Somerset Levels

From a birding perspective, the Somerset Levels concentrate mostly on the Avalon Marshes, which contains the following nature reserves : Catcott Complex, Shapwick Moor, Shapwick Heath and Ham Wall. A bit further to the north-east of the Avalon Marshes is Westhay Moor.

Since I suspect that I’ll be paying these sites a visit on more than one occasion, I thought I’d start recording what I’ve seen where and when. A first, otherwise undocumented, visit was on 10 March 2013, with a sighting of a pochardB in Shapwick Heath and a mute swanB in an undocumented location.

For fuller details of subsequent visits, see below :

For more info on the various nature reserves, see the Avalon Marshes website.

Note: (B) part of an existing blog – (NB) not part of an existing blog
 

BlackcapNB

Blackcap Sightings:
20 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

Black-headed Gull

No Image Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

Black-tailed GodwitB

Black-tailed Godwit Sightings:
17 May 2018 (Shapwick Heath)
Blog entries:
22 March 2021

Blue TitB

Blue Tit Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Shapwick Moor)
23 February 2020 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
3 November 2017

Canada GooseB

Canada Goose Sightings:
17 May 2018 (Westhay Moor), 2 April 2022 (Catcott Lows), 18 April 2023 (Westhay Moor)
Blog entries:
8 July 2018
8 May 2023

Carrion CrowB

Carrion Crow Sightings:
17 May 2018 (Westhay Moor), 2 April 2022 (Ham Wall), 19 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
7 April 2023

Cattle EgretB

Cattle Egret Sightings:
2 April 2022 (Godney)
Blog entries:
23 May 2022

Cetti’s WarblerB

Cetti's Warbler Sightings:
17 May 2018 (Ham Wall), 18 April 2023 (Westhay Moor)
Blog entries:
30 May 2018

ChaffinchB

Chaffinch Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Shapwick Moor), 1 April 2022 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
19 May 2020
28 July 2023

ChiffchaffB

Chiffchaff Sightings:
23 February 2020 (Shapwick Heath), 1 April 2022 (Shapwick Heath, Ham Wall), 19 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
4 May 2020
1 July 2022

CootB

Coot Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Shapwick Moor, Shapwick Heath)
Blog entries:
15 February 2018

CormorantB

Cormorant Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Ham Wall), 17 May 2018 (Ham Wall, Westhay Moor), 2 April 2022 (Catcott Lows)
Blog entries:
7 July 2022

DunnockB

Dunnock Sightings:
23 February 2020 (Ham Wall), 2 April (Ham Wall), 20 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
19 July 2022

GadwallB

Gadwall Sightings:
23 February 2020 (Ham Wall), 18 April 2023 (Westhay Moor)
Blog entries:
24 March 2020

GarganeyNB

Garganey Sightings:
20 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

Glossy IbisB

Glossy Ibis Sightings:
19 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
18 August 2023

GoldfinchB

Goldfinch Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Shapwick Moor), 23 February 2020 (Ham Wall), 2 April (Ham Wall), 19 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
9 November 2017

Great Crested GrebeB

Great Crested Grebe Sightings:
10 October 2016 (Westhay Moor), 17 May 2018 (Ham Wall, Shapwick Heath, Westhay Moor), 23 February 2020 (Shapwick Heath), 1 April 2022 (Ham Wall), 18 April 2023 (Westhay Moor)
Blog entries:
30 October 2018
4 May 2021
19 May 2022
29 September 2023

Great TitB

Great Tit Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Shapwick Moor), 23 February 2020 (Ham Wall), 19 April 2023 (Ham Wall), 20 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
11 May 2023

Great White EgretB

Great White Egret Sightings:
10 October 2016 (Westhay Moor), 11 October 2016 (Ham Wall, Shapwick Heath), 17 May 2018 (Ham Wall), 23 February 2020 (Shapwick Heath), 2 April 2022 (Catcott Lows), 18 April 2023 (Westhay Moor), 19 April 2023 (Ham Wall), 20 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
29 November 2016
24 January 2019
26 March 2021
24 April 2023

Grey HeronNB

Grey Heron Sightings:
11 October 16 (Ham Wall), 23 February 2020 (Ham Wall), 2 April (Catcott Lows), 19 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

Greylag GooseB

Greylag Goose Sightings:
2 April 2022 (Greylake RSPB)
Blog entries:
5 March 2023

KestrelB

Kestrel Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Shapwick Moor)
Blog entries:
9 May 2017

KingfisherB

Kingfisher Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Shapwick Moor, Shapwick Heath)
Blog entries:
28 November 2017

LapwingB

Lapwing Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Shapwick Heath), 23 February 2020 (Ham Wall), 2 April 2022 (Greylake RSPB)
Blog entries:
27 March 2020
21 March 2021
17 April 2023

Lesser Black-backed GullNB

Lesser Black-backed Gull Sightings:
1 April 2022 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

Little EgretB

Little Egret Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Shapwick Heath), 17 May 2018 (Ham Wall), 23 February 2020 (Ham Wall), 1 April 2022 (Ham Wall), 2 April (Greylake RSPB, Catcott Lows)
Blog entries:
13 February 2023

Little GrebeB

Little Grebe Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Ham Wall), 17 May 2018 (Ham Wall), 2 April 2022 (Catcott Lows)
Blog entries:
11 March 2017

Long-tailed TitNB

Long-tailed Tit Sightings:
2 April 2022 (Catcott Lows), 19 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

Mallard

No Image Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

Marsh HarrierB

Marsh Harrier Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Shapwick Moor, Ham Wall), 23 February 2020 (Ham Wall, Shapwick Heath), 19 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
9 January 2018
25 January 2021
6 October 2023

MoorhenNB

Moorhen Sightings:
2 April 2022 (Greylake RSPB), 20 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

Mute SwanB

Mute Swan Sightings:
10 March 2013 (exact location unknown), 10 October 2016 (Westhay Moor), 17 May 2018 (Shapwick Heath, 17-May-18 Westhay Moor), 23 February 2020 (Ham Wall), 2 April 2022 (Greylake RSPB), 18 April 2023 (Westhay Moor)
Blog entries:
12 January 2016
8 July 2018
13 April 2023
14 April 2023

PheasantB

Pheasant Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Shapwick Moor)
Blog entries:
22 October 2016

Pied WagtailNB

Pied Wagtail Sightings:
1 April 2022 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

PochardB

Pochard Sightings:
10 March 2013 (Shapwick Heath), 17 May 2018 (Ham Wall), 1 April 2022 (Ham Wall), 18 April 2023 (Westhay Moor), 19 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
4 February 2017
25 April 2019
10 August 2022

Red KiteNB

Red Kite Sightings:
1 April 2022 (Shapwick Heath), 20 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

RedshankNB

Redshank Sightings:
20 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

Reed BuntingB

Reed Bunting Sightings:
17 May 2018 (Ham Wall), 23 February 2020 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
17 July 2022

Reed WarblerB

Reed Warbler Sightings:
17 May 2018 (Westhay Moor)
Blog entries:
3 June 2018

RobinNB

Robin Sightings:
20 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

Sedge WarblerB

Sedge Warbler Sightings:
20 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
24 July 2023

ShovelerB

Shoveler Sightings:
23 February 2020 (Ham Wall), 1 April 2022 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
25 May 2020
12 May 2022

SnipeNB

Snipe Sightings:
2 April 2022 (Catcott Lows)
No blog entries

SparrowhawkB

Sparrowhawk Sightings:
2 April 2022 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
29 May 2023

StonechatNB

Stonechat Sightings:
23 February 2020 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

Tawny OwlB

Tawny Owl Sightings:
17 May 2018 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
15 July 2018

TealNB

Teal Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Shapwick Heath), 23 February 2020 (Ham Wall), 1 April 2022 (Ham Wall, Westhay Moor), 2 April 2022 (Greylake RSPB)
No blog entries

Tufted DuckB

Tufted Duck Sightings:
11 October 2016 (Ham Wall), 17 May 2018 (Ham Wall)
Blog entries:
29 January 2018
9 November 2020

WhitethroatNB

Whitethroat Sightings:
20 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

WigeonB

Wigeon Sightings:
23 February 2020 (Ham Wall); 2 April 2022 (Catcott Lows)
Blog entries:
4 December 2022

Willow WarblerNB

Willow Warbler Sightings:
19 April 2023 (Ham Wall)
No blog entries

WrenB

Wren Sightings:
23 February 2020 (Ham Wall), 2 April 2022 (Catcott Lows)
Blog entries:
30 July 2023
Note: (B) part of an existing blog – (NB) not part of an existing blog
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