Microbirdology

A few shots from a trip to RSPB Ham Wall, Shapwick Heath and RSPB Greylake, with the u3a birding group.  Osprey The big surprise was a very brief fly over by a blue ringed Osprey. One was reported over Slimbridge later, so it could have been a returning 2024 Welsh bird. Marsh Harrier Both male and female birds seen during the day. The Marsh Harrier is one of the UK’s greatest conservation success stories. From a devastating low of just one single breeding pair in 1971 (at RSPB Minsmere), the population has staged a remarkable comeback. As of early 2026, the estimated population of Marsh Harriers in the UK stands at approximately 590 to 695 breeding pairs. Numbers swell during the winter as birds from continental Europe join our resident population. Great White Egret The Great White Egret is currently undergoing a dramatic population explosion in the UK. Once a rare vagrant, it has become a frequent sight across the country and is rapidly establishing itself as a regular breeding re...

 Red spotted Bluethroat This Red-spotted Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica svecica) has been seen regularly on a wetland footpath in the Swineham gravel pits. These birds are "passage migrant and don’t yet breed in the UK. The appear in the UK in the spring, as they miss their migration path from Africa to Scandinavia. This male bird was very confiding. Apparently, locals have been putting out meal worms to keep it in the area! Black crowned Night Heron These primarily nocturnal birds are still rare in the UK. They spend the daylight hours tucked away in dense lakeside vegetation, emerging at dusk to hunt for fish, frogs, and insects. They are ‘overshoots’ from mainland Europe during spring migration but are seen as a species that may colonize the UK more permanently, due to climate change. This bird appeared briefly at the Borrow Pit on the Seaton Wetlands on the 17 th April.

There have been a couple of fleeting sightings of Osprey on the Axe this Spring. Let's hope that is prelude to a few birds staying longer in the Autumn to feed up for the migration.  Of note, for me, was the Hoopoe at Waggs Plot, just north of Axminster.    The Hoopoe is one of the most exotic-looking birds to grace British soil. In the UK, the Hoopoe is technically classified as a scarce passage migrant. It does not have a permanent resident population in the UK. Instead, most sightings occur when birds migrating from Africa to mainland Europe "overshoot" their destination and land on the British coast. On average, approximately 100 birds are recorded in the UK each year. Cirl Bunting at Stantyway Farm.  The Cirl Bunting is one of the UK’s most celebrated conservation success stories. A close relative of the yellowhammer, this small, sparrow-sized bird is distinguished by its striking facial markings—the males sporting a bold black chin and eye-stripe set agai...