Somerset Levels, April 2026

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 resident. There are estimated to be 80–100 breeding pairs across the UK. Numbers increase in the winter, due to an influx of continental birds.




Ring-necked Duck

Another big surprise, and not spotted until I looked at the photographs later in the day.

The Ring-necked Duck is a small North American diving duck that has transitioned from a rare "mega-vagrant" to a regular, almost annual winter visitor to the UK. While they don't breed here, they are frequently spotted among flocks of their close relative, the Tufted Duck. Despite the name, the "ring" on the neck is a dark cinnamon band that is nearly impossible to see in the field. Birdwatchers often argue they should have been called "Ring-billed Ducks" instead


Garganay

One male seen at Ham Wall.  The Garganey is a small but elegant duck that holds a unique status in the UK: it is our only summer migrant duck. While most wildfowl arrive in the UK to escape the Siberian winter, the Garganey arrives from Africa in the spring to breed. They are relatively rare in the UK, with only about 100–120 breeding pairs typically recorded. They usually arrive in March and April and depart by September.


Sedge Warbler


Garden Warbler


Glossy Ibis

Distant bird, and inactive during our time at the viewing platform.



Whitethroat


Common Crane

Two seen at Greylake but the view was obscured by reeds, which fortunately also screened us from the birds. 



Dunnock


House Sparrow


Chiffchaff


Pochard


Great-crested Grebe



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Purple Heron, Black Stork and White Stork, July 2025

Image
Purple Heron A juvenile bird was reported on the River Cam near Kingfisher Bridge NR.  This species is slightly smaller and slenderer than the grey heron, they have chestnut-brown plumage with dark streaks and a long, sinuous neck. These secretive birds prefer reedbeds and wetlands and are more often heard than seen. While traditionally passage migrants or occasional breeders, recent conservation efforts have seen small numbers attempting to nest in southern England. I had no expectations of actually finding the bird, especially as I seemed to be the only one looking. Amazingly I spotted the bird on the opposite bank after a short walk and the timing was perfect, as a passing boat flushed 60 seconds later.    The bird was lost to view but reported the following day in the Mere at Kingsfisher Bridge NR.   Black Stork A juvenile bird was reported repeatedly for about a week at Boyton Marsh, Suffolk. This species is typically found in continental Europe and Asia, ne...
Read more

Osprey CJ7 and White tailed Eagle G463, Friday 15th August 2025

Image
The 'mugging' of Osprey CJ7 over Poole Harbour by the resident male White-tailed Eagle G463 in pictures - as seen from the always excellent Birds of Poole Harbour Osprey Cruise.   The tide was low and CJ7 caught a fish close to where G463 was sitting on a small island, watching and waiting... He immediately launched himself into the air and went after CJ7, forcing her to drop the catch.  He tried to catch the fish when it was falling but failed.  However, he caught a bigger fish on his own immediately afterwards and CJ7 also caught another fish within a few minutes.  Poole Harbour is an amazingly bountiful environment, and it is a privilege to see these birds at such close quarters.   
Read more

New Zealand, Oct 2024

Image
This was a family holiday, not a birding expedition, so photography was on an 'ad hoc' basis. I shouldn’t have been, but I was stunned by the birding situation in NZ. The introduction of rats, stoats, cats and possums has devastated the native bird life, which evolved without exposure to many natural predators. On top of these challenges, the European settlers introduced an array of familiar birds to out compete the local fauna e.g. Blackbirds, Swallows, Starlings, Song Thrush, Yellowhammers and Mallards.  Really sad to see. Seabirds We had good views of seabirds from the whale watching boat from Kaikoura, although I'm not sure of the species level ID.       Albatross          Shearwater        Petrel Banded Dotterel The Banded Dotterel (also known as the Double-banded Plover) is a small, native shorebird found throughout New Zealand.  These birds inhabit coastal areas, estuaries, riverbeds, and sandy beache...
Read more