The weeks seem to be flying by at the moment. Maybe because there is plenty of work to keep staff and volunteers busy.
Winter has always traditionally been a busy time as we undertake much of the habitat management work to keep the reserve in tip top shape for wildlife. Some volunteers have continued to strengthen some of the viewing screens around Waltons, while others have been taking on some scrub work over the last couple of weeks to cut back overhanging branches, cut back some of our pollards and open up views down channels.
All these little extra vistas and viewpoints make a big difference in bringing wildlife closer to visitors and as always there is plenty for people to see. For those looking for those extra ticks on their bird lists there's a few things we may be able to offer.
A trip to either the first platform (VP1) or The Tor View Hide within the Waltons section could bring rewards of ferruginous duck (drake plus a female reported from Shapwick Heath this week too) - seen from VP1 earlier in the week and from Tor View Hide later in the week including this morning.
Joining it there this morning was the ring necked duck - it's been seen in this area pretty much every day this week and photographed by John Crispin below. It's worth checking both these areas for these two. Also on Monday a scaup reported from the Tor View Hide although another visitor suggested that it may have been a hybrid of some kind but worth looking out for.
Ring necked duck: John Crispin
Ring necked duck with tufted ducks: John Crispin
Whilst scanning these areas you'll most likely see plenty of other species including mallard, gadwall, wigeon, teal, shoveler and pochard (plus occasional pintail). Look out also for the Glossy Ibis - despite spending much of its time hanging with the cattle egrets locally it does drop in to visit from time to time (often landing here as on Monday and Tuesday). Cattle egrets and the glossy ibis are still roosting on Ham Wall each night so look out for flocks at dusk. They can sometimes be seen during the day with 20 flying over the car park on Saturday.
Great crested grebes have been seen here too displaying again but also what looks to be a half-hearted attempt at nest building. A small platform was started but it came to nothing. Some coots decided to sit on the structure for a bit of preening however.
A better place to spot the pintails could be the 2nd platform (VP2) with a few sightings this week. John Crispin manged to take this shot yesterday of 2 males and 2 females. Thanks John!
Also seen this week was this pochard with a 'nose saddle' - colour pale green with H in front and ko either side. John Crispin reported this to Euring and so Far he's been told it was ringed in France. Details have been apssed onto Alain Caizergues co-ordinator for the ringing project. If he finds anything else out he'll let me know - thank you John!
Other slightly rarer birds this week include the Siberian chiffchaff seen and heard in the car park this morning and a firecrest seen along the main track through the reserve. The trees along the track are always worth a look. In spring and summer they are full of warblers but at this time of year look out for redpoll seen a few times this week in the alders and siskins - with 7 seen together yesterday. Also sighted on the main track this week apart from all the usual tits and finches: treecreeper, goldcrest, song thrush, chiffchaff and bullfinch.
Look out for bullfinch in and around the car park too. A pair have been reported at least 4 times this week. They were seen close to the toilet block on Tuesday and on Monday and Wednesday in the hedge lines on the other side of the car park and next to the road. The male is a particularly stunning bird isn't it!
Great Spotted Woodpeckers are being seen pretty regularly from all corners of the reserve. I've heard plenty of tapping on wood but also full drumming this week. John Crispin caught this one in the act over in Loxtons (seen from the main track) drumming on the shorter dead stem - thanks for the photo John!
They can often be seen and heard in the wood close to the Avalon Hide. The path is still pretty muddy but we've managed to get the water off the path so access here is easier at least. After my wonderful sighting of a mother otter and 2 cubs last Friday they were seen again on Sunday morning from the hide - keep an eye open. Whilst you do take regular look back towards the wood to the owl box. Tawny owls are still using it and one sat outside for some time on Monday giving great views.
In front of the hide look out for bitterns - a few reports from here again this week and a report of a boom from a male bird. As we pass through February into March and beyond this noise will become far more obvious and widespread throughout the Avalon Marshes.
Marsh Harriers are regulars here too although 2 males (one adult and one sub adult) have been seen across the reserve this week. They've bred in front of the hide for the last few years so expect to see the same again - we hope so anyway!
Also reported from the Avalon Hide this week: peregrine, sparrowhawk, great white egret, stonechat, golden plover (presumably flying over - I have no more info on this), a range of wildfowl along with groups of lapwing and snipe.
For lapwing and snipe perhaps check the temporary blind out to the right just before you enter the wood to go the the Avalon Hide. A good 300 lapwing there during the week - maybe more and several groups of snipe roaming around c50+ in some groups but also some birds on the ground hidden amongst the throngs of teal and shoveler on Monday.
Lots of snipe being sen over Waltons too, with these snapped by John Crispin this week:
Starlings are moving to and fro between Ham Wall and Shapwick. Weds and Thursday night saw them roosting at Shapwick Heath opposite the tower hide so parking at the Ham Wall car park still the best option. Of course you can phone the hotline which will tell you where the main roost was the night before on 07866 554142 or ask in the Welcome building in the Ham Wall car park where staff and volunteers will do their best to help.
Also on the reserve this week: Water rail seen both at the Tor View Hide and the Loxtons screen during the week, buzzard seen daily including the car park, 2 jays seen at the car park on Monday, 30-40 fieldfares flew over the reserve on Saturday, little grebes being very vocal with 3 pairs in Loxtons alone (and a pair of great crested grebe), mistle thrush seen twice at the car park this week, 2 barn owls seen outside the box opposite VP1 on Tuesday, Peregrine and sparrowhawk seen several times throughout the week including today, Ravens seen and heard on almost a daily basis at the moment and plenty of kingfisher activity particularly around Waltons and Loxtons.
If you follow us or other RSPB pages on Facebook and want to see our stories pop up in your feed you'll find that Facebook have made some changes to your Newsfeed. That means to continue to see our blog, events news and all our fun and informative material, we are highlighting that you will need to change your Newsfeed Preferences to include our page. We do hope you will make this easy change, as we love hearing from you and seeing what you’ve been up to during your week when giving nature a home. Here is our step-by-step guide:
1. Click on the Facebook app on your phone.
2. Select the options button (bottom right hand corner, triple bar).
3. Scroll down to 'Settings' and click on 'News Feed Preferences'.
4. Click on the 'Prioritise who to see first' tab.
5. You should see a list of all your friends, pages you like and businesses. Find 'RSPB Ham Wall' and tap our icon.
6. A star with a blue background will appear in the top right hand corner of that profile.
7. Click 'Done' at the top to save this preference selection and 'Done' again to return to your options menu. All done!
Obviously if you follow other pages click on their icons too.
Also please, if you haven't done so already vote for Ham Wall in the Countryfile Awards 2018 for Nature Reserve of the Year.
You can do it by following the link here: bit.ly/2DqOvhN
Please also sign up for our Thunderclap on Facebook and Twitter. It means a big post will go out to all contacts at the same time and have a bigger impact in peoples news feeds etc.
It's very simple and you can do that here. https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/66978-vote-now-for-rspb-ham-wall
Please encourage all your friends and family to vote for us too. Thank you.
Think that's about it for this week. Thanks as always to John Crispin for his excellent photos. Have a great weekend everybody!