Out For A Jolly. 2; Lots Of Birds

Note: Despite this being still a catchup, we shift into 2019 again. Sense? Order? Come on...


In which I tart off up to Zumerzet.
I nearly went up on the 1st, but a Tawny Owl had other ideas.

[[What could have happened if a nocturnal Crow had gotten vocal is a matter for an alternate timeline. Probably we've all been zapped by alien invaders by now...]]


I managed to get to the Corner before dawn, and was rewarded with a sky literally full of Starlings. I kid not; horizon to horizon birds coming over. And this is the Levels, where that's serious!
So serious that I just stood and was suitably awed. [Not that my Bleep!ing camera would have behaved...]

Onwards around and about Avalon [as far as Noah's anyway], where a few birds were to be seen. The now-inevitable [and how brilliant is that?] Great White Egrets were around in numbers - at least 11 and probably more - and Marsh Harriers also came by frequently - at least 7 if not 9 - though Bitterns were thin on the ground. This is not unexpected at this time of year, or course. I'll be back :) Bearded Tits were present but elusive, Cetti's present and noisy, and while the Whooper Swan reported on Noah's was AWOL, there were a few birds on there.

Pictures;

More like a painting than a photo

I really like this, despite cursing my camera at the time for the usual 'I won't focus on anything so nyaaa' routine.

I was aiming at the egret, but these three

trolling by in line ahead just

had to be included

Always amusing

"I'm a Cattle Egret, really!"

Tough to be a fish on Avalon..

..Really tough.

A few ducks on Noah's

Mostly Wigeon

"Boo!"

Mrs. Marshie

Landing gear down

Mr. Marshie

Actually not a Buzzard!

Ditto!

Also present;

Looks like a parasol sp., but dark gills
so I'm stumped

Oysterling

Birch Polypore

Elsewhere on the Levels, a horde of Cattle Egrets picked a very inconvenient spot to lurk with cattle..

White blobs

Are this, honest.

Up to the windbowl that is Cheddar Res., where a few good ducks were verrrrry far apart. Also, lots of Coot [shock]

Slice of Mendips

Scaup

1w male

Red-crested Pochard

This is how you show, people

Then it was back south again, to make the yomp up the Mump.
Oh yes.

The Mump.

[Beware of the Sheep*]

The swans are out there...

Two Bewick's plus a Mute

Really. 

[Far back centre of above picture]

Two Whooper [right] meet 2 Mute.

Honest. 

[Rear right - to left of small copse - in top picture]

Before you get too humourous, note the comparative sizes, whiteness, and especially tails. You can also see the odd critical yellow pixels in there. Really.


A little further on, I took a swift stop to note this;

The Isle of Athelney.

[Alfred Monument on the left]

A lot smaller than you'd expect, but then a secret base amongst the reeds wouldn't be Mump-sized, would it?

It was a good day.


Be Seeing You...





[[*They've definitely seen 'Black Sheep'. Be duly warned...]]