way (no Graeme, it doesn’t count!) In the car park itself we saw Marsh Harrier, singing Sedge Warbler, House Martins and House Sparrows. We then walked to the Quantock Hide (seeing a rather tatty Sparrowhawk above our heads on the way), whose lagoon was packed with very noisy and active Avocets – some with very young chicks, persistently mobbing crows!
Less obvious than the Avocets was a pair of Little Ringed Plovers (one sitting on eggs), and a third displaying in the distance, and nesting Oystercatchers. We also enjoyed good views of an adult Spoonbill feeding, 2 Barnacle Geese, 13 distant Black-tailed Godwits, Shelducks and 2 Ravens and Swallows overhead. Walking back to the van we had good views of a pair of Stonechats and a Reed Bunting (the males of each looking very smart!), but as usual, no birds on the Mendip Hide scrape (or Gobi Desert, as we call it).
A short drive along the peninsula to the second car park, where a distant Cuckoo was calling; we walked through the muddy tidal area to look out over Bridgwater Bay – or Bridgwater Mud as it was today with the tide so far out. Just Shelducks and a score of Little Egrets feeding here.
After a pleasant lunch at the very comfortable Plough Inn in Holford, we took a stroll up the sheltered Hodder’s Combe, where we were immediately greeted by Robins, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tits (one gathering insects in its beak), a yaffling Green Woodpecker and a distant Cuckoo, followed by Jays, singing Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers.
As we walked up the valley we came across a male Pied Flycatcher – one of three target species here – living up to its name by sallying forth and grabbing insects in mid-air. We also heard several Wood Warblers (our second target bird), and saw one, performing their delightful song. As we crossed the stream we came across two pairs of Grey Wagtails, giving us lovely views as they flew and landed. On the way back, we saw and heard a Goldcrest high in the canopy, more Wood Warblers, a calling Pheasant, a second male Pied Flycatcher, but sadly no Redstarts – we might have been a day or two early.
Thursday 28th April
On our final morning, with 100 species already in the bag for the trip (a new record!) we headed down to the coast again, to Stephen and Graeme’s ‘three rivers’ patch. Starting at Sloway Bridge over the River Huntspill, we enjoyed good views of a Grey Wagtail (nesting under the bridge), together with singing Sedge, Reed and Cetti’s warblers (again!), a distant Kestrel, a few Swallows and House Martins and a pair of Linnets, the male in full breeding plumage; and the first ever Hairy Dragonfly for the patch – but sadly, no Kingfisher, a bird we never managed to get for this trip.
We then drove down to the sluice to be greeted by a very low tide indeed – just a few Shelduck, Teal, and a very white-breasted Cormorant on the mud below the sluice. A Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat were singing in the copse, together with Blackcaps and Greenfinches – the whitethroats elusive until the return when the Lesser showed briefly but very well. On the near bank of the Parrett there were at least 20 Whimbrels, showing off their lovely stripy head-pattern, and calling; while on the far bank there were Curlews, 17 Bar-tailed Godwits, mostly in breeding plumage (and another 60+ godwits upstream), singing Skylark, displaying Meadow Pipit (chasing off a rival), a female Wheatear and a good passage of Swallows (at last!) along with a single Sand Martin, and a Jay over the church (a scarce bird here).
After coffee back at the sluice (accompanied by two Ravens overhead) we headed back east to our final stop of the trip, Catcott Lows (a Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve). We had a single aim: to see a very special bird – the Hoopoe reported for the past couple of days here. Unfortunately, it was not on its usual grassy track, so we walked around to the Tower Hide, as the sun came out, enjoying songs of no fewer than eight warbler species: lots of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Garden, Reed, Sedge and Cetti’s. From the Tower Hide we saw a distant Little Grebe and heard a Cuckoo, while on the way back we heard a booming Bittern.
Then we noticed three birders looking over a field towards the road, where some of us briefly glimpsed the Hoopoe being mobbed by a crow, and landing in a tree. Unfortunately, despite searching, we never saw it again. A slightly frustrating ending to what had been a memorable trip, which smashed the previous record of 96 species with a whopping 107 – but as always, it was not about the numbers, but high-quality birds, great company and of course wonderful food!