Yes, OK we've had howling gales and tonnes of rain but spring is still in the air - honest! Just look around you when you visit the reserve. Snowdrops and daffodils are out, frogspawn has been seen in pols and there's even the odd bumblebee and butterfly (Red Admiral spotted) out on the wing in the warmer spells.
Our feathered friends are being extremely vocal. Walk along the main track and you'll hear Song Thrush, Robin, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Dunnock and Blackbird all giving it a good go. Some have been taking an interest in some of the bird boxes we have set up. On the boardwalk bridge exiting the car park both Great Tit & Blue Tit inspected the same box, with just 17 seconds separating the two photos from John Crispin - thanks John!
Who's your money on to claim this des res?
In the reedbeds Reed Bunting are being heard whilst Cettis Warbler have no problem making themselves noticed with their punchy calls. Over the next few weeks look out for them staking claims to their territories. They will often perch up and become far more obvious until these territorial claims & disputes are resolved. It's a good time to see them and perhaps get some good photos.
Another loud mouth is the Water Rail. You'll almost certainly hear them from the Tor View Hide path. I often see visitors turning around as they hear them straining to see them - usually without success, although they sound so close. Best to sit quietly in the hide itself and hope for a sighting on the reed edge (one was seen here on Wednesday).
While you wait perhaps listen out for Bitterns. Several are booming, albeit weakly, around the reserve, with one within Waltons and one to the south this morning. There's been a couple of flights reported too from both the Tor View Hide and the Avalon Hide where booming has also been heard.
Both hides also offer the chance to see the Great Crested Grebes with a variety of behaviors - such interesting birds to watch. John Crispin has submitted a great series of photos but also the following annotation to accompany them - thought I'd share it with you - thanks John!
"This time of year the courting and mating behaviour of the Great Crested Grebe is in full swing. It not just about the famous weed dance that the couple perform or the frequent head shaking, there are other signs to look out for. With the weed dance the pair of Great Crested Grebe both dive away from each other and then swim together each with a beak full of weed. On meeting, they both stand vertical and present the weed to each other in a head shaking movement.
Sometimes after a bout of head shaking the male will suddenly and with great energy run/fly away from the female, after a few yards this run/fly stops and he performs ( which I think is the most elegant of moves ) a squat with wings folded up showing off the pattern of the upper wing. He then turns towards the female and the act is now over.
The actual mating behaviour starts with the birds making a rudimentary platform out of old reeds and other vegetation. When both are satisfied with the platform the female lays prone on the platform and the male hops up onto the females back in a vertical position. After mating he then moves over the back and head of the female and that is the mating act completed. Sometimes this platform is then made into a nest, or the couple may choose a completely different area to build their nest".
Weed Dance
Head Bobbing
Running on water
Posturing
Mating
Nest Building
Egg laying (this picture from last year)
Robin Morrison also sent me a picture of weed dancing grebes from the Avalon Hide this week- thanks Robin.
Also within Waltons we once again have nesting Herons although at the moment it looks as though it's just the one nest. You can see the birds sitting on a platform of reeds within the reed beds from the Tot View Hide or the first 2 screens.
The 3rd screen facing the opposite way is the place to try and spot Snipe. There have been varying numbers here on the cut island this week. Just a few on Monday when I looked but 23 counted on Saturday but an incredible 50+ this morning with the majority of them feeding.
Waltons also offers a good selection of wildfowl with good views of Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Pochard from the hide.
Over in Loxtons, there's the usual hoard of Cormorants on the raft but most days a Great White Egret is here. It's perhaps setting up a territory as it chased 2 others away during the week. There's another regular at the 1st platform - seen there most days. Loxtons also gave us one of 2 Otter sightings this week at 9.20am on Thursday. John Crispin was there thankfully to produce these great shots. Another sighting was reported from the Avalon Hide on Tuesday at 8.30am.
Otter: John Crispin
Well, I've got this far down and not even mentioned Starlings or Glossy Ibis yet so I suppose I'd better do it now. Starlings are still here in good numbers, although they have finally given the Ham Wall reedbeds some much needed relief and have been roosting over at Shapwick. Phone the hotline 07866 554142 or check out the Avalon Marshes website for more up to date information. They have been going in at the decoy hide end of the reserve or at the far end of Noah's lake but of course this changes quite frequently sometimes.
Glossy Ibis are still being seen - all very exciting. The 2 birds have been seen on several occasions this week. The 2 most visible places being the 1st platform or in the splashy area in front of the bridge which crosses the drain and leads you towards the Avalon Hide from the main path.
For Marsh Harriers perhaps go to the Avalon Hide or raise your binoculars from the 2nd platform. Birds have been seen out in these areas flying together and displaying. These areas are their traditional breeding areas on Ham Wall so they are probably beginning to set out territories once again.
Also this week: Treecreeper and Goldcrests spotted along the rail path, 2 Bearded Tits seen and heard from the Avalon Hide, Great Spotted Woodpeckers seen and much drumming heard, 2 Ravens seen over the reedbeds having an almighty dispute with a couple of Carrion Crow on Monday, Pintails seen throughout the week (2 males from 1st platform on Saturday & Monday, male & female from 2nd platform on Tuesday), 4 Roe deer including one buck running along grassy banks visible from the Avalon Hide on Monday, a busy Sparrowhawk also seen from the Avalon Hide on Thursday and what I believed to be a Merlin flying rapidly across the car park on Wednesday afternoon - I only saw it briefly and the only other people there weren't looking.
Finally, I'll leave you with some stunning Ham Wall sunrise pictures sent in by Robin Morrison this week. Thanks Robin:
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend!