Full-day visit to Steart Marshes

A cool breeze met us at Steart Marshes but it was a day full of promise. While our party of eleven was still in the car park we saw a distant great white egret and a quartering marsh harrier, and at the other end of the scale there were several goldfinches flitting around.

We walked towards the first hide in the sunshine with many wild flowers by the path, and bird song filled the air. A swift flew by and a wren was singing, rather unexpectedly, from the bottom rung of a pylon. At the Quantock hide we saw quite a few avocet families with chicks of varying ages, and also a pair of oystercatchers with young. There were also a few little ringed plover nests but unfortunately, while we were watching, a kestrel swooped in and took one of the chicks.

As we walked around we sighted several reed buntings perched on the tops of reeds, being really buffeted by the strong wind. We also saw two hares chasing around. There were many skylarks singing as we walked along by the estuary and several different butterflies. To our amazement a cuckoo flew past, and later a rather pale yellow wagtail. We had our lunch in the Parrett hide while watching the hares again and a further flypast by the cuckoo.

We then drove further down the road to some smaller pools, one with a coot family and young. Despite the now very strong wind a very smart little grebe was seen and several yellow wagtails flew past.

A very enjoyable day in a lovely place which was new to several of us. Thanks to Richard for arranging it.

Melanie Parker

35 bird species recorded: Canada Goose; Mute Swan; Shelduck; Mallard; Swift; Cuckoo; Wood Pigeon; Moorhen; Coot; Little Grebe; Oystercatcher; Avocet; Little Ringed Plover; Herring Gull; Grey Heron; Great White Egret; Little Egret; Marsh Harrier; Buzzard; Kestrel; Magpie; Carrion Crow; Skylark; Swallow; Whitethroat (H); Wren; Starling; Blackbird; Stonechat; House Sparrow; Yellow Wagtail; Pied Wagtail; Linnet; Goldfinch; Reed Bunting. H – heard only