Well you may have noticed yet another missing blog from last week. It was my own stupid fault as I badly cut the back of my hand at work last Friday morning and ended up in hospital having it stitched. I know excuses, excuse. It was a bit tender to say the least but I'm better now (thanks for asking) ready to report on all the goings on over the last fortnight.
Perhaps the star of the show over recent weeks has been the Osprey. There have been several sightings over Ham Wall -many from the Avalon Hide. On at least 2 occasions last week the bird was seen to carry a sizable fish over the hide and back to its perch at Shapwick Heath (the cheek of this bird). Thanks to Chris Hiscoke for those reports. He's posted some photos on Flickr if you want to look. I was lucky enough to see the bird in this area myself on Tuesday. John Crispin has managed to get some nice shots of this fantastic bird in flight over the reserve this week- thanks John:
and perched at Loxtons Marsh on Ham Wall:
Also from the Avalon Hide this week: a Barn Owl seen out hunting on Monday afternoon and then perching on the gate to the left of the hide, Great White Egrets dropping in frequently, a single Black Tailed Godwit on Wednesday and the same day Bearded Tits heard 'pinging' for around 40 mins but only 2 seen, a few Marsh Harrier sightings including one bird in moult and looking rather tatty and nearby a Wheatear. I thought I saw one briefly on Tuesday close to here but wasn't sure. John Crispin's photo tells me I was probably right:
Work has continued in the area in front of the 1st platform this week. The volunteers had a good day in there yesterday and we hope to be done by this time next week. As soon as we're finished will will begin to raise water levels once more and this should produce a nice open areas where ducks can loaf about and all our Heron species can feed. It's been especially popular with Great White Egrets in the past. Look out for the many Little Egrets we have round the reserve too:
5 Snipe were flushed up by the volunteers as they prepared to start work here yesterday and there have been several Bittern flights seen from the platform this week including this bird sat on the islands taken by John Crispin:
It's still the 2nd platform where most of the action is. It's much harder to see than a couple of months ago due to the vegetation growth but if you're patient there are potentially plenty of rewards.
The 2 Glossy Ibis had been using the scrape at Shapwick Heath a lot last week (where's the loyalty?) but this week seem to be spending a lot more time back with us in this area. They've often got Great White Egrets for company, although I did see perhaps as many as 12 on the Shapwick Scrape on Wednesday. The scrape and Tower Hide is a good place to see some waders but we've had some too. Max numbers reported this week as follows: Ruff 10, Lapwing c40, Snipe 8, Green Sandpiper & Black Tailed Godwit 2.
Lapwing : John Crispin
There have also been reports of Garganey again this week and the first arrivals of Wigeon (4 seen). There are also good numbers of Teal in here (at least 40) along with varying numbers of Mallard, Gadwall and Shoveler.
At Waltons this week there have been some good sightings of both Bittern and Great White Egrets. One of the Egrets was sat on the edge of the reeds on Monday offering good views from the screens. One was even seen perched on the small rafts:
Both Great Crested Grebe and a family group of Little Grebes were also showing well and from the Tor View Hide where we have cut the reeds Water Rails were seen out walking in the open area along with Moorhens with juveniles. Reed Warblers were also seen flitting in and out of the reeds nearby.
At Loxtons again good sightings of Little Grebe (5) and Great Crested Grebe, including this juvenile on its own who is just starting to show its adult plumage:
Also from the Loxtons screen: 21 Mallards in eclipse, the usual plethora of Cormorants on the rafts and a Kingfisher. one was also seen flying along the drain by the rail path near the old rail bridge on Tuesday. it disappeared up into the trees. I also spotted a Grass Snake just as it slithered away on the path towards the Loxtons screen on Monday.
A walk around the car park pools will almost certainly give you sightings of the Iberian Water Frogs and on the surface of the water you'll almost certainly see Whirlygig beetles and Pond Skaters. Flying above, and sometimes in pairs egg laying, you may see dragonflies. There are still several species on the wing at the moment. Recorded this week: Common Blue damselfly, Blue Tailed Damselfly, Variable Damselfly, Southern Hawker, Common Hawker (pictured), Common Darter and Ruddy Darter (these can still be on the wing in November, until the first frosts see them off).
In terms of butterflies, there aren't huge numbers. The most popular being either Small Tortoiseshell or Green Veined White (pictured). Also recorded this week: Speckled Wood, Small White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Brimstone and Painted Lady (seen by the Waltons boardwalk).
Also this week: A Water Vole that swam out from under our floating bridge that we use to access the islands with our reed cutting machine, a Weasel which ran across the rail path near the 1st platform, 2 Ravens which flew over Tinneys Ground (a plot we own on the Sharpham Road) and just after this a Green Woodpecker seen feeding on the tracks, a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling daily from the first woodland strip you encounter on the footpath/canal bank side of the reserve and a Blackcap singing in the same area. Still plenty of insects about looking for those late flowering plants too such as these hoverflies although perhaps feeding isn't the first thing on their minds at the moment!
If you're about locally you may see Starlings beginning to gather in the local villages - it will soon be that time again!
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend. Another blog next week barring any more stupid accidents!