Sunday 14 May – RSPB Ham Wall – Leader: Giles Morris

There was a healthy turnout of BOC members and birds on today’s walk. On first entering, seven Gadwall swooped in front of us. We unusually saw a Cetti’s Warbler perched out in the open on a pile of twigs. Bitterns boomed five times, three times, twice and flew across the landscape. Hobbies were aplenty flying high with Marsh Harriers, it was a great day for spotting them. The visiting Great Reed Warbler piped up, shortly after a Reed Warbler, a fascinating comparison. We had ten Swifts flying overhead, Cuckoos sounding at different areas across the site and an abundance of warblers, as mentioned plus Garden and Willow. Notably the Sedge Warbler performed for at least 30 minutes. Newly hatched damselflies were floating around, so young we couldn’t distinguish their colour yet. Also Orange- tipped and Brimstone butterflies. Chicks of Moorhen, Great Crested Grebe, and Coot, were an endearing sight. Other highlights included sightings of a Black-tailed Godwit and a Whitethroat. A plentiful and abundant morning with 50 species sighted. (Thank you to Giles for leading.) Emily Fitzgerald