Seems that glossy ibis has dropped in at shapwick (& Kentish plover again at Burnham)

First of the month check on Ham Wall and Shapwick produced 49 species between 08.00 and 11.00. Notable ones were:
Swallow. 5 heading south over Meare Heath
Bearded Tit 2 on Meare Heath and 3 on Noah’s.
Bittern one on Noah’s.
Ruff 2, Blackwit 1 and Green Sand 4 all at VP2 along with a flock of Lapwings
Egyptian Goose 2 near the tin shed on Noah’s
Wigeon. 300+ on Meare Heath and many more on Noah’s plus several flocks coming down from high up so probably new arrivals.
Willow Warbler. One very yellowish bird near car park.
Goldcrest, several Jays collecting acorns, at least 4 Marsh Harriers and a Sparrowhawk.

1 ruff at VP2 late afternoon today.

Plenty of activity over Noahs Lake this morning 0940-11.00. One juv. Osprey (ringed), 3 Hobby, 5 Marsh Harriers, one Kingfisher, one Egyptian Goose, one Cattle Egret over, 2 GWE, increasing numbers of ducks including more than 100 Wigeon, a few Teal and Gadwall, GC Grebe, Coots etc. Very few passerines seen or heard between the car park and Noah’s.

The juv Osprey still using Noah’s this am. Also 2 Hobby and a Stonechat there.
On Ham Wall, a drake Garganey on the 2VP lagoon (west end for a change) and 1 Hobby.

1 Garganey on Noah’s this am (NW corner) and a Ruff was the best on 2VP lagoon. The Garganey must be a drake as it has one retained breeding plumage scapular. Single Hobbies on both sides.

A juv Osprey heading west over Ham Wall and 65 Wigeon on Meare Heath were this evening’s highlights.  The Osprey was around 2VP earlier apparently and I saw it later in the evening on Noah’s.

Otherwise on 2VP lagoon were a single Ruff and just the usual suspects. 13 Snipe were visible.  Again, no Garganey.

A quick visit only, early afternoon today, 2VP, which has all its excellent margins back!

2 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 1 Blackwit, 4 Green Sand, 2 Snipe, 50 Lapwing, 4 Egy Geese, 2 Wigeon.

Hi Robin, I’ll keep chat to a minimum on here but yes, great to meet you today. Any Garganey photos…?

Hi Andy, Yes there were 2 Ospreys a bit later on, see my other posting here on this forum.

Was that you with the scope this morning that pointed out the Garganey in front of where we were standing?

cheers, Robin

Shapwick rather good this am: a juv Osprey perched up for a long time down low at the back of Noah’s. I read that two were seen later on…
A juv Black-necked Grebe with the Tufted Duck flock on Noah’s.
2 Garganey in the NW corner viewed from the main track.
4 ad Egy Geese and 1 Hobby.

Disappointing on Ham Wall where water levels have risen on the 2VP lagoon and nearly all the lovely margins have gone. 1 Green Sand seen.

1 Garganey on HW 2VP lagoon this am. Also a few Green Sand and Blackwit, 1 Common Sand and 2 Snipe. 2 Egy Geese! Adults - with no young in tow unfortunately.

3 Wigeon on Meare Heath; and Wood Sand reported from 2VP viewing screens by someone I met on site.

Just on the Garganey, I usually see them close to the main peat spit looking from the grass footpath (of course); and occasionally from the viewing screens. They often magically appear as if from nowhere, and disappear just as mysteriously. There is a striking Mallard out there with a massive white super. If you’re just looking with bins, don’t be fooled by that aberration.

1 Garganey this evening on 2VP lagoon - eventually. A crisply marked bird, and almost monochrome compared to the last 2, which were much warmer and smudgier. Otherwise, 1 Common and 4 Green Sand, 1 Blackwit, 3 Snipe.

2 Garganey on the 2VP lagoon this evening, also a Common Sand, 4 Green Sand, 1 Blackwit, 35 Lapwing, 1 Snipe and 2 juv Water Rail.

Wood Sand and Garganey on 2VP lagoon this evening.
Took a while but also teased out 1 Hobby, 7 Blackwit, 6 Green Sand and 2 Snipe. Modest Teal and Lapwing numbers.