19-May-2021
No sign of either on the partially flooded field at 10:30 this morning. 20 Cattle Egrets among cattle at the eastern end of Tadham Moor, next to the Westhay/Wedmore road.

A drake Garganey and a very smart Wood Sand on the main flood yesterday evening, and I believe they’d been there all day. Also Yellow Wag, and a few Cattle Egrets close by.

As I approached Tealam Moor from Mark on the bend into Totney Drove there were 3 Yellow Wagtails in the road, 2 being females.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51169365289/in/dateposted/

There was also 2 Females on posts and poles near the bridge
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51167910622/in/dateposted/

The flooded field also showed 2 Males with 2 Little Egrets and 2 Lapwings. (7 in the same area)

They were often going to the gate posts and onto the road

https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51168817693/in/dateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51169367289/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51169678470/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51167912647/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51168811168/in/photostream/

Other birds seen ......
4 Linnets
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51168420901/in/photostream/
2 Northern Wheatears
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51169374179/in/photostream/
2 Very Distant Whinchats
2 Very Distant Marsh Harriers
4 Reed Buntings
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51168393781/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51169155329/in/photostream/
5 Cattle Egrets
3 Flyover Whimbrels
4 Grey Herons
Also another Female Yellow Wagtail seen at Jack’s Drove
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51168816678/in/dateposted/

Unusually there were no Seen or heard Sedge Warblers in the usually places.

09:00ish - 2 Yellow Wagtails, Totney Drove on the bend. A Male was with the Cattle in the field by the Gate at end of gravel drive. There was a closer Female, first I’ve seen this year feeding from the road. (See Photo).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51162238853/in/datetaken/

16:00ish - 2 Whinchat chasing each other around not sticking to one area. 3 Yellow Wagtails with 2 Lapwings in the field where the Ringed Plover were and the same 2 Yellow Wagtails seen same location as at 09:00. Lots of Linnets, Sedge Warbles and Meadow Pipits and Little Egrets. See Photo of Whinchat below.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51163102585/in/datetaken/

Struggled to stand still in the 50+mph winds and what with the poor light I managed to get better photo’s from sitting in the car of a handsome Common Greenshank. Also seen in same location, 4 x Ringed Plover’s, 4 x Yellow Wagtails, 4 x Northern Wheatear’s, 4 x Skylark. All eventually put up accept for 1 Yellow Wagtail by a Marsh Harrier. One of the Wheatear’s relocated near the bridge. Also seen on Tealam Moor 4 x Sedge Warblers. A few photo’s below……

https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51154714917/in/datetaken/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51156168009/in/datetaken/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51155389396/in/datetaken/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51156174624/in/datetaken/

Sorry for this late posting, hope anyone wanting quick news will have got it from other social media…

I looked at Tealham on the evening of 27th hoping for waders, only to find that a Wood Sand had been seen earlier. No sign for me though.

I ended up back there in the afternoon of the 1st, dodging showers, and as the main flood was ‘empty’, walked down to the next damp field. After 10 mins of careful scanning, a small wader appeared with apparently pale underparts. James P was close by, I went to get my scope from the car, and over the next 30 mins as the weather closed in, we gradually worked out that it was actually a Temminck’s Stint. It moved to the main flood later and gave good views in the evening sun.

At 7.20pm, Robert K noticed a distant heron coming from the Westhay or Canada Farm direction and immediately flagged that it needed a careful look. It proved to be an adult Purple Heron, perhaps a rather dull individual, and headed off purposefully NW. Wonder if it will turn up again somewhere. 54 Cattle Egrets were near the road a bit further east.

Two Tawny Owls careened out of a roadside wood in the sun on 1st in chase;  a couple of Yellow Wags were around all weekend;  and yesterday, a male Marsh Harrier and a Red Kite were over the moor.

No sign of the Temmincks this morning and no other waders in the flooded field either. At least 2 Yellow Wagtails, one Pied Wagtail and a Peregrine overhead. Two Lapwing circling in the distance below Heath House.

& a temmincks stint (mentioned on Avonbirding)

01-05-2021
This morning 33 Cattle Egrets  at Tadham Moor, Reed Bunting and Sedge Warblerat Tealham Moor.
Now in summer plumage a short video for those who cant get to see the the Cattle Egrets

https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/p577876181#h8f67d2ea  Video
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/p577876181#h8f6d36c7
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/p577876181#h8f6d36c6
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/p577876181#h8f6d36ce
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/p577876181#h8f6d91af  Reed Bunting at Tealham Moor
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/p577876181#h8f6d91b5  Sedge Warbler.

On Tealham Moor at midday today there were 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 2 Wheatear, male & female, and at least two Yellow Wagtails . No sign of the Wood Sandpiper.

3 Ringed Plovers dropped into the wet area of Tealham Moor, just to the east of the bridge that crosses the North Drain, this morning and then I relocated the Wood Sandpiper reported yesterday. Also at least 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Lapwing , 3 Little Egret, Pied Wagtails, Skylark,  Whitethroat and Swallows.