It was bright and sunny as we cruised our way through the Cotswolds early on. A stop at services just into Somerset however, revealed a horrible biting wind, something that blighted us throughout the day!
We started our birding a few miles from Ham Wall, just south of the village of Pedwell, to connect with 6 adult Bewick's Swans that had been in the area for some time. The first Bewick's I've seen for ages and so well worth the short diversion.
On then to Ham Wall where after a couple of short but very sharp hailstorms, we were able to enjoy the reserve in a bit of sunshine.
We were soon onto one or two Great White Egrets, while Dan picked out an immature Peregrine perched up on a dead tree some way off. We gave it a good go looking through the good numbers of Pochard and Tufted Ducks in the general vicinity of the 1st viewpoint, however there was no sign of either the reported Ferruginous & Ring Necked Ducks.
We headed to the impressive Avalon Hide greeted by an extremely showy pair of Stonechat on route.
The Avalon Hide was a wonderful opportunity to get out of that wind! It was here we got views of our only Bittern of the day, flying across the vast reedbeds, accompanied by the booming tones of a very excitable RSPB group leader. It was more reminiscent of a CIA chief directing a mission to take out a terrorist than someone calmly pointing out a Bittern in mid-air! Still I couldn't complain, it had me and Dan in fits of laughter!! The general area held some good numbers of wildfowl, particularly Teal and Gadwall and while we were not seeing anything too unusual, there was plenty to enjoy! After all, there isn't many better birds than a sunlit drake Teal!
We had a further fruitless look for the Fudge & Ring Necked Ducks, before deciding to give the adjacent Shapwick Heath a go. This meant walking face on into the wind which was very unpleasant! We didn't see a great deal different from what we had already seen on Ham Wall, although it was nice to explore more of the reserve than I had in my single previous visit. There were a few Pintail about, while the numbers of Wigeon on Noah's Lake was insane with easily several thousand. One or two cream crown Marsh Harriers were constantly flushing them, almost playing with them at times!
We had another last look back at the first viewpoint area on Ham Wall. There was nothing new, although good views of a Water Rail in flight was nice, having only heard them for much of the day.
We were kind of keen to stay for the Starling roost, however with a long drive back ahead of us and the wind possibly putting pay to any decent murmuration, we headed for home.
On then to Ham Wall where after a couple of short but very sharp hailstorms, we were able to enjoy the reserve in a bit of sunshine.
We were soon onto one or two Great White Egrets, while Dan picked out an immature Peregrine perched up on a dead tree some way off. We gave it a good go looking through the good numbers of Pochard and Tufted Ducks in the general vicinity of the 1st viewpoint, however there was no sign of either the reported Ferruginous & Ring Necked Ducks.
We headed to the impressive Avalon Hide greeted by an extremely showy pair of Stonechat on route.
The Avalon Hide was a wonderful opportunity to get out of that wind! It was here we got views of our only Bittern of the day, flying across the vast reedbeds, accompanied by the booming tones of a very excitable RSPB group leader. It was more reminiscent of a CIA chief directing a mission to take out a terrorist than someone calmly pointing out a Bittern in mid-air! Still I couldn't complain, it had me and Dan in fits of laughter!! The general area held some good numbers of wildfowl, particularly Teal and Gadwall and while we were not seeing anything too unusual, there was plenty to enjoy! After all, there isn't many better birds than a sunlit drake Teal!
We had a further fruitless look for the Fudge & Ring Necked Ducks, before deciding to give the adjacent Shapwick Heath a go. This meant walking face on into the wind which was very unpleasant! We didn't see a great deal different from what we had already seen on Ham Wall, although it was nice to explore more of the reserve than I had in my single previous visit. There were a few Pintail about, while the numbers of Wigeon on Noah's Lake was insane with easily several thousand. One or two cream crown Marsh Harriers were constantly flushing them, almost playing with them at times!
We had another last look back at the first viewpoint area on Ham Wall. There was nothing new, although good views of a Water Rail in flight was nice, having only heard them for much of the day.
We were kind of keen to stay for the Starling roost, however with a long drive back ahead of us and the wind possibly putting pay to any decent murmuration, we headed for home.
