3 August 2009

As members of the East Devon Branch gathered at Ashcott Corner on the Somerset Levels on Sunday 7 June, little did anyone realise it was to be a field trip to remember, as Branch Chairman Jonathan Ruscoe reports.

News of a Little Bittern was enough to generate added excitement, so off went an advance party while two of us remained behind to wait for any late arrivals. We soon caught up with them and the news was good – the ‘Little B’ had just been seen!

Our vantage point overlooked an expanse of reedbeds and we watched in expectation as several Hobbies hunted for dragonflies and a skulking Bittern was spotted, head pointing skywards, 100 metres in front of us. Three hours later we were still looking… not a Little B to be seen!

A small crowd began to gather and two more Bitterns delighted us by slowly winging their way over the reeds. Having failed to see the Little Bitterrn, we returned to the car park for a quick sandwich and then it was off to Shapwick Heath. There, three Marsh Harriers and a male Garganey – that unique summer visitor from Africa – were scoped at a distance and a Garden Warbler and Whitethroat were added to our day list.

Back at Ham Wall, meanwhile, a major twitch was underway for a sighting of the ‘Little B’ and we soon found ourselves back there scrambling for good viewing positions amongst a hundred or so fellow birders. A few familiar faces from Devon were recognised and hurried conversations were exchanged. All eyes scanned the reedbeds as someone claimed to have seen a beak. A bird was calling… a dull monotonous croak… and minutes later the ‘Little B’ rose from the reeds… a conspicuous yellow and black back… and then it vanished from sight.

As we began to leave, notes were exchanged on what else had been seen that day. Talk of Red Kite and Black Tern left me feeling we had missed out somewhere. So, aided by directions from two locals, two of us drove off to a new location where two Black Terns were the final joy of the day.

Sometimes when I meet fellow birdwatchers, I ask them if they belong to Devon Birds and if so, have they ever been out on one of our field trips. The reply is frequently that they "prefer to do their own thing", to which I reply, "Well I do that the rest of the time, as well as go out with others."

Birdwatching in a group is simply so much more fun and you learn from others' experiences and knowledge. So, if you have never been out on a DBWPS field trip or have not been out for some time, why not give it a try? If you have email and want to receive occasional news from our East Devon Branch, just send me a message to that effect and I will add your name to our growing address book. You can contact me via info@devonbirds.org. Happy birding.

Jonathan Ruscoe
Chairman East Devon Branch