What a scorcher of a week. Some really high temperatures have made physical work around the reserve quite difficult this week. It must be hard work for our wildlife too in the heat of the day. Not surprisingly, it has been pretty quiet on the reserve this week for wildlife.
Many birds will be far more active in the cooler mornings and evenings than during the middle of the day but there has been plenty for people to feast their eyes upon.
From the first viewing platform (VP1), Marsh Harriers can be seen, particularly juveniles. There are two birds being seen quite regularly here along with a parent bird (female). Check out the bushes in the distance where they are often perched:
They can sometimes be seen in flight - this one was spotted calling to its mother in flight this week:
Note the gingery caps of the juveniles if you are looking for them. They have also been seen at the Avalon Hide this morning, including one individual with a much paler cap. This is perhaps a slightly older bird that is already losing these "young" colours.
Also at the Avalon Hide this morning was a very active Bittern, in fact she has been busy all week. I say she, as the behaviour suggests she has an active nest nearby - given the toing and froing of her flights to the same points in the reedbed - one a favoured feeding area, the other the nest location. Sandie Andrews took this shot during the week:
Great Crested Grebes are also present here with some small youngsters - still small enough to ride on the backs of the parents. This can also be seen in the Waltons section, where some youngsters are now around 2 weeks old. You can also spot some much older youngsters in the area too.
A visitor also mentioned seeing an adult bird presenting weed to its partner - part of a courtship ritual. This would be a pretty late nest if they decide to go again. There are several pairs which are already on second broods.
If you are in the Avalon Hide look out for Common Cranes. We have had a successful breeding pair at Ham Wall this year (a new breeding species for us). You may be lucky enough to see some short flights from the parents or perhaps even the youngster (now about 13 weeks old) but they are pretty grounded a lot of the time to give the best protection to the youngster a possible - like all good parents should.
A more likely sighting here would be Great White Egret. Another record breeding year for these elegant birds - despite losing many of the youngsters to adverse weather conditions early in the season or to predation. Some loss each season is pretty normal but as a percentage this year it was quite high. It just shows how successfully these are doing since first colonising within the Avalon Marshes, that the numbers are still climbing.
The reeds at VP1 are pretty high and slightly obscuring views currently. We are now in August and with some careful investigation, we can start cutting some of the reeds on the islands in front - these are cut annually so should be fairly sparse. I'm not sure it will happen next week and then I'm on annual leave for a week - so it could still be two weeks anyway - plenty of time for any late breeders to finish. It's possible still to see anything aerial but also anything perched on top of the Sand Martin box.
Once again this week the young Grey Heron had been spending long periods of time there. It was there for 1 1/2 hours on Wednesday sunning itself for long periods. It tried a range of sunbathing positions, toasting its front, back & top and bottom of its wings both stood up and lying down. I can only assume it was an effort to rid itself of any parasites it was carrying. Thanks to both Mike Uren and John Crispin who sent in shots of this sunbathing heron:
Another way of ridding yourself of unwanted guests is to have a good preen - this one is on the raft over at Waltons:
If birds are thin on the ground you can always rely on insects to come to the rescue. Butterflies seem to be having a better spell at the moment after a very big lull in numbers a few weeks ago. A number of species noted on the reserve this week. The favourite plant at the moment seems to be Hemp Agrimony, which is what this Comma is feeding on
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The Red Admirals and Peacocks also seem to love this plant. Look out also for Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Brimstone, Green Veined White, Small White, Painted Lady and Speckled Wood (pictured below):
Dragonflies are another favourite - if they would only sit still for just a minute, identification would be far easier. Reported on the reserve this week: Brown Hawker, Black Tailed Skimmer, Four Spotted Chaser, Southern Hawker, Emperor, Lesser Emperor, Ruddy Darter and Common Darter.
Damselflies can in some ways be harder even though they settle a little more readily. The blue ones we have here (Azure, Common Blue and Variable) all look similar but do have subtle differences - getting your eye in takes practice.
Look out also for: Blue Tailed, Red Eyed, Small Red Eyed and possibly White Legged Damselfly. We don't see many on the reserve at all but are often abundant when you find the favoured habitat - there is a population over on the Millstream in Glastonbury - perhaps it was blown over to the reserve or just was a pioneer. This one was photographed in the car park by Edwyn Lewis, one of our fund raising team on Wednesday:
This is a newly emerged individual due to the lack of colour. The thicker set legs at the top, as well as them being partly white, are clues for your ID.
Of course they are good eating too for a number of birds, dragonflies and spiders. This Blue Tailed Damselfly was ensnared in a web this week:
Plenty of predators lurking beneath the surface too like this water tiger (the larvae of the Giant Diving Beetle). Seen at our pond dipping event last weekend:
One of my favourites is the Banded Demoiselle. You can often see these along the edges of the main drain passing through the reserve. A good place to stand is on the old rail bridge where quite a few are active on either side. This is where I'm assuming Sandie took this shot this week:
She and John Crispin also took these shots of individuals this week.
Grass Snakes have once again been seen from the same bridge this week, although the need to bask is far less given the air temperatures. One was definitely seen poking its head out this morning and I had one swimming across the drain here on Monday.
In terms of mammals it's also fairly quiet - I'm guessing when you are furry, the shade is the place to be. A weasel was spotted close to VP1 this week dragging a water vole down the main path before realising it was being watched by some visitors. It dashed into the undergrowth before quickly nipping back out to pick up the water vole - to good a meal to cast off.
Roe Deer is you most likely mammal to spot - trails around Waltons and Loxtons are often places to see them or distant from the Avalon Hide. They are also seen more in the cooler mornings. John Crispin took this shot of a buck during the week:
I mention the Loxtons Trail as it is now back open but you have to walk the slightly longer route to the screen and back again as the short path is still to wet and muddy to pass.
Smaller birds are also hiding out from the heat a bit. Although a family of Reed Warblers were using plenty of contact calls in the reeds by the car park pools this week. You can still hear the odd chatter within the reeds around the reserve but generally all bird song has vastly reduced.
Small family groups of Bearded Tits are a possibility from the Avalon Hide and Reed Buntings to across the reserve:
Things are quiet but already small signs of change are appearing. 3 Black Tailed Godwits circled over the Tor View Hide on Wednesday and a single bird this morning - they may appreciate it when I have cut in front of VP1 and created some more splashy areas - quite a way of yet I'm afraid.
Groups of duck are gathering. 656 Gadwall in Waltons last week - less this week so perhaps some are beginning to come out of a moult already. Good numbers of Mallard to be seen too and around 10 Shoveler were spotted here yesterday.
Also this week: Ravens heard flying over this morning, Great Spotted Woodpecker along the main track this morning as well as on the car park feeders throughout the week, 12 Swift over Waltons this morning, nicely coloured Little Grebe at the Avalon Hide, Garganey seen at VP2 on Wednesday, Hobby seen from VP2 this week but fewer birds than last week - maybe flying higher in the hotter weather, Little Egret seen from the Avalon Hide and this Song Thrush seen smashing snails on the main track once again:
That's it for this week. Thank you to all who have contributed information and photographs: John Crispin, Sandie Andrews, Mike Uren and Edwyn Jones.
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend.