Tuesday 30 November – Cheddar Reservoir/Cheddar Yeo Leader: Mark Watson

The wind was strong and the drizzle heavy as 18 members set off alongside the Reservoir. We saw six Tufted
Ducks on the rough water and six Great Crested Grebes, and a Cormorant on a buoy. A few Pied Wagtails were
in the paddock below us. Coot numbers were high with well over 1200 estimated and a few Black-headed Gulls
flew over. We retreated from the windblown reservoir edge down to a drove leading to the Yeo. Along the way
Redwing were in the hedgerow and a Little Egret was seen in the adjacent fields, the first of about nine seen on
the walk, as well as a Grey Heron on a rhyne bank. A Sparrowhawk flew over and a Raven was on the ground. As
we moved along beside the Yeo a sharp pair of eyes saw Great White Egret half hidden in the distant rhyne. Later we had an excellent view of a Great White and a Little Egret near each other which made clear the difference in
size. Approaching Axbridge, Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinches, a Goldcrest, and a single Fieldfare appeared. Our
return to the reservoir yielded a Red-crested Pochard. Three Grey Wagtails entertained us with their sparring near
to the path on our return to the car park. The species total was 36. (Thanks to Mark for leading.) Mark Watson