Monday 21 May 2018

Spring break (Day 4) - Black Hole Marsh & Lodmoor

Bluethroat
Bluethroat
Oystercatcher
Common Terns
Barn Swallow
Black-tailed Godwits
Sedge Warbler
Whimbrel
Day 4, first stop the fantastic Black Hole Marsh at Seaton for high tide. With passage waders very rare it was always going to be hard work. The reserve looked fantastic and the main marsh had 25 Shelducks, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Dunlin, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, Little Egret & a Whimbrel. The Sedge & Reed Warblers were really cracking out a morning song so much so I didn't hear my phone go with messages saying "BLUETHROAT LODMOOR".

I'd landed at Lodmoor within an hour and marched down to the corner of the reserve (Marsh Harriers flying above) where the bird had been seen and photographed. Unfortunatley as the reserve got busier with joggers and dog walkers the bird had gone to ground. A lengthly steak-out began which was broken up with some good company from a Yeovil birder & a walk down to see the Common Tern's clearly ready for spring.

When we returned from watching the Terns both Richard @charmouthbirder & Justin @woodworser who I'd met at Lambert's Castle turned up and as if by magic the Red-spotted Bluethroat appeared on the fence line singing before going to the top of the closest scrub. I managed to grab a couple of shots but I wanted to really see the bird well. Now that was brilliant !

I added two Bearded Tits on the way back to the car to round off a fantastic mornings birding.  

No comments:

Post a Comment