RSPB: Greylake, and Ham Wall

So after keeping everything crossed after a nice Sunday, for a nice day off on Wednesday, it appeared the weather gods had been appeased, and the forecast remained as "sunny intervals" for all our regular haunts. I'd been perusing the interweb for inspiration of where to go, and decided on Greylake, not far from Ham Wall on the Somerset levels, in case it wasn't our cup of tea. Talking of tea, this is going to be quite long, so tea and biccies may be appropriate. And talking of food.... cumberland sausage in crusty rolls were created for consumption on arrival. Nom!!

It was a cold and frosty morning, and we tootled off for the hours drive just after 7, and en route, as the sun rose, I said that I hoped there were Magpies, as the ones along the roads were bathed in a gorgeous golden light. Anyway, enough rambling... There were numerous feeding trays spread around the car park. All were empty, and Mrs PB saw a sigh saying about trying to stop Scaly leg spreading amongst the bird population. In the car park we were greeted by a cacophonic celebration of the new day, Robins

Blue Tits

Sparras

Dunnock

And Jenny, all joining in

As we walked along the path onto the reserve proper, a distant Marsh Harrier cruised by

Shortly after, whilst we were still along the initial pathway, a large flock of Lapwing took to the air... not sure if the Marshie would have had that effect, or something more.... predatory... was to blame

We got to the hide, ad there were loads of ducks, Teal and Wigeon, at first glance, some feeding, some just dozing

Through one of the side windows, a Marsh Harrier drifted by... not sure if it was the same bird as earlier, but there was no mass exodus

When I was cropping and adjusting the brightness, LightRoom decided to pop some very odd colouration onto this image, so I thought I'd have a bash at black and white

Through the same window, over a chaps shoulder, I could see the reeds moving... imagine my delight when Mrs Beardie popped in to view.... my first one in yonks

The ducks were still loitering, looking lovely in the light

Several small skeins of Greylags came in to land.... some splashier than others!

There were a number of Shoveler about, and this was about the best shot I got

Flying across was a whizzy little silhouette, and it wasn't until I fiddled  with it, it turned into a Starling

We decided to move from the hide, to a nearby screen, and all of a sudden there was a bit of a kerfuffle in the reeds... guess who!

More Greylags came in, in greater numbers

This caught my eye... still not sure if it's plant, or a Dragonfly casing?!

There is a reed bed loop, but Mrs PB thought it might be a bit too quagmirey to walk through, so we headed back to the car park, to tootle on the 10 minute trip to Ham Wall, but in the car park, Great Tit

Goldfinch

Lollipop

An unfortunately scaly Chaffinch

Robin

And a final Great Tit, bade us farewell and bon voyage.

Before we left, away in the distance... I still can't decide between Marshie and Buzzard

I think, for a first visit, it was a nice place to go. A couple of weeks of not torrential rain will help, so the loop is more manageable, opening up access to the reed beds.

We trundled round to Ham Wall, to a car park full of Blue and Great Tits, and an elusive male Cahffinch

From Viewing Platform 1, a not quite ready to "get it on" Cormorant

Lady Shoveler

Colourful Mr Shoveler, who kept making short flights, between different ladeeeeees

As we crossed to go to Tor View Hide, from the screens we could see more Marshie action

Right across the far side of the lake, Mrs PB (aka Spotter McGurk) spied this Heron, and it wasn't until we got home, we spotted the nest building material

Much nearer, one of the most beautiful of ducks, male Gadwall

And looking at this old boy's white side patches.... he's ready to "Get It On"!! (not sure I've seen one with a white head before... according to one of my books, "birds from SE England and the continent may have white heads in spring")... certainly makes them even more striking

We went around the other screen, and were greeted by another striking bird.... and despite me backing up as far as I could, I still couldn't get it all in frame

So I took the teleconverter off, and finally managed it... but no chance of getting the whole reflection in lol

As I was looking out at the ducks again, hoping for Great Crested Grebes, which have apparently started their dances, Mrs PB started, and gasped, and along the path.... uncropped...

S(he) stalked away from us, and as I battled to get a decent shot, 

Mrs PB started giggling..... because on the pollarded trees above the first one... a 2nd landed

Unfortunately, about 10 seconds before this shot, the Cormorant was struggling to swallow a big old fish, but I missed it

More ducky loveliness

A toss up between the Beardie, and the next one for my highlight (if you don't count the decent weather as a highlight lol) ..... a struggle to get a decent view of Mr Skulky!!

There had been a drop in temperature, and Mrs PB was feeling the chill, so we went for a brisker pace, along the well made path, looking for any of the woodland birds that live here, Wren

Mrs BB

Mrs Chaffinch, without apparent scaliness 

Dunnock

Who then hopped up to a conveniently eye-level twig

Mrs BB looking slightly menacing

A less elusive Mr Chaffie!

The tits and robins along the path were pretty tame, obviously used to people and to being fed by them

The good thing about this time of year... is the more elusive birds only have twigs to hide behind, not leaves as well!

And finally, to round a lovely morning off, in the car park... presumably over wintering Chiffchaff, there were 3 or 4 flitting about

Sorry if it turned into a bit of a marathon, but it was a very good day in our eyes, with some lovely surprises, and fab sightings. Certainly a trip to be repeated.

Thanks for looking

Stay Safe All