I have yet to see, let alone capture an image, of a Bearded Tit. They reckon over 250 of them on the site this week, so we may be lucky tomorrow. We moved to the Wilts/Dorset/Somerset borders about 10 weeks ago and have yet to find a good regular haunt for birding. Ham Wall is about 45 minutes away from us, so it's about the same distance as Arne and Lodmoor for us.
I have yet to see, let alone capture an image, of a Bearded Tit. They reckon over 250 of them on the site this week, so we may be lucky tomorrow. We moved to the Wilts/Dorset/Somerset borders about 10 weeks ago and have yet to find a good regular haunt for birding. Ham Wall is about 45 minutes away from us, so it's about the same distance as Arne and Lodmoor for us.
I look forward to seeing what you make of the area opportunities wildlife wise, as that is an area of interest for us for moving to.
In theory 45mins for me too - usually more depending on how many slow drivers/cyclists/tractors I get stuck behind. 20 miles but it's all cross country. I've never seen a bearded tit either. Post if you do find any - I might have enough time to get out there for a brief visit Monday afternoon if it was worthwhile.
We moved from West London where we had a half decent public lake locally, and a 20 minute drive to WWT Barnes. Struggling to find somewhere as good as Barnes locally (we live in Mere, just off the A303) but I'm sure we'll sort something soon. We liked Barnes because of the facilities, I do like a coffee when I'm out in the cold!!
Glad you enjoyed Ham Wall and surrounding area's- I've been a game keeper for some 15 years around the area of Taunton and have never seen a Fallow deer in or near that area
plenty of Roe, I see them every day - so well spotted, if they were indeed Fallow's
I doubt very much you would have seen Hen Harrier - possibly a Common Buzzard or Marsh Harrier - do you have a photograph, I'd like to see what it was ?
Island Hide is as you say "THE" place for Bearded Tits + I'd recommend Greylake RSPB on the A361 for wintering birds- my all time, go too place - You may well bump into me should you visit
Les
I didn’t see the harrier myself, but my wife described it as a very large silver grey with black wingtips. We have seen them in Mull so she knows what they look like.
Les, could well have been Roe, I’m not great on deer other than Red & Muntjac. I didn’t see the harrier myself, but my wife described it as a very large silver grey with black wingtips. We have seen them in Mull so she knows what they look like.
Reds, I get, Muntjac I get.... Roe & Fallow are my confusion.
I need to remember that white spots & the big spoon like antlers for Fallow. What we saw were Roe Deer (not fallow). Don't see enough to keep in practice!!
The Harrier was at Westhay, not sure what hide we were in, but I was looking at something else through the camera, hence I missed it.
Well done on the Otter spotting I have been quite a few times and always hope to see a Otter but never have up to date.Well, didn't get to see any Beardies, but at Ham Wall we saw Great & Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Gadwall, Wigeon, all the usual suspects, plus a chance meeting with an Otter just feet in front of us.
Moved on to Westhay, and again got both Egrets, another Otter, and a very chilled out Kingfisher (still no Beardies!!) Found out afterwards that the one hide we didn't visit (the Island Hide) is the most reliable for them... Another visit soon me thinks.
All in all a very enjoyable day. To top it all, while out in the car today we have seen Red Kite, a load of Fallow Deer, and the Mrs thinks she say a Hen Harrier...