It's been yet another busy week for visitors on the reserve - helped in some way by the Hudsonian Godwit that's been frequenting our neighbors reserve at Natural England's Shapwick Heath. Many people have made a day of it and got there rarity and then come to visit us.
There's been plenty to show people but the star of the week has got to be the Hobby. Large groups have been reported by many visitors, particularly over Waltons, frequently in double figures. I counted around 25 myself on both Monday and Thursday but there have been counts of over 50 - Wow! that must be some sight. Many have flown over and in front of the 1st platform giving people much closer views. Their arrival has coincided with the emergence of hundreds of damselflies this week. Red Tailed, Azure and Blue tailed have all been spotted along with Hairy Dragonfly and the first Emperor. Broad Bodied Chaser the most likely candidate for the next species.
Blue Tailed Damselfly
The 1st platform has also been a good place to spot Bitterns this week with 2 birds flying together for several minutes yesterday. Not huge amounts of activity seen this week but this could of course be because females are sitting on eggs. Give it another week or 2 and activity should increase once more. There are a couple of lovely sounding boomers on the reserve at the moment - often booming during the day.
Great White Egrets are also performing well. 6 were seen together on Monday and there were some Little Egrets around too to show the size difference. 5 were seen together on Saturday 25th in the section between the 2 platforms along with 12 Little Egrets. Garganey have also been spotted here, from the Tor View Hide (a pair) and from the 1st platform yesterday (again a pair).
Garganey pair
Great Crested Grebes are still nesting here in the center and several waders are frequenting the area including Lapwing (daily) and Redshank (most days). This bird snapped by John Crispin on Monday.
A other waders have been seen this week including Snipe, 4 Dunlin on Sunday along with 2 Greenshank and a couple of Common Sandpipers. These have been seen at several locations including the rafts at both Waltons & Loxtons, between the 2 platforms and from the first platform itself.
Common Sandpiper
Whimbrel have also been seen in varying numbers this week anywhere from 1 up to 25 and on most days too. The largest group was encountered yesterday although around 7 did drop into the area in front of the first platform and sit on the islands for a while with Canada Geese for company. We seem to have a fair few Canada Geese around at the moment, although we have had a few Greylags including 2 on Thursday who had an Egyptian goose for company. It's been seen on a few days this week.
Whimbrel
The annual otter survey (nationally) happened this weekend. By carrying out the survey over 2 days you can tell if you have a fresh spraint over the 24 hours. One fresh spraint was recorded at Ham Wall which means we were paid a visit by otter.
The annual Water Rail monitoring also occurred this week (slightly later than normal). It's done by playing the males call (known as sharming) and recording replies from other males to work out the number of territories: 33 recorded at Ham Wall.
Also this week: sightings of both Barn Owl and Tawny Owl, Cuckoos - best places probably the back of Waltons and Loxtons (screen now open), 2 Cranes flying very high on Tuesday, 2 Coomon Terns over Loxtons on Thursday, 2 Wood Warbler along the rail path trees before the 1st platform last Saturday, an increase in the numbers of Garden Warbler & Willow Warbler on last year, the usual abundance of Blackcaps and several Shelduck sightings including 5 last weekend from the 1st platform and 1 on Monday and 2 on Tuesday.
That's it for this week. Have a great Bank Holiday weekend!