Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath, 7 January 2026

Above: Murmuration at Shapwick © Andrew Harrison

Leader: Lucy Starling

The date of this meeting changed at the eleventh hour because of the forecast for bad weather on Thursday. Unfortunately, four members who had booked could not make the 7th and two were unable to stay until dusk. The birding conditions were very good, sunny with a light NW breeze which completely dropped in the late afternoon. There was less frozen water than my previous visit on 5th.

We firstly visited Shapwick Heath NNR, walking slowly to Noah’s Hide. A very obliging male Stonechat popped into view by the seat close to the track that leads to Noah’s. Kingfisher and Water Rails called at close quarters and we could hear the whistles of distant Wigeon on Noah’s Lake. We had already noted several Mute Swan and some Wigeon, along with Tufted and Gadwall on Meare Heath on our way to Noah’s.

Marsh Harriers made several passes across the lake causing mass take-off of wildfowl, mainly Wigeon and Coot, but also Pintail, Tufted and Gadwall. Two Little Grebe lingered close to the reeds and a couple of Grey Herons noisily called “Frank” from time to time. We found just one Great White Egret at the back of the lake and a few Cormorants. A couple of Buzzards glided above the reeds and trees as we returned along the main gravel track where we also found a pair of Stonechat in the vegetation along the grass bank.

After lunch taken in the wooden shelter by the picnic tables, we meandered to Viewing Platform 1 and found numerous Teal and Shoveler among the ubiquitous Wigeon. A few Black-Tailed Godwits stood in the shallow water among the Teal and a Little Egret sat motionless on the reed bed edge. Only when it took off did we see its distinctive yellow feet.

We added Pochard and Great Crested Grebe as we walked to the Tor View Hide, all the while Marsh Harriers were on the hunt for food, and Water Rails emitted their squealing call from time to time. Eventually, everyone saw the Common Snipe, so well camouflaged in the small patch of cut reed bed; it was easier to see when it was moving about, probing for morsels with its long bill.

At about 3.30 pm, Liz, Mark and Andrew accompanied me to view the starling murmuration on Shapwick, which built up from about 4.15pm. Unfortunately, the starlings arrived in numbers from the south over the farmland beyond Noah’s Lake rather than across the centre of the reserve. We did have a few substantial parties come from the north-east and cross over our heads towards Decoy Hide area. There were a few Marsh Harrier about which encouraged the birds to manoeuvre into wave formations and other shapes over the trees before going down to roost. Even though we did not have a spectacular murmuration, it was wonderful to be in this wetland as the sun set and the darkness and quiet descended.

Lucy Starling