A Day On The Somerset Levels !

Date: 2nd October - All Day

Location:  Ham Wall - Shapwick Heath

The Chase Is On!

 Fly Past Marsh Harrier!

Marsh Harrier VS Lapwing Video

Observation:  Started at Ham Wall for a change, a loud Cetti's Warbler started off the walk, with more walking towards the 1st platform. Pretty scarce at 1st platform and new Tor hide, with only 2 Buzzards, Gadwall to note. Thought we would see more so popped along to 2nd platform as not often walk down there, one little Wren popped across the path. 2 Great White Egrets, a few Grey Heron and Mute Swans were visible from platform. Then in the reeds at the back of scrape, a Lapwing flew up and started harassing a Marsh Harrier brave little thing! After the Harrier attempting to invade the Lapwing's patch for around 5 minutes he flew off empty handed and rested in a nearby tree before flying down towards Shapwick.

As nothing else of note was spotted, we moved onto Shapwick Heath, the scrape was full of waders must have been over 200 Black-Tailed Godwits, with a few Dunlin, Snipe and a Great White Egret at the front of the pool fishing. Meare Hide was like it always is to start with, apart from a fly-past Marsh Harrier and 6 Gadwall and 1 Shoveller which flew in when we got there. Noah's Lake is pretty much the same with a few Cormorants, Gull's, Gadwall and some very distant GWE of note. Walking back along the path, 6 Buzzard were circling above Meare Scrape and another Great White Egret had joined the back wall of the scrape. A nice walk and nice to see the GWE close by aswell! Still some Butterflies and Dragonflies aswell which is surprising!

Lift Off!

Close Call of the Great White Egret!

Weather:  Sunny, Some Cloud, Warm

Other Species: Buzzard, Great White Egret, Jay, Marsh Harrier, Gadwall, Cetti's Warbler, Kingfisher, Dunlin, Knot, Black-Tailed Godwit

Butterflies/Dragonflies:  Red Admiral, Small White, Speckled Wood, Common Darter

Common Darter Video

Thanks For Reading !