Somerset Wild Walks

Monday, 25 August 2014

Somerset Levels, Hawk & Owl Trust Reserve + Canada Farm

We parked up at the Hawk and Owl Trust car park and followed the drove road right along to its end which met up with the main road to Catcott. This drove road is quite wild in places and home to a brilliant array of wild flowers. Nice to see that some of the cut fields have a wild flower edge around them. Along this drove we saw many butterflies from Red Admiral. Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Green Veined White and a single Comma which was perched on a grass stem.

Flocks of Goldfinches seemed to follow us along the way as well as few Buzzards. We also caught a glimpse of a young Grass Snake heading out of our way into the grassy verge. This drove road is just pure countryside heaven.

From the drove road we headed back across the fields towards Hawk & Owl Trust hide. Along the way we saw a couple of Clouded Yellows and a few Brimstones, the Brimsones looking so fresh and new. The H & O Trust hide is amazing - the best hide I have ever been in. A pond has been made just outside as well as three bird tables and feeders in place. Whilst we were there Great Tits, Chaffinch, Dunnock and a Great Spotted Woodpecker came to the tables. The views across the fields are amazing and from here we saw more Buzzards, a Kestrel and a couple of Hobbies in the distance.

The walk from the hide along the drove road to the hide at Canada Farm is brilliant. Surrounded by fields, lagoons and woodland, again another great area for butterflies and dragonflies.

From the very breezy hide at Canada Farm we had some fantastic close views of hunting Hobbies the dead trees in the lake providing perches for them. There must have been at least 10 Hobbies here. We also had a fantastic view of a female Marsh Harrier as well as some Great Creasted Grebes.

Wild flowers at the cut field edge

Small Copper

High Summer!

Small Tortoiseshell

Comma - on grass

Drove road path towards Catcott - countryside heaven!

Brimstone

Common Darter

The lush green path towards Canada Farm hide

Common Darter

Migrant Hawker

Hornet - seen along the Drove

Greylake, Shapwick & Ham Wall 22nd August 2014 - Summers end on the Levels

Arrived at RSPB Greylake early morning to a mixture of cloud, sun and a breeze. From the platform we were lucky to see in the distance a flock of 9 or so Cranes always great to see. Our stroll took us past the wildflower meadow on the lookout for Clouded Yellow butterflies but unfortunately none were flying here. From the reeds though we had some great sightings of Reed Warblers.

There were a few Small tortoiseshell and Green Veined Whites on the wing along the grassy path leading down to the screen and then a Clouded Yellow flew by and believe it or not landed on a dandelion at our feet!

Across the ditch we observed a Kingfisher perched in a dead tree. Our eyes looked skyward as we heard the familiar cries of a Peregrine and there above us were three Peregrines who looked to be teaching a youngster how to swoop and dive. Great to watch. There were also plenty of Dragonflies along this stretch of the walk.

From the hide its self we had a great view of a Marsh Harrier and Kestrel as well as Little Egret and Heron. Plenty of House Martins and Swallows were seen over the reeds.

Ham Wall was ' buzzing' with dragonflies and butterflies. Not too much bird activity but the reserve is always a joy to visit for all its flora and fauna.

The scrape at Shapwick has now been drained providing refuge for a good amount of Lapwings, duck species and large group of Little Egrets as well as 3 Great White Egrets when we were there. No doubt other migrants will now visit on their journey South.

The Osprey was still in the same tree on Noah's lake a week on now and still braving the very strong breeze!

Migrant Hawker

Clouded Yellow - landed at our feet!

Clouded Yellow

Migrant Hawker

Butterfly festival on the Hemp Agrimony

Common Darter (m) immature

Purple Loosestrife and Reedmace

Still so green - view to the Tor

Osprey still on Noah's Lake - Shapwick

Great White Egrets on the drained scrape - a third was just out of view

Little Egrets - there must have been at least 25!

Monday, 18 August 2014

Ham Wall & Shapwick 17/8/14 - Dragonflies, butterflies and an Osprey

We arrived at Ham Wall and the rain was pouring down with the wind howling, "the storm will pass" the weathermen assured us and sure enough the rain cleared. It turned into a beautiful sunny afternoon if a little windy!

So as the sun came out so did the wildlife. Dragonflies were plentiful but always difficult to spot where they landed if they landed at all. We were clearly able to identify Blue tailed Damselflies, Common Darter, Migrant Hawker and Common Hawker and I suspect there were one or two other varieties.

There is a great deal of Hemp Agrimony in full flower best viewed from the lower Loxton loop path by the water channel. The Agrimony was just simply alive with butterflies and we watched open mouthed for ages as they all fluttered around together the colours on each and every one amazing as well as the numbers of them. From Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma and and even a single raggy Silver Washed Fritillary! Also in this area there were still many dragonflies 'hawking' around.

Not too any birds were seen at the Ham Wall side Long tailed Tits, Chiffchaff, Lapwings, Coot, Great White Egret, Little Egret and a great number of House Martins and a few Swifts feeding over the reeds.

On to the Shapwick side and again at the scrape we saw both a Little Egret and a Great White as well as a few ducks towards the back. Noah's Hide was more rewarding and despite the strong wind blowing straight across the lake and into the hide we were able to observe a windswept Osprey almost cowering in the wind plus a Marsh Harrier and Hobby as well as Great Crested Grebes etc on the lake.

From Mere hide there was just one Great White Egret but along the path to the hide there were a few Small Tortoiseshells.

Back sat the scrape again and towards the car park a single Clouded Yellow whizzed by being carried by the wind.

All in all a great few hours on the levels - just wish that more people would see it's more than just the birds!

Common Darter (male)

Common Hawker

Migrant Hawker

Common Hawker

Migrant Hawker

The water channel swamped by Hemp Agrimony

Butterflies galore!

A raggy Silver Washed Fritillary joined the butterfly party

Common Hawker

Common Darter (female)

Osprey from Noah's Hide

Common Darter (male)

Great White Egret

Herepath, Somerset 16/8/14 - Fritillaries, Blues, a Jersey Tiger and the end of Summer

We started out early for our 12 mile trek across some glorious Somerset countryside. Not long into our forest walk a Roe Deer came bounding through the undergrowth across our path. A little further on we came face to face with a Fox which soon scarpered!

There is definitely a hint of Autumn in the air, the seasons are changing with the Rowan in full berry and the Hawthorn berries giving a scarlet glow to the hedgerow as well as lovely plump blackberries! A few fields full of golden wheat but most have now been cut. There are still a nice amount of wild flowers in both field and hedgerow the most abundant being Ragwort, Thistles, Knapweed, Scabious and Hemp Agrimony all a great magnet for insects. Great evidence of all sorts of Fungi appearing now.

However the day for us was a warm and sunny one which brought out 10 species of butterflies from lovely fresh Common Blues to Small White, Green Veined White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, S Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Skipper and the highlight for us was the numerous sighting of the Silver Washed Fritillary. It was so good to see so many butterflies but especially the Fritillaries in the sunny woodland glades.

Hawker Dragonflies were seen every where but did not land and Common Darters perched in sunny spots.

Another great sighting for us was the Jersey Tiger Moth a first for us in Somerset. Birds of note for the day were Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk. No Yellowhammers seen this time.

What a walk - so many terrains and different environments in 12 miles!