Down to Somerset and Gloucestershire with
fellow West Mids region bloggers Martyn and Richard. A few quality birds tempting us to make the journey down the M5.
First we visited the 2 Long-billed Dowitchers at Meare Heath
on the Somerset Levels. We arrived around 8.00am and were instantly furnished us with very good scope views of the two Dowitchers (lifer
286).
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| Image courtesy of Richard Powell - http://localbirdingforlocalpeople.blogspot.co.uk |
The same lagoon also contained a Great White Egret, Bittern,
4 Ruff, 23 Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank. Spring migrants included a
singing Willow Warbler and a Sedge Warbler was also heard. Blackcap &
Chiffy firmly established just about everywhere now. Bitterns booming and Cetti’s
belting out from the reedbed behind us. Not at all a bad way to start the day.
Next, Chew Valley Lake. The long-staying Spotted Sandpiper
was being a bit of a pain, having just wandered into the far corner along with a Green Sandpiper and becoming totally hidden from view. We proceeded to the dam area where we watched a female
Long-tailed Duck, as it associated with Tufted Ducks. Here also a Raven over
and a Gypo Goose. Sand Martins were noted with around 10 here, and high above Herriot's Bridge a ball of seemigly hundreds of hirundines were in the air.
Back at Herriot’s Bridge the Spotted Sand still did not seem
to be playing ball, but thankfully it soon flew from the far corner onto some rocky
islands where at last decent scope views were obtained. The bird had some subtle
spotting to it’s flanks.
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| LBBG at Chew Valley Lake |
The final portion of the day was spent in Gloucestershire. After
a quick look for a Cattle Egret that we didn’t see at Lydney, we were all anxious
to connect with the Bonaparte’s Gull at Newham, on the bank of the Severn. Although
we had just missed the bird, it was only across the road feeding in a field with Black-headed
Gulls and was commuting between the mudflat and it’s feeding field. We all had
excellent and prolonged views of this diminutive gull, my personal favourite bird of the day.
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| Bonaparte's Gull at Newnham, Glos |
We finished off with a curry, such has become the tradition.
Maybe I should introduce a ‘curry corner’ to this blog?
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