Avalon Marshes migrants

 
Jeff Hazell (Levels-birder)
 
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Jeff Hazell (Levels-birder)
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05 July 2020 17:59
 

5-July-2020
No sign of the Wood Sandpiper late morning (11:00/13:00) either from the viewing screens or from the canal bank footpath opposite VP2. Only waders seen was single Green Sandpiper and Redshank (from the screens) and at least 40 Lapwing mostly opposite VP2.

 
Andy Mears
 
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Andy Mears
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04 July 2020 15:09
 

Wood Sand again this am but from the viewing screens today.  Plus a juv Redshank with striking yellow-orange legs (no Garganey or Blackwits for me).  And a Snipe.  The 2VP lagoon is probably at its peak for being hard to work right now…

2 Wigeon, Meare Heath, of course.

 
Martin Sage
 
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Martin Sage
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02 July 2020 17:53
 

Not as rubbish as me though. The colouration looked very similar to the Fudge ducks that I have seen previously in the area but it had gone out of sight before I had chance to get my scope out. It did not open its wings but I saw a flash of white below the wing on first sighting but not the second time it showed. It might be worth looking again. None of the hybrids shown in Collins look anything like it.

 
Daniel Watson
 
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Daniel Watson
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02 July 2020 17:14
 
Martin Sage - 02 July 2020 03:59 PM

Hi Daniel. Same bird as I saw Penny this morning. Unusual colours for a Tufted and it looked quite bulky? I hoped that her picture would clarify things.

I think Penny took the image down now, but from what I saw, it had a rectangular head with dark brown iris, diffuse nail on the bill, some speckles around the lores and no white around the pelvic region. Looked ok for an advanced (i.e. early brood) juvenile TD, but obviously a single photo on twitter is not the same as seeing it in the field - I’m also a bit rubbish with ducks.

Cheers Dan

 
Martin Sage
 
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Martin Sage
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02 July 2020 15:59
 

Hi Daniel. Same bird as I saw Penny this morning. Unusual colours for a Tufted and it looked quite bulky? I hoped that her picture would clarify things.

 
Daniel Watson
 
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Daniel Watson
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02 July 2020 14:06
 

Very nice Martin, potentially of interest Penny (@fegwitch) posted an image of a very russet/ochre coloured juvenile Tufted duck this afternoon, though that had an obvious dark eye. Did your bird happen to flap its wings?

 
Martin Sage
 
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Martin Sage
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02 July 2020 11:18
 

Green Sands and Snipe the only waders this morning but there is a 95% certain Ferruginous Duck present. I could not see any obvious white area below the tail but everything else was right for an eclipse male or female. Rich brown below, darker wings and pale eye. The bird seemed very nervous, swimming rapidly from one area to another so only briefly seen.

 
Andy Mears
 
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Andy Mears
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01 July 2020 21:27
 

The Wood Sand reported on birdguides this afternoon from Ham Wall was still present this evening, although it was flushed at 7pm and disappeared at the back of the 2VP lagoon.  Also there were 2 Green Sand, 2 Common Sand and 4 Garganey.  No Blackwits.

2 Wigeon still on Meare Heath.

 
Martin Sage
 
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Martin Sage
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29 June 2020 09:59
 

I was in Ham wall yesterday morning and can add that at least one of the many Lapwing seen was a well fledged juvenile. Also a number of Sand Martins around and 2 Bearded Tits seen between VP1 and 2 from the grass path. I also saw 2 Wigeon on Meare Heath on Saturday.

 
Daniel Watson
 
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Daniel Watson
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28 June 2020 20:59
 
Andy Mears - 28 June 2020 08:49 PM

This afternoon/evening, Dan W and I spent some time on Ham Wall independently. When I left, we were cumulatively on:
3 Garganey 2VP, probably drake, duck and juv but all a bit scrappy.
Plus 4 Blackwit, 2 Green Sand, about 20 Lapwing and a handful of Teal.

1 Wigeon on Meare Heath (!)

Dan may have more to add…

Not much more I’m afraid Andy, a Hobby repeatedly making a pass at a Lapwing was certainly noteworthy, and the first time I’ve seen this species make an attempt at such as large prey item. There appeared to be a good SW movement of Swift throughout the day however.

 
Andy Mears
 
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Andy Mears
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28 June 2020 20:49
 

This afternoon/evening, Dan W and I spent some time on Ham Wall independently. When I left, we were cumulatively on:
3 Garganey 2VP, probably drake, duck and juv but all a bit scrappy.
Plus 4 Blackwit, 2 Green Sand, about 20 Lapwing and a handful of Teal.

1 Wigeon on Meare Heath (!)

Dan may have more to add…

 
Simon Cost
 
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Simon Cost
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06 June 2020 09:05
 

At Ham Wall Friday evening after the rain, 3 cuckoos calling, 4 hobbies behind VP2, which at one point clubbed together to mob a female marsh harrier, behaviour I’ve never seen before. Barn owl from VP1 and lots of young, including a newly fledged family of whitethroats right next to the path.

 
Andy Mears
 
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Andy Mears
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02 June 2020 22:19
 

3 Redshank were on 2VP lagoon this evening with a handful of Blackwit. Habitat shaping up very nicely. There were 2 Redshank on Catcott a couple of days ago but I suspect they are breeders.

Imm Purple Heron on Noah’s around 8pm viewed from the main path, before flying across to Meare Heath West and landing in a dead tree. 3 Eg Geese still. Maybe there are just 3 (I saw 3 a few days ago but suspected a 4th was hidden away somewhere).

 
Andy Mears
 
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Andy Mears
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29 May 2020 09:15
 

I guess that will go down as ‘the Spring that never was’.  But moving on…

Yesterday evening on the 2VP lagoon, Ham Wall, an LRP and a Green Sand were a most welcome sight.

 
Andy Mears
 
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Andy Mears
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21 March 2020 19:14
 

Robert Kelsh has seen a drake and 2 duck Garganey at Greylake this pm, so presumably there are 4 birds total today. He also saw a Ruff.