Almost the first bird that I saw in my Westhay garden this morning was a very smart Lesser Whitethroat, presumably on migration.  I have not seen them there this summer although they do breed locally.

19-Aug-2019
The 2 juv Wood Sandpipers (hoorah!) still present this morning on Ham Wall from VP2 between 10:15 and 10:45 when all the Lapwings on the exposed peat-spit flushed in panic and flew off high to the east, the 2 Wood Sands going with them. None of the flock had returned by 11:30 when I left there. No sign of the Garganey, but 2 small waders, that flushed with the others and flew off high to the west, may have been Dunlin.

First Wigeon (female) of the autumn on Meare heath pool this morning. Also very good numbers of the three Hirundine species and Common Swifts over Noah’s Lake.

Both Juv. Wood sand still present from VP 2 this am, with 5+ Green sand and the long staying moulting drake Garganey also around. Water levels are looking decent (unlike many sites in the county at present) and wouldn’t be surprised if either Pec sand or Spotted crake are found in the next 4-6 weeks.

Two Common Terns were on Noahs Lake this morning in some very murky weather. They hunted for a while before landing on tree stumps in front of the hide. If the usual Osprey is still around it should arrive over the next week.

My Green Sands yesterday were right by a viewing screen, which was unusual. One flushed immediately, the other after a couple of minutes.  Are the Wood Sands just going missing in amongst all the veg…?  Good effort to keep looking, Jeff.

Ps. Good views of 2 Water Rail in the week on 2VP.

11-Aug-2019
Again, for me, no sign of the Wood Sandpiper at RSPB Ham Wall (as per Andy’s sighting y’day) between 10:00 and 11:30 this morning, just the regular 2 Green Sandpipers.

1 Wood Sand at 2VP this morning. Was on the main mud (peat?) spit best viewed from the north side of the canal and 30m east of the viewing platform. Kept disappearing in amongst a gang of Lapwing and Gadwall.  Otherwise little to report (40 Lapwing, 2 Green Sand) and a digger was working on the drained lagoons at the Sharpham end.  Just (lovely) Cattle Egrets at Catcott.

8-Aug-2019
No sign this morning of y’day’s Wood Sandpipers, just 2 Green Sandpipers still from viewing screens between VP1 and VP2; also small flock of 6 Common Sandpipers on one of the small rafts on the eastern side of Waltons Lake at RSPB Ham Wall.

Ham Wall this evening:
2 Wood Sand on 2VP, which flew east calling and I couldn’t relocate despite my best efforts.  Hope they’ll be back.
2 Green Sand, 2 Snipe, c30 Lapwing, c30 Teal, 3 Swift.
No Blackwits or Garganey.

Sharpham end on drained lagoons - 4 Green Sand and 1 juv LRP, a really nice surprise.  First time I’ve seen anything on there except LEgrets and Pied Wags despite checking regularly in last few months.

Ps. Most will know already but you always need to walk the north side of the canal to work 2VP properly…

There were 16 Cattle Egrets and 2 Little Egrets at Catcott yesterday morning. Snipe and Lapwings the only waders seen.

The only waders on 2VP this evening were 2 Blackwits - no Snipe or Lapwing, with the habitat still good despite the rain. Couldn’t find a Garganey either.
Nothing of much interest from the hide at Catcott and the water level dropping a few inches has vastly reduced its attraction to waders, sadly. Wonder where all the Cattle Egrets were - Noah’s perhaps.

1 very nice female-type Garganey on 2VP this afternoon (from viewing screens in fact). I’m not sure but could believe it’s actually a drake in eclipse. Sadly no flapping while on view for me today.
1 Snipe visible(!), c100 Lapwing, just a few Teal.  No Blackwits.
Habitat starting to look good.
Couldn’t find an Osprey there or on Shapwick.

Well over 100 Wood Sands reported in East Anglia alone today, and we are surrounded with singles. The race is on for the Marshes’ next, will surely be Catcott or 2VP…

Put in quite a bit of time around Decoy yesterday and finally saw the Purple Heron at 8.15pm, a fine flight view from the hide as it flew from the south edge of the lake northeast and across the Roughet. Also saw Scarlet Tiger, White Admiral and Hornet.

Ham Wall this morning:
1 Spot Fly in the wet clearing a few hundred m north of the pub (east side of road)
1 juv Stonechat at the Sharpham end
1 drake Garganey

Best I could do on Shapwick was 1 Hobby. Seem to be plenty of Cuckoos around this year.