Ash Warne

The adult YLG at SBR is a bit of a brute - approaching GBBG in size. Don’t understand why so few Somerset birders seem to visit SBR - perhaps YLG not the scarcity it once was? Or perhaps birders get anxious going south of the Levels !! Wood Sand still present at the southern end SBR too

A trip to north Quantocks area last night proved worthwhile for nightjars. Had minimum 3 (possibly 4) churring in competition. Also a fly-past male in wing-clapping display for a few seconds in near total darkness. Some of the “frog-like” croaking calls too. Didn’t get back to Martock until 01:00hrs

Rewarding evenings birding in Somerset - speculative walk out to Ham Wall VP1 with @northmoorbirder.bsky.social at 19:00hrs to look for Night Heron - 2 flew over at 20:00. Barn Owl then gave eventual close views. On way home to Martock I stopped along Nythe Rd to listen out for Quail - 1 heard.

Could someone who is more au fait with Blue Sky advise me how to turn off reposts from someone please? I don’t want to stop following this person but am getting fed up with non-birding reposts. I came on here to avoid all the crap that comes now with Twitter/X - but now I’m getting reposts about 💩

Used to seeing plastic ducks at Ninesprings in Yeovil, Sutton Bingham Res, or even Hawkridge Res - but was surprised to flush a pair of Mandarin off the small stream running thru Hodder’s Combe this am. Eventually they did what arboreal ducks should do and flew up and perched high in a tree !

First Swift back over Martock church this morning - a welcome sight #somersetbirding

Many thanks to @akers_pete for the ‘phone call to say the Wet Moor White Stork had just flown in. Apparently it is confirmed as unringed - so a new addition to my 2025 SOS recording area list. A long way away in heat haze ‘phone scoped - but you get the jizz #notaKneppstork

What started out as a good birding day in a couple of the quieter parts of the SOS recording area with @Northmoorbirder later went downhill when encountering the Easter school-hols crowds. Added Barnacle Goose & Little Owl to the SOS area year-list. Gammy knee stopped play early

2 Bewick’s found by Nigel Smith still present on Wet Moor but distant. Also male Hen Harrier thru’. Of 35 Common Cranes ‘scoped, 7 with no bling attached incl 2 full adults.

Poor quality phone’scoped video - but you get the jizz of trying to do the monthly BTO WeBS count with @northmoorbirder in blooming cold weather at the Huntspill seawall

Black-tailed Godwits seem to have been somewhat scarce this winter around the Somerset Levels. A flock of 87 this morning with good numbers of Golden Plover (150+) and Lapwing (500+) in the flooded field adjacent to Long Load bridge was good to find. Also 1 Ruff & 20+ Dunlin too

Hi Brian - can you still access the screen with walking boots since last nights rain, or are wellies needed now please ? Cheers

Male Ring-necked Duck at Catcott Lows

Blowing a hooley, but just had a Barn Owl blow thru' above my head whilst in the car-park at Greylake. Wtf is it, and me doing out in a morning like this !!

Not really sure I’ve got the hang of this Bluesky thingy yet ! Keep forgetting I’ve got an account (age thingy)! Took daughter’s dog to Weymouth today for a cold sea swim - she genuinely didn’t like having a coat on afterwards !! This is definitely not her happy face 🙄

WeBS this morning at Huntspill sea-wall, best birds: 2 Whimbrel, 9 Common Scoter, female Peregrine & 6/7 Swallows

Been in Martock just over 3 years now and just had 2 new species for the garden today. A pair of Stock Doves visited the ground feeder. 7 Siskin were in and gone in 30 seconds.

Nice to see an close SEO hunting near Catcott Lows hide today - my first one away from the Somerset littoral for some time