Somerset Ornithological Society - Bird News
This Forum is Locked
Author
Comment
View Entire Thread
Re: Meare Heath Scrape

The 5 Garganey are still present today as were; 4 Greenshank; 2 Greensads; 3 Ruff: 7 Snipe;

The 130 or so Blk Wits present yesterday included a ringed individual orange over Green and Green over Orange , I have reported the details of this bird and will pass them on when I hear anything. Today there was a second ringed individual but we could only get colours off one leg Yellow over Blue I will look again tomorrow unless anyone has managed to get the full details meantime??
The Osprey is still on Noah's and there were several Swifts around this morning with lots of Sand and House Martin plus a few Swallows. A single Hobby flew over the scrape mid afternoon.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

also 1 wood sand. Water level still frustratingly high.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

First summer Purple Heron seen in flight from the back of Meare Heath towards Ham Wall at 1150. Also: 80+ Blackwits, 37 Knot, 3 Ruff, 3 Greenshank, 1 Dunlin, 3 Garganey, 2 Raven.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

Amongst the 30+ Knot still present this afternoon, was for a change, a Red Knot actually still carrying some Red plumage as its name suggests

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

There were eventually 4 Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and several Snipe on the scrape - also 1 Osprey (a second had been seen but departed) and a Black Tern on Noah's.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

There were 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank and one Ruff when I checked the scrape but 2 of the Greensand headed off South.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

10am to 11am 1 Wood Sandpiper, 2 dunlin, 7 knot, 2 greenshank, 3 green sandpiper, 2 ruff plus the usual godwit, lapwing and snipe. 2 GWE made a fleeting visit.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

Lunchtime today: 115 Blk Wits; 2 Ruff; 1 Greensand; 50 Lapwing; Snipe (8 minimum) were impossible to count popping in and out of the vegetation as did a Water Rail; 4 Garganey together were very visible being close to the front island.. There were 4 Black Terns on Noah's from 1030 this morning plus a Bittern and 2 Marsh Harriers; 2 other Bitterns seen near the scrape

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

The colour ringed BLk Tld. GodWit Orange over Green and Green over Orange we reported as seen on the scrape on the 26 July was ringed in Iceland 0n 28/04/2001 as an adult male.
Since then it has wintered in the Nederlands in 2003,several years it has summered in Iceland then wintered in Western France and in Spain.Most recent previous sighting was on 1/11/2013 at Veta la Palma, Donana S.Spain.
Being at least 15 years old it's doing pretty well. I will keep a copy of the full history comprising 60 sightings about my person for anyone who's interested

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

Afternoon visit yielded 2 Ruff, 3 Greensands, 1 Greenshank, circa 100 Blk Wits, min of 15 Snipe plus 60 Lapwing. One eclipsed Garganey plus Gadwall Teal,Mallard and Shoveller duck. A Water Rail was out for a while at the base of the reeds rear left! plus flyovers of Bittern, G.W.Egret and juv Marsh Harrier. A flock of 30 Greenfinches also passed heading north (they are rarities where I live in Wells.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

A very rewarding visit to Meare Heath this morning 7.30-9.15.

On the scrape:
Little Stint 1
Green Sandpiper 2+
Wood Sandpiper 2
Greenshank 3+
Ruff 3
Snipe 20+
Blackwit and Lapwing numerous.

On the first Meare Heath pool/reeds.
Bearded Tit 18
Sedge Warbler 2
Bittern fly over 2.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

All waders still present at midday, also a fly through Hobby that put all the birds up and what we believed to be a juv Garganey. Still a few Bearded tits pinging away with 2 seen on 70 acres and more heard in the reed bed before the scrape. An excellent morning.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

Mid p.m. count yielded: Blk Tld Godwit 170 ; Lapwing 210; Snipe up to 30 in view at one time; Knot 14; Ruff 6; Greensands 3, Woodsands 2 ; Greenshank 2; Little Stint 1; Water Rail 1; 3 G.W.Egrets 3 . Plus 2 Hobbies; 2 Marsh Harriers, 4 Buzzards ; 1 Bittern, Occasional Bearded Tits over 70 Acres and a flyover of 7 Siskin!

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

A Scottish OSPREY (Blue colour ring) flew low overhead around 1300 today heading S.east. from photos we got the ring alpha code and it has been sent to the Highland Osprey project, hopefully we will hear back soon.
From mid am. Waders present were; Greensands 3; Greenshank 2; Ruff 2; Snipe 40+ showing at one time. Blk. Tld. Godwit 210; Lapwing around 200.
Garganey 3. Hobby2, Kestrel 1 Sparrow Hawk1 and Buzzard 4 were also noted.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape


Fairly normal stuff first thing this morning on the scrape (but still great!):
A few Green Sand, 2 Greenshank, 6 Ruff, 2 Garganey, etc.

No terns on Noah's and didn't get to Ham Wall.

Re: Meare Heath Scrape

Late morning to early afternoon today...

5 or 6 Ruff, 1 or 2 Greenshank, a couple of Green Sand, 1 Knot, 1 Garganey, 2 Water Rail, good numbers of Blackwit, Lapwing, Snipe, etc.

Tom Raven found the Cattle Egret early morning on the scrape, this from Birdguides: one from 06:50-07:15 when it flew off northwest

Ham Wall 2VP:
1 or 2 Green Sand, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff, a few Blackwit, 1 Garganey. It's crying out for a Pec Sand...