Tuesday 27 April 2010

Meare Heath NR and Ham Wall RSPB - Tue 27 Apr

I met up this evening with the guys I'm heading off to Lesvos with in a little over a weeks time so that we could finalise a few plans. We had decided to meet up for a spot of birding beforehand, and met at Ashcott Corner car park at 6.30pm and walked out towards Noah's Lake at Meare Heath NR. The drained lagoon had a few waders on it, including eight Black-tailed Godwits and single Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover. A few Swifts were whizzing around overhead, and a Hobby was seen briefly. With nothing of note from the hide we returned to the car park and walked out to Ham Wall RSPB.
We marched straight out to the second viewing platform and scanned the reed beds seeing a Bittern in flight. I then got on to another heron flying towards us some distance away. I knew straight away that I was looking at a Purple Heron! I soon got everyone else on to the bird and it circled around showing really well in the evening sunlight, an adult bird in breeding plumage. It then landed in the top of a tree and looked as if it was looking for a roost site for the night.
Heading back to the car as it was now 8.30pm we saw another two Bitterns in flight, a great end to a wonderful evening. We ended up in The Ashcott Inn for a well deserved drink and a final run through of the plans for next weeks trip.
UK year list for 2010 now at 185 species.

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