Somerset Ornithological Society - Bird News
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Steart Marshes - 18 July 2015

Steart Marshes - 18 July 2015 (early morning)

2 Sparrowhawk - an adult male appeared and was mobbed by 15+ Barn Swallow. It soared up quite high and then stooped almost vertically from c250m and successfully captured a small bird just above a patch of reeds. A Carrion Crow mobbed it but the hawk flew off low clutching it's prey. Later a juvenile, probably female, soared up above Otterhampton and circled for a couple of minutes before stopping vertically from 100m up and attacking a Barn Swallow. The intended victim easily evaded capture and the hawk disappeared.

2 Kestrel - adult male hover-hunting and an adult female seen carrying away a food item several hundred meters, presumably to feed fledglings.

1 Common Buzzard - perched low and called once.

Also:

Spoonbill - No sign of the bird that was seen from the new viewpoint overlooking Otterhampton Marshes last evening. I met one of the two observers who provided a convincing account of his observation.

1 Greenshank - on scrape in front of Mendip Hide
2 Redshank
8 Black-tailed Godwit
8+ Oystercatcher
2 Lapwing
12+ Little Egret
6+ Grey Heron
6+ Cormorant
20+ Shelduck
6+ Mallard Duck
40+ Barn Swallow
15+ House Martin
10+ Common Swift
8+ Skylark
10+ Goldfinch
2 Reed Bunting
2 Raven

3 Roe Deer
1 Hare

NPW

Re: Steart Marshes - 18 July 2015

Steart Marshes - 18 July 2015 (evening)

1 Hobby - adult hunting low and fast, probably after House Martins.

1 Peregrine - perched feeding on a kill.

1 Kestrel - carry food item and perched on telegraph wire to feed.

1 Common Buzzard - soaring low.

Also:

1 Spoonbill - appeared from Stert Point direction at 1930 hours and landed at the edge of a lagoon in the middle of the marshes. Still present at 2030 hours.
4 Mediterranean Gull - amongst flock of Black-headed Gulls.
2,500+ Black-headed Gull - on marshes adjacent to Borrow Pit.
3 Whimbrel - flying around high, calling.
2 Reed Bunting
2 Reed Warbler
1 Greenshank
2 Oystercatcher
8 Pied Wagtail

NPW

Re: Steart Marshes - 18 July 2015

Hi Nick, Just to add a bit about the Spoonbill... It was down near the Avocets ie Breach all afternoon. So I guess it moves around with the tides. Steart Marshes is a big area for one bird.

Photos on my twitter feed https://twitter.com/robinmmorrison/status/622505754243780609

cheers, Robin

Re: Steart Marshes - 18 July 2015

Thanks Robin - good work!

I captured a couple of photos in beautiful evening sunlight.

On Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheFalconBirder/status/622510106643726336

Best regards,

Nick

Re: Steart Marshes - 18 July 2015

Hi Nick, Lovely image. I left at 19:15 and didn't think to check the Lagoon on returning to the car park after watching the Avocets. :-( (but I did start the day at 5:30 (Ham Wall!!)

by the way.... Do you know what nested high in the main pylon nearest to the main hide?

thanks, Robin