3 Egyptian Geese at Ham Wall VP1 this morning. Also a Spotted Flycatcher at Swell Wood car park earlier.

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers seen along Canada Farm main drove at lunchtime today. My first sighting this year.

Swifts back in Langport. At least 8 screaming overhead this morning. There is usually a good breeding colony here. Hope they do well this year.

Swifts back in Ilminster, several seen this morning.

Excellent day’s birding around the Levels today (Ham Wall and Shapwick except where mentioned), with 65 species seen, including 8 warblers, nightingale and 8 species of raptor!  Chiffchaff, willow warbler, blackcap, garden warbler, Cetti’s warbler, reed warbler, sedge warbler, whitethroat; and red kite, buzzard, marsh harrier, peregrine (Tealham), kestrel (Tealham), hobby (3), sparrowhawk, and over the non-drained scrape, a goshawk observed soaring then stooping at prey.

Three common swifts over Waltons area of Ham Wall this morning. Glossy Ibis also reported.

21-Apr-2019
Arriving at Ashcott Corner at 19:30 we had just missed the Nightingale that was singing 10 mins earlier. A long wait until 20:55 before it burst into full song - brilliant and worth the wait. Walk towards the Meare Heath Tower Hide from the car park and stop-and-listen just 20m past where the black Discovery board-walk Trail finishes its loop at the main track.

I believe I saw this bird on Saturday. Walking from Shapwick I came across a bird in a fairly recent ditch halfway to the bridge. There was a GWE and Grey Heron towards the back 10 yards from them towards me was what looked like a scruffy Grey. It was smaller and had very yellow legs. It was head on to me but certainly looked different.

Thanks John, That would seem to confirm that the one I saw was a Purple.

Martin a Purple Heron was flying E looking S from the bridge over South Drain at Ham Wall on Sunday at 12.15

Fantastic early morning around Ashcott corner. My first sighting was an 80% chance Purple Heron flying across Meare Heath towards Ham Wall. Only in silhouette but it certainly looked like one in side view. Then Tom Raven and I saw a Common Sandpiper flying over Noah’s lake. On my return towards the car park, I heard and saw a Garden Warbler and a pair of Blackcap and then heard a Nightingale singing in the same area where the plastic adventure path rejoins the railway line. Tom had informed me about the Osprey which was reported to the south of Ham Wall and it was showing well for many early visitors while the usual mix of Marsh Harriers, GWE, booming Bittern and other warblers were much in evidence. And all before 8.30!

Cuckoo calling on Somerton Moor this morning.

First Swallow over the garden (Ilminster), but also Hummingbird Hawkmoth - never seen one so early before. Presume migratory too.

Berrow Golf course and dunes this morning. One singing Common whitethroat, at least one, possibly 2 Cuckoos and on the beach after high tide, 3 Whimbrel. Returning across Tealham, the Short Eared Owl was showing well on a fence post.