Somerset Ornithological Society - Bird News
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London Drove

A visit to London Drove brought its reward despite not seeing the Firecrest, a pair of Bearded tits feeding , one photo shows the female bird opening Phragmite seed husks to find the seed, a good example of a photo showing what many observers might not see.
Photos on website.

Re: London Drove

Great pics James. I've also blanked on the firecrests today but I did hear some very noisy beardies although failed to see them.

Re: London Drove

Myself & John Rickards had 14 Gooseander on the lake at the bottom,3 Pintail,& a very confiding Water rail,also 3 Jack snipe & 2 Snipe from the raised bog.

Re: London Drove

Made contact with the firecrest (or probably 2 of them) this afternoon. :)

Firecrest - Regulus ignicapilla

Re: London Drove

Why is this a firecrest ............ To me it looks like a goldcrest, of which I have three or four in the conifers in the back of the garden ?????????

Re: London Drove

Err, have a look in a field guide Bill. Goldcrests never show a white supercillium (eye-stripe), instead they have just a diffused whitish eye-ring.

Re: London Drove

Bill, look at the pale supercilium. Goldcrest has a plain head pattern, bar the crest itself, while Firecrest much more marked and with a more orange crest. Firecrest also shows a bronze patch on the side of the brest. This is a cracking photo of a Firecrest.

Re: London Drove

Thanks Tim There's a great comparative picture here.

Re: London Drove

At London Drove this morning 09/02/2015 Male and Female Bearded Tits feeding next the track, Firecrest showed well but very mobile, Goldcrest ,Great-w-Egret and good numbers of Goosanders.
Photos on Website.

Re: London Drove

The male Firecrest showed well today at roughly 13:00, also 29 Goosander, 2 Great White Egrets, Water Rail, a single drake Pintail, 2 Egyptian Geese, female Sparrowhawk and good numbers of Shoveler, Tufted Duck and a few Teal.

Re: London Drove

No sign of the Firecrests between 12 noon and 1pm today, but some compensation in the form of 1 GWE, c20 Goosander, male Pintail, 2 Treecreepers and, best of all, a pair of Bearded Tits feeding alongside the drove by the southernmost lake. Also Merlin being chased by a crow by the junction of the main road and Tadham Moor.

Re: London Drove

Failed to see Fireccrests or Beardies this morning but did see:
Bittern over the first lake by London Drove
GWE on the second lake
Male Marsh Harrier
Also: Green Woodpecker (raised bog), Great Spotted Woodpecker seen drumming and single Water Rail.

Re: London Drove

Standing watching the gorse on the raised bog this morning in case the Dartford might appear, the Short-eared Owl suddenly came up out of the vegetation 15 ft. in front of me and flew towards the cross path. No sign of the Dartford but two Bearded Tits on London Drove

We failed to see a Firecrest, but another birder reported good views by the kissing gate at the Daggs Lane end of the cross path. Two Chiffchaffs in the same area.

Re: London Drove

Chris, sounds like exactly the same spot I flushed it from the other day......clearly a favoured area

Re: London Drove

21 goosanders counted on the lake beyond the firecrest hotspot today.

Re: London Drove

27/02/2015 Fantastic light this morning for a early morning visit to London Drove, two pair of G-c-Grebes ,one pair obliged giving a great water weed "dance", a pair of Kingfishers passed by , Bittern seen twice ,female Marsh Harrier,two Coots gave a kick boxing demo ,twelve Tufted Duck courting a single female !! Shoveler,Gadwall,Swans, Canada Geese ,also Reed Bunting ,Blue and Great Tits, Great -white -Egret flew over.Elsewhere ,Shapwick Heath, two pair of Buzzard soaring , one Buzzard took a dislike to a Heron and attacked it,and several Dunnocks one singing merrily. A good morning out in the sunshine.
Photos on Website. jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com

Re: London Drove

Some great pics there Jim. Love the synchronised flying of the GC Grebes and the aerial battle buzzard vs heron.

Re: London Drove

Highlights of two visits to Lake Hide,London Drove.
04/03/2015 Pair of Little Grebes ,G-w-Egret at the back of the lake,two Bitterns seen,Kingfisher.
05/05/03/2015 Firecrest seen on the track leading to the hide,
Cetti's Warbler in full song,one Bittern, pair of Kingfishers,G-c-Grebes,they seemed to be content to paddle around making no attempt to display.a pair of soaring Buzzards,pair of Grey lag Geese that were quickly chased of the lake by the resident Cob.Coots and a group of Tufted Ducks, Long-t-Tits.

Re: London Drove, Westhay Moor

For help to non-local birders it would be better if future postings say London Drove, Westhay Moor Reserve.

In the above context, London Drove is the drove immediately west of the main car park which is on Daggs Lane Drove.