Somerset Bird News
The pump was put on Friday last and today at 1000hrs on the newly drained lagoon there were:-
8 Great White Egrets, 2 of which are ringed birds (both of these were seen on Shapwick Heath in 2012). Together with 24 Little Egrets and 5 Grey Herons. By mid day there were 9 G.W.Egrets present together. The other waders present were
4 Green S'Pipers, 2 Greenshank, 1 Snipe and eventually 50+ Blk Tld. G'Wits and around 100 Lapwing. 2 Kingfishers were using a small dead overhanging tree on the LHS of the scrape.
This evening there were 4 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, plus Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit and Lapwing. About 6 Little Egret, 1 Great white Egret flew over and a Water Rail put in a brief appearance.
A rather late posting that doesn't add much, but on Sunday afternoon there were a Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, and 2 Water Rails sunning/preening on the edge of the reeds on the back island.
Wed a.m 6 G.W.egrets 3 Greenshank.3 Greensands.6 Snipe. 30 BLK Wits.1 Water Rail and a Garganey.
As reported elsewhere no sign of the Glossy Ibis this morning after spending most of the last two days here, neither is it on Ham Wall. Still present today were a Curlew Sand, a couple of Ruff and a Greenshank, the Common Sand of yesterday was also missing. I journeyed up to Noah's where one stuffed? Osprey appeared to be sitting out the morning. This bird ,one of two there yesterday is, suprisingly, in wing moult whereas yesterdays second bird had full wing feathers.
An impressive list of waders on the Meare Heath scrape this morning at 8.45
Singles of Common Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank. 3 Ruff, approx. 12 Snipe and good numbers of Blackwit and Lapwing. Also a Kingfisher and a small flock of Bearded Tits.
Also present on the scrape from 10 this morning, 2 Knot that eventually flew off N.W. at 1230 and a single Green S'piper also appeared a couple of times.
Blk Tld. G'Wits nos. had built up to 153 by 1430 this afternoon. An Osprey was also reported between Loxton's and the 2nd V.P. on Ham wall after lunch, presumably one of the two that were around Noah's Lake earlier this morning
Curlew Sand plus a Common Sand still on the scrape this Friday p.m. Other birds present earlier had cleared off! The north bank of the South Drain immediately in front of the scrape was topped this morning and visibility, close to, is now greatly improved . Many thanks to Nat. England!
There was a different Spotted Redshank there at 7.30 this morning-much darker plumage than yesterdays bird. Also 5 Ruff and a single Green Sand flew over Noah's lake where the Osprey was still on his perch.
31-Aug-13 (mid-morning)
No sign of a Spotted Redshank, the only waders present were 100+ Black-t Godwits, 3 Ruff, single Curlew Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper, and a few Snipe. Others included a Bittern in flight over the reedbed, a Great White Egret that flew towards Ham Wall and the moulting Osprey which circled high over the marsh, being mobbed by a single crow, and then dropped down towards Noah's Lake.
Single Spotted Redshank flew in over my head at about 8.30 but could not be located on the lagoon.
Both spotted redshank and curlew sandpiper present this afternoon, along with ruff, snipe and black-tailed godwits.
Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, about a dozen Ruff, 2 Kingfisher & at about 6.40, Glossy Ibis landed, all at Meare Heath drained lagoon.
To add to the list 165 black T godwits
1 osprey and bittern
No less than 9 GWE and 18 Little Egrets on the scrape this morning. Also 3 Ruff, a Greenshank and several Snipe and Blackwits there.
A spotted redshank, one greenshank, five ruff, a few snipe and several black-tailed godwits this morning at around 11.00am. No great white egrets,(but two on Noah's),and 18 little egrets. By 1.00pm the spotted redshank had disappeared.
I refound the Spotshank from the 2nd platform at Ham Wall at about 2.30pm
Also there was a Curlew Sandpiper and Ringed Plover there.
Mon morning 0930; 1 Spotted Red Shank; 6 Ruff;1 Common S'Piper;20 Blk Wits; circa 15 Snipe and half a dozen Little Egrets, all of which were still there until around mid day when all were put up by a Peregrine that visited twice in half an hour. The Spot Shank and 3 Ruff came back by 1400 as did half the Snipe but the Godwits were still absent when I left at 1430.
Singles of Hobby over the scrape and on Noah's earlier where there was an Osprey and 6 G.W.Egrets. A flock of some 20 Wigeon flew round but did not settle. 3 Bittern sightings and 3 different Marsh Harriers were also noted with 2 Kingfishers on Noah's and one on the Scrape.
1 Glossy Ibis at 1600 today. Flew off over reserve to south after disturbed with Lapwing flock (possibly by female (prob Juv) peregrine which had previously been performing at the Ham Wall 2nd platform.
The Ibis dropped onto the drained lagoon at about 2.30 this afternoon.
The Ibis was present until at least until 1645 as was 1 Spotted Redshank; 5 Ruff ; 12 Snipe; a dozen Blk. Tld. G'Wits and around 100 Lapwing. A Hobby flew over the west edge of the scrape, despite the cool weathe, where insects appeared few although a couple of dozen House Martins had passed by. No sign of the Osprey on Noah's this afternoon where 2 G.W.Egrets were the highlight.
It would be interesting to know if anyone was at Durliegh Res. this afternoon and whether a Glossy was or had been present and at what time today?
We went to Durleigh this AM and couldn't see the Ibis. We were very happy that one arrived at Meare Heath just as we arrived!
Ibis was definitely at Durleigh at 1500
12-Sep-13
Glossy Ibis not present at western end of Durleigh Res when I checked there at 15:00 hrs today, but a phone call to Alan Ashman confirmed that he was watching it at that time on Meare Heath, where it was when I turned up and saw it at around 15:50 hrs.
Also present on Meare Heath were: 6 Ruff, a Spotted Redhank, and only 2 Blk-t Godwits, plus a flyover Hobby. Earlier AA had seen 2 Green Sandpipers.
Interesting to see Paddy's posting which would point towards there being two Glossy Ibis present in the county!
The Ibis was still present on the scrape at least until 1430 today (Fri) when I left. 5 Ringed Plover dropped in during the morning and joined 4 Ruff and 2 dozen Godwits and a dozen Snipe that were already there but they moved off around 1300 hrs.
There were 2 Whinchats visible on 70 Acres behind the double seat for half an hour mid morning and several small parties of Bearded Tits (one of 6 birds) appeared from time to time. The view onto 70 Acres from the double seat underwent a distinct improvement this morning thanks to Nat. England who arrived and cleared the existing gap in the tree line of the bramble etc that had grown back in the last two years.
2 Hobbies and 2 Marsh Harriers (both juvs) seen during the morning
Whilst watching the glossy ibis nearly stood on two foot long adder curled up in grass in front of double bench.
I may have got my dates a little confused in my previous post. My sighting of the ibis at Durleigh related to 1500 on Tuesday 10th. It was still there feeding when I left at 1530. Roderick's bird was at Meare Heath at 1600. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that this was the same bird, but the time schedule would be tight.
Paddy
One Glossy Ibis, 4 Great white Egret, 3 Ruff, 8 Wigeon and 140 Blackwits on the scrape at 08.00 this morning. A Peregrine passed through causing some disturbance and a flock of at least 300 hirundines was feeding over the reeds including Swallows, House and Sand Martins in roughly equal numbers.
Singles of Black Tern passed through the scrape at 1030 and 1440 today (Mon).
Between 9 and 10.15
As yesterday plus 5 knot , two flocks of bearded tit (4 +10) , kingfisher fly past , sparrow hawk, female marsh harrier, bittern
(Fri.) Ibis still present, 3 Greensands and one Knot were new today but flew off east mid morning. There were at least 4 Ruff ;2 Kingfihers and variable nos. of Blk Tld. G'wits and Lapwing with a few Snipe throughout the morning. Reports of perhaps up to 40 Bearded Tits having been seen in the first reeded lagoon (just before you get as far as the 'scrape') this morning plus 2 Hobbies over 70 acres behind the double seat.
Glossy Ibis showing very well this evening, at 19:00 along with several Ruff, 1 Common Sand and several hundred Lapwing.
5 bearded Tits, 2 Winchats and 1 Bittern at one o'clock in tank to right of scrape
One spotted redshank (juv.I think), one green sandpiper (seen in flight), the usual snipe, ruff, lapwing, and black-tailed godwits, plus the glossy ibis giving excellent views close to the front of the scrape.
Waders on the scrape this morning comprised a single Knot; in addition to the Spotshank , a Green S'Piper, 4 Ruff and a dozen Snipe that were there yesterday. The Ibis is still present as were variable numbers of Godwit and Lapwing.
The Ibis was still present and 1130 today other waders present were 9 Knot (that flew off N.W. at 1210); 7 Ruff; 2 Green S'pipers; a dozen Snipe ; the usual Lapwing plus 50 Blk.Tld. G' Wits. By 1600 hrs the Blk.Wits numbered 140 ( as counted by J.Hazell), the last group to join this flock brought with them another 3 Knot.
Singles of Peregrine, Hobby, Sparrow Hawk and Kestrel were seen as well as an adult male Marsh Harrier,several Buzzards and 3 Raven.
Bearded Tits were again in good nos. with sightings widespread during the morning.
No Knot today! Fri. Just 85 Blk Tld. G'Wits; 1 Green S'Piper; 4 Dunlin; 6 Ruff and around 100 Lapwing.
The Glossy Ibis is still present and today showing its true colours when the Sun shone! Highlight today was 11 Pintail that dropped in at 1500 hrs from the S.West. but only stayed around for less than ten minutes before heading off N.East. A single Hobby briefly over the scrape mid afternoon and just one Bittern seen this morning. The water level was lowered slightly today and looks promising for the weekend.
This morning,single spots of ruff, green sand, water rail, ibis, bittern several snipe, godwits and lapwing a plenty that were put up twice by peregrine and sparrow hawk. The peregrine was very involved but went off empty handed. Also today were bearded tits, 3 marsh harriers and 4 buzzards and a hobby.
1-Oct-13
Glossy Ibis still present this morning, also 6 Ruff that flew off north at 10:35, then 2 returned at 11:00, a Green Sandpiper and 134 Black-t Godwits. Bearded Tits were heard, but not seen, in first reedbed on the right walking from car park. From Noah's hide: 2 G.W. Egrets, female type Marsh Harrier, 2 Hobbies and an obliging Kingfisher.
Ibis still here though elusive at times. Just over 200 Blk Tld G'Wits counted; 1 Knot; 1 Green S'Piper; 6 Ruff; at least two dozen Snipe and about 100 Lapwings.
6 Tufted Duck (1st. for sometime)! and at 1500hrs 5 Pintail flew round overhead but didn't land. Three Hobbies visible together this very mild morning and a couple of passing Sparrowhawks. Despite the gloom there was a steady passage of Swallows ( mostly short tailed juvs.) this morning. Pump was on again today!
Hi Alan,
9 Tufted Ducks nearly landed on Monday afternoon.
6 GWE on Noah's on Monday - does that qualify as a disappointing count these days??! Seems only 'yesterday' when we twitched one at Westhay Moor. How times change.
Best Wishes
John
Despite gloomy conditions this morning, I found the Ibis in its favourite spot on the island at the left side of the scrape. Also just one Godwit, a Green Sand, 6 Ruff and the usual assortment of Lapwing, Snipe and ducks.
Pectoral Sand Piper on the scrape this morning at 0930 on the near island so quite viewable without too much eyestrain for a change and still there at 1500 hrs. Blk Wits again numbered around 200 eventually and the last group to join the flock brought 6 Knot with them. Variable nos. of Ruff with 6 visible from time to time but there were more! Lapwing were 100+ and Snipe around a dozen.
The Ibis wass still there. at least 2 Hobbies present with 1 Sparrow Hawk and several Buzzards this afternoon. At least three different Marsh Harriers were also noted. The pump was put on again today and has dropped the water level nicely for the weekend
21 Knot;180 Blk Wits; 1 Ruff; a dozen Snipe and 100+ Lapwing plus a Glossy Ibis were on the scrape this morning at 1000hrs until around 1225 when the RSPB Soft Track reed cutting M/c was driven past, as a result everything got up The Knot and the Godwits disappeared and I saw the Ibis heading over the trees towards Ham Wall. Only 25 Godwits and the one Ruff returned after 45 mins so I went to the 2nd VP on Ham Wall hoping to see two Ibis but only one was visible! Up until 1530 the Glossy Ibis had not reappeared on the scrape.
Also one wood sandpiper between 08.00 to 09.00 at which point all the waders took to the air and did a couple of circuits before returning to the scrape, seemingly minus the wood sand.
Glossy Ibis, 2 Ruff, 1 Green Sand 2GWE, one Bittern seen on or near the scrape this morning.
To prevent carrying over on to a 2nd page his thread is now closed.
Please use new thread "Meare Heath Lagoon" started on Oct 14th.
