Late PM. 7 Cranes present. 2prs and a threesome. 1 pr doing the walk.2 Male Marsh Harriers causing mayhem at times disturbing
huge numbers of Lapwing and many Golden Plover at the back and waking up the Baikal Teal. 4 Great White Egrets seen.
1 Barn Owl hunting slowly, eventually making its way towards the car park and across the road.

A morning to remember at Greylake. Soon aftern I arrived at 9.30, a male Hen Harrier flew straight towards the lower hide giving close views. I then visited the upper hide where I was soon shown the Green winged Teal and then I found the Baikal Teal so 3 good birds in 10 minutes! Still many thousand birds on site but no Golden Plover seen.

Baikal Teal and 2 Cranes present early afternoon

Also at Greylake, the male Hen harrier hunting, Curlew, Golden Plover, 2 Barn Owls and loads of Starling’s over heading to Shapwick

Present again today viewable from tree hide.  often asleep or hidden behind vegetation !

Is back again

1-Jan-2024
Still present this morning and showing well from the Tree Hide (raised hide). Also 4 distant adult Common Cranes.

The North Wales bird may have been different to South Wales (they didn’t overlap), as former was with Pintail, whilst latter with Teal (so possibly this individual) - although it’s also possible that one could have wintered in Somerset without being reported

A nice thread to resurrect.  The Baikal Teal was refound today by Rob W.  Guess it spent last winter in Wales.  It’s now looking perfect with completely grey flanks.  And just like December 2021, it seems to have arrived with a big Christmas influx of teal.  A Garganey was seen too today.

Not been seen since but garganey have turned up (although just 2 female pintail & 3 redshank amongst the usual suspects today)

It looks like the Baikal Teal finally left Greylake late this afternoon.
Instead of flying when flushed, joining the other ducks before settling, he took off alone and flew with purpose in an easterly direction.
I managed a photo as it left, here;
https://twitter.com/CarlBovisNature/status/1503428647729913861/photo/1

What a magnificent looking bird. Well worth seeing in the early morning sun. A first for me and well worth the wait.

https://twitter.com/robinmmorrison/status/1502666521801367552?s=20&t=OJNtjdiMNPt1NLo77Cn8xw

The Baikal Teal was showing very well from the open hide on the left hand side about 09.30. Then it flew over to the main hide and was over on the left hand side of the channel. It was flushed by a Marsh Harrier and landed in the middle of the main channel giving an amazing view in the sunlight..

Thanks.

It was there this morning. Birdguides is best place to check for rarities like this (although you have to pay to see exactly where they were, if you don’t know)