2nd - 3rd December

Carried on south to Somerset where on the 2nd I birded round Berrow Golf Course / Burnham-on-Sea / River Brue / Apex Park in the morning; highlights in the fine weather included several singing Cetti’s Warblers, many Stonechats and Chiffchaffs, a group of 13 Avocets roosting at high tide across on Steart Island (my first for ages!), a Sparrowhawk, a drake Goosander in Apex Park (apparently a good local record), 200+ Shelduck and a smart looking escapee Rosy-billed Pochard also in Apex Park (been present for a few years now).   In the afternoon we went over to Ham Wall RSPB on the levels where birds included good flight views of a Bittern (my first for years!), 5+ Marsh Harriers including a fine adult male, 2 Great White Egrets, a distant group of 30+ Cattle Egrets feeding round some cows, many singing Cetti’s Warblers, calling Water Rails and a flock of c25 Black-tailed Godwits.   Another nice, sunny, calm day on the 3rd and we birded north up the coast up to Brean Down but it was fairly quiet albeit pleasant with the highlights being a couple of Blackcaps (male and female) and a very brief Firecrest along the golf course in the afternoon.

Bittern

Stonechat

Rosy-billed Pochard

Coal Tit

Male Sparrowhawk on top of Brean Down (with The Millenium Stadium in the background)