Second post of the year and what a start to the year it’s been! The warden team have been getting back into the swing of things and are back outside managing the hedge on Red Hill situated behind the farm at West Sedgemoor and the hedge along the south drove has been started on, clearing the bramble and the rose so there is plenty of area for laying the bigger trees in the coming weeks. Last week we were joined by the Ham Wall volunteer team who came down to the farm and they made a grand effort in starting the hedge with us so huge thanks to them.
The wildlife here at West Sedgemoor are growing in numbers and the feedback from our duck walks is remarkable. I cannot recommend signing up to one of these walks enough so go to our website and get your name down! Marsh harrier, peregrine, kestrel, egrets and more have been seen daily on the site, and so many ducks! Duck numbers are huge on the levels at the moment, with thousands of teal, wigeon, shoveler, mallard, and a few pintail all looking extraordinary on the water. Complete with the spectacular views of lapwing, golden plover and a dunlin or two.
Reed bunting – Annie Pickering
Despite the cold and wet weather we’ve been having lately, it’s certainly worth your while heading to greylake and seeing what’s hunkering down there. Marsh harriers, peregrines and sparrowhawks have been spotted sitting on fence posts around the reserve, now and again setting up all the birds and then returning to their fence or pylon. Cettis have been heard singing near the hide, water rail have been spotted in their usual place in the coppice area, and Great white egret, little egret and grey heron have been flying around the edges of the reserve. Wigeon, teal, mallard, gadwall, shoveler and pintail are all on full view, perfect subjects for photographing, which is exactly what us residential volunteers did last weekend. We managed to get some fantastic shots of the green-winged teal which happily posed for us in front of the hide.
Green-winged teal - Annie Pickering
Black-tailed godwit - Annie Pickering
Teal - Annie Pickering
Please note Greylake is due to be closed on Monday 29th because of tree work around the carpark.
Are you interested in volunteering to help wildlife in the Somerset Levels? Then please check out our advert below.
We look forward to hearing about your sightings from Greylake!
Annie P.
And I’ll finish with this very picturesque photo of resting teal at Greylake taken by Richard archer.
Richard archer – resting teal