Hudwit

Out with Mark and Paz on Saturday, picking up Darren on the way for a twitch down to Meare Heath in Somerset for Britain’s third Hudsonian Godwit, I saw the first one at Blacktoft Sands back in 1983 but had just started Birding and didn’t really appreciate its rarity value so it was a good opportunity to have another look at one, we arrived mid-morning and the bird was present and showing well as indeed it was all day apart from a brief 10 min departure after a Peregrine spooked the flock of Black Tailed Godwits it was with, with nothing else to go for we stayed with the bird all day getting the best and closest views late afternoon. It was a great little area and we also had good views of other species that are still rather uncommon further North, like four Great White Egrets, displaying, several Bitterns giving great flight views, Cetti’s Warblers singing everywhere, a trip over the road to the nearby RSPB Ham Wall reserve gave us a fantastic spectacle of at least 10 Hobby’s hunting over a reedbed, other highlights included Buzzards and Marsh Harriers out hunting, Little Egrets, a drake Garganey and calling Whimbrel over.

initial views in the far corner

very distinctive in flight

four Great White Egrets about

unusual display flight

Peregrine chasing the Godwits

Hobby's also put on a good show over the road at Ham Wall

it came a bit closer late afternoon

flashing the diagnostic black underwing

good and prolonged views of Bitterns flying around

flying back to the back of the pool

punk Garden Warbler