Apologies for the lack of a sightings blog last week. Unfortunately I was attending a funeral but many thanks to my colleague Abbie who posted a great blog about our four spotted chaser dragonfly roost.
The best spot to see them en masse is around the south eastern section of the Waltons trail. I was lucky enough to see them myself early in the week. Hundreds, if not thousands were present. The best time to go is earlier in the day if you want to see them settled on the reed stems, warming up before take off. other times of day will offer clouds of the rising up as you walk past. Very impressive.
This is a close up of what you are looking for - thanks to Giles Morris for his image:
All dragonflies have the dark mark near the wing tip but these have an extra dark mark/spot further down - hence the name.
Here's what you may encounter with an earlier start to see the roost before the heat of the day takes effect. Thanks to Victoria Hillman for her photo taken this week:
Plenty of other dragonflies and damselflies to look out for too. the closest looking to the above is the female Scarce Chaser (the male is blue), again photographed by Giles Morris this week. Note the lack of the extra spot on the wings. Thanks Giles:
Other dragonflies recorded this week include: Hairy dragonfly, Emperor, Black Tailed Skimmer, Broad Bodied and Southern Hawker - yet to see my first Emperor or Southern Hawker but they should be far more plentiful over the next week or so.
You will certainly notice the large collective of blue damselflies on your travels. Generally they will be one of 3 species. The first identifying factor to look for, for me at least, is the first mark behind the head. The least numerous these days bizarrely is the Common Blue Damselfly. The first mark behind the head looks like a ball on a stick (Lollipop shape perhaps). A little hidden in Giles' photo but it's there:
There are also Azure Damselflies. The shape to look for here is like a cup shape with a thin line up each side:
Then we have Variable Damselfly, which as it's name suggests does have variable markings just to make things nice and tricky. Here are a couple of examples:
Thanks to Giles Morris for sending in his photos (all damselfly and dragonfly photos courtesy of Giles Morris).
There are other damselflies of course such as the Blue tailed Damselfly:
Nice and easy - you might think! But check that it doesn't have big red eyes or it will be Red Eyed Damselfly like this mating pair:
These can often be seen on floating vegetation such as lily pads - check out the main drains either from the road bridge or the old rail bridge on the main track.
Look out also for the wonderful Banded Demoiselles. Males are metallic blue with dark bands through their wings (females are metallic green). Again, either of those bridge locations would be a good place to try.
Report of a Downy Emerald yesterday close to the second viewing platform (VP2) - have to confess I know very little about these.
If you're at either of those bridges look closely for snakes or Common Lizard basking in the sun. I saw a Grass Snake by the old rail bridge this morning and one was seen swimming here on Monday. An Adder was also spotted here by one of our volunteers on Saturday (21st).
Spring and summer is a real feast of insects at Ham Wall - quite literally for many of our bird species with so many hungry mouths to feed.
Hobbies (or Hobbys or Hobby - depending on your preference of the plural) are being seen daily although much less frequently than a couple of weeks ago. Most have passed through, with any staying on likely to be breeding locally. With the weather so warm - remember to scan the skies a bit higher for them and many other species - you never know what you might spot.
A couple of sightings of Common Crane recently - 4 together last week and a single on Monday over the car park. Lots of birds high up on thermals including Buzzard and Marsh Harrier but keep your eyes peeled for Red Kite too - several sightings over the last few weeks - almost daily. That includes this morning when one flew over the first viewing platform (VP1) and 2 yesterday over VP2.
VP1 still has a few waders to offer but the regrowth of vegetation is beginning to make it a little more tricky. Lapwing are still present along with Redshank but the presence of a new colony of Black Headed Gulls on the barest patch may cause them a few issues. There were at least 4 nests a couple of weeks ago but the number of birds present now suggests this could now be higher.
Common Sandpiper has also been recorded this week along with Little Ringed Plover and a group of Black Tailed Godwits which varies in number each day, There were around 30 yesterday but up to 70 at one point last week.
These were photographed in flight this week by John Crispin (note the Red Kite just underneath).Thanks John:
VP1 has also been quite a good place to see Bitterns ( I saw one in flight here this morning) - there are feeding flights going on all around the reserve but it's not a sure thing - earlier in the morning is often best. You can also still hear several males booming.
There have also been a few chase flights - most likely is males chasing females. Thanks to John Crispin for the following 2 photos both taken this week. The first from VP1 and the second from VP2:
Last week from VP1 saw a Black Tern in summer plumage. It was present for long periods feeding with it's typical erratic looking flight - it makes photographing it quite tricky, so thanks to John Crispin for his valiant efforts he has sent in:
Some other erratic behaviour now - these two Great Crested Grebes were seen over on Waltons this week having a bit of an altercation. There was no evidence of either pair having any young - so perhaps one strayed over territory lines. Either that or all the hot weather has got the in a bad temper. Thanks to John Crispin for his photo sequence:
No young seen here but plenty of birds on site do have young. Marsh Harriers are busy in several locations - including from VP1, VP2 and the Avalon Hide. A further nest we believed may have failed has possibly started again with a male seen carrying in nesting material.
Barn Owl have been seen out hunting in the middle of the day on several occasions. Given the lack of rain day or night this can only mean they have young owlets to feed. We watched one for several minutes hunting up and down on Wednesday morning. This would have been visible from the old rail bridge or VP1 to the far west before the trees.
A few broods of duck have been spotted including some Mallard within Waltons and this cute looking Canada Goose snapped by John Crispin this week:
You can still see young Moorhen chicks at the car park pools or perhaps run into some Coot with rather less cute looking young like these, again photographed by John Crispin. Thanks John:
You'll also see plenty of smaller birds bustling around collecting food for young birds. Thanks to John Crispin for sending in his shot of a Willow Warbler with a food packet:
Many birds such as Willow Warbler can still be heard singing throughout the day along with Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Song Thrush, Blackbird, the ever friendly Robins, tits and finches all contributing to the chorus. thanks to John Crispin for his shots of Long tailed Tits taken along the main path:
In the reed beds listen out for the constant chatter of Reed warblers, calling Reed Buntings and the punchy call of the Cettis Warbler. Around the edged listen out for Sedge Warblers - far more erratic chattering than the Reed warblers - great to hear.
Whilst listening for all these wonderful birds see if can can catch the call of the Cuckoo - still being heard daily. 2 were spotted fighting for about 20 minutes last week right to the eastern end of the reserve. If this wasn't enough a Barn Owl flew past up the drain as well. 2 other Cuckoos flew over VP2 on Saturday (21st)
Also this week: A Spoonbill flew over the car park on Monday, Stock Doves heard calling in the woods to the west of the reserve, Tawny Owls heard calling in the evenings, Green Woodpeckers heard calling daily - they must be breeding somewhere nearby, Hornets being spotted at a few locations - including some using a bird box as a nest near the car park, a roe deer ran past VP2 yesterday afternoon on the grass path opposite whilst in the morning a Muntjac had done the same thing twice, a Weasel seen at VP1 on Monday, Kingfisher spotted at the far eastern end of the reserve yesterday and Great Spotted Woodpeckers seen daily.
Phew! I'd better leave it there I think. With the bank holiday coming up you've plenty of opportunity to come and seek some of this stuff out for yourselves - happy hunting all.
Just before I go the visitor experience team have asked me to let you know of some upcoming events we are running:
Family Pond Dipping – 03 June 2023, slots are available at 11am, 12pm and 1pm.
There’s a secret world hidden all around us, full of amazing creatures…come and explore our pond habitat and see what you can find!
This event is aimed at children aged between 5-12 years. Each time slot booking is for 1 child and up to 1 adult (aged 18 years and over) to pond dip for 45 minutes. 1 adult can accompany a maximum of 2 children. Prices are £4.50 for child RSPB members and £5.50 for child non-RSPB members. Cost includes a 50p booking fee.
Women only dusk walk at RSPB Ham Wall – 04 June 2023 7:30pm – 10pm
To coincide with the beautiful full strawberry/rose moon, we are hosting a women’s only walk at dusk around RSPB Ham Wall. This is an event created and led by women, for women. This walk provides an opportunity for those who may not feel comfortable going out in nature alone, to experience the reserve and all that it has to offer during the evening.
Join us for a 7.30pm start for a 2.5 hour guided walk around the reserve, taking in the beauty of the full moon and the reserve at dusk.
This event is open to anybody who identifies as a woman. We also welcome non binary people who feel comfortable in a women's only space to this event.
We are also hosting a ‘Wellbeing walk for men’ on 17 June and ‘Dusk at RSPB Ham Wall’ guided walks on 09 June and 24 June 2023. Please see our events page for more information and to book any of the above events - https://events.rspb.org.uk/hamwall.
That's it for this week. thanks for reading and have a great bank holiday weekend