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Went to Steart again yesterday, a few hours after high tide. At Quantock hide we saw Mallards, Shovelers, Spoonbill, Lapwings, Egrets, Golden Plovers in their hundreds, family of Swans including 6 adolescents, Stonechats. At Mendip hide we saw 3 Marsh Harriers. Heard a Cetti Warbler in reeds on walk back to car park.
Visited Steart last Sunday and saw Spoonbill, couple of Swans, Mallards, Golden Plover, Grey Heron, Linnets, Greenfinch and mass of Starlings sitting on a pylon making a racket.
Nic and I saw the Wryneck at Culvercliffe yesterday, an excellent sighting as it perched on a dock or thistle twig. Two other birders there reported that it had been very visible for an extended period, often hopping about on the ground.
30th August – Wryneck seen Culvercliffe, Minehead where 1st hut is along path to left, in and around the weedy area occasionally perching up, last reported just after 5pm. Have not seen it myself.
Tim H and I visited Steart today. On our way we saw 2 Peregrines between Dunster Station and Conygar Tower. On arrival saw that a Red Necked Phalarope and a Black-winged Stilt had been seen the day before – we did not find them!
However we saw 30 different species including Avocet, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Kestrel, Little Ringed Plover, Raven, Reed Warbler and Wheatear.
I was lucky to see the Little Owl in Dunster the other day. Hear that a Red Kite was seen in Alcombe, Minehead earlier this week, there have been several sighting in that area this year.
Hi Everyone
Just about to add a few things about my sighting. However Janet Wilson has posted under a new heading about the Rose Coloured Starling she has seen in her garden at Porlock. I’m green with envy.
For my part I visited Dunster Beach ponds yesterday. Cetti’s Warblers and Reed Warblers were both calling. Several sets of Canada Geese has goslings and likewise the Mallards have duckling.
Today I went towards Butlins, walked alongside the railway path and then across into the Rose garden. Again Cetti’s Warblers and Reed Warblers were heard in the reed beds. Then in the Rose Garden the Cetti’s Warbler was heard again, it was probably across the main road. Then being hassled by Herring Gulls over the Callen’s Wood, Alcombe area was a Red Kite.
I hope to be off to Scotland on Friday – bird watching of course.
River Warbler – Ham Wall (5th June 2021)
I came across this on one of the web sites I visit, have to say I have not heard of a River Warbler before!
A rare visitor to the UK with on average just one record a year with this bird being a first for Somerset. Typically breeding across central and southern Europe to southwest Siberia and northwest Kazakhstan, it is a rather nondescript brown warbler. Dark with a plain brown back, faintly streaked breast, and pale belly.
Usually very shy or skulky and hard to spot, other than when singing. Found in dense low bushes often near marshes. The song is a sharp, continuous, and almost machinelike “dzi-dzi-dzi-dzi-dzi-dz.”
Photograph on eBird on this link, although have not tried it myself yet, https://ebird.org/species/eurwar2?siteLanguage=en_GB
The river warbler has been seen singing regularly on a pile of brash on the grass path side of the canal near the turning to the Avalon Hide.
Please adhere to guidance on social distancing and hygiene and be considerate of each other to ensure that everyone can view the bird safely, as well as being able to pass along the path.
Have not been getting out so much recently due to the weather. However I did get a walk around Simonsbath on 29th May.
Simonsbath – Horsen Farm to Pickedstone Farm and Two Moors Way.
Every time I have been to Simonsbath I have always heard and sometimes seen Cuckoos and within a few minutes I heard the first one. However that was it, not another Cuckoo was even heard.
However, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff (heard just the one), Cuckoo, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker (using same nest hole as a few years ago and sounded like there were youngsters in there), Great Tit, Green Woodpecker (H), House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw (H), Jay, Linnet, Magpie, Pheasant (H), Pied Wagtail (H), Redstart (male), Robin, Song Thrush (H), Skylark, Stonechat, Swallow, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler (lots), Winchat, Wood Pigeon, Wren (including a nest low down in a moss covered wall).
However the highlight was Grasshopper Warbler, heard initially then seen and then a second one appeared. Also far off a little later on perhaps another male singing.
Sadly saw a dead adder (protected species) that I think someone had killed.
Utterly charmed this afternoon (30 May) in Whitecross Lane. A male bullfinch popped up and visited our ‘pond’ for a drink. Balancing on cordyline leaves dipping into the water, he seemed oblivious to us drinking tea just a few feet away. We usually see one a year, but lovely to have time to look closely. Sadly no camera available, but unlikely that would have had a successful outcome!
A good day’s birding at Ham Wall this morning. Highlights were Hobby (perched and flying), Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret, Great Crested Grebe (with young), Little Grebe, Pochard, Coot (with young) and Sedge Warbler. Heard but not seen were: Bitterns booming, Water Rail squealing, Cetti’s Warblers, Reed Warblers and Cuckoo.
Walks W/C 3rd May
4th May – Nutcombe Bottom to Bats Castle
Very windy day and with a walking group, so nothing or interest seen or heard.
6th May – Nutcombe Bottom around Whits Wood
Another quiet day, not even a Cuckoo.
7th May – Nutcombe Bottom to Bats Castle again
Heard then saw a Wood Warbler, a very vocal Cuckoo mainly when we were in the wooded area so no chance of seeing it.
On the open ground near Bats Castle a pair of Mistle Thrushes collecting food. Also Stonechat seen and then lower in the valley a male Grey Wagtail (males have a black bib in the breeding season). Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers heard but it was windy at times which made listening for the bird calls difficult.
8th May – Carhampton to Deer Park & return via Horse Pond.
Lots of Swallows over a mown field. Song Thrushes singing all over the place, also Chiffchaffs. A Raven called overhead and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard in the distance.
Saw 3 small herds of Red Deer perhaps 22 in all.
W/C 26thApril to 1 May
27th – Bratton to Whitecross
Walking with a non-birdwatching group. Heard Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Green Woodpecker. Swallows on the wire by the old Manor House at Bratton (by Stinky Lane).
29th – Ellicome to Alcombe
Walking with a non-birdwatching group. Good view of Blackcap singing. Heard Song Thrush, Chiffchaff and Green Woodpecker.
1st May – Nutcombe Bottom to Bats Castle circuit.
Heard my first Cuckoo and saw 2 Yellowhammers, also Song Thrush, Stonechat, Willow Warbler and Buzzards (both settled). Heard Raven and Chiffchaff as well as other usual suspects. Yellowhammers’ song not perfect, I think they need more practise “eese” was muted.
Walked from Nutcombe Bottom to Bats Castle this morning, heard my first Cuckoo and saw 2 Yellowhammers, one near the Gallox settlement area and the other just passed the bench before Bats Castle.
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