SOMERSET LEVELS ALL DAY - WITH VISITS TO RSPB CATCOTT LOWS - SHAPWICK HEATH - LONG GROVE (SHARPHAM) - BURROW MUMP - RSPB GREYLAKE
WEATHER: aniother superb winter's day, lots of sunshine, hardly a breeze. Temp around freezing all day.
We had a terrific day out birding the 'Levels' we saw 75 species, some awesome birds and thousands of more common species, the weather was simply perfect!
If you had the right clothing on today you would have enjoyed a superb day's birding even more. Kevin Jones, joined the group for today and he forgot to bring a coat, doh! However, he said he did not get cold all day!!
It was a fantastic and most colourful sunrise, we left the guesthouse at 8am and drove the short distance to Catcott Lows Nature Reserve. We saw a few Cattle Egrets along the way and the usual 500-1000 Starlings around the farm where we are staying.
Look at that for a sunrise over Catcott Lows
Along the approach track to Catcott Reserve we noted Chaffinches, Redwings, Song Thrush, Blackbirds and those of us in the front saw Fieldfares too. The marshland on the Lows was virtually frozen over except for a small section, a band of unfozen water remained across the middle of the marsh. This area was stuffed full of ducks, Geese and Swans. With a little searching we listed Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall and Mallard, also Greylag and Canada Geess. A couple of pairs of Stonechats flitted about in the reeds and Marsh Harriers flew over. Most of the group got onto Fieldfare and Redwing from the car park as we left.
Next we drove to Shapwick Heath, we took a long walk to view Noah's Lake and we hoped to see several species along the way. I think that all we listed on the outward journey was common species such as Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker (H), Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Great Egret, Cormorant and Mallards.
all the ducks were crammed into a narrow strip of water at Noah's Lake
Once again we noted that most of the pools on either side of the main Drain were frozen over, the same applied to Noah's Lake. Just a narrow channel in the middle of the lake was frost-free and it was jam-packed with wildfowl. Hundreds of ducks we closely packed together. They were mostly Shoveler and Wigeon, but also Tufted Duck, Pintail, Teal, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe, Canada and Greylag Geese, Mute Swan. We searched for Goldeneye and Whooper Swan but both had flown off earlier. We did find one of the two RING-NECKED DUCKS that were present, but I couldn't get all of the group onto the bird because it kept moving in and out sight and was eventually lost for good.
The walk back to the bus was much more productive, a lot more activity was noted as the day warmed up from -4C to 0C. We found many more Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, another Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher was seen by some and a small group of us watched a mixed flock of Redpolls, Siskin and Goldfinches. A beautiful male Bullfinch sat out for some of us too, we saw a small flock of Meadow Pipits and a small flock of five Chiffchaffs feeding in the grass?
Lesser Redpoll or now just Common Redpoll - this one is a nice colourful male
Just before the end of the track a Kingfisher flew past us and Kevin spotted a male Bullfinch feeding in a clump of bramble. We bought lunch at the Avalon Centre, noting Redwings, Blackcap, Goldcrest and Goldfinches around the car park.
Bullfinch - Kevin got a much better picture of course
From there we drove through Meare and stopped to look at a place near the flood meadows of the River Brue, we were after Whooper Swans, but the flood water had gone and so had the birds. We then drove to Glastonbury and took the A39 toward Bridgewater, it was along this road that a Red Kite was seen. We then headed towards Taunton, stopping at Burrow Mump.
Some serious flooding covered most of the area but clumps of higher ground remained dry. It was on these clumps that we found Common Cranes, four together and then later two more arrived. We also found a lot of other species the best of which was a single Ruff and twenty five Dunlin, the latter were standing on the ice.
Dunlin on ice!
Scattered about we found Common Shelduck, Lapwings, Gulls, Herons and Egrets with small groups of Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler. Close by we watched Stonechats, Song Thrushes, Redwings, Goildcrests and a Sparrowhawk flew over our heads and landed not too far away. We picked out several Marsh Harriers and a couple of Buzzard.
From Burrow Mump we drove back through Ashcot to the Long Grove area near Sharpham, we had heard that some White-fronted Geese had been seen recently. We arrived some 20 minutes later and found the flock of WF Geese feeding with Greylags and Canada Geese, we then walked 100 meters to view the large pool adjacent to the Grove.
Tow of the six Cranes seen from Burrow Mump car park.
We search the pool for yet another RING-NECKED DUCK but this time we failed to find because once again the lake was frozen over with just a slither of water at the far side. Hundreds of ducks were present, we found our first Common Pochards of the trip and suddenly all the geese from the pasture took off and landed in the water.
Back in the paddock there remained four Egyptian Geese, two Greylags and some Lapwings. We search for a Barnacle Goose but failed to find it. Kevin found another Kingfisher having missed the first one.
Our final birding stop was at RSPB Greylake we stayed until it was almost dark and enjoyed a good hour or so watching a few species. A Flock of Golden Plover flew around over on Aller Moor, just three or four of us saw them.
Female Reed Bunting
Most of the marsh was frozen over so no ducks were present or Snipe, the hides were empty, no birders or photographers, a first for me. We watched up to four different Water Rails, lots of Marsh Harriers, a couple of Kestrels and Buzzards. We also found a couple of Bearded Tits, Cetti's Warbler and Reed Bunting, Wren, Chiffchaff and Chaffinches.
As the sun went down we scanned the area for Barn Owls and perhaps a Hen Harrier coming into roost, it wasn't until we had decided to call it a day when Bob Unwin found a Barn Owl, we had good, but distant views of it, perfect, we can now go back to the guest house and get warm. Another Reed Bunting put on a show as we walked back to the car park.
Later in the evening and near to our Farmhouse, two of us saw a second Barn Owl.