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Saturday 19 April 2014

Somerset Levels tour

On Thursday just gone we had a tour to Somerset Levels. The target species for the day was bittern, Sue had wanted to see one for a long time and her husband Peter asked us to help.

Fortunately for the leader's nerves we soon had great views of bittern flying across a pool at Haw Wall, we then saw another fly across, bash into a second bittern in the edge of the reeds and both then stood on the edge of the reeds - brilliant stuff! 

We also managed to hear the amazing 'booming' call on several occasions. Other species seen on the walk included up to eight garganey, including seven splendid males, a 1st winter little gull, common tern, whitethroat (first on the sites this year), many blackcap, cetti's warbler, marsh frogs were heard and a good selection of butterflies including orange tip.

Perhaps my favourite sighting was a pair of marsh harriers, displaying and then dropping onto the track in front of us to mate - you don't see that every day! A great day with over 60 species of bird seen - thanks Sue for making it such a joy to be out and about with nature! NA

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