Steart,
13th January 2007

We went to Steart, to visit the Bridgwater Bay National Nature Reserve. Twelve people wasn’t a bad turn-out, considering the cold weather. To start with, there were a few birds in the car park: Goldfinch, Robin, Linnet and House Sparrows, plus some Redshanks flying over.

We set off by walking along the side of a field, towards the sea. They said there was a Merlin perch, but there was no bird there today. The tide was a long way out, Curlew and Ringed Plover were on the beach, and there were large flocks of Dunlin dancing in the air. Further along the path towards Steart Point, there was a flurry of excitement when someone saw a Dartford Warbler. The view from the Tower Hide was fantastic, looking out across the bay and Parrett estuary. Several of us stopped there for lunch. We had a Peregrine on the grass and Reed Bunting in the hedge.

In the afternoon, a few of us went a different way, and unfortunately did not see the Little Owl - serves us right! Then we drove back down the road to another car park. We walked along the beach and saw a raft of Common Scoter in the bay, as well as Turnstones on the beach. Then it was time to leave. The natives were getting restless (there was a shot in the next field). And it was getting cold.

No. species: 56 seen

Sue Thompson

Birds seen, in BOU order or alphabetic order

BOU order

Mute Swan

Brent Goose

Shelduck

Wigeon

Mallard

Common Scoter

Red-breasted Merganser

Pheasant

Little Grebe

Cormorant

Little Egret

Sparrowhawk

Buzzard

Kestrel

Peregrine

Moorhen

Ringed Plover

Grey Plover

Lapwing

Knot

Sanderling

Dunlin

Snipe

Bar-tailed Godwit

Curlew

Redshank

Turnstone

Black-headed Gull

Common Gull

Herring Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Wood Pigeon

Collared Dove

Little Owl

Meadow Pipit

Pied Wagtail

Wren

Dunnock

Robin

Stonechat

Blackbird

Fieldfare

Song Thrush

Redwing

Cetti’s Warbler

Dartford Warbler

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Starling

House Sparrow

Chaffinch

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Reed Bunting

Alphabetic order