Catcott Lows

 
Alan Ashman
 
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Alan Ashman
Total Posts:  387
Joined  01-12-2015
 
 
 
28 August 2019 08:28
 

  Tuesday 27th.  afternoon. A Spotted Flycatcher appeared on the fence immediately left of the car park hide but it didn’t stay long, my first this year! also present although difficult to see were a couple of groups of 4 or 5 Yellow Wagtails. 24 Cattle Egrets are still around. A start was made today on cutting the Sedge on the North side of the central ditch, this may make passing wagtails easier to see! Good progress is being made on the second pool excavation off Lower Ropes Drove, it may well be finished this week.

 
Alan Ashman
 
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Alan Ashman
Total Posts:  387
Joined  01-12-2015
 
 
 
21 August 2019 07:33
 

Four distant and fleetingly glimpsed Yellow Wagtails , a single Black Tailed Godwit and a Wheatear were present between 1400 and 1500 Tuesday as were the ‘resident’ 18 or so Cattle Egrets with 3 Little and one Great White Egret.

 
Alison Everett
 
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Alison Everett
Total Posts:  222
Joined  01-12-2015
 
 
 
30 July 2019 17:27
 

A Greenshank dropped in for a while late morning , otherwise much the same birds as before..

 
Daniel Watson
 
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Daniel Watson
Total Posts:  129
Joined  18-02-2018
 
 
 
27 July 2019 13:14
 

A total of 13 adult and 4 juvenile Cattle egrets on the scrape this morning, otherwise rather quiet; 3 Lapwing and a single Snipe.

 
Richard Pratt
 
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Richard Pratt
Total Posts:  50
Joined  10-12-2015
 
 
 
06 July 2019 09:04
 

Hi Alan - after you left on Wednesday, we eventually saw 10 CEs all in the air at once, put up by a marsh harrier.  Dick

 
Martin Sage
 
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Martin Sage
Total Posts:  454
Joined  07-12-2015
 
 
 
05 July 2019 08:36
 

A Barn Owl has been visible at the back of the Lows on the last 2 evenings I spent there, most recently Wednesday 3rd.

 
Alan Ashman
 
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Alan Ashman
Total Posts:  387
Joined  01-12-2015
 
 
 
04 July 2019 19:16
 

Lunchtime today and for the first time for several weeks a Kingfisher flew across in front of the car park hide. There are at least 8 Cattle Egret still regularly on the Lows mostly distant but the cattle they accompany do venture up to the pools to drink offering close views, although this could mean waiting for several hours! Today there was also an adult Little Grebe in front of the hide.  Up to 100 Lapwing have also been present this week but difficult to see in the tall veg!

 
Richard Pratt
 
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Richard Pratt
Total Posts:  50
Joined  10-12-2015
 
 
 
19 June 2019 22:44
 

The 3 Egyptian geese dropped in at 11am this morning. Moved of South and West at 1125, but returned 5 minutes later before finally heading off North-west just before noon.

 
Alan Ashman
 
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Alan Ashman
Total Posts:  387
Joined  01-12-2015
 
 
 
18 June 2019 19:46
 

Information from Mark Blake Somerset Wildlife Trust
“Please note that from 25-28th June, there will be limited access to Catcott Lows Hide as we will be fixing potholes in the drove leading to hide & replacing the access ramp to the hide. This may cause some noise so we apologise for any inconvenience. Thank you. “
I understand that we can access the hide on foot during the working period but this will mean parking vehicles at the entrance to Higher Ropes Drove.

 
Daniel Watson
 
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Daniel Watson
Total Posts:  129
Joined  18-02-2018
 
 
 
16 June 2019 09:37
 

James Packer and I had an adult Purple heron fly NNE across the marsh late last night in the direction of Burtle/Westhay. Worth keeping an eye open in the general vicinity.

 
Bryn Evans
 
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Bryn Evans
Total Posts:  58
Joined  04-09-2018
 
 
 
15 June 2019 18:20
 

During a period of sunshine this morning, about 10.30am, there were substantial numbers of Swifts hawking insects only a few meters above the ground; however hirundines were few in numbers with only 5 House Martins seen.
3 little Egrets and 5 Cattle Egrets foraging, often disappearing amongst the Rushes.
A passing female Marsh Harrier carrying prey flew from behind the west hide (from the southwest) going east northeast and out of sight.
At the margins of the car park Blackcap, Whitethroat and Dunnock were present.

 
Paul Cousins
 
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Paul Cousins
Total Posts:  89
Joined  26-01-2017
 
 
 
02 June 2019 16:49
 

Around 08:00 Again the Barn owl put on a good display flying around in the light rain.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/47986232561/in/datetaken/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/47986234041/in/datetaken/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/47986196193/in/datetaken/

There were also 4 cranes which were there when I arrived but could not see them (too far back) only when they took off around 10:00 ish.

 
Paul Cousins
 
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Paul Cousins
Total Posts:  89
Joined  26-01-2017
 
 
 
01 June 2019 18:18
 

07:00 - 08:00 this morning in the car park hide a Barn owl hunting in the fog. Managed to catch a vole and then flew off to the trees at the far left. (Managed a few shots but dark and foggy see links)

I also counted 6 Black Tailed Godwits (in front of the hide), 1 GW Egret, 7 Cattle Egret, 3 Little Egret. A whitethroat in front of the hide and car park, 1 white wagtail. No Garganey to be seen but did see it yesterday evening in the distance.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/47979904103/in/datetaken/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/47980470308/in/datetaken/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/47979903183/in/datetaken/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/47979962846/in/datetaken/

 
Jeff Hazell (Levels-birder)
 
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Jeff Hazell (Levels-birder)
Total Posts:  597
Joined  01-12-2015
 
 
 
31 May 2019 19:13
 

31-May-2019
At least 8 Cattle Egrets this afternoon between 14:30 & 17:00; also 3 Little Egrets, 2 drake Garganey, 68 Black-Tailed Godwits, a Common Crane that flew southwards over distant Canada Farm Lake, and at least 3 Marsh Harriers.

 
Stephen Curtis
 
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Stephen Curtis
Total Posts:  7
Joined  06-01-2019
 
 
 
28 May 2019 22:42
 

Between 6.10pm and 8.30pm - Prob Red Kite In distance .4 Marsh Harriers. 2 Black Winged Stilts. 3 G W Egrets, 2 Little Egrets approx 15 Cattle Egrets Redshank heard , 100 to 150 Swifts .Whitethroat and Drake Garganey.