On this visit to the Somerset Levels recurring very fine drizzle rather dampened proceedings. There was very little movement to be seen.
I was sitting in Noah's Hide on Shapwick Heath when this Marsh Harrier put in an appearance. I've tried to remove as much drizzle-noise as possible, but you can judge the result for yourself.
There was a glimpse of two Great White Egret, but they were at the far side of that section and probably almost a kilometre away.
When I started to get numb from sitting without any action to record, I left the hide to head back to the car park. I stopped near the end of the trail from the hide because I could hear a Reed Warbler singing. I looked around and saw that he was quite near the path.
The light did not allow a fast shutter-speed and I'm not posting the images in which the lower mandible is a wobbly ♫ blur.
At the main east-west track I saw that one of the Great White Egret chicks was out in the open. It was sitting on top of the willow that is next to the nest-site. It was scanning the heath and was possibly looking for a returning parent. I suspect it waited a long time. I wondered which part of "Go and find it yourself!" it didn't understand.
This really called for a seriously big lens. I could only muster 420mm. Sorry, but I was travelling light. It's a long walk from the car park.
When I reached the car park, I continued eastwards and into the RSPB Ham Wall reserve.
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| Great White Egret |
This one looks like an adult.
I was starting to feel the need for refreshment, so I went back to the car and drove round the heath to Eco-Friendly Bites at Shapwick for a bite and a chat before heading for home. I had been on the Levels since 07h00.
Another day. another trip – Langford Lakes.
It was also another quiet day. A Mallard drake in eclipse was showing nicely and the young Great Crested Grebe were (almost) separated from the parents.
First then, the Mallard:
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| Over-enlarged to show the more familiar green starting to grow through |
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| Great Crested Grebe (juvenile) |
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| How's that for waterproofing? |
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| Exit |
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| Parent with more time to spare |
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| Tufted Duck |
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| Coot |
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