On the 2nd Feb a very large flock of finches was recorded on Westhay Moor drove, at ST 4521 4334. They were flitting in between the alders/birches on the NNR and the stubble field to the south of the road, with at least a dozen brambling present, along with c. 30 reed bunting and very large numbers of chaffinch. This seems to be a regular place for this flock.

Two Glossy Ibis still there this morning, with a third bird on the opposite side of road, unfortunately it was flushed by a hunter and his dog, seen flying east and lost to veiw behind the large pile of peat, at 10.15.

Glossy Ibis seen between 15.15 and 15.45 still there when I left

Two Glossy Ibis now in west field seen just beyond the small container yard along Sharpham Lane just before the south drain, feeding in with a large flock of Greylag Geese, also 44 Cattle Egret scattered around, plus one Egyptian Goose

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.