Somerset Levels - Sat 20 Nov

After roughly two years I managed a morning out today with some good friends and we headed up to the Somerset Levels starting our mini-tour with a stop at Aller Moor, taking a look from both Oath and Stathe where the pick of the birds were a couple of Marsh Harriers and at least fourteen Common Cranes, part of the reintroduction scheme but a great sight nonetheless. Other bits and bobs seen including a Chiffchaff and three Blackcaps feeding in the various small bushes along the river.

We then moved on to Hay Moor where we connected with one of the target birds of the day, as three Whooper Swans were amongst a herd of Mute Swans.

Leaving Hay Moor our next stop was Greylake RSPB where other than a fair number of Golden Plover were whirling around, no doubt freaked out by a passing Peregrine. Another Marsh Harrier was also present but there was very little else about so we didn't linger long and instead headed up to towards Westhay village and taking the road towards Burtle where after a few hundred yards I stopped the car as there was a field full of egrets and I caught a glimpse of our quarry, a Glossy Ibis! Checking the field a quick count produced sixty-five Cattle Egrets along with the Glossy Ibis, some twenty Little Egrets and all were then dwarfed by a Great White Egret that flew in and joined them. Not a bad stop.

Our next destination was Ham Wall RSPB where were walked out to Loxton's Marsh where after a fairly lengthy search finally found a single Water Pipit and loads of Teal and Snipe.

Walking back towards the car park a single Great White Egret was noted from the first viewpoint before we walked out to Tor Hide where a Ring-necked Duck had been present yesterday, but we failed to find it...our only miss of the afternoon.

Back at the car I said my farewells to the boys and headed back towards home after an excellent morning out, good birds and great company.