SOMERSET LEVELS TOUR 3 – FEB 5TH 2011

DAY 1 - WESTHAY MOOR AND SHAPWICK HEATH STARLING ROOST

The windy conditions continued today but the rain held off. I collect group 3 from Yeovil Junction railway station at 10:40am and we set off directly to the Meare Manor Hotel arriving at 11:30am.

After dropping off our luggage and settling into our rooms we made the short journey to Westhay Moor to begin our bird-watching tour of the Levels. We noted the usual suspects in the lagoons at Westhay, Mute Swans in good numbers, Kingfisher, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Common Pochard. At ten acre lake we found 7 Female Goosander, Grey heron and lots of Cormorants. Passerines seen along the 'droves' were Long-tailed Tit, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Coal, Blue and Great Tit. We also watched a couple of Treecreepers and a Raven flew over us.

After eating our picnic lunch in the shelter of the 'North Hide' we walked back to the bus where we found a couple of Common Buzzards, we then drove across to Shapwick Heath to watch the starling roost. Before the roost began we searched an area for Great Grey Shrike, it didn't show but a lovely female Hen Harrier was ample compensation.

From the Decoy Hide we saw hundreds of thousands of starlings gathering in the distant fields, the whole ground turned black as they landed in their masses. We saw Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier in the skies whilst we waited for the starling spectacular. We also had good close views of Goldcrest in the hedgerow.

The starlings irrupted from the fields and gave a stunning performance as they alighted in the reedbeds just in front of us. The noise was fascinating, it sounded like distant waves rolling onto the beach, but the sheer numbers of birds was truly amazing, I can't help being over-awed but such a wildlife spectacle it really was terrific to watch.We got back to the hotel at 6pm in good time to prepare for a delicious evening meal.