Ten members met on, what would be for Steart, an unusually beautiful sunny, windless morning and set off to follow the coast path to Steart Point. The tide was falling by the time the group reached the hides on the Point and the exposed mud was covered with roosting and feeding waders. A mixed flock of many thousands of small waders, mostly Dunlins and Knot performed fantastic aerial displays – better any day than a mass of old Starlings. On the Point there were many Curlews and small numbers of Turnstones, Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers and Snipe. A single Spotted Redshank showed well in a lagoon below the tower hide, and on the Fenning and around the Parrett Estuary were huge collections of Lapwings. An immature Merlin was present on the Point and was seen by some members chasing waders over the tide, but the high spot of the morning was a Short-eared Owl. This stunning bird was seen at close-range hunting over the fields giving prolonged and detailed views – the earth moved for many, especially the leader! This brought to an end an enjoyable two-owl walk (a Little Owl was 10 roosting close to the car park) and a final Goldfinch brought the morning’s tally to just fewer than 50 species.
Dick Best