Pilning Wetlands
Very dull and damp day so I thought i would stay local and check out the Summer plumage Curlew Sandpiper that was reported yesterday at Pilning Wetlands.
Pilning Wetlands is a new developing wetland area on the edge of Bristol. Its on an area called Severnside which sees a few rare and birds turn up on passage each year.
I arrived just after 9am in the poring rain and made my way along the severn estuary to the area of the wetlands that it was reported to be on yesterday. Unfortunately there was no sign of the Curlew Sandpiper but there were 2 Little Egrets, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings and a Grey Heron
Little Egrets, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Crow, Pied Wagtail, Skylark, Wood Pigeon, Collard Dove, Magpie, Swallow, House Martin, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Reed Warbler, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Goldfinch, Mute Swan, Starling, Tuffed Duck
Somerset Levels
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
Savi's Warbler
Thursday 29th May - Newport Wetlands
Was thinking about heading down to the Somerset levels today to try and Photograph some birds i hadn't seen this year yet, including the elusive Bittern and the impressive Marsh Harrier. This wasn't to be the case due to the weather forecast saying rain and poor light all day.
Instead i decided to make the trip across to the RSPB Newport Wetlands Reserve to try and improve on my photography efforts from Monday morning of the rare visitor to the Reserve the Savi's Warbler. I arrived on the reserve at about 8am to hear it reeling its Grasshopper like song. It wasn't long before i saw it clinging onto the reeds this was the last i saw of it for another half hour or so. It didn't really show much for the first 4 hours of the day, every half hour it would reel for about 30 secs before disappearing into the reed bed the weather was damp and dull guess not what this bird is use to.
During this time of waiting i saw and heard several Bearded tits, 2 Little Egrets and a Young Marsh harrier drifted across the distantreed beds. There were plenty of Reed, Cettis, Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings around but no Cuckoos were heard or seen today. There were also plentyof Swifts, Swallows and House Martins feeding in the sky above the Wetlands.
Around Midday the weather started to improve and the Sun poked out of the clouds for a few moments here and there this seemed to prompt the Savi's Warbler into showing its self extremely well, for about and hour it moved around the Reed beds crossing the path we were on several occasions. It was still proving very hard to photography as it was still often obscured by the reeds. I did managed a few half decent shots which due to this birds rarity and its elusive nature i am very pleased with. It was a worth while 7 hour stake out. Will hopefully get to the levels next week.