Some beautifully warm days again this week but some misty starts and noticeably colder beginnings and ends to the days. The sunny spells usually bring about an increase in activity from our resident (and visiting) wildlife. The sun often brings out the Bitterns with multiple flights being observed from different birds. Scan the open areas and standing reed from the first platform but also keep an eye on Waltons. There seems to have been a good number of flights reported from here this week with 3 seen close together yesterday. One of these had a bit of a dispute with a crow apparently. John Crispin managed to capture this shot this week - thanks John!
The first platform is also a good place to see Great White Egret. There is one who is almost resident here, I saw it there myself this morning and at the same time a second one was posing in Waltons, visible from the screens. From the first platform they are often joined by Little Egrets and Grey Herons - always good to see the size comparisons:
Face Off. Grey Heron & Great White Egret: John Crispin
The tame looking Grey Heron has once again been fishing alongside the main drain this week giving people great close up views and photo opportunities. I drove past it this morning and it it didn't even flinch, just carried on fishing. A Grey Wagtail was also seen along the drain here this week on Wednesday.
On Thursday a good sized flock of Wigeon dropped in front of the 1st platform (some carried onto Shapwick) to join the good numbers of Shoveler, Mallard & Gadwall also present along with Teal and a few Tufted Duck. Also a flock of c40 Greylag geese flew over the 1st platform on Thursday - a lovely sight for anyone there to see it.
The Glossy Ibis continue to grace us with their presence - of course I'm very happy about this. They've often been seen on the cut islands in Waltons - where we have now finished cutting and clearing the reeds for this season. The water levels will now rise slowly and create more splashy areas here. The first island is often favourable for Snipe so check it out once it gets a bit wetter. There are Snipe in front of the 1st platform but you often won't see them unless they are disturbed.
The Glossy Ibis have also been using a small area we are draining down near the Avalon Hide (along with a few Great White Egret. Staff & volunteers are also doing some cutting in here to see if we can create a good spectacle from the hide. We'll keep you posted on how this goes.
In the same area Bearded Tits have been seen & heard this week so be mindful of this. They have also been reported from in front of the 1st platform (and just to the left) again - as last week. A late report from last week saw a count of 17 close to the grit tray (none reported on it though). Some also seen at the very back of the area looked on by the 2nd viewing platform this week.
The Starlings are once again becoming a big draw for visitors. There are an estimated 20-30,000 birds now roosting at Ham Wall. The bulk of the birds are using Loxtons - perhaps the 2nd platform being the best place to start your search although some visitors did report some birds taking off from Waltons this morning as they sat in the Tor View Hide. John Crispin took these shots at Loxtons at Dawn on Thursday - thanks again John!
Starling time often brings in the birds of prey too on the hunt for a meal but there is still plenty of activity from them during the day too. Buzzards are quite commonplace while Marsh Harriers seem to be quite obvious this week. Several reports from people of 3 different birds close together - a male, female and a juvenile male (these seen at Loxtons this morning). A Sparrowhawk was seen from the 1st viewing platform on Wednesday and Tawny Owls have been heard in the wood to the left of the Avalon Hide on 2 mornings this week at least.
Marsh Harrier: John Crispin
Starlings are for me a sign that winter is coming but there are plenty of species hanging on in there with the warmer weather. Butterflies are being seen in warmer spells with Comma, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell all recorded this week:
Small Tortoiseshell: Carol Coward
Dragonflies too are still on the wing - we've only had one mild frost so far. Common & Ruddy Darter and Common & Migrant Hawker all seen this week:
Migrant Hawker: Carol Coward
Other than that I've seen plenty of Common Toad and a couple of Smooth Newts this morning but a scan of the ponds in the car park gave no signs of any Iberian Marsh Frogs.
It's quiet for mammals too - obviously many of them are thinking about hibernating. 2 Roe Deer were seen at our Long Drove plot (near Sharpham) this morning (it's south of Waltons) with another 2 nearby on neighbouring land and Grey Squirrels are active along the canal & rail paths collecting acorns to cache for winter no doubt.
Jays are doing the same. Lots of squawking from our woodlands from these but also seen flying along the canal path yesterday and around Waltons this morning.
Also this week: Kingfisher seen from the Loxtons screen this morning but 6 sightings from the Tor View Hide this morning, Water Rail also reported from the same location this morning, Great Spotted Woodpeckers seen from our woodland blocks and a Green Woodpecker heard just south of Waltons yesterday, Siskin along the rail path, Small flocks of Lapwing seen in flight and settles on the ground and a Raven calling in flight over the reserve yesterday.
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend!