Somerset Birding Forum

Blue-winged Teal at Ham Wall

2026-05-29T14:20:21+00:00

29-May-2026
Drake Blue-winged Teal reported on BirdGuides (but elusive) from VP1 this morning at 09:10 and again at 11:20 hrs. It was first reported in flight on 25-May.
With this cooler weather I was going there this evening to hopefully look for a Barn Owl, so will keep an eye-out!!

Quail

2026-05-28T10:28:12+00:00

Between 2 and 5 singing males on a south Somerset site this morning. Impossible to be certain about numbers as they kept moving about. I suspect they are passing through as at least one was singing from a field of spring barely where the plants were barely 100mm high at best.

Great Reed Warbler Shapwick NNR

2026-05-27T09:41:16+00:00

27-May-2026
Singing male (and photograph) still along the footpath to Noah’s Hide this morning, per BirdGuides - present here since 23-May.
Not looked for it myself as my prostate cancer hormone drug results in hot flushes, so not birding, but keeping as cool as possible in this very hot weather!

Great Reed Warbler - Catcott

2026-05-26T08:23:39+00:00

On Catcott yesterday, heard an unfamiliar bird singing near to reed warblers. Merlin identified it as a Great Reed Warbler. Listening to recordings at home I’m convinced Merlin was correct.

Been an astonishing spring for firsts at Catcott. My first Wood Lark, seen and heard. Marsh warbler and Tree Sparrow heard.

Huge number of Whitethroat this year. I hear two or three every day. It’s not be like that before and I’ve been walking there for over 20 years.

Steart

2026-05-22T16:17:36+00:00

1 Wheatear and 1 Yellow Wagtail on mount at the second car park yesterday.

Nightjars on the Blackdowns

2026-05-22T15:00:59+00:00

At least three nightjars were at Sampford Point on the Blackdowns yesterday evening on private land on the Somerset side of the border. Churring started at 9.22pm when it was still reasonably light, and the birds were quite active, resulting in a few good flight views.

Ham Wall

2026-05-21T08:57:01+00:00

A p.m. visit Wed. on a grey breezy day.
1 Whimbrel, 7 Black Wits, A Great Crested Grebe carrying to youngsters()first I’ve seen this yea). No Garganey and no sign of a Woodsand that was reported on Tuesday. Good numbers of Swifts, plus Male and Female Marsh Harriers and a flyby Cuckoo ( there were two calling together at one stage) . All from VP1
. Up to 5 Hobbies seen in the air together in the Street Heath direction but they stayed in that sheltered area out of the S.W. wind. maybe the Dragon flyis were doing the same thing.
Very pleased to meet up with Brian Hill and Tom Raven neither of whom I had seen for some time!

Montagu’s Harrier

2026-05-19T14:37:01+00:00

19-May-2026
Late morning: Female Montagu’s Harrier on Tealham Moor (found y’day afternoon) and still present. Mostly hunting on both sides of Jack’s Drove & just south of Jack’s Drove jct with Totney Drove (the main single-track road across the Moor).

Levels-Birder: My latest video of birding in Somerset in April & Early-May 2026

2026-05-16T14:26:49+00:00

My latest video of birding in Somerset, April & Early-May 2026, can be seen by clicking on this YouTube link below…

https://youtu.be/u1_CxssUMkE

If neccessary click on small gear wheel icon in bottom RH cnr and set Quality to 1080P HD

Quantocks - 10/05/26

2026-05-12T19:39:06+00:00

Nice selection of birds on a 10-hour walk across the Quantock Hills on Sunday.

Hodder’s Combe:
Stock Dove (1), Jay (1), Coal Tit (2), Willow Warbler (1), Chiffchaff (1), Blackcap (1), Goldcrest (5), Nuthatch (2), Treecreeper (2), Mistle Thrush (1), Pied Flycatcher (10), Redstart (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Chaffinch (1).

Slaughterhouse Combe:
Cuckoo (1), Tawny Owl (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Coal Tit (6), Wood Warbler (4), Willow Warbler (3), Chiffchaff (2), Garden Warbler (1), Goldcrest (5), Nuthatch (1), Treecreeper (1), Song Thrush (4), Mistle Thrush (2) Spotted Flycatcher (2), Pied Flycatcher (7), Redstart (7), Stonechat (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Tree Pipit (1), Chaffinch (2).

Stert Combe:
Coal Tit (1), Willow Warbler (4), Garden Warbler (1), Whitethroat (1), Pied Flycatcher (1), Redstart (1), Stonechat (5), Tree Pipit (1).

Somerton Combe:
Cuckoo (1), Buzzard (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Jay (1), Coal Tit (5), Willow Warbler (1), Chiffchaff (1), Blackcap (1), Goldcrest (6), Treecreeper (2), Song Thrush (4), Pied Flycatcher (9), Redstart (3).

Hare Knapp:
Willow Warbler (7), Whitethroat (1), Goldcrest (1), Mistle Thrush (1), Stonechat (4), Meadow Pipit (1), Yellowhammer (1).

Holford Combe:
Wood Warbler (2), Chiffchaff (2), Blackcap (1), Goldcrest (5), Treecreeper (1), Song Thrush (7), Pied Flycatcher (7), Redstart (1), Grey Wagtail (4), Chaffinch (1), Siskin (2).

Lady’s Combe:
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Coal Tit (2), Wood Warbler (1), Chiffchaff (1), Blackcap (1), Treecreeper (1), Song Thrush (1), Mistle Thrush (1), Pied Flycatcher (4), Tree Pipit (1), Chaffinch (1), Siskin (2).

Govett’s Wood:
Coal Tit (4), Wood Warbler (1), Willow Warbler (1), Chiffchaff (1), Blackcap (1), Goldcrest (3), Song Thrush (1), Pied Flycatcher (1), Chaffinch (1), Siskin (3).

Cockercombe:
Jay (1), Coal Tit (2), Wood Warbler (1), Chiffchaff (8), Blackcap (7), Goldcrest (6), Nuthatch (1), Treecreeper (1), Chaffinch (2), Siskin (6).

Great Wood:
Coal Tit (5), Wood Warbler (2), Chiffchaff (1), Blackcap (2), Goldcrest (5), Spotted Flycatcher (1), Chaffinch (2), Siskin (3).

Rectory Wood:
Coal Tit (4), Wood Warbler (1), Chiffchaff (2), Blackcap (1), Goldcrest (1), Siskin (2).

Duke’s Plantation:
Coal Tit (1), Wood Warbler (4), Chiffchaff (1), Blackbird (1), Spotted Flycatcher (1), Robin (4), Pied Flycatcher (1), Chaffinch (2), Siskin (2).

Overall, Wood Warblers seem to be having a better year in the oak-wooded Combes on the north side of the Quantocks but relatively low numbers in the Quantock Forest.
Speaking to a friend of mine from Poland, he suggested that beech masting years and subsequent booms of rodent populations can facilitate Wood Warblers moving from oak woodland and into more conifer-dominated areas. This may be what is happening on the Quantocks at the moment but I would like to see more research on the matter.

Spotted Flycatchers present in lower numbers than this time last year but may just be late arriving (only had one at Sand Point so far this year).