Not got a lot of time today so it may be a quicker blog than usual I'm afraid. Still plenty to talk about however so lets get started. The Starlings continue to draw in the visitors as expected and the main roost has remained on Ham Wall with most birds using the area distant of the 2nd platform. Smaller roosts are occurring in both the Waltons section and on Shapwick Heath. Hopefully if they move visitors or volunteers will be able to update us so we can pass that on to you. The best thing to do is to phone the Starling hotline on 07866 554142 to find out which site they are on then if they are at our reserve or close by, staff or volunteers in our visitor building will be able to guide you closer to the action.
Lots of other stuff to see on any visit or while you wait for the starlings. Start at the car park and look out for the firecrests. Lots of sightings this week of at least 2 birds but they are quite mobile. They've been seen in the picnic area, at the small copse on the mini marshes trail, right by the visitor building in the small bush (as I found out on Monday) and in the left hand corner by the road (as you face the road - as I found out on Wednesday) and in the tree lines and boardwalk leading to the reserve (see there yesterday). There are goldcrests about to so look for the black eye stripe and white surround of the eye to distinguish them.
On the walk to the reserve look out for a number of birds along the main path including gangs of Long Tailed Tits and other mixed flocks, treecreeper (also seen at Loxtons), great spotted woodpecker, noisy jays and groups of redpoll & siskin seen in the alders - particularly down towards Loxtons end. a group of around 50 Redpoll were reported by a visitor on Tuesday and both were photographed by a visitor this morning.
The first and second platforms (VP1 & VP2) offer varying numbers of birds each day. Lapwing numbers fluctuate but a peak of over 300 birds were seen there on Monday morning and there is often a great white egret feeding in this area. Look out also for Snipe which are using the area along with wigeon, shoveler, mallard and gadwall. You may also get the odd bittern sighting as John Crispin discovered yesterday morning thanks John. He's also zoomed in on the shot to show us the long claws it has in its weaponry.
VP2 offers much the same, although often you will see more great white egrets here. You may be lucky enough to see more birds in the early morning. You could come and watch the starlings take off and perhaps, as John Crispin did, see several Great Whites take off too from a few different areas. Thanks again John:
He also had 3 perched in trees at Loxtons this week:
There was a possible Bewick swan in this area on Wednesday and Whooper Swans have been seen locally (including Noah's lake on Shapwick Heath) this week. Look out here also for Sparrowhawk - a few sightings here this week - a good chance of a sighting of one around starling time - no surprises there. Also a peregrine sighted on Tuesday. Look out also for tufted duck amongst the wildfowl with 3 males and a female sen yesterday - also a chance of pintail as they often use this area at this time of year. Greylags and Canada geese also grace the area on most days. Thanks again to Nicola Berry for her shot of Canada geese:
A walk to the Avalon Hide will take you past the newly cut and flooded areas. Water still rising slowly in here at present. Teal are enjoying the area with around 150 spotted yesterday along with gadwall & mallard. On the stretch before the wood there were around 50 meadow pipits yesterday but there were also water pipit so look out for them. In the same area a few pied wagtails were feeding as were both male and female stonechat. Thanks to Nicola Berry for her photo taken this week:
The final path to the hide once you leave the wood offered us Bearded Tits on Thursday with 3 or 4 heard but not seen. The same thing true of birds heard at VP2 and Tor View Hide this week. A Kestrel was hunting frequently both sides of the Avalon Hide and over the newly flooded area this week. The hide, as always, offers good views of Marsh Harriers as has the Waltons area - including Tor View Hide and VP2. You can also see occasional fly overs in the car park of both Marsh Harriers and Buzzards.
Early mornings or late in the day often give good opportunities for some atmospheric shots - I've posted a few recently. Here's another couple from Nicola Berry taken this week - thanks Nicola:
How about a close encounter with a heron on a misty morning:
and closer still.....
Also this week: 4 Ravens over VP2 yesterday but also over the car park on a few days this week, a single Ruff seen from VP2 on Tuesday, Song Thrush also from VP2 yesterday, Water Rail seen from the Tor View Hide on Monday but many being heard around the reserve daily, Fieldfare of VP2 yesterday and Chiffchaff reported along the main path. Here's one snapped by John Crispin yesterday - thanks John:
That's it for this week - sorry it's been a bit of a whirlwind report this week - there's just so much to do on this busy reserve - but isn't it a wonderful place. Have a great weekend!