Still getting a few firsts for the season - keeps life interesting anyway. Finally, the first Whitethroat of the season has appeared at the first viewing platform (VP1). This is a top spot annually for these birds but this individual has taken its time arriving this year. Hopefully, a mate is around somewhere. Look out for it perched up on top of vegetation or see its parachuting flight.
Lots of other warblers singing well in the trees this morning including Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Garden Warbler. The latter two sound very similar. I had one each side of the track today just past the second viewing platform (VP2). The Garden Warbler being far more rushed and not quite so fluty as the Blackcap. They also tend to be more continuous in their song. Finding a pair like this is a great way to learn those subtle differences.
Whilst walking around Loxtons a Cettis Warbler flew past me and perched for a microsecond before diving into some brambles and belting out its loud call. Plenty can be heard around the reserve - seeing them is becoming a little harder now as the vegetation becomes more lush.
Cettis Warbler: John Crispin
Within the reedbeds, you can hear the constant chattering of Reed Warblers and of course the slightly more crazy but similar Sedge Warbler. Again two near each other is helpful to tell the difference - the Avalon Hide path earlier this week, provided such an opportunity. Visually, they are a little easier to tell apart (when you can catch sight of them through the reeds):
Reed Warbler: Chris Cardno
Sedge Warbler: Sandie Andrews
The Reed Warblers in particular need to watch out for Cuckoos. Being seen and heard each day this week including birds seen flying over the car park and this morning from VP1. One was claaing well from the back of Waltons on Tuesday but I didn't get to see it unfortunately:
Look out also in the reeds for Reed Bunting - heard calling both at the Avalon Hide and the Tor View Hide this week:
Some other firsts this week have been emergences of Emperor Dragonfly (our largest) and I spotted my first Scarce Chaser of the season too. There are still a few Hairy Dragonflies around and many hundreds of Four Spotted Chasers - particularly around the Waltons Trail but they can be spotted all over really.
Hairy Dragonfly: Chris Cardno
Four Spotted Chaser: Chris Cardno
Many dragonflies can still be seen emerging - the warmer days obviously tend to be better:
I was lucky enough to see a Four Spot myself clinging to the side of the Tor View Hide on Tuesday having just emerged:
The first Common Blue Damselfly was spotted this morning and Red Eyed Damselflies are also now out. Check out lily pads and other floating vegetation of these (perhaps at the old rail bridge). These join Azure, Blue Tailed, Variable and Large Red which are also present along with the gorgeous Banded Demoiselles - again the old rail bridge good for these, Look out for the banding across the wing to ID the males.
Common Blue Damselfly: Alison Morgan
Red Eyed Damselfly: Chris Cardno
Plenty of other bugs around for people to enjoy. It was great to see bug hunters out on the reserve this morning taking photos of the many different bugs present. When you really look it's amazing the variety you can see.
Mike Pearce saw this Swollen-thighed Beetle this morning:
Plenty of other beetles, hoverflies and bumblebees around too and of course butterflies. Red Admiral particularly noticeable this morning but also seen: Holly Blue, Green Veined While, Speckled Wood and Orange Tip. Brimstone also seen this week enjoying the Comfrey Flowers:
This pair were also photographed by Sandie in a courtship flight:
She also took this lovely shot of a long-jawed Orbweaver:
Whilst sitting in the Tor View Hide for a bit on Tuesday it was nice to see the variety of birds on show - it's not often I just get to sit and watch a while. There were a couple of pairs of Great Crested Grebes - one each side. One pair had 2 young (still present this morning) and the others looked to be nest building and were carry weeds to a pile.
The other also had weeds but were presenting them to each other and were head bobbing too. Perhaps thinking about having a second brood.
Grey Herons were also dropping into the reed beds quite regularly - still with active nests and it was great to see a pair of Mute Swans with seven cygnets swimming about. This individual was keeping it's eye on Sandie Andrews as she photographed it early one morning this week:
Coots were also present on the nest on the east side until the parents got off and called and 3 little balls of feathers jumped off into the water. They looked a lot like this youngster seen by John Crispin:
Here's one a little older seen by Sandie Andrews this week:
Coots often add a lot of noise and action to the proceedings and can often be seen in altercations and chasing each other off. This one is running across the water - not sure if its the aggressor or the target:
Plenty of busy birds out there collecting food or hunting. This Great Tit is one such bird:
Great Tits were also going into one of our boxes in the little garden behind the Welcome Hut this morning. Meanwhile the young Tawny Owl from the camera box has fledged this week, which is great news.
Other birds are a little further along with some fully fledged birds being spotted and others not quite ready for full independence just yet such as this Chaffinch:
This young Pochard must be pretty much there - no parents were nearbly:
There was however plenty of activity from Pochards nearby- mostly males and a couple of females being very feisty with lots of chasing around - mating behaviour perhaps?
A couple of other chases here. First a Lapwing chasing a Marsh Harrier - most likely this Lapwing has young or at least a nest nearby:
Marsh Harriers doing well this year. The Avalon Hide a good place to see them but equally they can be seen over Waltons or at either platform, so generally good easy sightings.
Not so easy to see are Bitterns but sightings are coming through. It's a right place, right time kind of scenario. Chases have been seen this week with a chase from 4 birds at the Avalon Hide earlier in the week and a three from VP1 this morning and numerous other sightings of pairs during the week including one chase lasting around 10 minutes. Multiple birds is most likely males chasing females. This is also the case with pairs but sometimes it can be a male chasing off another males - sometimes with aggression.
Quite a few single flights have been seen from VP1 this week. The wide vista here gives a good chance of a sighting. This pair were photographed by Sandie Andrews this week. The pale lores on the chasing bird suggest this is a male chasing a female:
Their close relative the Great White Egret seemed to be everywhere this morning with several individuals around Waltons. One stood right by the Tor View Hide at one point. They can often be seen fishing in the same places or flying together such as these from VP1:
Also from VP1 this balancing act:
Little Egrets can be seen occasionally and Cattle Egrets are in small numbers in local fields many with the yellowing plumage. Occasional fly overs on the reserve too with 2 seen from VP2.
As mentioned early Grey Herons are still dropping into active nests in Waltons, whilst some have already fledged:
Also this week: Cranes still being spotted at the Avalon Hide but behaviour change could mean they have hatched (or failed - hope not) but time will tell I guess, Plenty of Swifts over each day, Hobby also spotted each day - I've seen them over the car park and from VP1 but not in large numbers, Osprey also over VP1 this morning, Redshank calling from VP1 but very few sightings this week, Buzzards seen frequently, Jays seen a few times including one being chased by 2 small birds (perhaps Blue Tits chasing it away from their nest), several Red Kites spotted this week including a group of 7 on Tuesday and a local report of as many as 15 together (photo of one individual seen this week below), Grass Snake & Common Lizard seen at the old rail bridge (sunny spells better obviously), Kestrel seen from VP1, Pintail again seen at VP2 this week and Great Spotted Woodpecker (pictured below) seen at several locations including our car park feeders this morning.
That's it for this week. Thanks as always for the wonderful photos and other contributions from: John Crispin, Sandie Andrews, Mike Pearce, Chris Cardno & Alison Morgan.
Thanks for reading - have a great bank holiday weekend!