Firstly, apologies for the missing blog last week. The storms and snow meant I couldn't safely get into work so it's left me with a bit to catch up with. Thank you to those who sent in photos last week. I will include them in this week's round up instead along with this weeks pictures. Also, I should mention that I'm away next week so there won't be a sightings blog. However, Warden Ali Blaney has been preparing one of her management blogs to tell you what we've been up to on the reserve recently and she may have time to include a quick sightings bit at the end.
Well, I'm sure you couldn't have missed the Beast from the East meets Storm Emma events of last week. I always think of the wildlife struggling in those conditions and there were great movements of birds looking to escape the storm or look for food. People's gardens began to get more unusual visitors to their feeders with Fieldfares and Redwings mentioned frequently.
It appears there have been other movements too although you all maybe able to help with this one. Since the snow there has been little if any sign of the cattle egrets on the reserve. A report of 2 near Ashcott late last week is all I've heard of. Maybe they saw sense and took a trip to France. If you know different we'd love to hear from you. The same of the Glossy Ibis - a near resident of Ham Wall for the last 2 1/2 years was last seen on the reserve just before the snow came.
The temperature increased quite quickly and a thaw set in fairly swiftly - some snow remained on Saturday afternoon as the following shot shows. John Crispin saw these wigeon on snowy looking islands in front of the 1st platform (VP1). Thanks John:
We were back to work on Monday as normal but several areas of ice remained for a couple of days after this. Graham Wagner sent in this picture of Moorhens on the ice taken this week - thanks Graham:
The icy weather is often the time when you see more moorhens up on the trails and perhaps even a water rail or too.
Despite the sudden cold snap things are 'hotting up' for some. Bitterns are booming - I heard one this morning booming quite well from the section that the Avalon Hide faces into (one was seen in flight from the 2nd platform (VP2) this morning too.
Great crested grebes are courting & displaying too. Pairs can be seen from VP1, Tor View Hide, Loxtons and the Avalon Hide. I've been sent several pictures of grebes over the last couple of weeks so thanks go to Simon Lewis, Graham Wagner and Andrew Kirby for the following:
Great crested grebes: Simon Lewis
Great crested grebe in flight: Graham Wagner
Great crested grebes weed dancing: Andrew Kirby
Great spotted woodpeckers are drumming away around the reserve and can also be heard food tapping on trees as well. I heard a couple this morning from woodland opposite VP1 but you can also hear them along the main track and from the woodland near the Avalon Hide. We nearly had one less though. Before the snow came one was very close to being taken by a sparrowhawk at Loxtons - John Crispin who witnessed it said it all happened so quickly. Some how it got away though ....this time.
Marsh harriers are one of the most conspicuous birds showing signs of courtship. The Avalon Hide probably the best place to go for this. I saw them there this morning - a pair circling and chasing together and a third bird nearby.Food passes (some of them false ones) have been witnessed over the last couple of weeks and we should soon start seeing more significant behaviour. The well marked male is still being seen too. Thanks to Graham Wagner & John Crispin for their photo submissions:
Marsh harrier carrying prey item - starling perhaps: Graham Wagner
Marsh Harriers in aerial displays: Graham Wagner
Marsh harrier chasing off crow: Graham Wagner
Marsh harriers in a tussle over carrion in reedbed: John Crispin
Marsh harrier male: John Crispin
Marsh harrier female: John Crispin
You may soon see marsh harriers carrying nesting material - the males build a few platforms for the females to inspect.
Grey Herons have again been seen carrying nesting material into the Waltons reedbeds. They been nesting in this area on the ground for several years so it comes as no surprise. But it's great to have them of course - thanks to Andrew Kirby for the photographic evidence and to John Crispin for the great close up shot:
Several other birds are showing us signs that spring is all but a whisker away - Coots continue to fight and show some quite extreme aggression to each other. Volunteer Mike Pearce took this shot at Loxtons on Tuesday: Thanks Mike:
Many birds can now be heard in song: In the reedbeds reed bunting and cettis warbler are becoming more vocal while elsewhere: Great tit, blackbird, song thrush, blue tit, chaffinch, wren, dunnock to name but a few. Take a walk along the main track and have a listen. While you do this look out also for treecreeper, goldcrest and bullfinch. 2 male bullfinch with a female were seen between the two platforms this morning while a treecreeper was seen yesterday.
A few winter visitors remain here too; Keep your eyes open for redwing, fieldfare, redpoll and siskin all seen this week.
Out on the water wigeon and teal also remain along with mallard, gadwall, tufted duck, shoveler and pochard and also look out for pintail. Varying numbers seen over the last week or so but at least 24 were seen from VP1 on Saturday. Try both platforms for these. The ferruginous duck was recorded both in Waltons and from the Avalon Hide on Monday.
Thanks to Simon Lewis, Graham Wagner and John Crispin for the selection of duck photos:
Tufted Duck: Simon Lewis
Pochard in flight: Graham Wagner
Pintail: John Crispin
The following pintail shot shows well the green and tan speculum feathers - part of the secondary feather group - thanks John:
Many of these species can be seen within Waltons too but try the screens (particularly the 3rd one) for good views of snipe. A couple were reported on the island this morning and another group of 13 were recorded from VP2. This one was snapped this week by Graham Wagner - thanks Graham:
The Tor View Hide and the screens are probably the best place to catch up with kingfisher too with several sightings this week. The hide also offers the best opportunity to perhaps see water rail. One was seen sitting on the reed pile just in front on Sunday. Also from the Tor View Hide this week: Reed bunting, cettis warbler, sparrowhawk, marsh harrier and great white egret - these have also been seen from both platforms and the Avalon Hide. Thanks to John Crispin for this shot taken from VP2 this week of great whites enjoying some early morning sunshine:
Look out also for Black tailed godwits. We've had a few records of them this week. John Crispin's shot below shows a couple in flight and he's sent the following info with it too. Overwintering birds are usually of the islandica sub species showing the good ID features when flying of the white line in the wing and of course the black tail. The bar tailed godwit will not have the white line and there is a difference in the length of the tibiotarsus and a slight difference in bill length. Thanks for all of this John - really useful stuff:
Also this week: a raven flying over the reserve calling this morning, a pink footed goose recorded over on Noah's lake at Shapwick Heath, 2 pipistrelle bats seen out and about yesterday, a barn owl recorded from VP1 also yesterday, lots of calling little grebes around the reserve, Lapwings recorded around Waltons and VP1, a green woodpecker seen along the canal bank on Wednesday and 7 roe deer off the north of the reserve this morning but also this one photographed by Mike Pearce around Loxtons on Tuesday - thanks Mike:
That had better do for this week. I hope to bring you up to date again in a couple of weeks when I'm back from annual leave.
Thanks for reading!