Into Somerset and South Gloucestershire :: 31 January 2026

Kev @kev07713 and I were weighing up our options for Saturday when we decided on another trip down into Somerset, hoping to finally catch up with the Kentish plover we’d recently missed. There were two clear bonuses to the plan: it would give us the chance to meet up with Karen @hobbylovinglife and Dean @worlebirder, who were also thinking of heading there first thing, and there were several other quality birds in the area that would make the journey worthwhile.

The Kentish plover currently frequenting Burnham-on-Sea has become one of the most remarkable coastal birds in Britain in recent years. Now a scarce and often fleeting visitor to the UK, this individual has defied expectations by returning to the same stretch of Somerset coast winter after winter.

Once a breeding species in southern England, the Kentish plover disappeared as a UK breeding species by the late 1970s, largely due to habitat loss and disturbance. Today it is classed as a rare migrant, with most records involving single birds that stay only briefly. Against that backdrop, the Burnham-on-Sea bird stands out as truly exceptional.

First recorded there in the winter of 2019–20, it settled among the regular wader flocks on the beach and adjacent mudflats, often associating with ringed plover. Rather than moving on, it remained for extended periods, allowing prolonged views and a chance to become familiar with its behaviour and changing plumage. Even more remarkably, it returned in subsequent winters, showing clear site fidelity to Burnham-on-Sea. The story gained wider significance when tracking work later confirmed its continental origins, linking this modest Somerset shoreline with breeding grounds in northern Europe.

We made an early start, arriving on the esplanade shortly after dawn to give ourselves the best possible chance. The conditions weren’t ideal - the tide was falling (high tide at 5.17am, low at 11.51am) and dog walkers were already on the beach - but we were keen to be in position early. We’d skipped breakfast, planning instead to meet Karen and Dean for food once we were done at Burnham.

I pulled up outside the café on the esplanade - Kev and I unloaded our gear. It quickly became apparent that this stretch of parking might incur charges, whereas just 50 metres down the road it was clearly signed as free between October and March, so I moved the car while Kev set up and began scanning the area where the Kentish plover had most recently been reported. By the time I returned he already had the bird, and I jumped onto his scope for a look, just in case. It was only just visible through binoculars, but soon I had it in my own scope and noticed a small group of ringed plovers off to the left, all alert and occasionally preening. There was still little light, but I took a few insurance shots.

Some time later Karen and Dean arrived, delayed by the need to drop Dean’s car and keys at the garage for repairs, and by a stop for breakfast en route. Once the café opened, Kev went in and emerged with sausage baps, which we ate while continuing to watch the bird and scan the beach and Stert Island. On the island a peregrine was devouring what must have been a recently caught bird, while off the point there were large numbers of shelduck and dozens of curlews. A flock of wigeon whirled in and settled on the water, and increasing numbers of grey plover appeared in the distance. The light gradually improved as the sun briefly broke through, although its low angle made it rather harsh on the bird.

Karen wandered off to see if she could get a better angle, and when she returned we discussed our next move. A red-necked grebe at Cheddar Reservoir seemed the obvious choice. Red-necked grebes are migratory waterbirds that breed on northern freshwater lakes and wetlands across much of northern Europe and Asia, moving south in winter. In the UK they are scarce winter visitors and passage migrants, most often recorded along sheltered coastlines between October and March, but they do occasionally turn up on large inland waters, particularly after periods of unsettled weather.

The subspecies most frequently encountered in Britain is the European form, Podiceps grisegena grisegena. Birds of this subspecies breed across northern and eastern Europe and into central Asia, migrating to wintering areas that include the north-west European seaboard. Another subspecies is Podiceps grisegena holbollii, which breeds in North America, Alaska and eastern Siberia and is exceptionally rare in Britain, with only a handful of confirmed records.

There has been some discussion surrounding the Cheddar bird, particularly regarding bill length in comparison with the typical European form, but identification of the American (Holbøll’s) subspecies would require biometric measurements or DNA evidence before it could be considered by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC).

We followed Dean and Karen down to the car park at the end of the reservoir where the grebe had been reported earlier, then climbed up onto the perimeter path, immediately linking up with Dean who already had the bird in his scope. The light was good from this vantage point, but the grebe was at extreme range. I took a quick record shot before following Karen around to the edge, where we would be as close as we could get - Kev and Dean stayed put as they were taking video through their scopes.

The light flanks seem to suggest this bird may not be holboellii - they tend to be darker overall, particularly on the flanks that are often the same or a similar colour as on their back - within the grisegena subspecies, bill length varies normally between individuals and some birds simply sit at the longer-billed end of the distribution. Juveniles also often have proportionally slimmer, sometimes seemingly longer bills compared to head size, which can give a “long-beaked” impression even if absolute length isn’t greater. There is an interesting article on the species here.

The bird was closer now, but largely in silhouette with the brighter light behind it. The priority was to study it carefully through the scope while also trying to salvage the best photographs possible from the conditions. Gradually the grebe began to drift closer and hopes rose of improved views, with Kev, Dean and a few other birders now having joined us. Those hopes were quickly dashed when a paddleboarder passed through, pushing the birds away from the shoreline, and our grebe eventually resumed feeding at distance. As if to mirror the turn of events, rain (tears) began to fall. When it eased slightly, I picked up a black-necked grebe on the far side of the reservoir, which Kev also managed to locate. The red-crested pochards previously reported appeared to have departed, but we did see a pair of goosanders before they too moved on.

Dean and Karen decided to walk round to look for the black-necked grebes, but Kev and I didn’t feel the need for better views, having enjoyed excellent ones at Staines Reservoir recently. After saying our goodbyes, we jumped back in the car and headed for RSPB Ham Wall, where a pair of ring-necked ducks had been reported. Initially a single drake had been present from 19 November, with numbers increasing to two drakes by 13 December. The ducks were on a small pit east of Allotment Drove at Sharpham, and when we arrived to check the area, it dawned on us that this was the same spot where we had seen a Squacco heron back in October 2023. (blog post here).

Ring-necked ducks in the UK are rare but increasingly regular vagrants from North America, with multiple records each year. They’re considered a scarce migrant/scarce visitor, and while their status isn’t as unpredictable as it once was, they still attract interest when found because of their origins and relatively low numbers here - typically there are around 10 or more individuals recorded annually, though totals can be higher in some years. Although called “ring-necked”, the neck ring is subtle; the white bill rings are usually the most reliable field feature.

We checked the pit where the ducks had last been reported and bumped into another birder, a friend of Dean and Karen, who had apparently spotted us as we left Burnham-on-Sea. After a brief chat we split up to search in opposite directions: he headed back towards the original pit, reasoning that the birds often tuck themselves in among the reeds along the water’s edge, while we made for the larger body of water where the Squacco heron had been. Kev set up his scope and, as he raised it, the two drakes were already in view. He asked if I fancied another year tick and I took a look. The birds drifted closer together before swimming off towards the reed edge, where they began diving and feeding along the margins, the stems twitching as they worked their way through underwater and bubbles breaking the surface above them.

We could see siskins flitting in the trees overhead, marsh harriers drifting through, and caught a brief glimpse of a Cetti’s warbler before wandering down the track, where we encountered over 80 mute swans and a group of agitated long-tailed tits in a small tree. As Kev approached, he noted that a bird had dropped out and appeared to be a sparrowhawk, the likely cause of the tits’ alarm. Within a couple of minutes, Kev spotted it fanning its tail in a distant tree, presumably drying its feathers after the recent rain.

Before we packed up, a flock of geese flew through. While I was still watching the sparrowhawk, Kev looked up and spotted a white-fronted goose among them. I raised my camera and took a shot of the flock, counting around 60 birds, all Russian white-fronted geese.

It was time to start heading home, but on the way we made a detour to Oldbury Power Station, where my wife Charlotte and I had seen black redstarts at the end of October last year (report here). We made our way around to the compounds where I have seen these birds previously. After about five minutes, I spotted a female flick up into the sky before dropping from view. I continued scanning and soon saw it again at the base of some railings, only for it to disappear once more. Kev scanned the area but drew a blank, so I took over the scope to focus precisely where I had last seen it. Within a minute, it popped up, and I was able to share it with Kev.

We decided to move onto the track along the estuary wall, hoping for a better view into the compound. Despite a thorough search, we came up empty-handed. Kev returned towards the spot we had watched from earlier, and as he reached the corner to leave the track and climb the slope, he spotted the redstart on the ground between two trailers. He called me over, and I arrived in time to watch it hopping forward, still at a distance. Kev moved on, and as I waited, the bird hopped onto a traffic cone, perching there for a couple of minutes before being flushed by a stonechat and disappearing from view. I returned to join Kev, but we couldn’t relocate it.

It was definitely time to head home, so we returned to the car, stopping briefly in the orchard along the way. There, we spotted a couple of jays, two green woodpeckers, a great spotted woodpecker, fieldfares, redwings, a goldcrest, and a mix of tits and finches. Kev also heard some siskins, though we never managed to locate them.

Another great day out, and it was wonderful to catch up with Karen and Dean again.

Year list: 153.

Somerset day out :: 08 March 2025

A 5.00am departure saw Kev and I heading southwest to Burnham-on-Sea (affectionately referred to as Burnham-on-Mud) to meet up with his sister Karen and her partner Dean. This would be the first of a few stops around Somerset to see a few 'nice' birds in the same area. Up to now the Kentish has been showing well early and on a rising high tide. Recently though this behaviour has changed a little - views have been good generally from first light until about 9.00am.

The Kentish plover is now primarily a passage migrant and winter visitor in the UK but formerly bred, particularly along the coasts of East Anglia and Kent. It became extinct as a breeding species in the country in the mid-20th century. It is more now more commonly found in southern Europe, Africa, and Asia during the colder months.

It is a small plover with pale sandy brown upperparts, white underparts, and a distinctive black bill. During the breeding season, males have a black band on the forehead and around the neck - females and non-breeding birds are duller with less contrast. They still breed in continental Europe, particularly in France and Spain, where conservation efforts have helped protect their populations.

The Kentish plover has been a notable visitor to Burnham-on-Sea in recent years, usually seen between late December and early March. Sightings are typically reported near the Burnham-On-Sea Coastguard station, along the esplanade, and on Stert Island. Early mornings and/or around high tide are usually recommended, as the bird may come closer to the shore before human activity increases.

This individual was first ringed at a nature reserve in northern Germany on June 14, 2021, as an adult female. The German population of Kentish plovers typically migrates to Spain, Portugal, or Africa for the winter. However, this bird has been wintering at Burnham-on-Sea over multiple years, first seen on December 26, 2019, and returning in subsequent winters.

Enroute we had a call from Karen to say they had arrived before 6.30am and were already on the bird and checking how far out we were. We arrived to find Karen and Dean on the esplanade with a couple of other birders, the Kentish still resting on the beach with numbers of both ringed plovers and dunlins. Kev and I joined them and within a minute were on the bird - not tricky as it was still essentially roosting, but not asleep - head up, not tucked under the wing.

The ringed plovers were particularly motionless whereas the dunlin started moving around feeding. After twenty minutes or so the Kentish followed suit and started scurrying around, stopping to preen and pause.

Rays from the sun started to extend over the buildings and wall of the esplanade, crawling closer and closer to the plovers and dunlins. We waited to see the birds bathed in sunlight before deciding what we'd do next - breakfast, as we'd all come out and directly to the site to ensure we'd connect with the bird - it was still just a little after 8.00am.

We had breakfast just outside Bridgwater and then made for WWT Steart Marshes where two little ringed plovers had been reported the day before. Unlike ringed plovers which prefer coastal habitats, the little ringed plover is more commonly seen in inland areas, particularly around gravel pits, reservoirs and riverbanks. Our bird had arrived on cue - usual arrival in March from Africa where it winters to breed, and then departing in September.

We headed toward the viewing screen, spotting a linnet, several pied wagtails, and a reed bunting along the way. Karen and I reached the screen first, and I began scanning with the scope, hoping to pick up the little ringed plovers. My search turned up my season’s first skylarks, followed by a pintail sleeping among the ducks near the water’s edge. The water itself was teeming with wigeon and teal, while 21 avocets fed.

Before long, I spotted one of the little ringed plovers and quickly shared its location with the others. With little else of note - aside from a small flock of linnets passing through, and a skylark briefly mimicking the stance of a wheatear - we made our way back to the car. On the way, we paused to watch a Cetti’s warbler as it called a couple of times and moved to a new perch.

Next stop was Monkton Heathfield where a rose-coloured starling had been reported around the rear of someone's back garden and in the tall trees around the park beyond. Karen and Dean had visited the previous weekend, and Karen had some rather stunning photographs.

The rose-coloured starling, also known as the rosy starling, is a rare but increasingly frequent visitor to the UK, especially during the summer and autumn, though occasional winter records exist. It breeds in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, moving to India and the Middle East in winter - the increase in UK records is likely related to climate change and shifting migration patterns.

Its size is similar to our native starling with adult males in breeding plumage sporting a striking pink body with glossy black head, wings, and tail, and a long, slightly curved pale bill. Females and juveniles have buff-brown plumage, making them harder to distinguish from young native starlings.

The bird spotted in Monkton Heathfield has been identified as a first-winter male, based on its plumage and bill colouration; it has been seen both perched in trees and hiding in brambles.

We took our positions and began scanning the treetops and nearby gardens. Between us stood a dense wall of brambles - the bird’s chosen hiding spot. Inside, a group of starlings called persistently, their chatter competing with the house sparrows that flitted between the garden, brambles, and surrounding trees.

We soon learned that the bird had made a brief appearance just five minutes before we arrived - typical luck - before vanishing back into the brambles. And there, we assumed, it remained for well over an hour until Dean finally spotted it emerging, perching on a branch for only a few seconds before dropping out of sight again. I managed to catch sight of it just as it flew down.

Determined to relocate it, we resumed scanning the brambles. Against the odds, someone managed to pick it out, though it was heavily obscured by stems and tangled foliage. After seeing it through my binoculars, I attempted a photograph, relying on manual focus since the autofocus struggled with the dense cover. I managed to capture something, and as the bird appeared settled, often closing its eyes, we decided to move on in search of another target: a yellow-browed Warbler. Having somehow avoided seeing one in 2024, this was the perfect chance to add it to my year list.

The yellow-browed warbler is a brightly marked warbler that is a regular autumn migrant in the UK, most commonly seen between September and November, with peak numbers in October. They are found in wooded areas, coastal scrub, and parks, especially those with sycamores, willows, or ivy-covered trees. It breeds in Siberia and parts of northern Asia, migrating to Southeast Asia for winter. UK birds are mostly vagrants, blown off course by strong easterly winds in autumn.

They are tiny, not dissimilar to a goldcrest but with greenish upperparts, pale underparts, and distinct yellow eyebrow (supercilium) and two pale wing bars. Numbers in the UK have increased significantly in recent decades. More birds are now overwintering, possibly due to climate change and milder winters.

We arrived on the road leading to Wells Sewage Treatment Works (STW) in Somerset, where the yellow-browed warbler had been reported since 28 February. Karen and Dean had tried for it the previous weekend but had no luck. This time, after speaking with friends, they had a better idea of where to look.

As we approached the area, we met another birder also searching for the warbler, and he joined us as we walked further along the track toward the most likely spot. Within minutes, we found the bird, actively feeding alongside a goldcrest and calling. It was quite distant, making photography seem unlikely, but we gave it a go. It remained in the same area, foraging on the right-hand side of a tree, and its calls reassured us it was still present. A fantastic bird to watch and a great addition to the year list.

I’d been battling a cold all day, and by 3:45 pm, it was time to call it a day and head home. The journey took around 2 hours and 45 minutes, but it had been a fantastic outing, well worth the effort.

Year list: 134.

RSPB Greylake & Burnham-on-Sea :: 14 December 2024

A Baikal teal has been recorded at RSPB Greylake multiple times, notably starting in December 2021, when it was first identified there and was significant as it was the first for Somerset. The teal remained intermittently visible through early 2022, with confirmed sightings into March before departing.

The bird returned in late December 2023 and has continued to be observed into 2024. Its appearances at Greylake coincide with large influxes of other waterfowl, often associating with teal flocks. This rare duck, native to eastern Siberia, is a prized sighting in the UK as it typically migrates to East Asia during the winter. Its appearance at Greylake highlights the significance of wetland reserves in providing vital habitats for migratory species, especially amid changing environmental conditions.

RSPB Greylake is a prominent nature reserve in Somerset, managed by the RSPB, situated in the Somerset Levels, a low-lying region known for its wetlands, and is especially renowned for its role in conserving habitats for wetland and migratory bird species - known for hosting large flocks of ducks, geese, cranes, waders, including teal, wigeon, and the occasional rarity. Birds of prey such as merlin, marsh and hen harriers, and peregrine falcons are frequently seen hunting over the wetlands.

The Baikal teal is admired for its striking plumage, particularly the male's vivid green, black, and white facial pattern. Nesting in Siberian wetlands, often near rivers and lakes, they are highly migratory, wintering in East Asia, particularly in Korea, Japan, and China. Occasionally, it strays as a vagrant to Europe, including rare sightings in the UK; historical and modern records suggest there have been fewer than 10 confirmed sightings in Britain, although some older records were initially dismissed due to concerns about birds escaping from captivity.

It is almost a year since I visited at the end of December 2023 to see this striking duck - it was a cold period, and sheltered pools were iced over - an account here. Today was scheduled to be dry and warmer.

We stopped on the way, meeting Kev's sister Karen @hobbylovinglife and her partner Dean @worlebirder for breakfast and a chat. We then followed Dean to RSPB Greylake, geared up, and made our way to the Treehouse Hide, where the bird had been reported. Along the way, we heard Cetti’s warblers and water rails and spotted a kestrel, lapwings, a flock of golden plovers in flight, and reed buntings. Although there were fewer people than expected, seating was still limited, so we had to view the area through open windows and gaps between seated birders.

Within minutes, a barn owl was spotted in the distance. It glided across the reeds, hunting methodically, before eventually diving down, seeming to come up empty before vanished from view.

We returned to searching for the Baikal teal in amongst the large numbers of teal and wigeon - no one had yet laid eyes on it. A cattle egret flew through and a great white egret followed suit.

The Baikal teal typically feeds in shallow waters, foraging for seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates. However, when one of the birders located it, the bird was asleep and quite difficult to spot, despite receiving directions. After a few minutes, it turned briefly, giving us a quick view before tucking its head back under its wing and returning to sleep. The light was still limited.

We waited patiently, and eventually, the sun broke through, bringing out more vibrant colours. Although the bird made occasional appearances, it spent most of the time asleep - clearly behaving like a teenager ...

As we discussed the merlins that had been seen frequently in recent weeks - merlins, the UK’s smallest falcons, have been recorded at RSPB Greylake this winter, with a female being a regular sighting - overhead and in front, marsh harriers patrolled the area. One of the birders, scanning with his scope, spotted the merlin far off to our left, perched on a fence. It briefly interacted with a crow sitting to its right before returning to the fence, where it paused for a minute or two. Eventually, it took flight, soaring high and to the right, landing in a tree. After perching there for five minutes, it moved further to the right, settling into another, more distant tree, before finally disappearing from view.

Five common crane flew through followed by another two at further distance. We waited to see if we'd get more views of the teal, but the sun drew back behind the clouds and there were no better views or photos.

Time was moving on and we saw that the Kentish plover had been reported at Burnham-on-Sea - the longer we stayed, the more difficult it would be to see our bird - as the tide retreated the waders would likely relocate to Stert Island. As we arrived, we noticed a birder nearby, but he headed down to the opposite end of the beach. Since the earlier sighting had reportedly been at the south end of the esplanade, we decided to head there. A couple of ravens occasionally flew by, calling together or separately, but we couldn’t spot the Kentish plover among the distant dunlin and ringed plovers on the far shore. A few other birders were packing up, having seen it earlier on the far shore of Stert Island. While avocets, black- and bar-tailed godwits, grey plovers, curlews, and more were visible, we didn’t manage to confirm a sighting of the Kentish plover.

Eventually, we decided to have lunch at the café further down the esplanade. After about 45 minutes, we heard that someone had spotted the bird again - on Stert Island once more. We strolled back down, only to find no one else searching, so we resumed our vigil. Curious passersby stopped to ask what we were looking for, and we explained the details of the bird, now returning for its third year. Finally, Kev spotted it, and I quickly got it in view through the scope, just before it ran to the left and disappeared again. Unfortunately, it wasn’t seen after that. Not the most fulfilling of ticks.

A bird was floating by at mid-distance to the island and it was called as a shag, apparently quite unusual for this stretch of the coast.

It would take more than a couple of hours to get home and so we packed up and set off for home - as we left a boat being rowed near to shore

Year list 249.