Somerset Wild Walks: A good week in Somerset 30/1

We left home to bright sunshine and blue skies only to arrive at Ham Wall to thick mist. The sun was trying to come through but eventually did not lift until 11:30! However it didn't deter us from a walk around Waltons where we got our first glimpse of the Ring Necked Duck. Back at Tor View hide and still in the mist we had a closer view of the Ring Necked Duck. Eventually the mist cleared so we decided to try and find the Ferruginous Duck but it wasn't to be our day.

Away from Ham Wall it was bright sunshine. On our way home we managed to see the Glossy Ibis and a single Cattle Egret, another two birds for our yearly total!

Two days later a bright but cold day saw us at Chew Valley lake. From Villice hide we had a fantastic view of a male Greater Scaup and 4 female (could be juvenile). Plenty of Pochard, Tufted, and a few Goldeneye but no sign of any Goosanders. In the woody bit there we saw a Great spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper and Coal Tit. On to Moreton Hide and a walk along the flooded lane to Stratford hide first. A lovely countryside lane with a few Primroses here and there, Spring is on the way! Good numbers of Goldeneye seen from here and a huge number of ducks at the other side even out of scope view. At Moreton hide we struck lucky with our first ever Black necked Grebe. What a little beauty and the lovely red eye.

The next day a return visit to Ham Wall to try and find the Ferruginous Duck. On our way to VP1 in the Alders there must have been a flock of at least 40 Redpoll. The Glossy Ibis was seen from VP1 as well as Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and 2 nesting Great Crested Grebes. On to Tor View Hide which was full of fellow birders hoping to see the Ring necked Duck. Thanks to Andrew Kirby he pointed out the Ferruginous Duck in the channel with some Pochard. Fantastic, we have at last seen the Ferruginous a little distant and in no sunlight but we have seen it. After some watching it flew off with the Pochard.

From Tor View hide we walked on to the Avalon hide for our coffee. Along the way we had some great views of Stonechat hopping from reed to bullrush. We had just sat ourselves down in Avalon Hide when 2 Ducks flew in. We couldn't believe it when after a closer look we saw it was the Ferruginous closely followed by some more Pochard. Wow! Now we had some great views and the sun shone revealing some beautiful colours on the ducks. 2 Marsh Harriers were seen from here and a Bittern took a quick jaunt across the channel into the reeds. It was all going on!

A quick visit back to Tor view and another distant view of the Ring necked Duck. We got chatting to some friends about the Hawfinches they had seen that morning in Street, so that's where we headed next.

After parking up outside the Church we entered the Churchyard. It wasn't long until we spotted the Hawfinches at the top of the trees. It seems they were using these lofty perches before flying into the Yew trees where they 'dissapeared'. We saw at least 4 Hawfinches which made a very nice finish to an amazing day.