Not quite such a nice week this week with some cold breezes across the reserve at times. It hasn't stopped the action though and there is now plenty of evidence of birds with young. Of course you may see these for yourself - some are quite obvious like the Greylag goslings in front of the 2nd platform, the Great Crested Grebes carrying youngsters on their backs (1st platform and within Waltons) or these Mallard Ducklings seen at the Waltons section (thanks to Robin Morrison for the photos):
Others are harder to come by - although a juvenile Bearded Tit was seen in the area in front of the 2nd platform this week. The main evidence we have is of course birds carrying food items. The Marsh Harriers are particularly obvious in front of the Avalon Hide with active males and females there this week carrying and passing food and numerous smaller birds with beaks crammed full.
John Crispin got these nice shots of a busy female Blackcap along the main path this week. Thanks John:
It's the abundance of insect life in particular that attracts these birds here at this time of year.The numbers of Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows passing through is an indicator of this. An increase in Swift numbers this week too with 14 seen together this morning in front of the 2nd platform. One insect you'll notice a lot more now will be damselflies - a big emergence over the last week or so. The main species you'll see at the moment will be Blue Tailed - quite an easy ID on this one, Variable, Azure and Large Red.
In terms of Dragonflies the most likely one you'll see will be Hairy Dragonfly but it won't be long before we have the usual emergence of thousands of 4 Spotted Chasers - Waltons and Loxtons are usually good places for this awesome sight.
Hobby are arriving in good numbers too - several reports of groups in double figures including 12 over the car park on Monday. Good numbers over the reedbeds just beyond the car park most days this week too. Thanks again to Robin Morrison for this Hobby shot:
Other birds seen feeding regularly are Great White Egrets. We know from surveys that they are feeding youngsters - they often make regular flights over the car park and can be seen in the reedbeds beyond. Other than this check out either of the platforms - they are regular visitors here too.
The 2nd platform is proving quite a busy place at the moment. One of the Glossy Ibis is spending long periods here - occasionally there will be two. Little Egrets too and perhaps a suggestion that Cattle Egrets were in here at one point. They have certainly been seen flying over the reserve this week but it's probably worth checking out the scrape over at neighbouring Shapwick Heath where a group of 15 dropped in yesterday. Also at the 2nd platform this week - a group of at least 20 Whimbrel dropped in this morning, displaying Lapwing, a few Snipe, 1 or 2 Black Tailed Godwits and the usual array of smart looking ducks including Mallard, Shoveler, Teal (still a few), Tufted Duck, Pochard and Gadwall (the last 2 pictured below thanks to Robin Morrison's submission.
Bitterns too are flying. Not a huge amount of activity currently (perhaps suggesting that females are on eggs or just feeding close to nest sites). There were a few sightings from the 1st platform yesterday and some strong boomers from all corners of the reserve too. During the week 4 flew together in front of the Avalon Hide. One peeled of and dropped into the reeds and then promptly perched up and showed well for some time - think this was one of the booming males. Robin Morrison took this shot of them. He said at one point there were 4 Bittern, 1 Marsh Harrier & 1 Hobby all together in the same bit of sky. Thanks Robin:
If you're an early bird there's a great dawn chorus at the moment - Tawny Owls can also be heard at this time as well as the Bitterns of course. Talking of the dawn chorus, Ham wall will be taking part in a BBC outside broadcast for International Dawn Chorus Day this weekend. Here's the info:
"Join Brett Westwood and a gang of unexpected bird lovers as Radio 4 throws an all-nighter in search of the Dawn Chorus. Going on air just after midnight and staying up till 7am Brett will host a night of conversation, story-telling, argument and explanation culminating in the live broadcast of the Dawn Chorus from Ham Wall Nature reserve in Somerset.
Other guests include, Jimi Goodwin, lead singer of Doves; Birds Brittania author Mark Cocker, Bird acoustics expert Dr. Jenny York, Natural Navigator Tristan Gooley and Singer Hanna Tuulikki.
Radio 4 is doing this as part of International Dawn Chorus day - a unique broadcast event hosted by Derek Mooney from RTE radio in Ireland - in which radio stations across Europe join together to track the rising sun across the continent from Moscow to Dublin. You'll hear capercaillies in from Norway, bitterns in Somerset, bluethroats in Holland - it's like the Eurovision Song contest, but with much better singing."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08pdfyw
There may be a bit of limited access to the Waltons screens area while this happens but should all be wrapped up by 7am so unless you're here really early, you shouldn't be affected. It's on Radio 4 this weekend - check out the link above for more info.
There should be lots to talk about and plenty to hear. The rail path is full of Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs as well as Garden Warbler and Cettis Warblers. John Crispin got shots of both of these this week. The photos are useful tools when telling warblers apart:
Cettis Warbler: John Crispin
Garden Warbler: John Crispin
Note the pale pink legs of the Cettis Warbler compared to the dark legs of the Garden warbler - the size of the tale too is another good indicator - thanks John.
You should also hear the loud call of the Song Thrush either along the main path or most obviously perhaps the car park itself. Thanks to Robin Morrison for this shot taken this week:
Also this week: Bullfinch and Goldcrest along the main path before the 1st platform, Whitethroats in the brambles opposite the 1st platform, Red Kite over the reserve on both Sunday and Tuesday, Barn Owl out hunting in the morning not far from the Avalon Hide, Bearded Tits heard again from in front of the Avalon Hide where the Great Crested Grebe continues to sit on eggs in plain sight and a Canada Goose which seems to love the fresh reed growth in front of the same hide. I noticed it eating this during the week and Robin Morrison also found this interesting - thanks Robin:
At this time, I was in the hide a very low helicopter came over - there have been a few this week including a Chinook on a couple of occasions. This one flew low over the 1st platform and then almost landed in fields near the car park:
Finally, I ought not to forget the Cuckoo. Many people have remarked how wonderful it is to hear one here as they have all but disappeared from other places they've know. There are several on the reserve - one is seen over the car park quite regularly but also check out the back of Waltons in the morning or over at Loxtons - they often perch in the dead trees here:
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend!