We've been very lucky in recent weeks with the weather being so mild but it's been a bit of a reality check this week with the colder spell and a reminder that it is actually late November and it should be colder. There's been a bit of a shift in bird behaviour too. Starling numbers, as expected are increasing - most likely 100,000 birds at least roosting each night. They have been pretty consistent in using the Loxtons area and just behind but of course this could change at any point given the extensive area of the Avalon Marshes from which they can choose. Remember we do run the Starling Hotline which will give you the last known location of the roost and any other relevant information 07866 554142 is the number to call. We also of course have staff and volunteers manning the welcome building in the car park until at least 4pm every day whenever possible and they will be only to willing to point you in the right direction.
More groups of fieldfare and redwing have also been seen this week. A group of around 50 flew over the car park on Monday and several smaller groups have been spotted around the reserve this week.
Fieldfare: John Crispin
There have also been some larger groups of lesser redpoll along the main path too. Look out in the alder trees in particular for these birds. Plenty of groups of around 15-20 but one group of around 60 seen on Monday - it's been an number of years since we had groups of that size. There may also be siskins travelling with them or separately in small groups - as many as 11 seen in one party.
Along the main path plenty of small mixed flocks - always worth a quick scan to see what else may be there amongst the tits and finches. Plenty of chiffchaff (up to 8 seen), goldcrest (again 8 seen) may well have infiltrated the groups. Keep your eyes open also for the odd bullfinch or treecreeper also spotted along the path this week.
The yellow browed warblers (2 of them) have been spotted this week. Again along the main path between the boardwalk leaving the car park and the metal gate to the left or even slightly further. Worth waiting around for a few minutes to have a listen. Whilst waiting on Wednesday a visitor reported 5 linnet,redpoll, siskin, bullfinch, chiffchaff and then the 2 warblers all in the same area.
Larger groups of lapwing also seen this week. I witnessed around 500 fly over Waltons and the 1st viewing platform area (VP1) on Monday - a lovely sight.
Contractors using floating cutting machines called Truxors have been working in several areas this week. In particular opening up views from viewing structures/hides etc. The area in front of VP1 is no exception and has now been opened up a bit and we have also manged to get a bit more water in there too to make things more interesting. There were certainly a number of duck in there yesterday afternoon with shoveler, pochard, tufted duck, mallard, gadwall, teal and wigeon all recorded. Great white egrets are frequent visitors here and there's always a chance of snipe with 15 seen yesterday at one point.
Shoveler: John Crispin
The newly cut areas have historically proved to be good places to spot bitterns. The contractors reported seeing one walking in the newly cut patches at VP1 yesterday and last year one was frequently seen in front of the Avalon Hide - so definitely worth looking at. Other sightings of bittern this week include the Avalon Hide, Tor View Hide and Loxtons.
The Avalon Hide is a good place to sit and wait a while. With the newly cut areas bittern are are a real possibility as are of course the great white egrets which frequent the area. Such elegant birds as John Crispin's photo shows:
Greta white egret: John Crispin
If you've not had enough of the heron family you could also catch sight of little egret and perhaps cattle egrets although I hear Catcott Lows may well be the place to go for these at the moment. The new scrape there is proving successful.
There are of course too the most familiar of the family - the grey heron. Often seen fishing along the main path - one or two will let you get quite close and get some great photos:
Grey heron: John Crispin
Another one of our star birds - the marsh harrier can be seen daily at Ham Wall. Sightings this week from the Avalon Hide, VP2, Tor View Hide and even over the car park. A lovely well marked male was seen from VP2 on Monday whilst there have been frequent sightings of females too like the picture below.
Marsh harrier: John Crispin
Early mornings can often be a good time to catch up with the marsh harriers as they quarter over the starling roost area, once they have left, in search of carrion. The early mornings are a great time to be out and about - frosty mornings can offer some good atmospheric photo ops as can the gossamer from spider webs trapped with dew or frost.
Cobwebs: John Crispin
There are a few other characters about that you might see too like this chap above. I have cheated slightly as this is an old photo of a fox but it reminded me of what I saw yesterday morning as a fox ran into a newly cut area of reed. They have been seen in public areas too in the past so you never know.
You may also see roe deer like these taken by Graham Wagner this week (the fox photo also belongs to Graham). There were some seen around the Waltons trail yesterday but these look to be along the grassy footpath right down by the last bridge which crosses back over to the main path.
Thanks for sending it in Graham,
Also seen this week: Stonechats - both male and female seen in front of VP1 on most days, Ravens seen flying over - I saw one myself at the Avalon Hide on Monday, a brambling seen along the main path on Monday, kingfishers seen from both platforms this week plus 2 from the Loxtons screen yesterday, a peregrine seen at the starling roost on Tuesday and a sparrowhawk on Monday, an otter reported from the Tor View Hide on Sunday and water pipits in the newly cut areas in front of VP1 on both of the last 2 days. VP2 continues to be a great place to see great white egrets but look out also for growing numbers of duck - 37 shoveler counted there this week and also waders such as snipe and lapwing which visit regularly.
Thats it for this week - have a great weekend