It's been another interesting week at Ham Wall this week with plenty of exciting sightings reported to us. I've only really been on site for about half my usual time this week (I was in Devon all day yesterday at RSPB Aylesbeare) but I have still been lucky enough see and hear some amazing wildlife.
My best sighting came on Monday when I saw 2 Cranes come off some adjacent fields and fly over the reserve. In fact they have been seen on several occasions this week, including this morning and were even seen to land on the reserve at one point. Perhaps they are a new pair checking out the local area looking for a breeding territory - wouldn't that be exciting? They were heard bugling at one point too.
John Crispin managed these shots on Sunday - distant from the first viewing platform (VP1) and landing on the reserve:
The last photo shows a Marsh Harrier in close attendance - plenty of activity from them throughout the week and surveys are underway to determine how many pairs/nests we have and where. A pair were busy this morning in front of VP1 but can be seen from VP2 as well.
Obviously we would normally send you up to the Avalon Hide but it remains closed for the time being. We are hopeful that we can get up there next week to check out the structure (water levels should have dropped sufficiently by then) to make sure nothing has moved after being underwater for so long. We will then need to get some stone out along the path to firm it up where we can and of course give the hide a jolly good clean out as the Barn Owls have made a bit of a mess in our absence.
We've been pumping constantly for some time now but the pumps have caught up finally and this is giving us a chance to empty out some of the compartments such as in front of VP1 and to a lesser extent VP2 (we will have to go a bit slower here as not to rewet the Avalon Hide path too much before getting those repairs done). You'll notice the tide mark on the reeds and can see how much the water has dropped. Some land is beginning to show and we hope that we will at least get a few waders passing through.
A couple of Redshank have been out there this week and were there this morning. Perhaps the water still needs to drop a little more to keep them satisfied as they chose to perch on the rails yesterday for a while:
Lapwing have also been spotted out here. A dozen flew over this morning but only one dropped in. Others have been spotted over at Waltons on the island opposite the third screen (water still a little high but we are reliant on gravity here to shed water so need surrounding drains to drop) and in front of VP2:
Lapwing with Shoveler and Teal for company at VP2: Sandie Andrews
Lapwing at Waltons: Mike Uren
The lower waters may also attract the Great White Egrets back in - it's a great place to see them normally but perhaps of late they have preferred to fish on the edges of the drains rather than sit out here. Sandie's image below was taken at VP2 (the egret was on the edge of the drain), while John Crispin's photo shows a trio of birds flying past VP1:
In fact we have done quite well with the long legged birds this week. As well as the Cranes and Great White Egrets you can add 4 Glossy Ibis seen feeding on Sunday evening at Waltons but also flying over on Monday morning. No pics for the blog unfortunately but if you have access to twitter (or X as it's now known) you can see images people have shared there.
The Grey Herons continue to nest in the Waltons reed beds and adult birds can be seen dropping into the reeds to tend to partners or to swap over for incubating any eggs.
Bitterns are booming well, although we only had 12 (plus one just outside our boundary) on last week's survey which was lower than expected. To be fair the weather wasn't on the surveyors side and we always go conservative on the totals. Hopefully the second survey in April will ring a higher yield. Some flights have been seen this week - not a huge number but it's still early. VP1 has brought a few sightings to visitors including this one for John Crispin distant from VP1:
In surrounding fields to local reserves you can still see Cattle Egrets. 48 were seen next to Ham Wall to the south at the weekend and c180 seen between Westhay and Shapwick this week.
To add to your herons list you may see Little Egret - actually less common here than the others mentioned. This individual was seen by Mike Pearce this week perched in a tree by the main path:
Mike also saw some long legs of a very different kind here, with this Marsh Crane Fly:
Lots more insects are now about on the reserve - good job as many will be fodder for arriving migrating birds.
Butterflies will increase in number as things warm up. Plenty of Brimstone have been seen this week in sunny spells and a few Peacock too. Bumblebees are also increasing and many flowers are beginning to open to tempt them in. Blackthorn is in flower and many new buds are coming through on the trees, such as the willow below in Sandie Andres' photo. Spring is doing it's best to banish winter (it's not quite there yet):
Plenty of other signs of spring are being spotted too. The Grass Snakes are being tempted out of there hibernation sites - a few have been seen at the old rail bridge along with a Common Lizard or two plus some Adders were seen at the Ham Wall end of Shapwick Heath including 5 juveniles - that's great news.
Bird song is gradually building. Plenty of Chiffchaff were singing this morning along with Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Dunnock, Song Thrush & Goldfinch whilst in the reed beds were some very vocal Cettis Warblers and few Reed Buntings:
Male Reed Bunting: John Crispin
Many birds are already underway with nesting while others are looking for the perfect materials to make a start such as there Carrion Crows seen on the main path by VP2 this week:
Competition for a mate or the best territories can lead to confrontations. 2 Robins were witnessed having a bit of a dispute this week by Mike Pearce. Apparently it got quite violent but both survived the ordeal. Here's one of them showing an aggressive pose:
Out on the water Coots are quite well known for having a bit of a skirmish. There's often a lot of splashing and noise but it soon settles down. Here's one making a bit of a splash this week and photographed by Sandie Andrews:
It's not all violence - there's a lot of love out there too. Great Crested Grebes have been spotted reinforcing pair bonds with their wonderful displays but also seen mating. Waltons is a good place to try and spot them:
You don't often see them in flight, so it often takes a couple of seconds to work out what you are looking at. John Crispin managed these shots of grebes in flight this week:
You may still see the odd Wigeon and Teal but these will soon disappear and perhaps a Stonechat or two - generally winter visitors to Ham Wall. Redpoll and Siskin tend to disappear from the reserve too. All have been seen this week including this Stonechat in front of VP1:
This Siskin was seen last Friday but they along with Redpoll (now looking far more colourful) have been seen daily:
Look out for these along the main path in the Alders. Apart from all the song birds, several of which I've already mentioned keep your ears open for drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers and your eyes peeled for birds such as Treecreeper - one was seen close to VP2 this week by Sandie Andrews:
Our spring/summer visitors are arriving slowly. Groups of Sand Martins are being spotted - generally small groups but a group of 100 or so were spotted on the southern edge of the reserve on Saturday (16th). More Garganey are now present to and it was wonderful to hear that 4 were present at VP1 this morning (3 males and 1 female). This male was present yesterday:
Also this week: a Whooper Swan seen at VP2 yesterday, Ravens seen flying over the reserve and often seen at the car park, 2 Sparrowhawk seen over the car park on Tuesday (one of them pictured below), Little Grebes and Water Rails both calling loudly, Tawny Owl also heard calling at the car park and roosting in the camera box that can be seen in the car park kiosk, Kingfisher seen at VP1 & Waltons, Goldcrest along the main track, Otter and a cub seen from VP1 today at about 12.30pm and Bearded Tits heard by the Tor View Hide path and the one visible bird photographed by Mike Uren below:
Sparrowhawk (one of two over the car park); Sandie Andrews
Female Bearded Tit by Tor View Hide path: Mike Uren
That's it for this week. Thanks as always to those who have contributed there amazing photos: John Crispin, Sandie Andrews, Mike Pearce & Mike Uren.
Have a great weekend.
A great report Stephen. So much to see at Ham Wall. Some great photos too. Thank you.