Over 20 of us gathered in the car park. The first excitement was a sighting of a female Merlin which had been around for a week or so preying on the Snipe. The duck numbers were good, with Teal and Wigeon making up the majority. A little searching revealed a small group of Pintail, but the Baikal Teal was not showing. Birds of prey were more distant, with Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Buzzard and the Merlin making appearances. Some members were fortunate to see a ring-tail Hen Harrier. Cetti’s Warbler and Water Rail were heard regularly close to the hides. Most of the group then moved to the Westhay SWT reserve where we saw flocks of Long-tailed Tits and both Goldcrest and Chiffchaff while quartering Marsh Harriers gave much closer views than in the morning. Opposite the car park
was mixed flock of three Great and nine Little Egrets. More noteworthy were the 200+ Cattle Egrets in the fields either side of the Burtle road on the way home. Three Egret species in a day is now the norm for the Somerset Levels, though 41 species for the day was a relatively modest total. (Thanks to Giles for leading)
Giles Morris
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