Somerset Ornithological Society - Bird News
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Brean Down field meeting Saturday 26 April

The next SOS field meeting is this Saturday at Brean Down, led by myself and Alison Everett, looking specifically for incoming migrants, hence the earlier start than for most field meetings - 0815.

The NT car park is not usually open this early, so park in the Bird Garden car park. There is a charge for users not visiting the Bird Garden (£2.50), but we can all sort out what we owe them on our return, which will be around 1200-1230.

Bring a snack and a drink, as we will briefly stop for a rest at the fort as usual. Stout footwear too, as some of the tracks are a bit rough and occasionally muddy.

Warm and waterproof clothing may also be useful as the current weather forecast is a bit mixed and quite windy, but overnight rain might work in our favour in downing a few migrants. No guarantees, but fingers crossed for a good morning.

Re: Brean Down field meeting Saturday 26 April

About 15 of us gathered in relatively unpromising conditions on Saturday morning. The Down was indeed fairly quiet, but we persevered, and by 1230 had recorded the following:

Cuckoo 1, showing well by 'the arrow'
Tree Pipit 1, showing well and singing in a bush near the fort
Redstart 3, none of which were really cooperative
Garden Warbler 1 singing, to compare with the many Blackcaps, but only I saw it unfortunately
Wheatear 2 males
Whimbrel 1 heard calling as it flew over unseen
Sedge Warbler 1 singing from the rhyne by the car park
Lesser Whitethroat 1 singing briefly
Whitethroat 15-20, ever-relaible, with lots of singing and some showy males

as well as a decent variety of resident birds. The prolonged dispute between a Kestrel and a Jackdaw as we came back down will live long in the memory.

Thanks to all who came, and to Alison for co-leading.