The 'Levels' & Cheddar Reservoir

WEATHER: dull and overcast, brighter later. Top temp 12C no wind.

It was a very still morning, nothing stirred, the trees were perfectly still when Guy picked me up at 7:30am this morning. We drove straight to Ham Wall on the Somerset Levels which is 18 miles away.

The walk to Viewing Point No. 1 (VP1) took a short while, we stopped to look at several species of ducks, we saw Kingfisher from the hump-backed bridge and a Cetti's Warbler burst into song as we walked past Loxton's Marsh area.

Great Egret with Common Snipe and Shoveler

Guy hadn't seen a Jack Snipe for a couple of years, so this was our target bird for our Ham Wall visit. One had consistently turned up at VP1 over the last few weeks, so that is where we concentrated our efforts.

I guess we spent nearly an hour scanning the 'reed-islands' in the main pool where at least 50 Common Snipe were sleeping or feeding. We picked out 3 Dunlin and a single Black-tailed Godwit amongst the multitude of Lapwings. Great and little Egrets searched for fish in the shallows whilst Gadwall, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Tufted Ducks spent their morning either sleeping, loafing or feeding.

Black-tailed Godwit sleeping with the Lapwings

It was fitting that Birding Guru, Guy, found the JACK SNIPE, it was distant, of course, but showing well. A difficult find, so well done Guru. The bird wasn't doing much, sleeping mainly, it did perform its clockwork-toy motion of bobbing up and down several times, but it never actually moved from the position we found it in.

the Jack Snipe showing behind the Coot's head

Marsh Harriers flew over, a Common Buzzard landed in bush quite near and a Stonechat flitted about in the reeds. We saw a second Kingfisher dash by, Goldfinches, Chaffinches and a probable Bullfinch were seen as we made our way back to the car park.

After a quick warm drink at the kiosk in the car park, we drove across to Cheddar Reservoir, a fifteen minute drive. We discussed our four target species as we approached the car park. 

The water level at the reservoir has risen since our last visit in September, but it was still amazingly low. A large sandy island still existed in the northern section and sandy margins were visible for most of the perimeter. 

Whooper Swan at Cheddar reservoir

Despite there being several thousand birds in and around the water it took us all of five minutes to locate a single Whooper Swan amongst about 20 Mute Swans. We then found a single Dunlin, a single Common Snipe, at least 6 Pintail Ducks, Guy found a pair of Goldeneyes and we both saw a few dozen Common Gulls which were notable because they were our first of the winter.

A thorough search failed to produced a pair of Red-crested Pochards, we sifted through countless Common Coots, accompanied by large rafts of Teal, Shoveler, Common Pochard, Wigeon and small numbers of Tufted Ducks.

We concentrated on the Tufted Ducks as we searched for two Greater Scaups, they were supposed to be first year males, so they did not stand out too much. Eventually we spotted them and after a short walk we had reasonable views of them.

Greater Scaup at Cheddar

Further scrutiny of the water failed to produce the Red-crested Pochards, but our enjoyment was enhanced by a clearer sky with broken sunshine and much better light.

It was 1pm when we left, we drove straight to the outdoor cafe at the Avalon Visitor's Centre where we both enjoyed a toastie! 

It was 3pm when we left, we had discussed visiting one more site, but the light was already beginning to fade, so off we went home.

 11 -DAYS IN THE GAMBIA - a wildlife tour

MARCH 2ND - 12TH 2027 

GROUP SIZE 6-10   -  four places remaining

LEADERS:  Iordan (Dancho) Hristov and a local guide

Tour overview:

This itinerary provides an excellent introduction to the remarkable birdlife and habitats of The Gambia. Over eleven days, we will explore a diverse range of ecosystems, including: Atlantic Coastal scrub, wetlands, mangrove creeks, riverine forest, woodland, savannah and the mighty Gambia River itself.

The tour is designed to maximise birding opportunities whilst also allowing time to appreciate the culture, landscape and warm hospitality for which the Gambia is renowned. More than 570 bird species have been recorded within this small West African Nation, making it one of the finest birding destinations in Africa.

                                        Yellow-crowned Gonolek

Introduction

Often referred to as the 'smiling coast of West Africa', The Gambia is one of Africa's most rewarding and accessible bird watching destinations. With more than 570 recorded bird species packed into a country no much larger than Yorkshire, The Gambia offers one of the highest bird diversities per square kilometer anywhere in Africa.

Located on the Atlantic Coast and surrounded by Senegal, this narrow country offers an impressive variety of habitats within a relatively small area. During the main birding season from November to April, direct flights operate from several European destinations to Banjul with a flight time of approximately six and a half hours.

The Gambia's friendly atmosphere, political stability and excellent value for money, make it an ideal destination for both first-time visitors to Africa and experienced birders alike. The country's remaining pockets of Atlantic Forest, extensive wetlands and vast river systems support an extraordinary diversity of resident and migratory birds,

Egyptian Plover

Away from the coast, visitors can experience traditional Gambian life, largely unchanged by modern tourism. Rural villages, bustling markets and riverside communities provide fascinating Cultural encounters alongside world-class birdwatching.

THE GAMBIA - FULL DETAILS AND TOUR DESCRIPTION

A DAY OUT IN DORSET: PORTLAND

WEATHER:   dull, overcast and misty. With a cold, moderate, north-easterly wind 

the dry moat around the Verne Prison with catoneaster plants growing on the slopes above it.

We popped into the Bird Observatory down at Portland Bill for a quick warm drink, before walking to the Lighthouse area. We stopped to look at the Resident Little Owl in Obs' Quarry.

The disused Quarry at Portland Bill Lighthouse had been hosting a Snow Bunting for the last few days, it took us all of five minutes to find it. A little skittish at first, but it settled down and gave us prolonged, close-up views.

you can get very close to wintering Snow Buntings in the UK, they have no fear of 'man'.

playing hide and seek, you can see a BTO ring on its right leg.

We took lunch at the Lobster Pot restaurant at the Bill, we sat outside in the warm sunshine, out of the wind. Guy got pooped on, right on the top of his head. It was deposited by a Starling, shame it wasn't a Gannet flying over.

As we walked back to the Observatory we got a WhattsApp message telling us of a fantastic sighting not far from where we were, a PALLAS'S WARBLER had just been found about a mile up the road. Well, we were back in car within minutes and shot round to the site. Luckily for us, about 20 birders were on-site and watching the bird. How fantastic was that?? We had great views of this tiny, colourful warbler, but it moved constantly as it fed in a sycamore tree alongside a Goldcrest. I have no pictures I'm afraid, but an archive picture is shown from Birdguides.

Pallas's Warbler, a little gem, not much bigger than a Goldcrest

Next we drove to Reap lane to search more fields for Ring Ouzel, but soon realised that we were not going to find one. On the way off the 'island' of Portland we stopped in Fortuneswell to look for a Black Redstart. We struck lucky again with fabulous views of this entertaining little bird.

a fortunate picture with the background colours matching the 'red'-tail of the Redstart.

We then took a short drive to Portland Castle and Ham Beach, both of which give commanding views over the Harbour. We found lots of Med Gulls, also Oystercatchers, Turnstones, Cormorants and Shags. From Ham beach we found a single Great Northern Diver, one of three that have arrived for the winter so far, and our fourth target species of the day.

Portland Harbour, viewed from Ham Beach

From Ferrybridge cafe, we 'scoped the mudflats on a receding tide. Out on the shoreline we saw Dark-bellied Brent Geese, a single Knot, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits and countless Ringed Plovers, Dunlins and Mediterranean Gulls. Guy picked out a small group of Red-breasted Mergansers out on the water and in the distance there were two or three Curlews.

Black-bellied Brent Geese with a single Knot

there are four female-type Red-breasted Mergansers in the foreground, with Med and Herring Gulls

We both agreed that it had been an enjoyable day out, the Pallas's Warbler had been a huge boost to our enjoyment.

Guy got me back home before 4pm, thanks for a good day out, matey.

 

 SOMERSET LEVELS AND CHEDDAR RESERVOIR

WEATHER; dull and overcast, no wind.  Temp 10C

HAM WALL - VIEWING POINT 1 (VP1) & AVALON HIDE

WEATHER:  a clear sky to start with, bright sunshine until midday then cloud and showers. Temp 12C with a light wind.

It was a beautiful morning and Ham Wall delivered the 'goods' once again, albeit over a long morning of searching.

My two target species were Jack Snipe and Water Pipit, both of these species had been reported from VP 1 and the Avalon Hide this morning, so my expectations were high and the weather was perfect. However the roads were not. I set out at 10:30am, it is usually a 40 minute drive to Ham Wall, but not today!!

A road accident neared Somerton blocked the road in both directions and I had to double back and take an alternative route, this added 30 minutes to the drive time. Then as I approached RSPB Ham Wall the road from Ashcott was closed in both directions for road repairs!! Doh! 

I doubled backed once again and travelled through Shapwick and Meare, a 10 mile detour, to get to Ham Wall Reserve.

By the time I reached VP 1 at 11:45 both of my target birds had disappeared! I spent an hour trolling through at least 100 Common Snipe, looking for the Jack Snipe,  to no avail. I couldn't find the Jack Snipe and there was no sign of a Water Pipit either.

The view from VP1 - I was photographing the Great Crested Grebes when a flock of Golden Plover flew past

News came in of both species being seen at the Avalon Hide, but I perservered and spent even more time searching from VP 1. I saw Green Sandpiper, Redshank, lots of the common Duck species, Great and Little Egrets, Marsh Harrier and I heard a Bittern making that frog-like call from the reedbed.

Eventually I succumbed to the temptation of seeing my target speices at the Avalon Hide and so I walked over there. Along the way I saw Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, a flock of Long-tailed Tits with at least three Chiffchaffs following along.

It was 2pm when I reached the Avalon Hide, I didn't bring lunch or a drink!! Dumb move! However, The visit was exciting with plenty to see which distracted me from my hunger pangs.

the view from the Avalon Hide - note: the Jack Snipe and the Water Pipits were in the light brown vegetation in the distance!

The hide was practically empty and I had to search long and hard to find the Jack Snipe, which I did. It was distant of course and very hard to see. The Water Pipits (3) were showy and obliging, although they were mainly distant too!

can you spot a Jack Snipe here??

my best view of the Jack Snipe

A Glossy Ibis dropped in, I saw three more Green Sandpipers, a few more Common Snipe, a Water Rail, Great and Little Egrets and plenty of Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall and a few Wigeon.

Glossy Ibis

Green Sandpiper

Water Pipit - this one came much nearer than the other two

Walking back to the car park I bumped into a 'flock' of Chiffchaffs!! At least four 'chiffys' were feeding together. I paused breifly at VP1 and took a quick scan, and lo and behold, there was the Jack Snipe!! The little blighter was hunkered down, but bobbing like a clockwork toy!

the second Jack Snipe is shown here (its not the one fast asleep on the left). Hint, look in the reeds in front of the feeding Wigeon.

I got back home, via the road-works diversion, at 4:30pm. It had been a long, 'quick' visit to Ham Wall, but well worth it.

 

SPAIN, ANDALUCIA 7-DAY TOUR (based in Gaucin) DAY 4

ENCINAS BORRACHAS TRACK NEAR RONDA – SIERRA DE LAS NIEVES NATURAL PARQUE – RONDA

WEATHER: sunshine all day with a gusting, bitter cold wind for most of the day. Top temp 19C felt like 5C at times.

We arrived at the Encinas Borrachas track not long after 8:30am, a cold gusting wind greeted us as we left the car. Not surprisingly very birds were on show, we saw distant Northern and Black-eared Wheatears, also Linnets and Goldfinches, a single Rock Bunting sat in a bush, but nothing else showed.


The start of the Encinas Borrachas (drunken oaks) track - you can see how exposed we were to the cold wind

Our walk across the heathland produced nothing at all but we found shelter from the wind over the brow of a hill where a few birds began to appear. We heard an Iberian Shrike singing, it flew off just as we located it, a distant Common Cuckoo also called.

The wind reduced somewhat with longer, calm gaps between the gusts, during these calm periods it was quite warm and birding became enjoyable once again. We tracked down an Orphean Warbler as it sang in the cork oaks, the same happened with Subalpine Warbler.


Mike - full of enthusiasm, waiting for the Orphean Warbler to show

Mike got onto two Ring Ouzels, I saw them in flight and agreed with their identification. Distant Black Wheatears sat on the mountain tops whilst several Griffon Vultures drifted over.

Our return walk was much more rewarding, mainly due to the reduced wind gusts. We managed to find Spectacled Warblers, Dartford Warblers (one male without a tail) and a couple of Thekla Larks. Mike found a Woodchat Shrike as we neared the car.


Dartford Warbler, a tail-less male!

Our next port of call was a roadside restaurant where we enjoyed a nice coffee break, from there we drove into the Sierra de las Nieves natural parque. Again it was very quiet with very few migrant species to see. We found Cirl Bunting, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Subalpine Warbler and a Mistle Thrush. It was colder there and still windy, we drove deeper into the reserve but never ventured out of the car very much. One stop produced Wren and Coal Tit but not much more.

At 2pm we drove into the centre of Ronda and became ‘tourists’ for a couple of hours. During our walk around the famous Ronda Bridge and gorge we logged Red-billed Chough, Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, a few Serins and a thousand people of innumerable different nationalities.


view from the famous Ronda Bridge

Our return journey to Gaucin included a second stop at the Encinas Borrachas track hoping for a better view of Iberian Shrike, but we never found one. A couple of Short-toed Eagles were noted on the way back to Gaucin.

Today we logged only 10 new species, but I am sure that the weather played a big part in our misfortune.

SPAIN,ANDALUCIA 7-DAY TOUR (based in Gaucin) DAY 3

WEATHER: Sunshine all day, very cold easterly wind, top temp 19C

It was bitter cold in the sweet chestnut wood even though we were sheltered from the brisk wind. Surprisingly there was quite a lot of bird activity in the bare branches of these ancient deciduous trees. We quickly found Blue Tit, Crested Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Common Chaffinch.


Eurasian Nuthatch in the morning sunlight

We had to walk a few hundred meters into the cork oak woods in order to find our main target bird, it took quite a while before we heard one. The swirling, windy conditions made it difficult to locate our first Iberian Chiffchaff of the trip but when we did it showed very well. We also tried to track down a singing Coal Tit but failed to find it in the tall pines nearby.


Iberian Ciffchaff taken by Mike Ream

On the return walk we found two Short-toed Treecreepers, another Great-spotted Woodpecker and a very obliging Firecrest. A nice sighting, albeit brief, was made of a Hobby, it dashed along above the trees and quickly out of sight.

By the time we got down to the Rio Guadiaro at Estacion Cortes the sun was higher and we warmed up, the wind was greatly reduced in this sheltered valley. We spent an hour or so walking beside the river noting: Blackcap, Cetti’s Warbler, Common Nightingale, Greenfinch, Cirl Bunting, Woodchat Shrike, Stonechat, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Great Cormorant and White Wagtail.


the Rio Guadiaro near Estacion de Cortes

Generally it was quiet, lots of House Martins, a few Red-rumped and Barn Swallows flew all around us and higher up we counted over 40 Griffon Vultures, two Short-toed Eagles and we heard distant Bee-eaters.

After a coffee stop in Cortes de la Frontera we made it to Montejaque and the Llanos de Libar by lunchtime, we ate our picnic in the sunshine sitting on some rocks. Spanish Festoon, Cleopatra and Clouded Yellow Butterflies were noted during lunch.


Spanish Festoon butterfly

We walked up the track towards the Llanos de Libar scanning the mountain tops and steep rock faces looking for anything that moved. We found Rock Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Red-billed Chough, Crag Martins and dozens of Griffon Vultures. Lower down we were kept busy watching Sardinian Warbler, Stonechats, Eurasian Linnets, Goldfinches and more Black Wheatears. A male Ring Ouzel was a bonus find but unfortunately Mike didn’t get onto it before it disappeared behind some bushes.


the track leading up to the Llanos de Libar

Driving further up the valley we entered the wide open valley (Llanos) which has some rocky scree and some cultivated fields. We added Mistle Thrush, Rock Sparrow (Petronia) but we failed to find Black-eared Wheatear. During the return journey we stopped to watch a superb male Black Redstart and we continued our search for other wheatears. Other butterfly sightings included; Large Tortoiseshell, Small Heath and a guy we met had just being tracking a Chapman's Green Hairstreak, a new species for me if only I had seen it!


Eurasian Linnet

A short roadside stop near Montejaque was made to look for more Orchids, we found three species.


Naked Man Orchid

Yellow Orchid

Cueva de Gato (Cat’s Cave) near Benaojan is the best and most reliable place to find Alpine Swifts, we saw four as we emerged from the car in the car park. Our walk to the near-deserted beauty spot at the cave’s entrance was punctuated with stops to watch the swifts and martins. At the blue-pool below the cave we watched Grey Wagtail, Blackcap and not much else. Mike pointed out two large raptors circling behind us, wow! They were Bonelli’s Eagles, a great find, I’d been searching for those beauties all day.


the Blue-pool below the entrance to the Cueva de Gato

We walked along the river hoping for sightings of Dipper without success, we did hear a distant Golden Oriole caliing but we dipped on the Dipper. It was now 5:15pm so we decided to call it a day, our drive back was speedy along empty roads, we arrived back in Gaucin at 6pm.
Dinner was taken at 7:30pm followed by our bird log, we had now recorded 100 species (including 3 heard not seen), not a bad tally but certainly lacking in migrant species.

SPAIN, ANDALUCIA 7-DAY TOUR (based in Gaucin) DAY 2

WEATHER: another day of sunshine but a brisk easterly wind kept the temp quite cool. Top temp 21C

At the Rio Genal things were much quieter than I expected, but the coast-road repair work was noisy and water extraction using large tractors towing water tanks was on-going near the bridge, maybe too much disruption?

Our walk lasted an hour during time which we heard only 4 species singing; Common Nightingale, Blackcap, Serin and Cetti’s Warbler. Actual sightings were minimal, Blue Tit, Serin, Long-tailed Tit, Grey Heron and above us we saw only Booted Eagle and Griffon Vulture, not a single Wagtail,  no sight nor sound of Golden Oriole or Hawfinch.


looking up to Gaucin's Castle (Castillo de Aguila) from the Rio Genal

By the time we reached the Guadiaro Valley track leading to Secadero the wind had picked up, it was quite blustery at times. We saw several parties of European Bee-eater, also Crested Larks, Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler, Little-ringed Plover, Great Cormorant and not much else. The sky began to fill with raptors but only with Booted Eagles and Griffon Vultures.


European Bee-eaters

Further down the track we had one inspirational sighting in the form of a GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO, this bird was perched on the roadside fence but unfortunately it saw us before we ‘spotted’ it, the bird was off over the hill before we could say “camera”. Nevertheless it was a great sighting and my first of this species for this valley.


Little Ringed Plover

We continued, encouraged by our find, but things didn’t get much better! We added Corn Bunting, Common Stonechat, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and another stop at the river produced a Black Kite sighting and a Common Kingfisher.

After a coffee stop in Secadero we drove to San Enrique Woods where we sat in the car and ate our picnic lunch next to the sewerage works, how nice!

A quick scan of a ploughed field produced both House and Tree Sparrows, Spotless Starlings, Bee-eaters and Goldfinches. Walking in the windy woods we added Bonelli’s Warbler, Great-spotted Woodpecker and lots of Serins.


Great Spotted Woodpecker

Next we drove to the ‘umbrella’ pine-woods near San Roque, we first looked for Orchids along the main track, we found both Sombre and Sawfly Orchids. We also saw Small Copper, Spanish Festoon, Speckled Wood and Cleopatra Butterflies.


Sombre Orchid

Back to birding, we spent an hour or so searching the pine trees and areas of cork oak for new species. Our efforts were rewarded with good sightings of all four target species: Firecrest, Crested Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper and Bonelli’s Warbler. Other species seen were Eurasian Jay, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Blackbird and Blackcap.


Eurasian Jay

From the elevated roadside just north of San Roque we viewed many White Storks on their nests, it is incubation time right now in the 70+ nests in this area.



We also stopped near a railway bridge to look at a Lesser Kestrel colony, my fears of last year were abated somewhat with the encouraging sight of new ‘kestrel’ nesting boxes attached to the bridge walls. I feared last year that repair work on the bridge walls would discourage these delightful falcons from further breeding, we saw six individuals, one of which came down to a nesting hole with food, smashing!

Our last stop was just outside of Jimena de la Frontera where we walked along a dirt track looking for Tawny Pipits. We found Stonechats, Serins, Goldfinches and our first Short-toed Eagle but no pipits.


Common Stonechat

This concluded our birding, it was a little disappointing, the lack of raptor passage and of migrants in general is a concern, perhaps the east wind is having a greater effect than I thought it would!