Somerset Ornithological Society - Bird News
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Re: Meare Heath Scrape (continued)

16-Sep-2015
6 juv Black Terns appeared over Noah's Lake at c.14:30hrs, but only stayed 20 mins. Total of 3 Grt White Egrets, 2 on Noah's and 1 on the Scrape. A Hobby at both locns and 4 Ruff on the Scrape on my return walk.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape (continued)

Early afternoon visit today to the scrape yielded 3 Green Sands, 4 Ruff, 2 Greenshank, the usual godwit flock, 20+ Snipe, Bittern, 10+ Common Buzzards overhead and a hobby.

On Noah's Lake 6 Black Terns, Kingfisher and a further 2 Hobbies, including 1 juvenile bird.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape (continued)

Yesterday - Sat 19th - the scrape contained 2 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, 4 Ruff, around 130 Blackwits, & 50 odd Snipe. There were also 2 GWE's and an immature Marsh Harrier.

Just after the fog cleared at 0930 around 30 Bearded Tits (Reedlings) entertained those present in the area of the two benches "pinging" & flitting around the reedbeds on both sides of the track - probably the best & most prolonged views of this species in over 25 years of birding on the levels. Hopefully they've now finally colonised the reedbeds?

There were still 2 Black Terns on Noah's, another GWE in flight and another immature Marsh Harrier.

On Ham Wall/Loxton's/Walton, another two GWE's, a showy Bittern from Tor View Hide and 2 Marsh Harriers: an adult female and a sub-adult male. No sign of anything more exotic though!

Some photos of a Chiffchaff and a GS Woodpecker taken at Shapwick Moor yesterday on my flickr site :-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/9095732@N05/

Re: Meare Heath Scrape (continued)

4 x Ruff 2 x Green Sandpipers lots of Snipe and Lapwing...
Several Bearded Tits in the right hand near corner..
Outstanding moment was when I saw a Perigrine take a Kingfisher, brutal but amazing sight...

Re: Meare Heath Scrape (continued)

We visited yesterday afternoon, Great White Egret, Dunlin with plenty of Lapwing, Wigeon and Teal on the Scrape.


Ham Wall - the new footpath by VP2, we seen the Glossy Ibis, along with the Marsh Harrier (Female) which caused havoc flushing all the birds including the Glossy, it was chased, but Glossy got away and we couldn't relocate. The Marsh Harrier even stopped for a drink in the pool, where birds didn't seem too worried when it was landing, strange!

Pictures + Info on website :)

Re: Meare Heath Scrape (continued)

After a week when Godwits have been notable by their absence 240 Blk Wits were present on the scrape today, with half a dozen Snipe (visible) and 50 lapwing, the only other waders present.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape (continued)

08-Oct-15
Made a count of the Black-t Godwits late afternoon and got up to 276, also 2 Green Sandpipers.