With Valentines Day this week, we shouldn't be surprised to see lots of love birds around the reserve. The milder than usual weather has probably helped although the extra rain (particularly yesterday) has not been very welcome.
We were close to getting levels back to normal at the Avalon Hide early in the week but the water is now back over the path, meaning it remains closed for the time being - think the water is only likely to get higher over the next few days too. As I think I mentioned last week, our priorities until the end of the month will be getting as much habitat work finished off as we can before we stop for breeding season. Any structural checks and repairs to the hide, ramp and path in the Avalon Hide area will slip down the list until then.
Another thing to mention is that there is to be another road closure - yes, yet another. This will be on Tuesday 20th February and will affect the Meare end of Ashcott Road. Access to the reserve will be from the Ashcott end only - this is just for one day only.
We've undertaken some more tree work around Waltons and Loxtons, attempting to widen paths from leaning scrub to allow access to tractors or the Softrak machine to be able to cut the grass - once the spring and summer growth kicks in. We are also attempting to drop water from the area in front of the second viewing platform (VP2) to undertake a small piece of reed cutting work, to produce some reed bundles for the round house roof at the Avalon Marshes Centre. if there's any left they will be used to pack out and repair some of our reed blinds at Waltons. This will all depend on getting the levels down quick enough for machinery access - the rain is not helping.
A by-product of this will be some exposed mud at some point, so keep your eyes on this area over the next couple of weeks.
So, as I hinted earlier, there is plenty of love on display this week. Perhaps, the most obvious is the Great Crested Grebes, which perform elaborate courtship displays involving head bobbing (mimicking each other) and dances on the water often with the presentation of weeds. What a wonderful gift!!
Mike Uren has sent in the first 4 pictures below. The first showing the raised crests of the birds:
There was a second male looking to muscle his way in too. The interloper kept trying but the skirmishes tended to be a bit one sided and he was seen off. Mike Uren's picture below shows once such skirmish:
This was also witnessed and photographed below by Mike Pearce:
A popular subject this week, with weed dance photos sent in by Sandie Andrews and John Crispin:
After all that exertion a snack was probably most welcome:
Some birds have been seen mating this week. Marsh Harriers have been seen twice in front of the first viewing platform (VP1) this week and many other sightings of birds together this week - pair bonds being reinforced. One individual was seen carrying nesting material yesterday.
Earlier in the week a Grey Heron was seen carrying nesting material into the reedbeds on the eastern side of Waltons. Not unusual for us, we often have 6 or so nests in this are each year - you'll probably notice these birds flying in and out or just perched in the reeds at the nest sites.
With birds nesting quite close to each other sometimes there are bound to be a few disagreements as Mike Pearce's photo shows - a bit of an altercation between these two chaps ended with one chasing the other off:
Coot can often be seen fighting and chasing each other but these were seen mating this week. The poor females head is underwater at some point though:
Here's a close up of the lobed feet of the Coot. The enlarged lateral lobes provide for efficient swimming. On land this can make the bird look rather clumsy when moving around:
Here's another Coot picture. Running on water to get speed for taking off:
Joe wrote about the relationships between Coot and Gadwall in the blog a couple of weeks ago. Well, they all seem to have "other things" on their minds at the minute with Gadwall seen mating too this week. Gadwalls have been quite boisterous (often how I describe Coot) and these 3 males were chasing a single female. Plenty of fighting between the males too, with one seemingly determined to drown another. Thanks to Mike Uren for this info and his action shot:
Often an overlooked duck is the male Gadwall. Often perceived as just a drab grey drake. A closer inspection of the males plumage in the right light shows the great variety of feathering and intricate details. Thanks to John Crispin for his shot of a pair taken this week:
This male Mallard also chased off a rival this week. He seemed quite happily paired off with a female and wasn't going to tolerate another male on his patch:
Other duck can also be seen around the reserve. Lots of Teal are still present along with a few Wigeon. Pochard seem to be flying in constantly into different areas - perhaps now looking to set up breeding territories. Tufted Duck are also present as well as Pintails from time to time. 2 pairs were seen from VP1 on Tuesday and Yesterday and a single pair this morning - great numbers of the still over on Shapwick Heath from Noah's Hide (3 Glossy Ibis were seen here this morning along with 2 Whooper Swans).
The other duck to mention is the Shoveler. This male was snapped by John Crispin this week taking a bit of a bath:
Another pair of birds showing some intimate behaviour now. These 2 Siskin were photographed by Sandie Andrews this week on Wednesday (Valentines Day). She saw them fly in and were chattering to each other. They were gently touching bills every few seconds or so and seemed to be quite an intimate encounter:
There have been a few small flocks of Siskin moving through each day ad to a lesser extent Redpolls. In either case, it's worth checking out the Alder trees around the reserve and at the car park to see if you can spot some. Bryn Evans took these shots of Siskin in an Alder tree on Saturday (10th):
There has also been an increase in bird song this week with several species being heard including: Song Thrush, Great Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Chaffinch, Cettis Warbler, Goldfinch, Dunnock & Reed Bunting.
Learning calls can be a great way of identifying birds skulking in bushes or simply alerting you to their presence. The Dunnock is a great skulker normally but this time of year they tend to perch more and sing for a mate:
Cettis Warbler may also start to did this over the next few weeks before returning to their normal behaviour - it's often the best time of year to see them - just before all the leaves begin to grow and hide them again.
Alerting you to the presence of certain birds can be very useful - a great example being the pinging call of Bearded Tits - a firm favourite with visitors. A couple were seen from the screens at Waltons this week - it's not often they get seen over this side, but a rare treat fir those who saw them. Thank fully Mike Uren and Mike Pearce both managed to get a shot of this male - a beautiful looking bird in my opinion:
Another elegant bird is the Great White Egret and at this time of year they come into breeding condition. Their plumes look far more elegant and their bill colour changes from yellow to a slate grey colour. Their legs will also take on a reddish tinge. VP1 is often a good place to spot them or fishing along the sides of the main drain with Grey Herons:
The same bird now in flight:
Little Egret can also been see on most days but in very small numbers when compared to their larger cousins. Bitterns are in the same family of course and are beginning to boom just a little stronger and more frequently each day. A few sightings here and there across the reserve including a chase - most likely a male chasing a female seen close to VP2.
A few Lapwing have been seen from VP2 this week as well as the cut island in Waltons in front of the 3rd screen but low numbers. Larger groups seen flying over head (pictured) on most days whilst a group of around 40 snipe were seen circling around today. Water levels are still just too high for them. Please stop raining!!
Also this week: Ravens seen flying over on most days including 2 over the car park on Wednesday, Hen Harrier male over the car park on Tuesday and a female yesterday - there are 2 males and a female in the area with Catcott Lows and RSPB Greylake reporting frequent sightings, Kingfisher (perhaps 2) were very active and calling frequently north of the old rail bridge on Wednesday in particular, Chiffchaffs can be spotted along the main paths flitting in the longer grasses, Bullfinch spotted at the car park earlier in the week but not since - they are seen along the main path too, Firecrest spotted by the boardwalk exiting the car park to the reserve on Tuesday, Redwing & Fieldfare seen in small flocks, Brimstone & Peacock butterflies both recorded this week and an Egyptian Goose (pictured) flew over the reserve on Wednesday:
I'm going to have to leave it there for this week - quite an extensive report this week. Spring is coming!!
Thanks to all the wonderful contributors of photographs and information: John Crispin, Sandie Andrews, Mike Pearce, Bryn Evans & Mike Uren. It's very much appreciated by me and of course the readers who love your photos.
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!