Somerset Rares

Taking advantage of some free time between work commitments in North Somerset provided an opportunity to catch up with a couple of local scarcities.

While visible from our base near Bridgwater, Hinkley Power Station provides a formidable view over the estuary but actually takes half an hour to drive to as the road winds round the coastline. Not far from there at Stolford, a small group of cirl bunting had been coming to seed along the coastal path just east of the car park. The weather was a bit grim, but thankfully the rain had relented a little by the time I had arrived. 

It didn't take long to connect with the male, such lovely birds. 

Later on in the day at Burnham-on-Sea and shortly before high-tide, the female kentish plover was eventually found associating with a group of around 20 ringed plover.

A couple of visits to Greylake RSPB reserve failed to produce the elusive Baikal teal but the consolation of thousands of wildfowl, a stunning grey hen harrier and four crane more than made up for it.