It was a stunning morning, our drive down had been through misty patches, but uneventful for the Friday of a bank holiday when the forecast was for record temperatures and wall to wall sunshine. We took the opportunity to have breakfast, a cup of tea and pastries. The intention was to walk around the RSPB reserve, but a conversation with a local birder changed that plan. There was an Osprey present on the neighbouring Shapwick Heath reserve, and was showing well, so instead of walking east we would turn west and follow the canal to Noar's Hide.
Our breakfast was accompanied by an attentive Robin in the car park, and there were several to be seen. However one bird perched on one of the car park barriers looked a little different, and checking closer turned out to be a female / immature type Redstart. In fact all along the bushes surrounding the car park there was a lot of activity with Whitethroats and Blackcaps. The Redstart showed briefly once again, but never clear enough for a photograph.
As we walked along the main path alongside the canal into the Shapwick Heath reserve Chiffchaffs, Long-tailed Tits and Blackcaps could be seen in the bushes and bramble alongside the path. Despite the early time there were plenty of butterflies about, including several Painted Ladies, which now seem to be everywhere. In the canal were lots of Mallard in eclipse plumage. Most were just sitting on the bank surrounded by old feathers, but one or two were on the water, and we watched them diving, not dabbling, and coming up with water snails which they swallowed whole, but after several gulps and a sizeable lump in the side of the throat as they went down.
We turned off the canal path and followed a tree lined tunnel to Noar's Hide, an elevated hide that looks out over, would you believe, Noah's Lake from the south west. As we approached the the steps I looked out over the water and there close in was the Osprey sitting on a dead tree trunk.
There was one bench free as we entered the hide, but it was giving good views out across the water despite the small tree in front of us. The Osprey had been present all morning, and as yet had not flown off hunting.
We were in luck, she, as this was a female bird, has been present for a few days, and has up to this morning, preferred the dead stumps further away to the left of the hide.
We sat watching her look around. Out on the water were lots of Mute Swans, there brilliant white plumage standing out in the blue of the lake's water. Then she flew off, low over the water heading to the favourite stumps. But it was clear the preference was the taller dead tree, because very soon she returned, again low over the water, upsetting the gulls, and then swooping up to perch once again on the tree in front of the hide.
Once settled she proceeded to scan the lake, looking down and around the water.
A Little Egret had appeared close to the hide, and was using a log just out of the water as a platform from which to fish, to complete the picture was a yellow flower head of the water lilies.
Back to the Osprey, and she was looking a little more agitated, scanning around the area.
But still nothing changed, she remained on her perch and I turned my attention to the Mute Swans. They were casting some lovely reflections in the water from the morning sunshine.
Looking straight out from the hide is an old corrugated tin shed, this, clearly was the perfect roosting site for one of the resident Great Egrets on the right, and the smaller Little Egret on the left.
But then the Osprey was off, and started to circle around the tree gaining height, and looking more like she was intent on hunting.
This brought her for a while closer to the hide.
Several attempts failed, and she would fly low over the water trailing the feet, gain a little height and then shake the body to expel any water.
She covered most of the area of the lake attempting a coup[le of dives that were unsuccessful. At one point she attracted the attention of a Carrion Crow, that pursued her around the lake, and brought her back towards the hide. As the crow came closer she would twist and fall to evade what could only be seen as a nuisance.
Dropping to low over the water, she then beat a path across the area in front of the hide giving more excellent views.
Finally, a fishing attempt proved successful, it was distant but we could see she had managed to catch a fair sized Roach at the seventh attempt. Here a record of the catch.
She then flew the length of the lake low over the water, shaking her feathers once again, and over to the tree stumps on the left hand side of the hide and not the tree she had been occupying.
It was then a case of shifting the fish so that she could get her feet right on the stump ahead of eating the fish. To do so she appeared to hold the fish by the mouth to allow her to let go with her claws.
The fish was motionless so clearly dead
She then started to eat, and this meant that she would stay on the far side of the lake with her catch, and after that probably preen, so little action to come, so we decided it was time to move on.
Walking back along the path by the canal the sun was a lot warmer, it was going to be a scorching day. Back at Ham Wall we set out along the main path. At the first Viewing platform there was a single Great Egret, but the height of the reeds obstructed any good clear views across the water.
We opted to visit the Avalon Hide, as we crossed the ditch there were several dragonflies and damselflies. The dragonflies were Common Darter and did not stop. This Blue-tailed Damselfly did stop though
As we approached the hide there was the familiar "ping" calls of Bearded Tits. At first they were hidden in the reeds but they kept coming. At first a juvenile bird appeared obscured by the reeds, then an adult male and gradually it climbed the reed stem to give a good view.
Turning obligingly to show off the "beard" which is really a moustache.
Then they were on the move again, flying through the reeds, but settling close again, at first in amongst the reeds, there were two males.
But then one male moved to another spot without any obscuring reeds.
And he put on an excellent show.
The other birds had flown across the path to the reeds on the opposite side but continued to "ping". This male seemed quite content to stay where it was, but would turn its head to the direction of the others.
And calling back
But neither did he join them, or they join him.
Then as quickly as they appeared they were off with undulating flight across the top of the reeds, and eventually out of sight.
All that was left was a glimpse of the Glastonbury Tor through the tops of the reeds.
We walked on into the hide, immediately in front of us was a Great Egret stalking through the water and vegetation.
While another was stood on an old branch preening.
The Egret hunting was moving very slowly, carefully placing its feet as its head remain completely still.
Seen head on the Great Egret has a form of binocular vision, that is both eyes appear to look forwards down the length of the bill. This would allow the bird to assess depth and distance, however it started to adopt a technique where the head was extended and tilted to one side as if using just one eye to stalk prey.
It waded into deeper water continuing to adopt this position, stretching the neck, and lowering the head closer to the water.
Then turning face on for the final, lightning strike.
And then, unlike the Osprey, a successful outcome at the first attempt.
While this was going on three Great Crested Grebe, which look very much like an adult bird and two immatures were preening in the water close by.
The other Great Egret, having finished its preen, sat motionless watching the other hunt.
The other egret had now moved into some clear still water that was reflecting the blue sky above nicely, always a good way to see these magnificent water birds.
It started to stalk once again, another hunt that ended successfully although with a much smaller fish than the previous hunt, but successful nonetheless.
We left both birds hunting at the far side of the open water, time once again having beaten us. From here it was off to Taunton for lunch, and then on into Exmoor and our cottage for the weekend.
It had been a very successful morning here in the Levels, definitely, aside from the starlings one of the best visits we have had. Excellent Osprey views are always something special, today delivered on that front. Add to this some great photographic opportunities involving the Bearded Tits and Egrets and it was indeed a good time. No doubt we will be back, and hopefully not just for the starlings.
