The cold weather has actually been a bit of a blessing this week - it's meant no rain and a chance for our pumps to get some water moving off the reserve. We got them back on, late on Sunday and they have been going 24/7 ever since.
It's going to take a while for us to see any change on the north of the reserve, so the path to the Avalon Hide remains well under water and is still currently closed.
The main path and the 2 viewing platforms are fully accessible, whilst the footpath side of the drain is open but a little sticky in places.
The Waltons screens are open but the Tor View Hide path still has water across at and we will need to firm the path where stone has washed away and replace some of the edge boards before reopening - hopefully this wont be too far away if the weather stays as it is.
That's the housekeeping done, now onto the sightings this week.
To say it's much the same as last week might sound boring - but this is Ham Wall - there's always plenty to see. Being confined to some areas gives a chance to study those areas more avidly and it's surprising what you can see and what interesting behaviours you observe from those "more common" birds.
Firecrest has been spotted once again this week. Several sightings from the boardwalk bridge which leads out of the car park towards the reserve. If you fancy searching I would suggest the main path section between both of the car boardwalks (as well as the boardwalks themselves) - there have been fairly frequent sightings in these areas over the past few weeks.
Goldcrests can be seen lurking in the brambles and scrub too. Bryn Evans has photographed these individuals this week:
You can sometimes see them in amongst mixed flocks of small birds. Yesterday we were watching mixed flocks of tits and finches passing through - particularly during sunny spells. Long Tailed Tits often pass through in small groups too constantly contact calling as they go.
Long Tailed Tit : Bryn Evans
Goldfinch: Bryn Evans
Chaffinch: Bryn Evans
Plenty of other birds can be spotted as you walk along the main path: Bullfinch, Song Thrush, Robin, Blackbird, Blackcap and Treecreeper. We were watching 2 Treecreepers in the oak at the end of the plastic boardwalk bridge over the pond at Waltons (the bridge itself is still closed). They were doing the typical Treecreeper behaviour of working their way up the tree before flying back down and beginning again - always enjoy watching them.
Bryn Evans has once again captured some images for us. Female Blackcap & Female Blackbird:
Good numbers of Blackcap overwintering in the UK these days and to a greater extent Chiffchaff also. As with last year frosty mornings with the sun shining have seen large numbers of Chiffchaff feeding along the edges of the paths and amongst the nettles. Another couple of photos here from Bryn Evans:
This one looking very fluffed up - must be an icy breeze it's experiencing here judging by its face.
This pair was also photographed by John Crispin, followed by one have a bit of a preen:
Other birds to look out for would be groups of Repoll and Siskin. Small groups of Redpoll were spotted along the main path yesterday and at the car park whilst a group of 40 Siskin were seen on Wednesday along with smaller groups on other days. As the two photos below suggest, Alder trees are the place to look for these:
Siskin: Mike Uren
Siskin: Bryn Evans
Great Spotted Woodpeckers are being seen daily too: The car park, Waltons and the main track all places to see them. These images from John Crispin were taken from Waltons this week:
Green Woodpecker has also been heard but to a lesser extent than recent weeks but perhaps water levels are having an impact here too. Here's a photo from Sandie Andrews which was taken a couple of weeks:
The car park itself can be a great place to spot many of these birds with the occasional fly overs from Great White Egrets - check out either of the 2 viewing platforms for these too or by the side of the main drain.
Marsh Harriers too fly over the car park regularly but of course the reedbeds are their main domain. Several different birds both male and female can be seen during a visit - the plumage variations can help you identify individual birds too. These 2 males have varying plumage as you ay see from John Crispin's photos:
There are plenty of duck for them to hunt - catching them is of course another issue. around 500 Teal were counted between the two viewing platform areas (VP1 & VP2). Also look out for Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard (just a few), Wigeon and Gadwall - quite a good number in Waltons yesterday along with Shoveler.
Ring Necked Duck have also been sighted again this week. As with last week in the first section past the old railway bridge on the main track. This is just a report I've had but I'm assuming heading to the 2 small viewing areas on the right hand side is the thing to do.
From VP1 look out also for the Cormorants sunning themselves when the opportunity arises. The can often be seen perched on the rails by the first island - sometimes joined by Grey Heron, Great White Egret or even a Kingfisher. Check out their plumage changes as they move towards breeding plumage:
The white patches and the flecking on the head indicate this bird is moving into breeding plumage.
Over in Waltons you can see Kingfishers too, one zipped past me yesterday and a Garganey was seen here too. It's been picked up a couple of times lately - normally a summer visitor. I was also seeing Snipe here yesterday. Flying off the edges of the reeds as I passed around the trail (the back of Waltons is Wellingtons only so not advisable to attempt the whole circuit. If you go to the South East screen you would have to walk back the same way).
These Snipe were photographed by John Crispin this week - being inspected by a nearby Moorhen:
The only other wader spotted this week (as far as I'm aware) was Lapwing. 6 landed in the West of Waltons this week but didn't stay long. The high water levels are just not attractive for them at present I guess. John Crispin captured this image this week. We assume a male given the length of the crest:
Also out on the water look out for the noisy and argumentative Coots, squealing Water Rails (icy temperatures and high water can often push them out into more open areas), Canada Geese and Greylag Geese and Great Crested Grebes.
The Grebes were seen weed dancing last week but they are not the only ones with breeding season on their minds. These Mute Swans were seen mating on Saturday by Bryn Evans:
Also at the end of last week this Roe Deer surprised Mike Uren at VP1. It was hurtling along the footpath very quickly making several spectacular leaps as it went. There was nothing chasing it that could be seen. Very hard thing to get a clean shot of when it's moving so fast but Mike did manage this shot:
Also this week: Sparrowhawk seen over the car park on Tuesday, Ravens also seen over the car park on a couple of occasions this week, a single Cattle Egret flew over VP1 yesterday morning, Jays seen in the oaks along the main path and at Loxtons, male Hen Harrier seen at Greylake and 3 Glossy Ibis hanging around close to Somerset Wildlife Trust site at Westhay Moor. Thanks to Mike Uren who has sent in a couple of shots to whet your appetite - be nice to se them back at Ham Wall again soon:
That's it for this week. Thank you to all who sent in their wonderful images and information - it's really appreciated.
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!