Peregrine, 24th June

A single peregrine falcon flew high over Sherborne today.

Swifts Sherborne 16th June

c.40 swifts and a grey heron passed over Sherborne in the torrential rain yesterday. Of local interest, 20 or so swifts also passed over Hilfield in one group, something I have rarely seen here (normally we only get single birds over Hilfield)

Hilfield 8th June

There was a distinct lack of birds this morning after last night's and this morning's storm, a quick walk through the woods brought me just 4 spotted flycatchers, a goldcrest, two buzzards and calling blackcaps, as well as a single great spotted woodpecker and  a chiffchaff.
On the other side of Hilfield Hill, I saw three linnets, two kestrels, two buzzards, a yellowhammer and good numbers of skylarks and stock doves.

Somerset Levels 5th June

I enjoyed an absolutely remarkable day's bird watching today- possibly my best in England ever. We started by visiting Shapwick Heath and spent the early morning walking around the reserve. There were amazing numbers of calling cuckoos (including two seen), a calling tawny owl which we could unfortunately not find and a marsh harrier, there was not anything particularly of note, with great crested grebes, a kingfisher, whitethroats, 3 goldcrests, reed warblers, willow warblers, chiffchaffs and a calling Cetti's warbler being the other birds of interest. We then drove on to Westhay Moor and the rain started to bucket down. Sitting in the car park with the thought of getting out of the car exceedingly unappealing, I saw two garden warblers, my first of this common species in Britain. A very brief walk around the reserve in torrential rain brought no more than two reed buntings, a buzzard, three reed warblers and a pair of swans with their cygnets.

After a pub lunch, we headed to the other side of Shapwick Heath. About 200 yards up the path I enjoyed probably the most remarkable ten minutes of bird-watching in England I have ever had. A marsh harrier glided over the reed beds and the hedges on both sides of the path were filled with reed warblers and whitethroats. Incredibly, a drake ferruginous duck, a rare vagrant from southern Europe and my second in England, took flight from a nearby canal and there were decent numbers of black-tailed godwits, lapwings and gadwall by one little pool. Then, one of Shapwick's famous great egrets, the first of its species to breed in England appeared, as did a little egret to allow comparison in size. It was second species that was new to me in England for the day, and a stunningly elegant bird. I then spotted two drake garganeys, yet another rarity- a rare and declining breeding summer visitor, on the same pool. As we walked back to the car, a red kite soared high over the marsh. An unbelievable ten minutes of bird-watching!

We then headed over towards Ham Wall RSPB, and a bittern, arguably my favourite British bird, flew just in front of us. Two bitterns were booming in the marsh. Along the sides of the river, there were willow warblers, chiffchaffs, reed and Cetti's warblers, a single garden warbler, 5 or so blackcaps and 2 spotted flycatchers. We then went over towards Chilton Moor in search of short-earecd owls. Sadly there seemed to be very little bird life around, other than whitethroats, a skylark and a good view of a cuckoo. On the way back home, we stopped off at Swell Wood RSPB to see the heronry there. Over 70 pairs of grey herons and 7 pairs of little egrets were roosting in the trees. Overall, a quite stunning day!

Exminster Marshes 2nd June

This morning I headed down to Exminster Marshes for a great morning's walking and birdwatching. With an incredible dawn chorus, I saw lots of reed warblers, 4 sedge warblers and chiffchaffs, 3 Cetti's warbler, two blackcap, a willow warbler and a pair of linnets. There were also several reed buntings and a kestrel hovering overhead. Over the marsh there were lots of swifts, swallows and house martins, a few mute swans, little egrets, grey herons, and all the common ducks. We then headed over towards the Turf inn. On the estuary there was a real lack of birds, just several shelduck, oystercatchers and little egrets. We headed on next to the canal, and stopped at a look out point to scan the marsh. There were a huge numbers of waterfowl, including a greylag goose on the marsh and a splendid summer plumage black-tailed godwit. We then spotted a resplendent glossy ibis feeding on the water's edge. Not ten yards away was a magnificent male spoonbill. The glossy ibis has been my demon bird over the last twelve months in England, on six occasions I have been birdwatching somewhere where it had been seen earlier in the day, and each time I missed it. The glossy ibis then took flight and landed by a small pool further on. We followed and had ten great minutes watching the stunning bird. The spoonbill was hiding its bill under its wing but every 5 minutes or so it would reveal its remarkable bill for a very brief time, before returning to hiding it under its wing. An absolutely stunning pair of birds to finish a great morning!

Hilfield 1st June

I had a great afternoon walk today at Hilfield,  with a great view of three stock doves, a grey heron that circled above the house, a nesting jay and whitethroats, a pair of blackcaps, a buzzard and a chiffchaff. In the woods there were two great spotted woodpeckers and several swifts. A pair of spotted flycatchers were in the garden this morning as well.