Somerset Birding (1 Viewer)

[mollymawk]

Location: West Moor, Hambridge
Date and time: 24 March 2017, 1330 - 1530
Conditions: 8/8 - 5/8 cloud cover, very dull becoming brighter. 10 C, moderate north-east wind.
Records of note:

• Pair of cranes
• Osprey
• 2 male stonechat holding territory
• 60 mute swans (two herds of 23 and 25 plus several scattered singles and four pairs).
• several pairs of mallards (the only ducks recorded).
• singing Cetti's warbler.

Comment:

Osprey is a remarkable record, my first in 20 years of visiting. I think it was grounded by the cold NE wind. It is odd that this is first spring migrant I have recorded on West Moor for 2017, before any hirundines or warblers.

Little passerine activity other than singing skylarks and wren - too cold?

 

[Raptorash]

I see you posted your Osprey sighting on the SOS Forum - the one you call elitist - so presumably you are one of the elite ??

 

[Oldgit46]

Nice to a Osprey locally were is Hambridge I live in Taunton ?

 

[dantheman]

Nice to a Osprey locally were is Hambridge I live in Taunton ?

Near Langport according to the internet ...

 

[dantheman]

Surely a mod should merge this thread onto the old Somerset Thread?

It would be plain silly to have a second one running on exactly the same topic as the previous?

 

[KC Foggin]

Okay Dan. Threads have been merged.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Cheers KC. I've got a week in Somerset coming up and it avoids confusion.

Rich

 

[dantheman]

Okay Dan. Threads have been merged.

That was quick!

An all-seeing, all-doing mod, excellent :t:

 

[KC Foggin]

We aim to please

 

[mollymawk]

'so presumably you are one of the elite ??'

You are making two assumptions here:

1. I was the only who saw the Osprey.

2. In referring to an 'elite' I mean the SOS website.

I'll leave it to you to decide.

 

[mollymawk]

I see the two threads have been merged. I hope this encourages a few more reports.

 

[woodhornbirder]

cattle egret still at mudgeley area. on the drovers lane...east chine, with grp of ~20 little egrets, in amoungst a grp of calves and their mothers.

GWE at tealham moor still

 

[mollymawk]

Location: West Moor, Hambridge
Date and time: 26 March 2017, 1345 - 1530
Conditions: 0/8- 1/8 cloud cover, very bright. 10 C, stiff north-east wind, heat haze
Records of note:

• Pair of cranes
• 1st singing chiffchaff of the year
• male Northern Wheatear
• lots of small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies.

Comment: First records of spring passerine migrants.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Just booked our week at the end of May. Really looking forward to an early morning stroll around Ham Wall.

Rich

 

[woodhornbirder]

where is the best spot to observe the river axe in the uphill area of weston? any spots there of wader magnet proportions?

 

[devon.birder]

where is the best spot to observe the river axe in the uphill area of weston? any spots there of wader magnet proportions?

Not a place I go very often but I usually drive as close to the beach at Uphill as I can and then walk left across the beach to the river. Roger

 

[devon.birder]

This morning there were 2 Glossy Ibis very close to Tor Hide at Ham Walls RSPB. I was told that it has now been confirmed that there are 3 birds present. Went in to Avalon Hide and within a few minutes good views of Bittern and Water Rail were had. Two Marsh Harriers flew by the hide giving all the photographers present the opportunity to take hundreds of photos. No hirrundines seen but a couple of Willow Warblers heard singing. Roger

 

[davercox]

Not a place I go very often but I usually drive as close to the beach at Uphill as I can and then walk left across the beach to the river. Roger

Beware. Cars have been known to get irretrievably stuck in the mud here.

 

[mollymawk]

Location: Greylake RSPB
Date and time: 29 March 2017, 0800 - 1100
Conditions: 3/8 cloud cover, bright but cold with stiff south west wind, 3 -8 C,

Records of note:

Several pairs of bickering redshank
Several pairs of lapwings
Several calling water rails
One willow warbler singing
3 or 4 great white egrets
One female ruff
One or two singing curlew

Comment:

Looks as if there will be several breeding attempts by lapwing and redshanks. Curlews seem to drop in most years at this time but don't seem to stay (the same happens at West Moor). The plumage of the ruff seemed quite odd.

 

[mollymawk]

Location: West Moor, Hambridge
Date and time: 01 April, 1200- 1400
Conditions: 3/8-6/8 cloud cover, bright with showery intervals, stiff SW wind, 10-12 C,

Records of note:

Peregrine
Pair of cranes
12 roe deer

Comment: Little activity of note.