Having met up with Dan in Axebridge, we all hopped in his car and headed for the marshes.
We began at a random bit of marsh habitat on the way to Catcott Lows. The site immediately produced a Great White Egret and vocal Cuckoo and Cetti's Warbler, among other things.
Then onto Catcott. A look from the hide produced a few Cattle Egrets, some 50+ Black-Tailed Godwits, as well as a couple of Hobby zooming about after insects.
On the drive out, 3 Cattle Egrets showed particularly well with several cattle quite close to the road.
On then to Shapwick Heath & Ham Wall for the rest of the day to have a mooch about for rare Herons and anything else of interest.
Before we'd even left the car park, one of the highlights of the day appeared with a Hummingbird Hawkmoth buzzing around the flowers by the little visitor hut and toilet block. Brilliant to watch and a fun challenge to photograph too!
We strolled on to the Shapwick Heath side - however just approaching Meare Heath, the heavens truly opened - in fact I don't think I've seen rain like it for years! It was proper mad! We broke into a light jog and made it to the nearby hide before we got too drenched.
A gap in the rain, allowed us to sneak on to the hide over looking Noah Lake. Here we had a good scan seeing a couple of Great White Egret, a flyover Hobby and a Cetti's Warbler going backwards and forwards between it's nearby nest.
The rain was getting a bit relentless and annoying by this point. It lightened a bit and so we decided to hot-foot back to the car and sit it out there for a bit, before having a look at Ham Wall. Thankfully it eventually abated and we headed off up the path for a look around the reserve.
A major surprise soon loomed into view as an unringed Crane appeared relatively low, slowly circling over the reedbeds, before slowly drifting off west. Some great views and soon the rain was forgotten!
A walk down towards the 2nd viewing platform and back produced brief views of a Bittern low over the reeds, as well as at least 4 booming regularly. One or two Bearded Tits could be heard and Dan and Gareth got brief views too. Other regular Ham Wall birds included Marsh Harrier, squealing Water Rail, Great White Egret, lots of Gadwall and a few Pochard.
Time had flashed by and before we knew it, it was time that we had better hit the road back home. So we dropped Dan back in Axebridge and hit the M5! A top catch-up despite the weather.
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