Thought it was about time to pay a visit to the Somerset levels.  Weather forecast wasn't great but hoped to see Bittern, Marsh Harrier and Hobby.  Arrived at Ham Wall just after 8am and saw Marsh Harrier, Great white Egret, and Bittern from the first viewing platform within half hour.  I could also hear 3 Cuckoos around the site and soon saw one calling from a dead tree towards the back of the reed bed.  I then made my way to the new Hide which is over looking the reed bed which hosted the Little Bittern last year.  From here i could hear 2 Cuckoos.  I also managed to see another Bittern, Gadwall and a Wood Duck.  I guess the Wood Duck was an escapee rather than a North American Vagrant.  Just before leaving the hide i saw 3 Common Terns flying around hopefully these will breed on the platforms around the area. 

From here i took one of the paths around the back of the reserve here there were loads of Dragonfly's that were sheltering from the rain.  I picked up the 2 Cuckoos here and watched them feeding in a tree.  Managed a short video of one of these calling.  

I crossed over from Ham Wall to Shapwick but things seemed very quite here.  Only managed swifts, Swallows, House Martin and 2 more Cuckoos.  On the walk back to Ham Wall i saw a Bittern fly into a Reed bed and a Male and Female Marsh Harrier were active over one of the Reed Beds.  There were about 30 Bar-tailed Godwits on the Scrape and numerous Gadwalls on the Water.

Back at Ham Wall the weather broke for about an hour which sent the dragonflies into  the sky, this intern brought in the Hobbies i had amazing views of at least 9 Hobbies hawking over the reserve. The 3 Common terns were also busy calling over the Reeds. Whilst watching the Hobbies i caught a glimpse of a small bird flying over the reeds and dropped down into the reeds, this could of been a Little Bittern but couldn't be sure as views were only for a spilt second. Walking back to the car a Chiffchaff family were busy feeding

Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret, Cuckoo, Hobby, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Willow Warbler, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, Mute Swan, Mallard, Wood Duck, Gadwall, Tuffed Duck, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Bittern, Buzzard, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Reed Warbler, Cettis Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cormorant, Common Tern, Bar-tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Goldfinch, Blackcap, Long-tailed Tit