15th March: First Godwits

We managed a few hours down at the Avalon Marshes today before the rain set in. Highlight of the morning was 4 Black-tailed Godwit on the drained lagoon at Shapwick, the first ones of the year there I believe. They didn't hang around long though, and flew off in the direction of Catcott. The lagoon is usually underwater during the winter but is drained in the spring to provide a muddy feeding place for migrant wading birds such as these. Black-tailed Godwits spend the winter mainly on the coasts of Western Europe, and move up to inland breeding sites in Northern Europe in the Spring, stopping to refuel and rest at sites like Shapwick. These birds are the 'vanguard' of the movement, and later in the spring, there should be a constant presence of Black-tailed Godwits (maybe up to 100 birds) and other waders stopping off on their journeys. The birds today were still in their drab brown winter plumage, soon though they will moult into an eye-catching orangey breeding garb. In all plumages they show a striking white bar on the upperwing in flight.

Black-tailed Godwits

5 Great White Egrets were also present on the scrape

Over at Ham Wall, none of the recent rarities were on show during our quick look, but some common finches showed well.

Male Chaffinch on the path

 A pair of Lesser Redpoll were feeding in the small drainage ditch alongside the main path, picking fallen Alder seeds from the surface of the water.

Lesser Redpoll