Somerset Birding

Wednesday 7 February

Finding a Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis at Greylake was like for a needle in a haystack!

My last day of birding Somerset before retuning to Warsash.  Dull and cloudy as I drove west to Steart Marshes on the coast north of Bridgwater and even rain showers as I drove along the M5,  However, upon arrival, damp but dry and this was to remain the case throughout the day,  I had hoped to spend all morning or longer at this site but upon arrival found it very quiet with only limited birds on view. Indeed, just the one decent bird sighting from the Quantock Hide which revealed a large Lapwing flock of around 500 plus a decent number of ducks, mainly Shoveler and Wigeon but also Teal, Mallard and thirty Shelduck.

Distant Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

The morning had started well enough with many House Sparrows, Blackbird, Robin and Carrion Crow and as I walked through the reserve many good sightings of Wren.  There had already been a number of Blue and Great Tits on the feeder but that was it, save for the distant mixed flock of Black-headed and Herring Gulls at the back of the water from the above hide.  I, therefore, made my way over to the opposite hide overlooking the meadow and all that produced was a trio of Meadow Pipit resting on the adjacent gate.  So on back to the car park, noting the Moorhen on the pond as I passed, to consider my options.  First a drive to the end of the lane followed by a wet walk to the pebble embankment to look down on the muddy beach with the water's edge somewhere in the far distance.  Just about twenty feeding Oystercatchers so a good job I noticed the female Greenfinch on the rocks as I parked the car.

Female Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

Having found plenty of birds yesterday at RSPB Greylake I decided to make the half-hour trip and, hopefully, might find the missing rarity from yesterday.  Upon arrival greeted by a number of House Sparrows and Robin with a Mute Swan on the far field.  Straight to the elevated hide and pleased to note the stream of exiting birders all reporting that both visiting teals had been seen.  Once settled in  was amazed to see the great reduction in numbers, especially Lapwings.  Still many Wigeon and Common Teal but only a couple of Shoveler.  Towards the back we had gained a good number of Pintail and the Snipe were still to be seen.

Yesterday's Green-winged Teal was now at the far back of the muddy terrain but the neighbouring birder found it with his cope and I had a good profile view as the bird paddled left showing the vertical rather the horizontal stripe on its wing.  With positions reversed the Baikal Teal was now very close to the hide and resting with a trio of Wigeon and couple of Lapwing.  Difficult to trace originally as the bird had its head down and facing away from me so just showing what looked like a black balaclaver with ta horizontal while ring round the shape.  However, it did on a couple of occasions look up so showing the rather splendid colouring of its head,

Find the Baikal Teal?

Baikal Teal Sibirionetta formosa surrounded by Wigeon, Common Teal and Lapwing

Also present a couple of Great White and a single Little Egret.  As yesterday a Water Rail was recorded behind me and on this occasion a couple of calling Cetti's Warblers.  Apart from a handful of Mallard, looking to the back left I found a resting female Sparrowhawk on the fence which brought up quite a little excitement from my neighbouring birders. Having shown local birder, Chris where to find the Baikal Teal, he informed me that he was now heading up to Swell Wood to look for a Marsh Tit and with the promise of a likely Tree-creeper I, too, decided I would pay a visit to this new site before heading back to Sand Bay and a lovely warm shower.

Great White Egret Egretta alba

Making our way back to the car park we followed the antics a of a feeding flock of Long-tailed Tits and upon arrival more House Sparrows along with Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch and a couple of male Reed Buntings.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

Almost thirty minutes later having followed a very bendy and narrow lane up the into the hills I arrived at Swell Woods.  The feeder immediately produced Blue, Great and many Coal Tits. These were later joined by both Marsh Tit and a couple of Tree-creepers on the neighbouring trees.  A Nuthatch came to join in the feeding rush and we made our way to the nearby hide where we had close views of both Robin and Wren.  Above us at least a dozen Herons setting up home in their traditional heronry,  Whilst watching their antics a Kestrel flew over. A Dunnock came to visit the feeding area as we prepared to depart and a Mistle Thrush put in  very brief appearance behind us,  The last bird recorded was a male Chaffinch.

Herons Ardea cinerea at the heronry

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Common Teal, Green-winged Teal, Baikal Teal, Pintail, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Heron, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Water Rail, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Meadow Pipit, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Tree-creeper, Nuthatch, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting.

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

Coal Tit Periparus ater with Great Tit Parus major

Coal Tit Periparus ater with Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Mainly Wigeon Anas penelope with Pintail Anus acuta

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

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