Beer, Greylake RSPB and Ham Wall RSPB - Sat 3 Apr

Sensing a break in the persistant rain, we headed off late morning to the Somerset Levels, making straight for the area north of the small village of Beer near Othery. It did not take us too long to locate a female Great Bustard, one of the Salisbury Plain reintroduction scheme birds that has been wintering in the area. Whilst there we also had a great view of a Peregrine, a single Swallow flew through, and a Skylark sang overhead.
We then drove on to Greylake RSPB reserve where a Short-eared Owl had been seen the day before. We had our picnic in the hide, but did not see the owl (it was found dead a couple of days later). In fact, it was rather quiet with just a few Little Egrets milling around and a Raven flying over in the distance.
Leaving Greylake we then headed up and took a walk at Ham Wall RSPB. As we walked along there were good numbers of Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs around. From the second viewing platform we found a Great White Egret which showed really well.
A Cetti's Warbler but on a bit of a show, and when we got back to the car we could just make out a booming Bittern.