The sun eventually shone on us yesterday in Somerset - although it remained cold (as you would expect in November).
The water levels at the Lows are starting to rise, and with it, the many wintering wildfowl and other birds arrive. There were good numbers of teal, wigeon, pintail, lapwing, golden plover (200+) [these guys looked amazing in the sun and this is the best view I've ever had of this spp in the Levels], 100s of startlings, snipe, plus an egret and buzzard. There was no appearances of any more exotic raptors however, which normally raise the birds into wielding flocks. However they did occasionally get spooked by nothing in particular.
The water levels at the Lows are starting to rise, and with it, the many wintering wildfowl and other birds arrive. There were good numbers of teal, wigeon, pintail, lapwing, golden plover (200+) [these guys looked amazing in the sun and this is the best view I've ever had of this spp in the Levels], 100s of startlings, snipe, plus an egret and buzzard. There was no appearances of any more exotic raptors however, which normally raise the birds into wielding flocks. However they did occasionally get spooked by nothing in particular.
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| starlings, lapwings, golden plovers and some ducks |
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| Mostly lapwings and golden plovers |
I also managed to get a nice view of the Sabine's gull at another site up the road (Noah's hide). This was a lifer for me - yipee! Thank you to the generous chap who allowed me to look through his scope just before the bird flew off..
You've captured much of the magic of winter birding there. Whirling flocks, winter ducks and the odd exotic visitor.
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