Somerset Wild Walks: Merlin

Wednesday, 21 December 2016

Greylake and Catcott 20/12 Merlin, Harrier, Lapwings and Ducks

Arrived at Greylake at around 10am to bright skies and quite a full carpark. I guess folk were taking advantage of a sunny day for birding and photography. The hide was full with many familiar faces who had been there for a good couple of hours and declared that the area was pretty quiet as most birds were at the back of the reserve. Within 10 minutes of our arrival a few people left which gave us a front row seat.

It wasn't long until until the action kicked off. The skies were filled with a steady stream of 1000's of Lapwings swimming across the skies almost shaping up to a murmuration! We have never seen so many Lapwings in one place. It wasn't long until a Marsh Harrier took to the sky along with many ducks as it flew over the reeds. As the Harrier flew it pushed more ducks towards the hide. Two flocks of Snipe whizzed by, their flight sounds amazing! The Merlin is still around and was found sitting on its favourite tree perch some distance away. Plenty of Stonechats around the reserve as well as Reed Buntings. Highlight of the visit had to be the very close visit to the hide of a female Marsh Harrier - speechless! Other birds of note Gadwall, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Golden Plover, Great Egret, Little Egret, Raven.

Catcott

A quick visit to Catcott on our way home, increasing cloud and a cold raw wind blowing through the hide! Large numbers of Fieldfares in the fields around Catcott as well as Starlings. Still good numbers of Teal, Wigeon and Pintail as well as Lapwing with a few Golden Plover.

Eventually the cold wind won as hands and faces were frozen and we left after about an hour.

Steady stream of Lapwings

A Murmuration of Lapwings as they twisted and turned in the sky

Flying high Golden Plover with the Lapwings

Winter moon

Wigeon

The chase - Wigeon

Shoveler

Gadwall

'Cat amongst the pigeons'!

Marsh Harrier and Wigeon

Huge flocks of waterfowl at the back of the reserve

Wigeon flying in

Gadwall

Settling in after the Harrier hunt

Spot the Merlin

Wren - often seen in front of the hide

Stonechat - good numbers seen on the reserve

Snipe

Female Marsh Harrier came in quite close to the hide

Intense stare from the Harrier

Harrier giving chase

Stonechat near the carpark

Catcott

Fieldfare - good numbers in the fields around Catcott

Sleeping Wigeon

Good flock of Lapwing at Catcott as well

Golden Plover

Pintail, such an elegant duck

Female Pintail

Love that dynamic flying shape

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Westhay & Greylake 15/11 Beardies to Merlin

The weather forecast wasn't good, dull and overcast with possible rain afternoon. So once again we left in the dark to travel across the Somerset Levels to arrive at Westhay at 07:30. Our main aim was to try and see Otters so we set ourselves up at the Island Hide as we had heard that they had been seen in this area. Unfortunately after a couple of hours we saw no Otters however being based at the Island hide the area didn't disappoint. Bearded Reedlings once again appeared on the boardwalk for their grit, their 'pinging' alerting us to their arrival. From the hide itself we had great views of a Snipe, Water Rail, a couple of Grey Wagtails, Gadwall, Teal, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Reed Bunting.

We took a walk to both the Virador and Tower Hides and there was absolutely nothing to be seen. The reeds need to be cut back to form islands and we were surprised to see that they had not been cut.

Next stop Greylake and the cloud was even thicker! Good to see the area start to flood and bringing in more duck species. The highlights had to be spotting a Merlin and watching it 'zoom' across the reeds, a Peregrine hunt and eat its kill, not forgetting the female Marsh Harrier sat still on its post the whole time.

All in all not a bad mornings birding despite the heavy cloud, not too good for photography but the memory of a Merlin whizzing over the reed tops will live with us forever.