Around 17 members met in the Natural England car park in Steart village on a beautiful autumn morning, a light breeze, no rain and a high spring tide. The walk along the King Charles lll coastal path was uneventful, just a few pairs of Stonechats, an odd Chiffchaff and later a singing Cetti’s Warbler. The Fenning marsh was viewed from the Tower Hide where a small group of early Lapwings were together with ten Greylags (not regular here). Eventually most of the group managed to squeeze into the new(ish) hide on Stert Point, affectionally known locally as The Bungalow, to get reasonable views of some waders. Unfortunately, the number and variety of waders on show was disappointing; Birds-of-the day were a newly arrived flock of at least 200 Avocets parading in front of the hide. They were beside some pristine juvenile Grey Plovers, Knot and Dunlin. Several hundred Shelducks, the remnants of the post-breeding moulting flock, were present on the beach around the Point and small flights of Wigeon and Teal were active in the Parrett Estuary. Passerines on Steart Peninsula have been few and far between, with flocks of Goldfinch, occasional Chiffchaffs, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Stonechat, Robins, Wrens, and one Cetti’s Warbler practising full song. (Many thanks to Dick, ex BOC member/Portishead Vet, for leading.) Dick Best