9th March 2026 - Somerset Levels and The Forest of Dean for Oriole Birding

A final Swan Breakfast (no actual wildfowl were consumed) and then out of Wells (via the fabulous moss, fern and liverwort covered walls!) and into the ever increasing gloom towards Glastonbury and beyond about an hour later we made it to Steart and it had lifted just enough and mostly stopped drizzling to allow a walk around the marshland pools. 

Maidenhair Fern and Wall Scalewort - Porella platyphylla

Polypody

Polypody & Ivy Leaved Toadflax

Rusty-backed Fern

Rusty-backed Fern

Wall Scalewort - Porella platyphylla - I thought on my previous visits that this was a Moss but it is in fact a Liverwort

They were very quiet with just noisy Avocets and single pairs of Redshank and Oystercatcher and Wigeon and Shelduck predominating with the duck.  It was very odd. 

Oystercatcher

The scrubby bits held Cetti's Warblers, Reed Buntings and Stonechats and both the latter species regularly shared the same bush tops.  Meadow Pipits ‘seeped’ over and two Water Pipits came up from the main breach marsh where there were quite literally only four Carrion Crows and a Little Egret.

Stonechat

I ticked off the usual fly and moth mines and was surprised to see both Marsh Marigold and Cowslip in flower.  Other than a host of dancing midges and three Scathophaga stercoraria there were no insects at all.

Lesser Celandine

Marsh Marigold

Yellow Dug Fly - Scathophaga stercoraria

Cowslip 

We took lunch up the coast and overlooking Bridgewater Bay where for a change the tide was not all the way out but we could only find two Curlew and five Shelduck flying around.  What was gong on?  There were no birds at all on the exposed mud?    There were more Stonechats to watch and Greenfinches and Linnets bimbled over and as we were leaving a female Marsh Harrier appeared close by and hunted the inland pastures. 

With the weather once again closing in I opted to make the drive north to the Forest of Dean and in short order we were at Cannop Pond and enjoying close views of a pinky white male Goosander and eight or so Mandarins.  A Kingfisher zipped across and there was a pair pf Grey Wagtails around the sluice slope while Great, Blue and Coal Tits and Chaffinches came down to the seed put out by others.

Goosander 

Mandarin

Chaffinch

We followed the lakeside path and got closer to the Mandarins and some Little Grebes and the Birches and Oaks gave us close views of several pairs of Marsh Tits, Treecreeper and a brief Nuthatch.  Song Thrushes were warming up and a few Redwing and Siskin called over the trees.  Scanning the tree tops across the way was a non-starter as you could not see them!

I moved this Toad off the path. Others could be heard in the reed bed

Phytomyza ilicis on Holly - I have to post one each trip!

Mandarins

Wood Spurge

A scurrying alongside proved to be the first of two Bank Vole encounters and you could see the run it had made in and put and under the rooty overhang at the top of the path bank.  A common but seldom seen rodent and it was a treat to get such prolonged views.

Bank Vole

Bank Vole

Parmotrema perlatum

Usnia sp & Evernia prunastri

The Wild Boar had been to town on the verges with some serious rotovating but we did not see any but the Robins were happily picking around where they had turned over the surface the night before. 

Robin

How would you like your lawn Sir?

Stereum hirsutum

The overspill at the top pond always looks good for Dipper and for the first time there was actually one there and it stayed on show for about twenty minutes and could be seen properly going under the water and creating a small wake in the process.  It was certainly by best views of one in the Forest.  There were Grey Wagtails and Pied Wagtails here too and you know I am a sucker for a Grey Wag every day of the week!

Grey Wagtail

Dipper

Dipper

We retraced our steps as the Song Thrush volume ramped up and nearer the bottom end it was replaced by the melancholy and considered song of several Blackbirds. A final look at some close Mandarins and it really was time to head up to Speech House to check in and chill before dinner.

Mandarins

Fingers crossed for a brighter day tomorrow.