On the nearly drained scrape today, 2 drake Garganey; 5 Great White Egrets; 6 Little Egrets; 45 Blk Tld. G'Wits; 2 Bitterns on foot on the reed edge; 3 Grey Herons and a small no. of Teal,Gadwall and Mallard. Several Marsh Harriers passed over as did many Sand Martins.
10 Little and 3 G.W. Egrets present around mid day, with 20 or so Blk Wits.and two drake Garganey.
Nat England have put up a notice saying Scrub/vegetation clearance will take place tomorrow Wed 25th (morning and early afternoon) in front of the drained lagoon so some disruption is to be expected.
Wed 26th. 3 Bitterns in view together, all fishing alopng the base of the reeds at rear right of Scrape, 2 were in view for 20 minutes. 2 drake Garganey still present and 130 Blk Tld G'Wits stayed all day despite wood chipper and tractors operating on the main track.,
Missed the 3 Bitterns yesterday, but earlier in the morning there were 6 Great White Egrets & 6 little Egrets together on the scrape, plus the Godwits & Garganeys, & a 7th Great White at the back of Noah's Lake, which flew off high south westwards. Easy to get blase about G Ws these days, but really brought a touch of the exotic to the scrape.
26-03-2014 Morning visit to Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath,Ham Wall one kingfisher , nice views of a pair of Gargany on the floating raft, several pair of Teal two Bitterns Booming but not seen.
Shapwick. one male Bullfinch close to the car park,a kingfisher and a Sparrow Hawk passed over the track as I was walking one Buzzard, Marsh Harrier on the large reed bed and a female Marsh Harrier Mear Heath side ,100 + Black-t-Godwits in two groups,20/30 Little Egets ,a Kingfisher flew across the scrape ,six G-w-Egrets,a photo showed a Great Egret to be ringed ,Mr Alan Ashman has identified it as the bird that successfully reared three chicks 2012 it appeared that she was being wooed by a tall handsome white male.
Quadruplets this year?
A distant shot of Great White Egret showing his ID bands, photographed this morning at 11.00am this morning 27th March on the scrape at Shapwick Heath.
Four drake Garganey on scrape this afternoon, eighty Sand Martin over, two Bitterns feeding in reeds at back of scrape, Peregrine took a Black-tailed Godwit, rest scarpered early afternoon.
31-Mar-14
Willow Warbler singing in willows near Ashcott Corner car park, at start of the boardwalk, and a pair of Bullfinches feeding just west of the car park.
Usual 100+ Black-t Godwits on the shallow-pool; also 2 Grt W Egrets and 4 Garganey - I saw a M&F, but 3M were seen earlier, and a single Bittern flew west over the car park.
Waders as yesterday 100+ Blk Wits which include one colour ringed bird; 1 Redshank; 3 drake Garganey ; with occasional G.W.Egret and Little Egrets; A couple of fly over Bittern and one walking and feeding along the back edge.
NO LRP's at least up until 1400!
2-Apr-14
No sign of yesterday's LRP this morning after the heavy rainfall. The usual 104 Black-t Godwits, 1 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 male Garganey, and a Bittern that walked slowly R to L across the back of the pool edge, pecking around the exposed bases of the reed-stems.
c.100 Sand Martins over Noah's Lake and 2 flight views of Bittern, one passing very close to the hide.
April 4th
On an early evening visit: 5 Marsh harriers, 2 drake Garganey, Redshank & good no's of Blkwits on drained lagoon, also an overhead soaring female Peregrine.
There was a stunning adult Little Gull on Noahs Lake, plus good no's of Sand Martens & 1 Swallow, several Blkcaps, Willows & Chiffs about.
Much the same at Ham Wall: 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 flyover GWE, 1 drake Pintail.
Just 175 Blk Wits and 2 Redshank on the srape this morning in the drizzle, no Garganey seen.
Later on Noah's Lake at 11.15 three of us were lucky to see a female Peregrine attack and briefly bind to a drake Pochard just 50 metres in front of the hide but not as lucky as the Pochard which broke free and dropped 20 M vertically into the lake with one hell of a splash just 40M in front of the hide disappearing under water for well over a minute!.
Still at least 8 Pintail and 50 each of Wigeon, Shoveller and Teal present plus 20's of Tufted and Gadwall.
9-Apr-14 (morning)
135 Black-t Godwits (some flew off towards Ham Wall), 2 Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper and a Great W Egret, but no sign of any Garganey. Bullfinch along edge of Meare Heath wood.
2 Ringed Plover on the scrape until 1005 this morning 1st this year? they flew off N.W. ; 115 Blk wits and 2 Redshank only other waders up to 1545 Bitterns 4 single seen in flight plus numerous Sand Martins and a few Swallows.
