31st March 2016

Had a look at the Openspace this evening. Highlights were 2 flyover Siskin and 4 each of Blackcap and Chiffchaff; no willow warblers yet.

30th March 2016

Me and Lewis headed down to Seaton Marshes this morning but had no luck with either the iceland gull or green-winged teal, but I did get my first Swallow and Willow Warbler of the spring. Stopped off for the pallas's warbler at Portesham but dipped again. A look at the fleet from Abbotsbury produced a distant female Scaup, and several Red-Breasted Mergansers and Sandwich Terns.

Pochard - Abbotsbury

Scaup - Abbotsbury

Had a look at Ninesprings before heading home. On the lake, had 3 Mandarins, 2 Little Grebes still and 2 Grey Herons. Behind the lake, there was no sign of the firecrest but I did have 2 Jays, 2 Marsh Tits and at least 4 Treecreepers. Lastly, I had a Kingfisher on the lake! Finally! A long overdue Yeovil tick!

Grey Heron - Ninesprings

The first time I have seen one pitched here. All my previous Yeovil records have been flyovers.

25th March 2016

Had a look at the Sewage Works by Pen Mill, Yeovil this morning, but saw relatively little; 2 each of Grey Wagtail and Bullfinch, singles of Nuthatch and Blackcap and plenty of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs.

Had a walk at Kingston Lacy NT and unexpectedly found my second Firecrest this week! Also had my first Red Kite of the Year, a couple Siskins and some other bits and pieces.

Firecrest - Kingston Lacy NT

Had a look at Morden Bog but couldn't locate the great grey shrike. Heard some Dartford Warblers but failed to see any. Otherwise, just had a Peregrine and plenty of Siskins.

19th March 2015

Decided that I would try to get as many species in Yeovil in a day. Didn't get the ring ouzel in Larkspur Crescent first thing this morning, but did have a female Blackcap and a flyover Grey Heron, so a good start. A couple of hours at the Openspace produced relatively little, singles of Raven, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Great Spotted Woodpecker was the best I managed.

A walk along Longcroft Wood was better, producing a flock of 12 Golden Plovers overhead and a single Stock Dove (this is the only site in Yeovil where I have seen them). Didn't get the green woodpecker I was hoping for, but a Kestrel, a couple of Jays and a flock of Redwings further increased the day list total. Also had a flyover Cormorant while walking through Larkspur Crescent on my back.

Had a breif look at Ninesprings in the afternoon, which quickly added Moorhen, Mallard and Mandarin and Little Grebe to the list. Walking around the back of the lake there was a large tit/goldcrest flock, within which I instantly located my other 2 target birds: Nuthatch and Treecreeper. While here, I heard a kingfisher calling; presumably it was flying along the river. I seem destined not to get this species for my Yeovil list! Continuing to scan through the flock, I picked up a Chiffchaff, followed by a stunning Firecrest, which gave great views. Very happy to have finally caught up with this species in Yeovil after missing the last one on the Openspace, especially as this one is self-found. Also, had a Marsh Tit in the flock, only my second time seeing this species in Yeovil.

Firecrest - Ninesprings

Mandarins - Ninesprings

Returned to Yeovil Openspace to try again to get grey wagtail for the day list without luck, and again failed to locate the ring ouzel in Larkspur Crescent, but 2 flyover Canada Geese were a nice way to finish off the day.

Ended the day on only 46 species, which is perhaps a little disappointing, but I can't complain with a Yeovil tick!

15th March 2015

The Ring Ouzel showed for a whole 10 minutes in a holly bush on the north side of Larkspur Crescent this evening.

Ring Ouzel - Larkspur Crescent

13th March 2016

No sign of the ring ouzel on Larkspur Crescent this pm, best managed was a flyover Meadow Pipit (fairly scarce in North Yeovil in winter). Also a breif look at the Openspace produced nothing better than a Grey Wagtail and 2 Redwings.

Grey Wagtail - Yeovil Openspace

12th March 2016

Me and my friend Lewis headed down to Keyhaven this morning. There was a heavy fog cover and we couldn't see more than about 15 metres in front of us, so we were lucky that the LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER flew out of the fog and started feeding in a pool just a few meters away!

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - Keyhaven

Also of note here were 2 Dartford Warblers.

Next stop was Blashford Lakes. Had a look at Kingfisher Lake but failed to pick out the ferruginous duck, and only had a couple of Egyptian Geese. A look at Ibsley Water produced a Slavonian Grebe, 2 summer-plumaged Black-Necked Grebes and lots of Goosander, Goldeneye and a few Pintail and Egyptian Geese.

Slavonian Grebe - Blashford Lakes

Summer-Plumaged Black-Necked Grebe - Blashford Lakes

Little Grebe - Blashford Lakes

Final stop was Lodmoor, where we picked up the 3 Spoonbills. Also, there were singles of Avocet and Marsh Harrier and a couple Cetti's Warblers were seen.

Spoonbills - Lodmoor

10th March 2016

Had the Ring Ouzel on Larkspur Crescent again this morning for at least 7 minutes before it disapeared again.

7th March 2016

Had a Lesser Redpoll over Elliot's Drive, Yeovil this morning. My 4th in Yeovil this winter, seems there has been an local influx of this species as well as siskin.

6th March 2016

Went to Sherborne sewage works this afternoon, where the highlight was 3+ Firecrests. Naturally, I've uploaded some really grainy record shots:
 

2 really grainy shots...

 ... and one less grainy shot but in much worse light.

Also had 3 Grey Wagtails, 2 Bullfinches, 1+ Chiffchaff and plenty of Goldcrests.

3rd March 2016

Had the 1st winter Ring Ouzel on the berry bush outside 57 Elliot's Drive again this morning:

Ring Ouzel - Yeovil

Also of note were 3+ Siskin in the Yeovil Morrisons car park. It's certainly been a good winter for this species around here.