Page 4 - Out Birding Winter 2024

Event Reports
Please send reports as a Word a􏰀achment or in the body of an email to Pat: pat.cro􏰁on@b􏰂nternet.com
Somerset Levels 12 – 14/04/2024
Our Somerset Levels weekend to Steart Point and Ham Wall started on a perfect note with a good weather forecast. The gathering of 16 members was a wonderful example of what the GBC trips create in terms of friendship birding. There was a mixture of repeat members and the welcoming of new members to a weekend event, which was a perfect combina􏰂on. A􏰁er se􏰀ling in to our accommoda􏰂on we gathered in the bar and restaurant, where there was an air of excitement in mee􏰂ng old and new friends and the an􏰂cipa􏰂on of what we might see over the weekend.
In all we observed 83 species of birds and heard another 6 species at both reserves. Some of the highlight species were as follows: WWT Steart Point: Peregrine Falcon, Wheatear, Spoonbill, Li􏰀le Ringed Plover, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Ce􏰃’s Warbler, Raven and Stonechat. As ever, RSPB Ham Wall did not disappoint but exceeded our expecta􏰂ons. We had excellent views of everything we saw. Garganey, Glossy Ibis, Black-tailed Godwit, Great White Egret, Crane, Bi􏰀ern, Greenshank, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler to name but a few. Due to the Grand Get together in April, Somerset Levels will return in 2026, looking forward to it already. Happy birding everyone.
Nigel
Llyn Brenig Osprey Project, North Wales 16/06/2024
Nine members including friends from East Sussex, Wales and our North-West group, a􏰀ended. The visitor centre is located on the west side of the Brenig reservoir, and the nest pla􏰄orm is on the opposite side of the water. The nest cam gave us excellent views of the young female Osprey with two chicks and one probably non-viable egg. The male Osprey was seen perched nearby. The male is a returning bird but this year his partner didn’t come back, and the new female moved in. It is her first clutch, she is doing a great job. The wardens are very friendly and knowledgeable, it was a privilege to see these beau􏰂ful birds.
Well-stocked feeders around the visitor centre were a􏰀rac􏰂ng flocks of Siskin, with Chaffinch, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Goldfinch, Willow Tit and a lovely male Red- poll. We wandered past young spruce planta􏰂ons, where plenty of Willow Warbler were heard and occasionally seen, also Chiffchaff and a Garden Warbler was heard singing close by, but our nine pairs of eyes could not see it!
We made our way to an old hide on the opposite side of the reservoir – the highlight was the Ring-necked Duck, hanging out with two male Tu􏰁ed Duck. Plenty of Lesser Black-backed Gull, and a single Great Black-back Gull, lots of Herring Gull and one
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