Sunday 13 May 2012

Somerset Levels Day Out Birding - Osprey and Bitterns put on a show


Family day to Somerset Levels today. Fine sunny day, still not mild but not uncomfortable. Visited Shapwick Heath and RSPB Reserve at Ham Wall. Amazing day for birds and other wildlife. The family list contained 10-15 Hobbies, 6 Bitterns, 3 Cuckoos, Osprey, Black Tailed Godwit, Garganey, 2 Great White Egrets, Marsh Harrier and Garden Warbler not to mention some regulars like Kingfisher, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Cettis and Reed Warblers. All in all I think we saw well in excess of 40 species.  If anything makes you think why you want to support the RSPB this reserve does. When I was a boy a lot of this place was left to peat extraction and grazing now it looks and feels more like the Camargue. Mayfly, Dragonflies and Damsel flies everywhere. Just a fantastic day for all of us.

Southern Hawker -
we watched it take this damsel on the wing and then consume it for lunch!

Black Tailed Godwits feeding in the lagoons

Not a great close up shot - but two Bitterns and a Hobby in one frame!


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