3 Days in East Somerset. Cranes and Peregrines, Great White egrets and People.
Sunday
1st to Wednesday 4th March
The route for the three days :-
http://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4030763.html
The route for the three days :-
http://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4030763.html
Sunday 1st
Being
away from technology for few days might lead to restful long sleep
periods but the catching up required has meant an early morning
start.
From
the delight of a huge breakfast at the Corner House Hotel in Taunton
on Sunday it was a 11 miles cycle to the next RSPB reserve, Swell
Wood. A dead mink beside the road on the way was interesting and I am
glad that this unwelcome predator of birds had met his end. Whoever
thought that releasing mink into the wild was a good idea should see
what havoc they reap on breeding birds on so many reserves.
Swell
Wood has a heronry and from the two level hide one can watch the
nesting birds. This is what I did for a couple of hours before
walking around the woodland path and bumping into Michael Wilson and
his girlfriend, Kathryn and her two children Zac and Emma. Michael had
been in touch recently as he works for the RSPB on the Crane
reintroduction project. Zac and Emma were superb kids.
Out
of the reserve I was going to go to Greylake. An interesting looking
church at Curry Revel had me going into it. I think the history of
such places is fascinating and this one contained a brilliant Tudor
style tomb with instead of the usual couple, man and wife, on top
there were two men lying side by side.
The
tomb had a canopy with nubiles and roses whilst the longer sides had
kneeling figures.
Well
whilst I relaxed from the cycling and birding within the church,
outside rain started to chuck itself down and so I decided to wait a
bit for it to stop. It was 4.30pm when it did so.
Monday
2nd
Back
to Swell Wood for more views of the herons started the day with the
sun illuminating them from a different direction. It was then off to
explore West Sedgemoor RSPB reserve and area with a planned meeting
of RSPB staff at their office there timed for 1 O'clock in the
afternoon.
The
wind was quite brutal at times, especially when going over a high
walled wind tunnel like railway bridge. It reminded me of when I
couldn't even push the bike into the wind when on Arran back in 2010.
Exploring a long dirt road that bisects the huge West Sedgemoor ara I
watched as starlings fed in fields and found 4 stonechats. The
amphitheatre quality of the area was beautiful and, other than the
wind, the weather was kind to me as dark showers missed me to the
south.
I
arrived at the RSPB office and farm a bit early but Michael was
available early too and after a chat, a coffee and a photo of
everyone, we went out towards a barn which has a viewing platform
that looks over a flooded section of the the reserve. One of the
released cranes circled overhead almost as soon as we set off. Not
countable on the year list due to it not being a wild bred bird, it
was nevertheless great to watch.
Masses
of duck, mostly wigeon, teal and shovelor were seen and a couple of
little egrets. Michael told me of the success of the Crane Project as
we walked.
Then
it was off a little way to a feeding area for the cranes and indeed
that's what 20 of them were doing. Michael used a radio transmitter
to see which birds were there, different frequencies show different
birds. In front of the feeding cranes were 5 roe deer, the
combination a sight that is fabulous. To think that this is the first
time for 400 years that they've been together on the Somerset Levels.
Back
at the office, more coffee and chat and pieces of birds including a
crane's skull and voicebox found at a cranes' graveyard in Germany.
It
was then off to Greylake RSPB reserve for the late afternoon's
birding. On settling into the hide I was given a Mars bar by an OAP
couple for showing them the three peregrines sitting together on a
gate at the back of the duck strewn pools.
Masses
of wigeon, teal, pintail with a lone gadwall, some snipe and a lone
water rail, 2 great white egrets, 5 buzzards and a green wing-tagged
marsh harrier were the birds seen. Masses of starlings kept going
over on their way to Ham Wall to murmur away the evening sun.
Tuesday
2nd
Greylake
again started the day with more views of the same birds as yesterday
but this time with the sun behind me. Cetti's warblers added their
voice to the scene. Speaking of voice, I started to do a video diary entry when a pair of peregrines decided to hot it up a bit. Have a look at this youtube video of the action.
Off
to Ham Wall and more RSPB people to meet. Steve, a brilliant
Assistant warden, gave a donation that I am yet to take out of the
robin for the RSPB. Now it may show how RSPB staff love their
employers because so many of them do put some cash into the robin.
It's all very much appreciated. Whilst chatting with them 3 great
white egrets flew around the back of the extensive reedbed with views
of The Mendip Hills behind them.
Now
here I must be honest and say that despite the fact I would have
liked to have stayed for the great starling murmuration, ¾ of a
million birds biut provide a somewhat awesome spectacle, I instead
after birding some more heading into the strong westerly towards
Bridgewater. For the last two days I hadn't had good food and had
camped out so a bed and dinner were priorities. Both I had later when
fortuitously I came across the Admiral Guest House. A superb B and B
and great value at £30 a night. Thanks Pauline.
The
evening was capped by my football team, Aston Villa winning in the
very last minute against our local rivals West Bromwich Albion. They
could've heard my shouting in Birmingham let alone through the rest
of the B and B! UTV!
Tomorrow
it's off to Steart WWT reserve, the brand new recently opened and
huge reserve north of Bridgewater.
Now
please have a look at the photographs on my facebook page -
https://www.facebook.com/bikingbirder2015
Also
if you could please make a small donation to any of the charities
that I am supporting then please click on the links to the right. I
know I put this onto the end of every blog posting but I really get a
boost from every donation. The RSPB, The WWT, Asthma UK and
Chaskawasi-Manu. I would be so grateful if you could make a donation
however small. Thanks.
Thanks
to 'anonymous' for the donation to the WWT.
All
the very best everyone. Love to you all xx
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