Ham Wall RSPB - Sun 29 Mar

I braved the gales and popped up on to the Somerset Levels this afternoon for a walk around Ham Wall and whilst it was indeed an enjoyable walk the strong winds really put pay to any birding. The only birds of note I managed whilst on site were a male Marsh Harrier and a Great White Egret that flew over the car park!

Sutton Bingham - Sat 28 Mar

I spent a couple of hours on the patch this morning, arriving a little before 8.00am. The only signs of Spring were at least seven singing Chiffchaffs, but nothing else to indicate Spring was on the way!
Two Teal were seen at the southern end of the reservoir and a single Raven flew over. Three Reed Buntings were noted between the "hide" and the car park and a lone Redwing was seen in trees in the car park. A Snipe was flushed near the Canoe Club and six more were put up by anglers around West Pool.

Sutton Bingham - Fri 27 Mar

Just a quick stop off at the reservoir this evening on my way home, and scanning the southern end of the reservoir I located a drake Gadwall and a drake Tufted Duck. There were still eighteen Wigeon around, and a Little Grebe also put in a brief appearance.
Driving back to the northern causeway three more Tufted Ducks flew south. A total of at least forty Great Crested Grebe were seen at the reservoir tonight.

Abbotsbury - Sun 22 Mar

A trip down to Abbotsbury Swannery this afternoon as it had reopened after the winter closure. Not a lot seen in the way of unexpected birds, though a very nice drake Scaup showed very well.

A male Marsh Harrier caused quite a stir when it passed over the meadow, scattering the dabbling duck present. I didn't see anything in the way of spring migrants, but I've a feeling I'll be popping down this way again before too long!

Sutton Bingham - Sun 22 Mar

An early morning walk around the southern end of the reservoir produced my first singing Chiffchaffs of the year, with two birds setting up territory. A Skylark was also in song, but typically high up and elusive to the eye! Twelve Teal were still loitering, whilst singles of Raven and Meadow Pipit passed overhead. A very smart looking male Bullfinch put in a brief appearance and a couple of Common Gulls were on West Pool.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 21 Mar

The drake Shoveler was still at the extreme southern end of the reservoir today, but elusive at times and quite distant. Unlike last night it was associating with a flock of twenty-four Wigeon today.
A check of the fields around the Canoe Club produced ten Redwing hanging on despite the Spring weather today and in the same field a dozen Meadow Pipits. I managed another patch year tick today, with three Stock Doves seen in flight opposite the Canoe Club.
The only other sighting of note today was of a female Kestrel was seen at Bingham Bower Farm.

Sutton Bingham - Fri 20 Mar

I managed to get in about quarter of an hour's worth of birding at the reservoir tonight on my way home, and I made straight for the southern end for a bit of a change, and it turned out to be a good decision. Scanning the water to the south from the site of the old hide I found a very smart drake Shoveler, a nice addition to the patch year list. Also in the area five Teal (four of which were drakes), seventeen Wigeon and a single Little Grebe. A Kingfisher did a typical quick fly-by.
I also stopped off at the northern causeway very briefly, where a sub-adult Mute Swan was a new arrival on West Pool. Still no hirundines at Sutton Bingham this year, must to due some Sand Martins any time now!
Sutton Bingham year list for 2015 now at 66 species.