Somerset Level magic 4/10/16 Beardies, Kingfishers, Ruff etc

An early start on the levels and a first call to Westhay hoping to try and get a shot of the Bearded Reedlings on reeds! Arrived to the Island hide boardwalk with 3 other birders / photographers present and already 'Beardies' on the boardwalk. We never tire of this striking bird but being a bit breezy the birds were not climbing to the tops of the reeds.

From Westhay we ventured on to Shapwick and the scrape. From the new hide we had some good views of Black tailed Godwits, a few Knot with the Godwits,  Ruff, Greenshank, Little Stint, Green Sandpiper, Great Egret, Marsh Harrier, Bittern etc. There are also increasing duck numbers here now. The two Glossy Ibis flew over the hide in the direction of Noah's lake.

From Noah's lake we watched for sometime at least 3 Kingfishers chase and hunt up and down the channels. Huge numbers of Coot on the lake the most We've ever seen here. 

   Boardwalk Bearded Reedling

                

                   Female Beardies

                

                   Stunning birds

   On the reeds

               

                   Master acrobats

              

                 Autumnal feel

   Taking flight

               

                 Ruff on the scrape

Green Sandpiper - flying south? 

              

                Knot with Godwits

   Knot

      

         Increasing duck numbers

   Little Stint and Lapwing

                

                   Glossy Ibis fly over 

Kingfisher

               

               

Fishing from up high. Fantastic watching the Kingfisher dive from here