The birding group has been coming out of Covid hibernation and we have started our outings again. The only one we could join in with in October was this trip to Burton MEre Wetlands. It wasn’t a trip with huge numbers of species but we still managed to get fouryear ticks in the shape of a pair of Cattle Egret and Nuthatch, Pintail and Pink-footed Goose.
Continue readingSep 30 2021
September 2021 Summary
UK Species Year List to September 2021: 126
Total UK Species in September 2021: 8
New “Year Ticks” in September 2021: 0
New “Life Ticks” in September 2021: 0
No birding done this month due to domestic obligations, Covid and poor weather.
Depressing
Aug 31 2021
August 2021 Summary
UK Species Year List to August 2021: 127
Total UK Species in August 2021: 59
New “Year Ticks” in August 2021: 7
New “Life Ticks” in August 2021: 0
The relaxing of Covid lockdown meant that we were able to take a modest holiday for a week. We went to stay with friends Somerset and on the way there (and back) we stopped off at WWT Slimbride. We also managed a trip to RSPB Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath. It wasn’t the best time of year for birding but we still managed to get seven year ticks.
Continue readingAug 26 2021
Slimbridge WWT 26th August 2021
After we had left Montacute, we stayed another night at Slimbridge, again staying at the Tudor Arms, and the following morning, before we set off north, we dropped in at SLimbridge WWT again. This time we decided not to bother with the Safari and headed straight for the South Lake. Unfortunately there wasn’t a great deal there and fewer waders than on our previous visit but this just gave us time to visit other parts of the site.
Continue readingAug 23 2021
Ham Wall RSPB and Shapwick Heath NNR 23rd August 2021
Whilst we were staying with friends in Somerset we managed to fit in a day out at the RSPB reserve and Ham Wall and the neighbouring NNW Shapwick Heath. The reserve is now much improved since the addition of a little shop and some toilets. It seemed to be a very popular place as the car park was full. Such is the size of the site, though, that ti didn’t feel in the least crowded. We had never been here at this time of year so we weren’t sure what to expect except a long walk on a warm and humid day – perfect for insects!
Continue readingAug 20 2021
Slimbridge WWT 20th August 2021
A visit to friends in Somerset gave us a chance to stop off at WWT Slimbridge where we hoped we would be able to see some Cranes. As it happened we dis manage to see a pair of Cranes but also got a number of other year ticks.
Continue readingJul 31 2021
July 2021 Summary
UK Species Year List to July 2021: 120
Total UK Species in July 2021: 78
New “Year Ticks” in July 2021: 17
New “Life Ticks” in July 2021: 1
Jul 31 2021
Burton Mere Wetlands 31st July 2021
We went back up to Burton Mere Wetlands to try – again! – to see the Long-billed Dowitcher that had been around since the 25th but when we got there, there were no reports of it to be seen anywhere so we had a look at the scrape and walked down to the barn. It was a case of the usual suspects, however, and not that many of them. We were reluctant to walk all the way down to the Border Hide if there were no reports of it having been seen. THe site was quite busy so there were lots of people looking for it. In the end, we didn’t get to see it so we were very disappointed but at least we got a year tick out of our visit.
Continue readingJul 27 2021
Burton Mere Wetlands 27th July 2021
We went up to Burton Mere Wetlands in the hope of seeing the Long-billed Dowitcher which had arrived and settled among the Black-tailed Godwits, sometimes showing on the main scrape and sometimes at the Border Hide. We went to both and, as it transipred, it failed to show up. We were very disappointed with the small consolation prize of seeing some Common Snipe. Otherwise the site, in general, was pretty quiet.
Continue readingJul 16 2021
St Aiden’s RSPB Reserve 16th July 2021
We arrived at St Aiden’s around 10:30am and enquired about the possibility of seeing Black-necked Grebes which are supposed to breed here and we got some advice as to out best plan. This involved taking the red path as far as the smaller track that crosses it (dotted line on the map) where we should turned right and walk to the end where we could turn right again which took us back on our parth back to the reception area. We couldn’t get a paper maps so we had to wing it with a phone photo of the map on the noticeboard. We were told our chosen route could probably be done in 45 minutes which suited us because we were still a bit exhausted from our visit to Fairburn Ings followed but a scorching day out on the cliffs. If only!
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