As we didn’t get out at all the day before, due to the wet weather, we decided to have a trip down to Somerset. It was a murky start to the day but quite mild for November.

We started at WWT Steart Marshes and went in search of spoonbills which had been reported. The tide on the River Parrett was very low which didn’t push lots of interesting waders up on to the marshes but we were able to walk along the banks of the river and saw plenty of grey herons, little egrets, gulls and a few redshank. It was very grey but quite atmospheric.

The River Parrett looking towards the sea.

The River Parrett looking towards Bridgwater.

From along this path we could see the pool behind the Quantock Hide. There were three spoonbills but they were not being very cooperative and were hiding their spoon bills.

Spoonbills

Throughout the reserve their were large flocks of birds such as wood pigeon, linnets, goldfinch, starling, and lapwings but with the poor light they were not easy to photograph.

However, every now and again it was a little brighter and I did manage some shots of individual birds (and other animals).

Pied wagtail
 Linnets

Chaffinch

Reed bunting

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Pied wagtail

Pintail

Grey heron with shipwreck

Lapwing on the River Parrett

On the way home we called in at Westhay Moor Nature Reserve in the hope of seeing bearded tit but we had no luck and the best we saw was a great white egret and great-crested grebe.

Gadwall

From the hides we did get lovely views of the Somerset Levels/

In the fields all around we saw lots of little egret, grey heron, buzzards and masses of starlings.

Little egret

Grey heron

Grey heron

Buzzard

Buzzard

And starlings everywhere

It probably would have been a great evening to see murmurations of starlings but by this time we had had enough and were glad to make our way home.

Click below for gallery of today’s photos: