It's been more of the same this week, with the rain not letting up, so we will start with a bit of housekeeping. The Avalon Hide remains closed - the path is well under water and will most likely remain so for a while yet.
Tor View Hide and the Waltons screens are accessible but the perimeter walk around the outside is very wet in places and impassable without wellies, so not advisable. The Loxtons Loop is now in a similar state - if the rain holds off a bit levels should drop naturally but I wouldn't hold your breath.
The main track is fine but the return loop on the opposite side of the drain is muddy but walkable even if a bit slippery in places.
Despite all this, there is plenty to see and I've got quite a lot to report with limited time of my day remaining - so here goes.
Perhaps some of the most obvious changes in behaviour has been the increase in Marsh Harrier activity - maybe not quite so much directly in front of the first viewing platform (VP1), although the female from this pair has been perching in the flat topped willow bush in the distance.
Further to the north and in front of the second viewing platform (VP2) have been pretty busy this week. I was watching a pair here on Monday interacting with each other and calling when another male headed towards the territory - he was seen of pretty swiftly.
These types of interactions have been seen quite regularly this week and Sandie Andrews was in place to grab this sequence of photos:
Sandie witnessed at least 3 different interactions of a pair meeting and touching talons etc.
Here's 2 shots of another such occasion:
All this aerial showing off does sometimes attract unwanted attention and some Crows decided to chase the male off:
This is quite common with one or two Crows but this was several. Sandie estimated around 60 birds were present. There have been large flocks of Carrion Crow and Jackdaw on the north of the reserve - they are still feeding off the uncut (and inaccessible maize fields to the north of our boundary):
I'm sure the Marsh Harriers will not be deterred and this photo perhaps proves that. Taken this morning, a male with nesting material:
They are of course not the only birds displaying or nest building. The Grey Herons have been at it for some time but an extra stick or two is often brought in for running repairs:
Some nests are getting quite sizeable now as John Crispin's photo shows:
This individual was seen feeding at the car park ponds with visitors just yards away enjoying a cuppa:
Great Crested Grebes appeared to start nest building at Waltons this week, although since it appears that Coots may have taken this over. The grebes have been seen displaying throughout the week with plenty of head shaking and some weed dancing involved:
With the egrets often looking so elegant it's a bit of a contrast to see the Coots - often being very boisterous, with the odd scuffle breaking out from time to time:
Waltons perhaps the best place to see this behaviour. It also offers a fair selection of duck species and until this latest batch of rain a good chance to see Snipe or Lapwing in front of the third of the Waltons screens. Earlier in the week, as many as 12 Lapwing were present on the end of the island:
As mentioned, Snipe have been spotted here too, feeding, resting or preening. It's far more likely to see them up in the air now. Several groups have been passing overhead during the week. These groups of Snipe in the air are known as Wisps:
Preening Snipe with Teal for company
A wisp of Snipe.
It would appear that numbers of waders (not that we've had that many with the high water levels) & wildfowl are beginning to diminish slowly as we approach breeding season. You can still see a good selection though including: Mallard, Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Shoveler (pictured) and Gadwall (also pictured):
Gadwall in flight
Shoveler in flight
The above shots of a male Shoveler, first show the lovely refraction of light on his head but also the lamellae which hang from his upper mandible to aid filter feeding.
Bitterns are booming from pretty much all corners of the reserve - they will get a little stronger over the next few weeks. It's looking good for our booming bittern count which takes place in about 2 weeks time. Not too many sightings to report but the two viewing platforms offer wide vistas and therefore your best bet for a sighting.
Great White Egrets are a fairly easy spot during a visit. Seems to be plenty of passage between Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath. They can also be seen from VP1 or on the edge of the main drain running through the reserve. This individual decided to use the artificial Sand Martin bank as a perch. It does offer us good views of the birds colour chances as it moves towards breeding plumage. Note the yellow bill beginning to go darker towards grey and the legs (tibiotarsus ) starting to get a pinker tinge:
This shot shows a bird directly overhead (taken at VP1):
Little Egrets are seen only occasionally here as are Cattle Egret. They are usually seen in larger numbers in the fields in the surrounding area. These though were spotted from the old railway bridge on the main track - they were quite some distance away though for Sandie Andrews to get a clear shot. Great to know they were there though - 83 counted at one point:
As you move from the car park towards the main reserve look out for Firecrest. One has been spotted close to the car park ponds and the boardwalk bridge this week.
Check out the tops of the Alder trees for groups of Redpoll and Siskin. Small groups of Redpoll this winter, but larger numbers of Siskins (groups of 50 -60 seen this week). Groups were seen mid-way between the car park and VP1 this week. Some of these will be mixed groups with Siskins being spotted with Goldfinches on a couple of occasions:
A few Fieldfare recorded here this week too but Redwing seem to be more commonplace along the main track at the moment:
Look out also for Song Thrush - beginning to belt out their rhythmic song, Bullfinch, friendly Robins, Finches and Tits. Bird song is increasing slightly with Dunnock, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird and Wren all singing this week. Long Tailed Tits are also being spotted - they are usually quite early nesters:
Long Tailed Tit
Wren.
Treecreeper are also worth looking and listening out for. I had a couple on the main track last week and this one was seen by the pond in the north west corner of Waltons this week:
Also seen this week: a pair of Barn Owls flushed from one of our boxes on Tuesday (the only dry day where we could try and undertake a minor repair ), 2 Ravens seen flying over the car park on more than one occasion - they are also nesting again just off the eastern end of the reserve (on eggs I would imagine at this time of year), 4 Egyptian Geese seen flying over the reserve on a few occasions, Great Spotted Woodpecker seen daily, 2 Weasels seen in the stone gabions of VP1 on Wednesday, Stonechat seen opposite VP1 in the brambles, 2 Kingfishers seen together at the Waltons screens, Buzzards seen daily & a few Cettis Warblers being spotted during the week (this one was seen by the Otter Memorial Sculpture at Waltons this week):
I'm going to have to leave it there as I'm out of time. Thanks as always to those who have contributed their wonderful photos and added information: John Crispin, Sandie Andrews and Mike Pearce.
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!