There's still lots of activity on the reserve at the moment but the noise levels have all reduced somewhat with a significant drop in birdsong - although there was a very vocal Chiffchaff in the car park yesterday. Where you do hear calling it's often contact calls from family groups of birds. The car park is full of Goldfinches, Chaffinches and a few Greenfinch which is nice. Blue Tits and Great Tits are using the feeder which appears on the TV in the Welcome Building - although the Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been seen far less this week. A Siskin was reported on Monday (unusual for this time of year) and Song Thrush can also be seen feeding in the car park area and grassy paths of the reserve. Here's some proof from Andrew Kirby - thanks Andrew:
Along the rail path a family of Spotted Flycatchers were flitting about and calling (between the 2 platforms) and on Monday : Bullfinch, Treecreeper (between the 2nd platform and the next bridge) and a Lesser Whitethroat (much further down again) were all recorded.
Other Warblers are still around although much quieter. Families of Blackcap have been seen along with Garden Warbler, Whitethroat and Willow Warbler while groups of Long Tailed Tits are often marauding along the tree lines. Thanks to Andrew Kirby for sending in his picture:
The Avalon Hide is most definitely still worth a visit. A little quieter now the Marsh Harrier nest in front has fledged. The youngsters are now flying further afield - very noticeably different from the adults - with the very brown bodies and almost gingery crowns. The Bitterns nest here is still going we believe but now a lot less conflict between these two species. There had been a lot of aggravation between the two. Chris Lake has sent me some pictures he took on a visit a couple of weeks ago. This time it's the Bittern having a go at the Marsh Harrier. Thanks Chris:
Thanks also to Kevin Bowers for his Marsh Harrier shots and Simon Lewis for his Bittern shots all taken this week.
Marsh Harrier: Kevin Bowers
When you've got to go....you just have to go!
Barn Owls have been seen from here this week too. 3 were seen (photo on our Facebook page) on Sunday perched on a nearby gate while the box to the left also had action (this can just be seen from the 1st platform too). 2 nests have now fledged and one is still active so perhaps there will now be less activity during the day. Evenings will probably be the best time to view them now.
The next best place on the reserve this week has perhaps been the 2nd platform. Several Waders being picked up here. Good numbers of Black Tailed Godwit c20, Green Sandpiper 3, Snipe c6 and Lapwing c12. A host of Great White Egrets were seen there on Wednesday too (up to 12) while another visitor reported 20+ (across the whole reserve) during his visit - quite possible as now some of our nesting birds are fledging. The Glossy Ibis has also been seen here several times this week. Sometimes it's hiding behind the taller vegetation, so be patient. Thanks to Chris Lake, Kevin Bowers and Graham Wagner for their Great White Egret, Little Egret and Glossy Ibis submissions:
Great White Egret: Chris Lake
Great White Egret (ringed): Kevin Bowers
Great White Egret: Graham Wagner
Great White Egret, Little Egret & Glossy Ibis: Graham Wagner
Glossy Ibis: Graham Wagner
Little Egret: Kevin Bowers
Remember to keep an eye out for Cattle Egret too. Several are often feeding on the north of the reserve, which makes the Avalon Hide a good place to star for these too, although there was a report of one flying over the car park on Monday. Great White Egrets fly over the car park on a daily basis and are hard to miss.
The Avalon Hide is also a great place to view the Great Crested Grebes with their young. Some very busy adults here feeding young some sizable fish at times. Thanks again to Kevin Bowers and Graham Wagner for their action shots:
All the above Great Crested Grebe shots by Kevin Bowers
Great Crested Grebe (youngster): Graham Wagner
Look out for the Little Grebes too:
Little Grebe: Simon Lewis
Bearded Tits seem to be having a fantastic breeding season - they seem to be everywhere across the north of the reserve. For visitors the Tor View Hide or Waltons loop has brought success this week but once again the Avalon Hide seems to deliver. You'll often hear them out there on a visit. Picking them up can be slightly trickier. One visitor even saw them in the reeds either side of the walkway to the hide so stop and listen there too if you can.
Hobby are still being seen over the reserve hunting the many dragonflies out on the wing. The screens at Loxtons seem to bring people success but there were two out on the north of the reserve yesterday giving hell to some crows - with lots of calling. A nest nearby most likely.
There are plenty of dragonflies for them to go for. Emperor, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker (one or 2 now on the wing), Black Tailed Skimmer, 4 Spotted Chaser, Common Darter and Ruddy darter to name a few - as well as all the damselfly species we have. Thanks to Giles Morris and Chris Lake for sending me their dragonfly pics this week:
Common Dater: Giles Morris
Ruddy Darter: Giles Morris
Four spotted chaser: Chris Lake
Four spotted Chaser: Giles Morris
Note on Giles' picture the darkening of the wing tips. This is an unusual form known as Praenubila. Thanks to Giles for looking that one up for us.
Of course there is lots of other insect life out there too. Better numbers of butterflies out this week: Comma, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral, Large White, Green Veined White, Brimstone, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet and Large Skipper (pictured) all recorded. White Admirals are still a possibility - try along the rail path (main track) - they've been seen there before.
Large Skipper: Giles Morris
Lots of beetles and spiders too - if that's what you're into. It's all part of Ham Wall's thriving wildlife.
Long Banded Longhorn Beetle: Giles Morris
Labyrinth Spider with Red Headed Cardinal Beetle: Andrew Kirby
Of course we have plenty of mammals, reptiles and amphibians on site too. Some of these are harder to see than others of course. There are lots of froglets (Common Frog) around at the moment (be careful where you tread), Larger Common Frogs are often hiding in the longer grasses where it remains slightly damper. Iberian Water Frogs can be seen and heard around the reserve too - the car park pools a good place to start. Grass Snakes can be seen occasionally swimming across channels of water.
The most common mammals you'll see will be rabbits and grey squirrel on the main track and if you're lucky Roe Deer around the trails or sometimes on islands on the reserve. Thanks to Graham Wagner for his photo taken this week:
Also this week: plenty of cuckoos still calling earlier in the week. As many as 5 counted on Monday with 2 together in the early morning, a Sparrowhawk flew over the car park on MOnday and was mobbed by a group of Swallows, Common Tern seen from the 1st platform (reports of Sandwich Terns just over on Shapwick Heath on Sunday), Kingfishers seen around the Waltons Trail or from the screens but also down towards the far end of the reserve. Buzzards daily, Great Spotted Woodpeckers daily and some Reed and Sedge Warblers still singing.
Finally, a couple of shots of one of our more common species on the reserve. Thanks to Kevin Bowers and Simon Lewis for sending them in:
Walking on water - Coot: Kevin Bowers
Coot with Young : Simon Lewis
That'sit for this week. Have a great weekend.