Adult White-tailed Eagle still perched on the shoreline at Crowdy Res but I’m heading off now. Also Little Stint and Turnstone, and a Curlew Sand on Davidstow. @birdguides.bsky.social @marshallpaul.bsky.social
Andy Mears
@andyfmears.bsky.social
Somerset birder with an itinerant habit
White-tailed Eagle perched up at Crowdy Res now on the shoreline @birdguides.bsky.social @marshallpaul.bsky.social
30 Clouded Yellow in a small field on the way to Decoy hide today, Shapwick. Probably a gross underestimate, they were just the ones easily seen on a single sweep with bins. I imagine the real total might be c60.
Cracking day in Somerset, the best for me being a juv Grey Phal showing beautifully on the foreshore at Stert Pt and a slow flyby Leach’s Petrel giving great views 👌
Nice early autumn selection today but hope it’s not too long before something a bit special turns up: Cheddar, 3 Black Tern - Blagdon, 1 Garganey - Chew, 2 Garganey, 1 Black Tern, 2 Commons, 1 G Ibis, 2 Knot - Some Gt Egrets are transferring from the Levels to Chew with Herons Green Bay holding 22.
Just heard a Serin near the Spurn Point lighthouse. Presumably in flight but unfortunately I couldn’t see it.
Lovely views of the White-rumped Sand at Beacon Ponds this afternoon. These August adults are so distinctive with their worn brown wings, neat little breast bands and snowy white bellies. Purple Sand and Curlew Sands still.
Lake & pool sides have been good at Herriott’s, Chew lately. So disappointing to have it all thoroughly flushed by hot air balloons early this morning. The majority of birds hadn’t returned by noon. Did see single Garganeys at Herriott’s and Herons Green. 20+ Common Tern were out over the lake.
An adult male Honey Buzzard came and landed on our Osprey nest briefly this afternoon, digging in the nest searching for a potential wasp or bees nest?! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
Classic mid-August evening at Chew: Garganey, Wood Sand and 4 Black Terns. 3 egret sps, Snipe, Green Sands, Greenshanks and Hobby as backup.
All showing well from Avalon hide, Ham Wall earlier this morning: juv Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Wood Sand, Spotted Redshank, Green Sand, Water Rails, Marsh Harrier and 3 egret sps. Saw a Bittern later making it, with Grey Heron, a 6-heron morning. Still special. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
All showing well from Avalon hide, Ham Wall in the last 10 mins: juv Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Wood Sand, Spotted Redshank, Green Sand, Water Rails, Marsh Harrier and 3 egret sps
The last of our Pufflings on the Isle of May are leaving although it was still a surprise to find this little fella in the moth trap! I soon released it successfully into the North Sea
Watching ad White-rumped Sand at Snettisham from post 26 on the coast path now
A nice few hours at Brownsea lagoon today, nothing exceptional but decent wader numbers to look through. Included LRPs, Barwits, Greenshanks and Avocets. @staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social
Wood Sand still at Herriott’s, Chew this morning. Also Oystercatcher and female Mandarin there, and another f Mandarin from Bernard king hide. Common Tern and ad-ish YL Gull on the lake. At Blagdon top end, an ad f Garganey.
Next Thursday (30th July) we have a talk you won't want to miss. @moorebirdsbybike.bsky.social 'Birding Dorset (and beyond) by bike’. This will be preceded by our concise AGM. dorsetbirds.co.uk/wp-content/u... We hope to see you there.
Wood Sand still at Herriott’s, Chew. Also Oystercatcher and female Mandarin.
At least 2 Glossy Ibis at vp1, Ham Wall this evening. To be fair, 20 could easily be hiding out there.
The BirdGuides and BBRC Birders' Code of Conduct sets out a series of core values that we ask birders to follow when in the field:
f.mtr.cool
Appeal for Identification We’re seeking to identify the individual pictured after the disturbance of a Sche 1 protected bird at an active nest. Their presence caused the adult birds to leave the nest potentially putting vulnerable chicks at risk during the current extreme heat.
Western Reef Egret currently showing well from the church watchpoint, Pembs
Got a singing Great Reed Warbler at Noah’s hide, Shapwick. Chilly and breezy here, haven’t seen it yet 🍺🙂👍
I hesitate to post this but the Little Bittern report from Ham Wall today comes from what I view to be an unreliable eBird checklist. Sorry, no nice way of saying it, but there it is. I do hope I’m wrong, I’d absolutely love having those little guys back on the reserve…
1 Spoonbill on the Parrett pools, Otterhampton marsh, Steart this morning @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
Green-winged Teal still at Steart @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
A Wood Sand dropped into Catcott this morning but viewing is extremely difficult with emergent vegetation @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
Dennis Taylor’s just muttered under his breath ‘wow’. Brilliant.