Avalon Marshes (new topic from Feb 2025)
1,possibly 2 Pintail on Noahs Lake this morning, 1 Sparrowhawk and 2 Marsh Harrier were the only other birds of note. I left before an Osprey was reported over Ham Wall heading towards Noahs.
28-Oct-2025
Firecrest: 3 brief views of one c.50 yds up the track from Ashcott Corner carpark at Shapwick Heath NNR this morning, also a Chiffchaff.
159 cattle egrets roosting on Shapwick Heath this evening, and several great whites fishing. A pair of black swans on Noah’s, 60 cormorants in the tree on Canada Farm Lake, wigeon whistling on the Scrape and the ring ouzel still in the Ham Wall car park.
The large numbers (1000s) of hirundines feeding over various parts of the area these last few days seem to have almost entirely disappeared today - at least in the areas I’ve been: Godney, Westhay, Tadham, Shapwick Heath. Just a few swallows going over Canada lake this evening.
An hour in the Decoy Lake hide at Shapwick early this afternoon. Three hobbys over the trees at the eastern end of the lake when I arrived had increased to a group of at least eight by the time I left. Sand martins were moving through more or less constantly and the hobbys were up at the same height as the martins so I wonder if they were looking to pick out a weaker martin, although I didn’t see any predator/prey interaction. Neither did the hobbys seem to be going in low over the reedbeds in dragonfly-hunting mode, although there were dragonflies around. Otherwise, fairly quiet with just a few dozen mallard and gadwall, a few egrets, lone marsh harrier.
29-June-2025
A single large Lapwing chick at Catcott Lows this morning being accompanied by a parent, no sign of anymore chicks.
Purple Heron present this morning at Meare Heath
RFF only being reliably seen first thing in morning last few days, as it heads further west to feed
Over the past 2 weeks the highlights at Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath have been a female Red-footed Falcon & 2 (adult & 1st-sum) Purple Herons. Imm Purple Heron often seen on the 1st heavily reeded pool on Meare Heath as you walk the main track from Ashcott Cnr car park. Female Red-footed falcon currently using a fav tree looking across Meare Heath from the main track well west of the bridge (by pathway to Noah’s Hide) just west of the boundry of Noah’s Lake & The Roughet.
I was lucky to get some video of both which can be seen by clicking on this YouTube link: https://youtu.be/Cu8vN0Zd4-k
Tealham & Tadham Moors: 2 Yellow Wagtails by the bridge, 2 Cattle Egrets and a male Wheatear from Jack’s Drove; a few Sedge Warblers, Linnets, Swallows & Skylarks making up the supporting cast. Another birder told me that a Purple Heron had been seen here recently?
Further afield 2 Lesser Whitethroat near Cogload were the only birds of note by the Taunton & Bridgwater Canal!
1 Whimbrel, 2 Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Glossy Ibis at Ham Wall this morning Garden Warbler singing in Car Park and plenty of other Warblers singing.
2 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, and 1 Yellow Wagtail on Tealham Moor and Whitethroat on Mark Moor.
Catcott this evening. One male Whinchat. 3 Swallows flew west. Pair each of nesting Mute Swans and Canada Geese, and a pair of Greylag with 8 young goslings. Adult male swan of the nesting pair was standing on a sub-adult, pinning it to the ground and mercilessly pecking at its head. The victim eventually managed to struggle free.
A knot, winter plumage spot red and pair of pintail were also there previous day (apparently several knot on Sunday)
Ham Wall VP 1 this evening: One Cuckoo calling, one Spotted Redshank, now in breeding plumage, 2 Redshanks, 9 Common Snipe, 2 Ruff, 1 booming Bittern, 1 male Wigeon, 2 nesting Great-crested Grebes, c.1000 Sand Martins (no Swallows or House Martins could be seen), 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Cetti’s Warblers, 2 Water Rail, 1 Willow Warbler and 3 Chiffchaffs singing, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 female Marsh Harrier. From Railway Bridge: 6 occupied Cormorants nests could be seen.