Sunday, 19 March 2017

Shapwick - Decoy Hide & Canada Farm

The same walk on two different days within one week the 7/3 and 14/3 Parked up at the Avalon Marshes and then just a short walk to the entrance to Shapwick and a walk through the woods along the David Walker path to eventually join the Sweet Track and onto the Decoy Hide. From the Decoy hide we took the path across the field and then the path on to Canada Farm. On both days we went to Canada Farm hide,Barbara Handley hide and further on round the Hawk & Owl Trust fields.
This is a brilliant walk any time of year taking in some great habitats woodland, peatland fields and lakes. Spring is definitely in the air with booming Bitterns, chasing Kingfishers etc. The area is alive with song! 
Over the 2 days we saw 60 species of birds the highlights being mating Kingfishers, Bittern, Great Egret, Little Grebe, Goldcrest, Redpoll, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, Whooper Swan, Treecreeper, Jay, Water Rail, Reed Bunting, Mistle Thrush etc


   Kingfisher

               
                  Getting friendly

   Great to observe this pair of Kingfishers, all over in seconds! 

                
                    Little Grebe

  Reflecting pose

                
                  Goldcrest

   Pheasant in his prime

                
                   Work of art! 

    Wren

               
                   Blue Tit - really defined bright colours now

    Spring!

               
                  Highlands to Levels

   Reed Bunting - male

               
                    Reed Bunting- male

  Great Spotted Woodpecker 

               


   The woodpecker hiding the nuts in holes in a tree

                
                    Beautiful 


   Reed Bunting 

                
                   Ready to launch

   Male Reed Bunting 

                
                   Whooper Swan, - the back of Canada Lake

   Bonding Grebes

               
     


   Roe Deer

                
                   Too cute!

Second visit 14/3 

   One of the few booming Bitterns heard

               
                   Female Marsh Harrier

   Harried Harrier!


                


  Great Egret with tag


   I believe a few young Egrets were tagged last year.

                
                   Feisty Coots

   Chinook! Gave an unbelievable display as we sat in Canada Farm hide

         
            Mixed flock of Wigeon, Shoveler etc disturbed at Catcott by the Chinook


    Wigeon

               
                  Sparrowhawk very high overhead


                
                    Ahh! 

    Wren

               



    
               
                   Looking at me looking at him!

    Chaffinch
        
                
                   Great Spotted Woodpecker 

Great crested Grebe

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