It's the start of a very busy time at Ham Wall for staff and volunteers (even if the birds are a little quiet). We're making good progress with clearing the reeds from the islands if front of the 1st platform. It may well be a couple more weeks before we finish but the end results are usually pretty good once the water levels are brought back up.
Other areas are draining down a bit - mostly through natural evaporation but in recent weeks we have let a little water out of the sections either side of the Avalon Hide Path. On the left so we can get in and cut with our machine to help create a spectacle similar to that we created on the right over the last couple of years with open water and muddy areas and on the right (the area in front of the 2nd platform) so some reed can regenerate and fill in some of the gaps. This should give us a nice mosaic and transition of habitat ages throughout the site, increasing diversity and giving visitors plenty to look at.
The area in front of the 2nd platform is still producing the goods but you have to work a little harder for it now. over the last couple of weeks there's been a nice variety of waders popping in. The following have all been seen this week: Wood Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff 3, Black Tailed Godwits 30+, Common Sandpiper 5, Green Sandpiper 3, Snipe & several Lapwing.
The Glossy Ibis (still x2) are being seen pretty much daily in this section although they were also spotted at Shapwick Heath one day this week. They are currently pumping their scrape down so we may see some waders migrating a short distance to our neighbours for some good feeding.
Also seen in this area this week: Great Crested Grebes, several duck species including Garganey and several Great White Egrets:
Ones also still flying over the car park quite consistently offering good views to visitors as they first arrive.
Little Egrets are also fairly commonplace particularly in the 2 drier areas mentioned earlier but a couple were also spotted fishing by the edge of the reeds from the Loxtons screen yesterday. John Crispin was present to catch yet another great image - thanks John:
Also present from here were a Great Crested Grebe with a well grown youngster, 3 Little Grebes, Lesser Black Back Gulls and the throng of Cormorants which use the rafts. A Kingfisher also gave a flyby. It often perches on a particular twiggy branch in front. A guest was using it yesterday however. A Common Sandpiper perched on it for around 50 minutes - most unusual. A Kingfisher was also spotted from the Avalon Hide on Sunday.
Bitterns are still present but far less obvious than in the previous few months. A few flights are being recorded - I had one myself land near me as I cut the reeds with the Softrak machine on the islands in front of the 1st platform.
Yesterday - a little further to the left of here a Female Marsh Harrier was hunting and swooping over the reeds and pinging from Bearded Tits was picked up. Left again in the strip of woodland some noisy Jays were heard as well as Great Spotted Woodpecker. Singing Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff have also both been heard this week.
Other birds of note this week include a Lesser Whitethroat seen by the new wooden bridge that crosses the drain in some nearby privet. It's third time it's been spotted here recently, large flocks of Goldfinches - particularly in the car park with c100 seen, raven flying over, Buzzards daily and on Sunday large numbers of House Martins swooping along the Waltons Trail on the west side. There's also been an Osprey resting up at Shapwick Heath. Don't think it's been over to Ham Wall on this occasion but Natalie Talbot has sent me this picture taken at Shapwick this week - thanks Natalie:
It maybe quiet for birds but it's always worth looking a little closer at the insect life. The more you look the more you see and there are some wonderful looking bugs out there.
Dragonflies are always fascinating to watch: Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Southern Hawker, Common Hawker, Migrant Hawker and Brown Hawker (pictured) all seen this week:
Butterflies this week include: Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Green Veined White, Meadow Brown and most commonly Small Tortoiseshell:
John Crispin has been out this week taking a look at some of these smaller critters. I haven't had time to ID any so if you know what any are just let us know. There's some amazing stuff out there. Here's a selection to whet your appetite:
and its dinner........
Fantastic stuff - thanks John!
That's it for this week - lets see what next week brings - change is in the air! Have a great weekend!