Wow, what a lovely week it’s been and packed with yet more amazing sightings and for me, lots of firsts for the season.
This week brought me my first singing Willow Warbler – there are several along the main path through the reserve – you just have to listen past the throngs of Blackcaps which are also present. I got my first Garden Warbler too – there are at least 3 along the main path too – one past the old rail bridge and one down near the next small bridge which crosses the drain the most obvious.
More firsts this week were both Reed and Sedge Warblers – they are the very noisy chattering birds you’ll hear within the reedbeds. Sedge Warbler is just a bit more erratic in it’s calls – easily confused though. The reed beds really come to life when they come back - it's often hard to hear anything else when these get going.
Away from birds and yet more firsts – both Orange Tip and Speckled wood butterflies seen for the first time this spring. To add to your butterfly list look out for: Small Tortoiseshell, Green Veined White, Peacock, Brimstone, Red Admiral & Peacock. I’m still waiting for my first dragonfly though, although a couple have been reported. No doubt these were Hairy Dragonflies – always our first one.
In the ponds at the car park and within Waltons I’ve heard the Iberian Water Frogs making themselves known for the first time this season. If there’s an unusual sound coming from the water, it’s probably these you are hearing – it can be quite a chorus on sunnier days.
The reserves star birds are also still in full flow. Bitterns are still booming very well. Next Thursday’s survey will give us potentially a record number of booming males – let’s wait and see. There have been several flights across the reserve this week – in particular good reports from the Avalon Hide but I’ve also had several sightings in front of the 2nd platform where 2 birds have chased each other around (including this morning). On Wednesday they did this for at least 10 minutes – calling consistently. A third bird then joined in and they dropped into the reed bed. Another bird flew low over the car park on Tuesday!
Here’s some photos taken by Natalie Talbot yesterday from the Avalon Hide including one bird which sat out in the open. Thanks Natalie:
It really is Heron Heaven at the moment: We have Grey Herons nesting within the reedbeds at Waltons and several Little Egrets popping around the place : thanks again Natalie:
2 Cranes were also reported flying high over the reserve yesterday – I missed them myself but always worth looking up high and scanning the skies at the moment.
Great White Egrets are also showing well. They often fly over the car park and drop into the reedbeds adjacent to it. You can view these from the main path too. It’s also worth checking the 1st platform area – there was one feeding there this morning.
Here’s a great photo from John Crispin. This bird was preening extensively before putting on this display – virtually a full courting display. There are also sightings of some juvenile birds – distinguished mainly by still having an orangey yellow bill and lack of flowing plumes.
The Glossy Ibis are still spending most of the time over at Shapwick Heath where the scrape is pumped down – this is probably the best place to see them currently. Also look out for groups of Black tailed Godwits and this Otter – seen 2 days running spending much time by the scrape:
Otter at Shapwick Heath: Natalie Talbot
To complete the heron set – yes there’s another one, we have Cattle Egret. Several reports this week locally but 2 on Sunday near the Avalon Hide and then 7 this morning viewed from the 1st platform heading south to north. John Crispin grabbed the proof: thanks John:
I saw a flock of 8 or 9 birds on Thursday. They were small Egrets but to me didn’t look right for Little Egret (I had no binoculars and they were a bit distant). They flew close to the Avalon Hide and over towards the 1st platform – looks like I saw some too.
So the Avalon Hide could be good for these too – just keep your eyes open. Whilst you’re there enjoy the many flights and behaviours of the Marsh Harriers. Several birds spotted daily here – you can’t miss them. This bird was photographed attacking a Bittern that got too close – thanks to Dennis Upshall for sending the photo in – great shot:
Barn Owl has been seen here too – both flying in front of the hide but also visiting the box to the right of the hide at the end of the wood. Listen out also for Bearded Tits – there are lots close to this area so the chances are some will venture closer to the hide at some point – they have recently.
Over in Waltons take a trip to the Tor View Hide. There’s always a chance of Kingfisher here but look out for the Water Rail. There were reports yesterday of a bird carrying nesting material into on of the reed piles close to the hide. Stay quiet and see what happens.
While you’re waiting you could watch the Great Crested Grebes nest building too. They were seen mating and nest building yesterday – thanks again to Natalie Talbot for sending in her photos:
There are lots of Little Grebes around too. You can here them calling a huge amount all around the reedbeds. I saw one in flight from the Avalon Hide last week – took me by surprise as you normally see them just swim or dive or at most scuttle across the water for a short distance. John Crispin caught these two actually fighting – never seen this behaviour before – and some great photos of it too: Thanks John!
More fighting birds – Coots again (they’re always at it). A great close up shot of the lobate foot too.
Lobate: lobed, a swimming foot with a series of lateral lobes on the toes. Grebes have something similar:
Also this week:
A female Goshawk reported flying high over the reserve on Tuesday, Raven seen circling for long periods from 2nd platform yesterday (could be nesting close by), Great Spotted Woodpeckers daily, 12 Redpoll seen in the car park on Tuesday, Song Thrush singing and feeding at the car park as well as Treecreeper seen in the large Alders nearby, a Roe Deer buck seen hiding in the drier area close to the Avalon Hide, Bullfinch seen between the old rail bridge and the 1st platform on the main track, several more groups of Sand Martins seen arriving (one or two Swallows reported too – still waiting for my first) and this leucistic Shoveler seen again in the Loxtons area:
Leucism: in birds is caused by a lack of the pigment melanin which is responsible for black, grey & some brown colours. A leucistic bird will have white feathers unless its normal plumage contains carotenoids which are responsible for yellows – it will be unaffected by the condition. They can often have normal coloured legs, eyes, feet and bills.
It is inherited but the extent can vary between adults and offspring and can also skip generations as it is a recessive gene. That’s the sciency bit over with so just a nice couple of photos to finish. Commonly seen birds but good photos from Natalie Talbot.
First the Cormorant – lots to be seen around Ham wall but they love the raft best in front of the Loxtons screen – there are some there almost permanently:
Then the humble Blue Tit. Several can be seen using the many nest boxes around the reserve.
That's it for this week: have a great weekend !