Before leaving the car park on a blustery October morning, Georgia Gmytrasiewicz, our student friend from Illinois who is a ringer in USA, was presented with a BOC club beanie as a ‘thank you’ for joining us and sharing her birding experiences with us over the past three months. Georgia, you will be missed. 27 birdwatchers then set out for a walk across the Bleadon levels to the River Axe bridge at Brean. As we left the
car park we heard a Cetti’s Warbler. At the sewage works we saw a Little Egret, further along the path two Stonechats sat on a bush and we also heard a Chiffchaff. From the screens on the bridge over the River Axe we saw Teal, Wigeon and Mallard, another Egret, Gulls, several Snipe and 30 Redshanks. On the river opposite was a Mute Swan, Grey Heron and two Moorhen, a Kestrel and a Buzzard. On the return journey we saw a Pheasant, Long-tailed Tits and Linnets. A good count of 39 species in total. Thanks to Jane for leading. John Prince