1 juv Little Stint showed well from Quantock hide today, looking to the west.  Great views of all the wildfowl too, much closer to the hides than usual, perhaps due to the mist/fog.

07-Nov-2024
Pectoral Sandpiper (juv) 10:30 to at least 11:15 (when everything flew up) from Quantock hides on Otterhampton Marsh, Steart. Scoping to 2 distant white houses, then L to brown bungalow & focus on brown marshy area (mid-distance), feeding with few Dunlin. Total of 23 Dunlin seen from open standing screen between the two main hides.

The Pectoral Sandpiper still present this morning at 10:30. Feeding in shallow water/vegetation, viewed from the Quantock hide in the middle of the marsh inline with the two white cottages to the SW

04-Nov-2024
No sign of y’day’s Pec Sand from Quantock Hides this morning up to 11:45 hrs., a flock of c.200 Golden Plover on Otterhampton Marsh, plus 5 Dunlin and a Little Stint.

Pec Sand on Otterhampton Marshes at midday today. Bird was on the west side, south of where South Brook enters the marshes. Viewed from Quantock Hides.

Also 2 Green Sands and a Water Pipit.

A vocal Siberian Chiffchaff in willows to southwest of the borrow pit.

14 Fieldfare, 70+ Siskin, 6 Redpoll east during the morning. 

Early morning around Fenning Island / Stert Point
Osprey 1+
Merlin
Knot 35
Sanderling 6
Curlew Sand 3+
Little Stint
Green Sandpiper
Whimbrel 3
Yellow Wagtail 6
Wheatear 2

Osprey was hunting over the Parrett at high tide. Caught a fish and flew off towards Highbridge about 8.20. At 9.05 it or another was seen over the Tower Hide flying south.

Spoonbills and Little Ringed Plovers, still present yesterday afternoon at the Quantock Hides, plus a large number of Avocets, 3 Golden Plover, Little Egrets and numerous ducks. Cetti’s, Chiffchaff, Curlew and Skylarks all heard.

Otterhampton Marshes
Spoonbill -3 immatures still
Little Ringed Plover - 4+
White Wagtail - 2

Stockland Marshes
Garganey - pair viewed (with difficulty) just west of bench on north side
Sand Martin - c30
Water Pipit - 3 (with at least one in summer plumage) favouring northwest corner between bench and footpath that runs north / south

Steart Village to Fenning Island
Great Northern Diver - picked up high over Steart Island before flying over Stert Point and continuing west along the coast at 0745
Merlin - 1
Chiffchaff - 8 singing

Steart Marshes
Spoonbill - 3 immatures still present on Otterhampton
Red Kite - one north at 1130
Water Pipit - minimum of 8 birds in the flooded field north of Quantock hides. Have heard/seen birds dropping into this field a couple of times this winter. Now the water levels are receding it is slightly easier to see the pipit flock on the deck. Viewed from the metal gate on the path between Quantock and Mendip hides. 

Also, fairly sure I heard a Little Ringed Plover calling over the flooded field but never saw it.

Others reported Spotted Redshank and a couple of White Wagtails on Otterhampton.

Apologies for the late post.

Highlights from a brief visit to Otterhampton / River Parrett / Wall Common over high tide on Tuesday 13 February:

Spoonbill - 3 still on Otterhamption Marshes
Red Kite - 1 low over Wall Common and east over Steart village
Short-eared Owl - 1 mobbing the Red Kite (first I’ve seen here this year)
Water Pipit - 1+ in a flooded field between Mendip and Quantock Hides

From Stert point: 205 Avocet, 184 on Huntspill bank rest on island on receding tide.

Male HH with carrion crow escort over Stert point heading east towards BoS 11.25. Access to hide tricky without wellies still.

Bar-head has been semi-resident before, but moves around Severn estuary

Bar-headed Goose 27/01/23

Hello photographed a bar headed goose just out by the river past the main hides yesterday. Not sure how significant this is, I know they were originally a captive bird but I haven’t seen one in years. Pictures available if people want to see them, can’t seem to upload here.

Male Hen Harrier was present again today (fifth day?). Was seen on and off over Steart Marshes saltmarsh throughout the day. From viewpoint north of Polden Hide just after dawn, Breach Pool at lunchtime and Steart Park Gate late afternoon.