Somerset Wild Walks

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

Pendulines and Godwits - Topsham Devon 1/3/15

A visit to my family in Devon included a great couple of hours birding around the Topsham area. Although very cold and windy the skies were sunny until heavy rain set in at around 3pm. We arrived at Darts farm at around 12:30, parked up and walked down to the screen hoping to see the Penduline Tits again. Could not believe our luck for there they were gripping on tight to the swaying bulrushes. There only appeared to be two this time instead of the three seen last time.

Our walk then took us across the road towards the new walkway to the hide at Bowling Green Marsh. Along the way we had some great views of Greenshank, Redshank, Little Egret and Black Tailed Godwits. In the skies a couple of Buzzards and Ravens. It was fairly quiet at Bowling Green but there were still good numbers of Wigeon, a few Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck, Pochard and a single Pintail pair. At the feeders were Greenfinch, Dunnock, Robin and Goldfinch. In the field were good numbers of Moorhen and also a lovely Fox, sun on its red fur skulking around the field edges. Spring has arrived in Devon and it was so uplifting to see some Primroses, Violets and Celandines out in the sun.

The tide was fully in at Goat walk and the wind was a howling gale with no birds in sight so it was a quick turn around and retrace of our steps back to Darts Farm just as the rain started.

Penduline Tit tearing away at the Bulrush

Clinging on in an almost gale force wind

Showing my good side!

Greenshank - we have not seen one for ages

Black Tailed Godwits feeding at the tidal edge.

Strike a pose - Black Tailed Godwit

Spring has arrived in Devon! Really uplifting to see

Redshank and Greenshank. Great to see the comparison and how much larger the Greenshank is.

Greenshank and Redshank both stunners!

Teal - always good numbers at Bowling Green. Fantastic little duck!

First Violets

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

Somerset Levels 17/2/15 - Sunrise, Water Pipit and a taste of Spring

It was dark when we left home to arrive to a frosty sunrise at Ham Wall on the Somerset Levels. Wow! What a beautiful start to the day and I am sure that there was the beginning of a dawn chorus. Our path took us to towards the 1st platform where we had good views of a Great White Egret, Cormorant, Coot, Shoveller and Tufted Duck. Walking on towards the second platform many small birds were busy flitting from tree to tree and hedge to hedge. These included Dunnock, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Cettis Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch Goldcrest and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. From the second platform we saw a female Marsh Harrier, another Great White Egret, Lapwing, and more duck species. On to the New hide and from here were numerous Reed Buntings on the reed tops, Coots and Great Crested Grebes. Also from his hide along with another birder we found a Water Pipit - a great find. Both Canada and Greylag Geese often flew overhead plus Cormorants. However we did hear a booming Bittern from within the reeds from both the Shapwick and Ham Wall side.

Shapwick side was very quiet except for the great number of Wigeon and a few Pintail on Noah's lake and a Tree Creeper in the woods the only new additions to the days list.

Onto RSPB Greylake where once again there were a good amount of Reed Buntings plus other birds feeding from the bird tables in the car park. Great to get such close up views. Water Rails were heard all over the reserve but not seen this time.

The hide was full of photographers all with massive lenses clicking away at the Snipe, Wigeon, Teal, Shovellers and Lapwing all fairly close. It's at this time I feel sorry for the humble birdwatchers who enter the hide and just want to look at and spot the birds but no seats available owing to the space taken up by these 'mega' cameras! I think perhaps a little compromise and empathy could be called upon for all to get a turn! (rant over). Further out in the field there were a couple of Curlew and also a Peregrine perched in a dead tree.

Our walk then took us on to the screen, the fields were full of Lapwings and also a couple of Little Egrets. The walk down to the screen was in full sun and it was here that we saw a Peacock butterfly. Spring is on the way?

Sunrise at Ham Wall - a beautiful frosty start to singing birds!

Mists of Avalon!

Water Pipit - a record shot from the new hide at Ham Wall.

The Great Crested Grebes in their prime almost dancing today. Lots of head flicking going on!

Great White Egret and breeding plumes? - we never tire of seeing this beautiful bird on the levels. Spent time observing its foot dance as it searched for food in the water.

Reed Bunting - great views from the bird tables in the car park at Greylak

Snipe - fantastic colours and markings when the sun shines on them

A group of six snipe - masters of camouflage

Shoveller pair - clearly signs of courtship display now

Wigeon - a favourite. Still plenty at Greylake and Shapwick today

Lapwing - a stunning little bird of field, moor and upland

Teal - still plenty to be seen at Greylake

Monday, 9 February 2015

Darts Farm & Exe Estuary - Pendulines etc 4/2/15

We arrived early at Darts Farm near Topsham to a beautiful cool crisp sunny morning full of anticipation and hope! We strolled down to the hide and ponds and there before us were the Penduline Tits, 3 of them, what a stroke of luck. We watched these stunning little birds for a good half hour flitting and feeding on the bull rushes before we headed back to Darts Farm shop for a nice hot cup of coffee.

From Darts Farm we used the new cycle/walkway to walk to the Hide at Bowling Green Marsh. (By the way this info was given to us by the very friendly, helpful and enthusiastic chap in the RSPB shop.) Along this walkway and through the well placed viewing slots in the fence we had some great views of Redshank, Teal and Reed Bunting.

From Bowling Green Marsh itself there were some good numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, Shoveler, a couple of Snipe, Tufted Duck, Canada, Greylag and a single Brent Goose. Also seen were a few Bar Tailed Godwits and a good glimpse of a Water Rail.

Onto the wall at Goat Walk and the tide was well out. We did however see a huge flock of Brent Geese at the waters edge as well as a group of 20 or so Avocets with some Curlews and Redshanks. In the distance in the channel there were also a few Red Breasted Mergansers.

The trees and shrubs along the way revealed all the usual 'little' birds inc B.Tit, G.Tit, Dunnock, S.Thrush etc and whilst walking back to Darts Farm a huge flock of about 100 Brent Geese flew overhead. Wow! What a grand finale to a top class day!

Penduline Tit - did not realise how small they are

Penduline shredding the Bullrush - seed heads going everywhere

Penduline

Like a masked bandit!

One little bird demolished this Bullrush

Redshank

A good sized flock of Wigeon on the grass viewed from the hide

Spooked Wigeon

Snipe - great colours in the sun

Bar tailed Godwit - only a few seen in the fields

Water Rail - speedily feeding and probing in the grass

Avocets - busily feeding far out on the mudflats

Brent Geese - part of a huge flock that sailed past overhead!

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

Slimbridge visit 16/1/15 Avocets, Cranes and a Ruddy Shelduck

The promise of a beautiful blue sky sunny day prompted an early start for a visit to Slimbridge and what a fantastic day it turned out to be. Although cold there was no wind for a change and the slight warmth of the sun a reminder that Spring is around the corner.

We set off down the track towards the Holden Tower stopping off at the various hides along the way. Some great numbers of birds out on the fields - ducks, swans, geese and waders. All of these put up in the air to great flocks now and again by perhaps a hunting raptor. The calls from the many Wigeon and Teal is amazing as is the haunting call from the Bewick's, beautiful!

The highlight of the day had to be at the 'Willow Hide' where we were hoping to get a glance of a Water Rail. No Water Rail here but out of nowhere a stunning Sparrowhawk swooped in making all other birds dive for cover. The Sparrowhawk stayed for no more than 10 seconds then flew off again. What a moment though!

As always Slimbridge is a wonderful place to walk around and the hides are brilliant to watch and observe the many wild birds that visit. Our total for the day was 50 species including a Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Barnacle Geese, Cranes, Snipe, Avocets, Black Tailed Godwits, Golden Plover, Wigeon, Teal, Curlew, Redshanks, Dunlin, Lapwing, Water Rail and a single Ruddy Shelduck an escapee or wild?