A good start to the new month as I took Tristan out for a few hours on the Somerset Levels. We made the trip up to Meare Heath again and as it was a bright sunny afternoon I was hopeful that we would see a few more birds than we had in the rain at the weekend.
As I got out of the car the first thing I heard was a singing Cuckoo, so a year tick straightaway...good start. After getting Tristan in his pram we walked out on to the reserve and picked up our second year tick as a Garden Warbler burst in to song in a small bush next to the path. Luckily the bird was showing really well, usually I have to stand and wait for an age for one of these to pop out in to the open as it sings in the undergrowth!
Continuing along the path the drained lagoon was now almost completely mud, which did mean a few waders were present. I located five Ringed Plovers and a single Dunlin amongst the "usual" Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank.
Passing the bridge we looked out over Noah's Lake and soon picked up the third year tick of the day as half a dozen Hobbies whizzed around overhead amongst a large number of Swifts. Another two Cuckoos were heard calling as we returned to the car and another five Hobbies were also noted.
We stopped for a chat with fellow-birder and friend Julian Thomas and whilst catching up a pair of Bitterns flew up from the reeds. The male then landed in the open and started "booming" before doing another fly-by. A third Bittern was then seen in flight over the reeds further away. So a good end to our afternoon out!
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