Newton-St-Loe Birding: Great Bustard

16 October 2020

From Wilsons Phalarope to Great Bustard

Date:

September- October 15th

Location:

Somerset Levels, Chew Valley Lake, Cheddar, Newton St Loe, Keyhaven Marshes, Sailsbury Plain.

Weather:

Mixed Bag

Species Highlights:
Grass Snake, Cattle Egret, Kingfishers, Spotted Redshank, Hobby, Lesser Yellowlegs, Hedgehog, Wilson's Phalarope, Grey Phalarope, Great Bustard, Red Kite, Hen Harrier.

Observation:

Took a wander down to the Somerset Levels mainly to see the Spotted Crake, which had been seen from there, but the Car Park was full, so many people, I normally go and 2 or 3 cars maximum, I took the decision to avoid the Island Hide and walked around to other hides. Spotted this tiny Grass snake, must have been newly hatched5/6" inches long, and my first time of seeing a Grass snake in the UK.

Bearded Reedling, Bittern, and Great White Egrets were seen and heard as I walked around the reserve, I returned back to the Island hide where the crowds had now gone sat in the hide for an hour but no sign of the Crake.

Plenty of Common Darter along the Path back to the car park.

The following day me & Lauren visited Chew Valley Lake, from the hides we had Spotted Redshank, Lesser Yellowlegs plus other Waders and lots of Great White Egrets. Taking Lauren to her #200 bird of the Year and her first time of achieving this!

We left the hide and tried for the Cattle Egrets, it didn't take long to find them and had great views.

6 Birds fed amongst the Cattle.

Amazing to see so close and they carried on feeding while we watched.

Thursday I did my normal patch walk, 3 roe deer were wandering up the Byway from Bath Mill, I continued to walk towards them and they disappeared into the hedgerow.

Meadow Pipits and Skylark on top fields but not much else to report, until the Lake where not one Kingfisher or 2 but 3 Kingfishers, these 2 I think were Juveniles seem to be fighting and at one point disappeared into bushes with frantic calling and wing flaps.

Then the rain started, the top lake has been almost empty, with Mallard numbers very low also Herons seems very sparse this year, maybe the University works have had something to do with this? ...Well Yes !!

Cormorant braving the rain shower.

Walking back home this Kestrel was searching for food in its normal spot.

We've had reports of 3 Barn Owls this year hunting regularly too, we popped out and saw one almost immediately a great sight, almost dark so no pictures, unfortunately.

While watching the Kestrel I saw 2 Stonechat catching flies. First of the year.

The following Monday we went to Cheddar, Red Crested Pochard, and Red Necked Grebe were seen, all a bit distant for our 400mm lens, on the way back it was Chew Valley again. Spotted Redshank

Kingfisher Landed briefly in the front hide but the pool was so low it flew off after a photo stop.

From our home feeders, Goldfinches have brought their young, and Goldfinch wars have started!

Blue tits were wondering what all the fuss was about!

Not much going on so Chew Valley again 3 Grey Plover from Stratford hide.

Was very surprised to see a very late Hobby fly past.

Was a good day even got a picture of the distant Lesser yellowlegs....just!

Still doing moth traps but weather not playing ball but still getting a few autumn/winter moths, more on a special blog soon. Our Hedgehog has returned, looking weel.

A few days previous to the 12th October a Wilson's Phalarope was found at Keyhaven Marshes so a lifer for us both we had to go for it! After a 2 hour drive our twitching limit we arrived and a short walk later it was inches in front of us.

So close, Phalaropes just don't seem to care.

Keyhaven is a great reserve and well worth a visit, Black-tailed godwit plus many other species were seen.

Almost forgot 2 Grey Phalarope also there, coming as close as they do!

Peregrine Falcon too scaring the Waders from the estuary.

Stonechat along the path back to the car park and while photographing this one a real treat popped up.

A Dartford Warbler, in perfect light and perfect pose.

at least 2 seen and could be heard calling.

Redshanks also, it was a fabulous day and one to remember.

14th October I went for a walk on Sailsbury Plain, looking for Great Bustard, I had a tip-off.

Found the Compound and was happy with my view from Byway and continued to walk up checking out the many Jackdaw, Crow & Rooks with Stonechats and Red Kite to accompany them.

Then spotted A Great Bustard stretching it'ds wings giving me great views of these massive birds.

A real treat, the light could not have been better.

Buzzard, Kestrel were common along the path.

I moved on to another spot and saw a bird that I knew wasn't a Kite or Buzzard and when I got home to edit images found it was a Hen Harrier, ring-tailed! my first since 2014 Norfolk. Purely a record shot.

While chatting to a Bee Farmer not Bee Keeper he was adamant about this! This Red Kite hovered into Sunlight but over our heads, I stopped talking and started to take photos.

He was still talking, no ideal what about as the Red Kite was a beauty!

To finish the day just got a view of a tree sparrow, saw many more but very flighty.

A bit of a jump on the birding totals my best and Laurens best-ever year.

Wayne Year Bird List: 209
Lauren Year Bird List: 203

Patch Total Stands At 80

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26 September 2017

Mission Accomplished

Date: 26/09/2017

Location:
Patch, Somerset Levels, Chew Valley Lake & Chewton Mendip

Weather: Overcast, Grey but Warm

Species Highlights
Newton St Loe: Meadow Pipit, Little Egret.
Somerset Levels: Bearded Reedlings, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Water Rail.
Chew Valley: Great White Egret, Cattle Egret
Chewton Mendip: Great Bustard.

Observation:
Since USA not been out much although did go round patch with not alot changing, Little Egret still Top Lake and a large group of Meadow Pipits at 50 or so birds in Horse Fields with 6 Barn Swallow on the 19/09 but only 1 seen on the 24/09 most gone by now I'll check again Thursday.

Tuesday promised fine sunny weather, but on getting up it was grey and misty here in Bath but headed off to Westhay anyway looking in on Chewton Mendip my second attempt at the Great Bustard female which had been there, no sign so headed on to the Levels.
My targets today were the Bearded Reedlings which show well this time of year. On arrival I saw them almost immediately in reed besides the Boardwalk. With a few other Photographers watching and snapping I walked on and sat down within a few minutes 15 Bearded started to grab the grit.

Stunning birds and totally oblivious to humans it seemed.

Who's been eating all the Pies!

Although they look great wherever they are, it's always good to get them off the floor and perched in reeds or in tree's.

Almost.

Then they went to the tree's along side boardwalk.
Excellent

I think at one point at least 30/40 birds were around us.

Took too many photographs but that's the great thing about digital, just means I need a bigger hard drive!

After a couple of hours and chatting to the other nice people there I wandered off around the rest of reserve with Marsh Harrier and Hobby seen also, got to the north hide and briefly saw a Water Rail always good. Lots of Common Darters in the last throws of life, making next year's Dragonflies.

I headed off.
I pass Chewton Mendip on the way home so a quick check for Bustard again, no show 3rd time! Still a hour left before I had to go so drove the short distance to Chew Valley and Villace hide, a few Great White Egret, Gadwall, Common Sandpiper on show but no much else from hide so went back to Heron's Green where more GW Egret at least 6/7 birds on show.

Robert was there and we relocated the 2 Cattle Egrets with his fancy Scope! He told me that not 60 mins before I'd arrived at Chewton the Bustard showed to him, so I headed back in that direction for one last attempt.