Somerset Levels in Winter
Tuesday 3rd December 2024 – We had a full bus to visit Somerset with the Cornwall Birding Ladies group. The main attraction was the evening Starling Murmurations at RSPB Ham Wall, so we knew it was going to be a long day. We set off at 7.30am and after a short comfort break en-route, we arrived at RSPB Greylake. Just before the car park there was a field with over 80 Cattle Egrets in! Two Roe Deer showed well in the field opposite and our day list began with a few Snipe, House Sparrows, Chaffinch and a small flock of Long-tailed Tits. Water Rails squeaked from the reed beds as we passed en route to the hides and an elusive Cetti’s Warbler blasted out its familiar song. The first hide was full with photographers so we headed for the less crowded second hide.
The shallow water held hundreds of Greylags, Lapwing, Teal and Wigeon and more close Snipe. Our first (of many) Great White Egrets showed well among them then our guide picked up the female MERLIN that had been present for a few days sat on a distant fence. This stunning little falcon performed brilliantly at times harassing the wildfowl and flying in at very close range on a few occasions. This action attracted the photographers from Hide 1, so we moved as a group to fill in their places. Ironically, the Merlin had the same idea and gave us stunning vies as it circled overhead! A nice male Marsh Harrier sauntered across the reed beds just as one of the resident photographers casually mentioned “Bearded Tits on the right!” We were soon watching five or six birds including 2 stunning males! We stayed and enjoyed these beautiful reed dwellers for another 30 minutes before heading off to RSPB Ham Wall for the afternoon.
Packed lunches were enjoyed on the picnic benches provided while we continued to add birds to the day list including Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll. Fully replenished we entered the reserve and immediately found a Firecrest in the ivy covered trees alongside the walkway. The open water held the usual suspects like Pochard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Wigeon and Teal and Marsh Harriers seemed to be everywhere. Our target species at this time was a YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER reported earlier 400 yrds past the second viewing platform, so we headed straight there, birding along the way. On arrival, Paul picked up the bird on call but it remained very elusive, showing briefly high up in the Alders. Brad then picked up another bird calling a short distance away, so two birds! While we stood searching for these tiny Asiatic gems we could definitely hear Common Cranes calling distantly but sadly didn’t see any.
By now it was almost time for the main event, so we made our way back to the first viewing area to join the ever increasing crowd ready for the murmurations. The evening sunlight was stunning which made the colours of the GLOSSY IBIS, that head just flown in, all the better. After about half an hour the first Starlings started to arrive. Small flocks of fifty to a hundred birds dripped into the area, then larger flocks containing a couple of thousand. Soon the sky was black with the throng of hundreds of thousands of Starlings ready to roost. We estimated over a million came in to roost. What an amazing spectacle and well worth the wait! As a finale, we picked up a Woodcock and a Tawny Owl as we left the car park towards home. 74 Species in total, great company and a bit of winter sunshine too!!
This was our first tour in Somerset during the winter months. Our Spring Tours here are always popular, but we will be heading back here for more winter tours early next year!
SPECIES LIST
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, GLOSSY IBIS, Mute Swan, Greylag, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Merlin, Pheasant, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Common Crane (H), Lapwing, Snipe, Woodcock, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Tawny Owl, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Firecrest, BEARDED TIT, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting.