It seems the most welcome news of the week has been the opening of the toilets in the Ham Wall car park (left hand building in the picture). It's been something our growing number of visitors have been wanting for quite a while, so its great to finally get them open. At first there will be limited opening hours due to the difficulties in staff being on site to get this done but we've gone with the very manageable times of 10am to 4pm to start with. Although you may very well find that they are open a little earlier or closed a little later if staff or volunteers are around to do it.
The visitor building on the right will also be opening this weekend despite not yet being fully kitted out. It's going to be a great place to meet and greet visitors as they arrive at the reserve. Interpretation panels are due in the new year as well as a wood burner and somewhere further down the line - a hot drinks machine is planned. We will also now be looking at how best to tidy and utilise the spaces around the buildings to make it more interesting for visitors too.
Initially however it will contain some friendly faces and some helpful information. We aim to have it open every weekend (again between 10am and 4pm) initially and build up a big enough team of volunteers so that we can open it and man it as much as possible.
If you think this sounds like something you might like to help with, why not give us a call at the office for a chat - we'd be pleased to hear from you (01458) 860494
Meanwhile, back to the wildlife.....Once again lots of interesting sightings to report.
Most notably has been the reappearance of the Glossy Ibis on the reserve. Seen dropping into Loxtons at dawn on Monday and in front of the 2nd viewing platform yesterday (Thursday 26th). It's been known to be roosting over at Shapwick Heath each evening but I'd not been hearing any reports of daytime sightings, although given the size of the Avalon Marshes it could easily disappear here.
Another great sighing from Monday morning was that of a Short Eared Owl. It was seen from the 1st platform but was very distant - perhaps even as far as the water tower away. This was trumped however yesterday when Ray Summers, the warden, flushed one as he entered the Tor View Hide. It flew up low from the right hand side as if it was sitting in that open area. It's a good time of year to be spotting one so keep your eyes open to the possibility.
Monday seemed to be a fantastic day with yet another otter sighting reported from the Avalon Hide during the late morning. Also from the hide a fair selection of duck including Pochard, Shoveler, Wigeon. Mallard and Gadwall as well as frequent sightings of Kingfisher not only flying across but perching too.
People may often overlook Mallards because they think they are boring but here's some lovely pictures of a preening and washing male sent in by John Crispin:
Some lovely action shots!!
Also from the Avalon Hide this week 2 Goosander flying past on Sunday (not something we have often on Ham wall) 2 Great White Egrets which also flew past and dropped into the reedbeds on the right hand side on Thursday and sightings of Bittern and Marsh Harrier.
Goosander
The best place to be spotting Great White Egrets is probably the 1st platform. There's often one seen feeding in here and the 2nd platform is also a favourite haunt. 2 aquatic cutting machines have been out on the reserve this week and they have or will be cutting areas in front of both viewing platforms, the Avalon Hide and in Waltons as well as a few other selected pockets of the reserve. The will be able to open up these areas to give visitors a better view.
The 2nd platform has continued to be the best place to view the starlings this week with numbers as many as 500,000 being estimated. Remember they could decide to change roost location on any given night to best to phone the starling hotline to give you a guide as to where to look. Often there is a staff or volunteer member present on site who will be able to direct you to a good viewpoint. Marsh Harriers are often present during Starling time often 4 or 5 in the vicinity but they are also seen regularly during the day. Barn Owl was also seen during the murmuration on Sunday.
Also this week: several bittern sightings across the reserve, a group of 60-70 Greylag geese flying around - most notably on Monday, c400 Lapwing in the area in front of the 2nd platform - often groups seen in flight, Lapwings also seen in fields next to Tinneys ground on the Sharpham Road, 2 Treecreepers reported by a visitor on the footpath track on the other side of the main drain, 2 Snipe flushed from the pools in the car park area, a Red Admiral on Monday in the car park, Bearded Tits at several locations but in public areas from the Tor view Hide path but also 3 by the otter sculpture last week, also last week c100 Linnets in brambles at Long Drove a plot we own beyond beyond Waltons and a Sparrowhawk sat in trees behind the new toilets feasting on an unfortunate prey item.
Photos of Lapwings taken on the reserve this week by John Crispin - thanks John!
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend!