Lots of people taking pictures of catcott bird then, so definitely a different individual - maybe it’s from burtle road, as that was hanging out with cattle egrets

Hi, 13.45 till I left at 14.15

What time was glossy, as one was at catcott in afternoon…?

One Glossy Ibis in with 40+ Cattle Egret on Bradley Stream road, viewed on North side of road in field in front of the lake, looking from first gate before the woods (which are located to the South)

Generally more of the same over the weekend, ‘oddities’ being a Redshank from 1VP on Saturday and a male Merlin west over Decoy today. I think the cold snap has brought in a lot more duck but nothing rare other than our 2 in situ celebs, despite lots of time looking. Bitterns are booming and GC Grebes displaying.

Glossy ibis & tundra bean goose both reported again today

The white fronted geese were at catcott intermittently.as well, plus, unusually, 5 great egrets in the fields where cattles normally mass along main road (some of latter were in fields where glossy ibis likes to hang out).

I think this is how it goes, no names, so apologies if anyone feels hard done by for not getting a mention:
# Baikal Teal photographed inadvertently and wonderfully spotted in a photo taken on 29th Dec at Greylake;
# Seen and identified on 2nd Jan but news barely got out - news fully out on the evening of 3rd in fact;
# Lots of people looked after that but with no success;
# I found it today just after 8am right in front of the hide with a massive teal flock, and lots of people then saw it during the day.

Current thinking is that it’s an adult because the row of variegated brown feathers along the top edge of the flanks is warm toned, and the scapulars are really well developed.  Needs confirmation though.

As mentioned below, I’d visited on 2nd and been impressed with the new arrivals of duck.  It was so good that I went back on 3rd but on both days, a big Teal flock was using a drain to the north of the car park and only ever in view when they flew round.  So whilst I had no idea there was a mega in the area, it was frustrating knowing that I’d only been able to check some of the birds present.

Otherwise, the superb male Hen Harrier continues at Catcott, and that was me done for the day.  Matt D saw 4 Whoopers on Noah’s, which is great.

Cattle Egrets today:
Just south of Mudgley 347 (same flock as Jeff’s)
Nearer Sweets café 5
By the Burtle road 3 (with a lot of Littles)
Sharpham 13

No reason to think there’s any overlap here. The big flock were all loafing in one field just along the Tealham road early morning but soon flew wholesale towards Mudgley. Took a while to get the chance for a decent count without a hedge or gang of sheep in the way. Can only see this flock growing in the next month.

Glossy Ibis came in to Noah’s at 4.10 and landed in the trees at the very back. The 2 Whoopers flew across the lake and landed in their favoured area on the north side at 3.30. Near the car park, a nice mixed flock of Siskin, Redpoll and Chaffinch, with 1 Brambling.  3 Brambling in with the huge Chaffinch flock at Westhay (south side of reserve by road).

The drake Ring-necked Duck present and correct on HW (can often be seen from the main path just along from 1VP in fact). A very striking Sibechaff a bit further along (with Dean and Karen), plus a male Blackcap.

Both Catcott and Greylake spectacular this am with super numbers of duck and close views of many. Also on Greylake, masses of Lapwing and Golden Plover, several thousand of each, and they were using the fields north of the car park when not flying. And the car park at Greylake was full!

Peregrines today: ad terrorizing everything at Greylake, and imm over Meare Heath.

2nd hand reports:  2 Firecrest on the loop by Shapwick NE car park (Dave N), the Bean Goose still on Tealham with a Blackwit (Chris C and everyone else except me!)

The Shapwick Wigeon flock is impressive at the mo and today had good numbers of Teal, Shoveler, Pintail and Tufteds mixed in. One each of Goldeneye and Pochard.  2 Egy Geese on the tin hut.  A mixed flock of Chaffinch and Brambling was on the road just to the north.

My first ever Ham Wall Golden Plover was with the Lapwing on the 1VP flood.  Also 1 Green Sand on the roadside floods just north of Glastonbury.

2 Great Egrets were loathe to leave the track to Noah’s in the drizzle, which was odd.  Otherwise, all the classics seen inc Beardies, Bittern, Marsh Harriers and a terrific Otter.

Pea soup on the Mendips, calm and dull on the Levels and then Glastonbury Tor bathed in warm afternoon sun on the way home in the afternoon…

A big flock of finches was in the oak trees behind the Peat Moors / Avalon visitor centre, mix of Chaffinch and Brambling with dozens of each but too tricky to count without a lot of effort (sorry).

The usual c70 Cattle Egret seemed to be spread between Westhay village and Sweets Cafe but with no G Ibis. I presume that’s decamped to Steart.
( * Chris Griffin saw it over 1VP at 3pm so maybe there are 2 in the county )

A bright Firecrest was on the loop trail by the NE car park at Shapwick Heath. Also a very good Sibechaff candidate there. On Ham Wall in a quick visit, another good Sibechaff candidate, a Water Pipit from 1VP and the drake Ring-necked Duck still around Tor hide. Masses of birds on show from 1VP in fact. Also a tame Mink again.

Huge numbers of Lapwing at Greylake this morning, I’m guessing but somewhere between 4000 and 8000 I’d say. Also 100 Golden Plover.

The Glossy Ibis still between Westhay and Burtle with 70 Cattle Egret.

A pair each of Goldeneye and Goosander on Westhay.

1 Blackwit at Catcott amongst the duck.

The pair of Ring-necked Ducks found yesterday were still there today, staying faithful to the Tor View hide area (west side). Would spend long periods out of view but could then be found by walking round and using the various viewing points.  Nice to see a female for a change.  The drake has not quite moulted through so has slightly mottled flanks and a bit of a scruffy head.

One or two Water Pipits were on the big area of cut reeds just to the east.  As reported by Martin, and just to be complete, Firecrest near VP1 but not for me.

The flooded fields north of Glastonbury ‘only’ held winter thrushes today, maybe 100 Redwing and 30 Fieldfare.  And the wet fields at Westhay still have a big flock of Lapwing.

2 Green Sand and 6 Lapwing were on the flooded roadside fields just north of Glastonbury this morning. Much higher numbers of Lapwing in fields at Westhay…

WeBS on Saturday at Canada farm and today at Shapwick Heath. The newly built Canada Farm hide is now open. One Bittern there and 2 at Noah’s lake today. 7 Bearded tits near Meare Heath bridge, 4 Marsh Harriers seen, 352 Wigeon, 141 Mute Swans, almost all on Noahs, 103 Gadwall, 55 Shoveler (Decoy lake) 12 Great Crested Grebes including a noisy juvenile at Decoy, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Great White Egret and 8 Snipe were all notable counts.