Ringtail reappeared at 1605 today, just as we were about to leave. Zoomed low over the reserve and stayed hunting fast for a couple minutes before disappearing behind the tree line to the north.

Late p.m. visit;  3 Pintail drakes among the several hundred Wigeon, Teal and Shoveller. A couple of Marsh Harriers ( male and juv.) two Peregrines gave a power flying display chasing each other around and then too late in the day at 4p.m. when the light was failing the ring tailed Hen Harrier appeared and stayed on the reserve for 10 minutes hunting.

5-Nov-2019 (late afternoon)
Joined Alan Ashman in the hide and saw a ringtail Hen Harrier that flew distantly, low to the north across the far end of the reserve at 15:23 hrs. Also, a Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Grt W Egrets, a fem Pintail, c.60 Greylags and a flock of 100+ Fieldfares.

A ring tailed Hen Harrier made a very brief appearance around 1230 Monday morning (4th), flying straight through leaving in a S.Westerly direction. Just a couple of hundred duck, mostly Wigeon with 30+ Teal and a couple of Shoveller and just single Pintail( Im/Female). Several Marsh Harriers were also present as was a Kestrel.

Fri. p.m.  A male Merlin was sat on the stockade rails at the far end of the reserve and only moved from one rail to the other in about 2 hrs. Still there when I left around 1530.

A Red Kite flew low across the S.West corner of the reserve around 1230 today before being mobbed and driven off South by the huge number of Crows that seem to have taken up residence here. Apart from both male and female Peregrines sitting together on the stockade at the far end of the reserve plus a Buzzard and two Marsh Harriers nothing else seen of note in the cold 90 minutes spent there! The Cattle Egrets were present in good numbers with cattle where North Chine Drove meets the Westhay to Cheddar road as I passed by on my way back to Wells.

I called in to Catcott briefly this morning and at first thought that there were no ducks there apart from a pair of Mallard but an unknown predator must have passed over as a flock of Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler came up from about 400 metres back from the hide. Probably about 60 Ducks in total.

Female Peregrine is now beginning to spend time on the reserve and on Thursday p.m. a male appeared and stopped for a while but there was no interaction between the two.
Duck nos. have dropped it seems but there may be some in the new pool unseen from the car park hide. No Pintail although a male was here on Wednesday.

Mid day Monday, 60 Wigeon and 3 Pintail have arrived since yesterday morning; they were together with half a dozen Shoveller, a few Mallard and Gadwall and a similar number of Teal. Around 100 Lapwing were present. There’s not really enough open water areas yet to encourage large duck numbers. 25 Cattle Egrets were in a nearby field and 30 or so Canada Geese were using the “new” pool.

18-Oct-2019
Again, at least 55 distant Cattle Egrets, and a Grt White Egret at Catcott Lows this morning, most flying off to feed among cattle between here and the nearby South Drain.
Another 16 Cattle Egrets beside the River Brue at Westhay Village.

Four Common Cranes flew south over the reserve at 1445 yesterday (Thursday). looked to be 2 adults followed by two sub adults . I’ve looked at all the pics I took , unfortunately no rings can be seen.

16-Oct-2019
At least 60, may be 70, Cattle Egrets and a Grt White Egret at Catcott Lows this morning, most flying off to feed among cattle between here and the nearby South Drain.

14-Oct-2019
20 Cattle Egrets and a Grt White Egret in the rain at Catcott Lows this morning, some flying off to feed along the nearby South Drain.

There were 56 Cattle Egrets beside Honeygar Lane at around 4pm.

10-Oct-2019
A Merlin dropped in for 10 minutes, sitting on the telegraph pole, Thursday afternoon. Just 20 or so Cattle Egrets plus three Marsh Harriers were the only other things of note in the couple of hours between 2 and 4 p.m.