Recent Sightings at RSPB Ham Wall - 11.05.2018

What a scorching bank holiday weekend we had - the reserve was packed with happy visitors and as always there's a lot to report from the last week.

I even popped in myself on Sunday with my kids for a quick visit (even I can't stay away from this place) and they were pleased to see all kinds of wildlife. They were particularly thrilled to see young blue tits being fed on our nest cam in the Welcome building at the car park. Around 4 newly hatched chicks were on show and during the week they have been joined by a further 3 or perhaps 4 - it's hard to see sometimes. A great introduction to the reserve for our visitors.

There's plenty of birdsong at the car park too with blackcaps in full song along with song thrush, chiffchaff, blackbird, goldfinch and others. Overhead swifts were in flight along with swallows and there was the odd flyover from great white egrets from the reed beds just beyond the car park. Hobbies are also flying acrobatically over the car park hawking for insects - particularly the growing numbers of dragonflies which have emerged this week. As many as 20 were over the car park on Monday but there were reports of up to 30 from the 1st platform (VP1) on the Saturday. Regular sightings of multiple birds from the Avalon Hide each day too.

The main track is still coming up trumps for certain species too - good chance of seeing bullfinches with 7 different birds seen by one of our volunteers, Dean, during the week. Also listen out for willow warbler, goldcrest, and garden warbler along here too. Don't forget to look into the reedbed area on your right after the old rail bridge for good views of great white egrets within the reedbeds. 

VP1 is your next logical stop off. Look out for the whitethroat in the brambles on the opposite side of the main drain (thanks to Graham Wagner for his shot) and beyond there's a chance of seeing great crested grebe with by now a well grown youngster - good chance of survival now for this bird. There are several pairs of grebes at different stages in their individual courtship/breeding cycles. From the Tor View Hide a parent bird can be seen giving rides on it's back to quite a small chick while on the opposite side (the eastern half of Waltons) a pair are still at the head bobbing stage. Thanks again to Graham Wagner for his shot of a grebe scoffing a fish (tench?) from the Avalon Hide this week.

Whitethroat: Graham Wagner 

Great Crested Grebe: Graham Wagner 

VP1 also gives further chances of seeing hobby, swift and swallow and still a few martins about too this week. Great white and little egrets can also be seen here on most days along with a few bittern flights. 2 were seen in a chase here on Wednesday. 

Black tailed godwits have also been recorded here this week along with lapwing whilst 2 very small waders thought to be little ringed plovers zipped by on Tuesday. (2 were later seen on the scrape at Shapwick - so most likely these). On Monday 3 red kites were observed from the same location - 2 together followed by a third bird a little later. More numerous sightings of these birds in Somerset these days (they are spreading their range). One was also seen over the reserve yesterday. 

A good area to listen for cettis warbler - there are still plenty of males singing loudly - it's interesting to listen for any other males singing in response. Thanks to John Crispin for this shot of what can be quite an elusive bird:

Across in Waltons the grey herons nests are still going strong. One nest can be observed from the track to the Tor View Hide or even from the main track. It's more obvious when an adult bird comes back in - you'll hear the noise. Another fish gobbling shot from Graham Wagner again of grey heron this time and again in front of the Avalon Hide - hopefully an indicator of a good fish population here. Thanks Graham:

A fair amount of great white egret activity within Waltons too recently. Maybe we shouldn't get too excited yet though as some of the displaying has been from adult birds (with black bills) to sub adults (orange bills). Thanks to John Crispin for his shots of these birds activity here this week:

She certainly doesn't look too interested in the last shot.

Here's another form Graham  Wagner from the Avalon Hide this week - no fish this time but a lovely shot nonetheless:

3 Cattle Egrets were seen in flight not far from the Avalon Hide yesterday - thanks to John Crispin for his shot - always in the right place - well done John!

The Avalon Hide is probably the best place to see marsh harriers. Lots of activity in front of here as in previous years. There's also a good chance of seeing bitterns. They both nested close together in this area last year and there was some interesting interactions/ conflicts to keep people entertained. Perhaps a repeat this year? There were 5 bitterns flying together in front of the hide on Tuesday - always a wonderful sight. 

Also whilst at the hide take a look behind at the owl box in the woods. A few reports of a young tawny owl sat outside this week. Look out for great spotted woodpeckers in this area too. One flew out of here this morning and the tawny owl was also on show.

As mentioned earlier it's also a good place to spot hobbies - I saw 4 here together this morning - looking for dragonflies no doubt. A definite increase in these since last weeks blog. I saw several hairy dragonflies on Sunday but have since seen 4 spotted chaser and had a description from a visitor which was most likely a broad bodied chaser. In terms of damselflies you could see: large red, azure, variable and red eyed - you may also see a few banded demoiselles. Thanks to Sue Webber for sending me in this picture of a female red eyed damselfly this week (these females do have rather faded looking red eyes - the males eyes are much more distinctive: 

A fair number of duck on the reserve including mallard (a brood of 7 in Waltons this week), gadwall, shoveler, tufted duck, a single wigeon, a teal from the Avalon Hide on Sunday, garganey also from here this week and plenty of pochard - thanks to John Crispin for this gorgeous photo of one. You can also see garganey in the splashy areas on the left on the way to the Avalon Hide - definitely worth scanning this area on the way by.

Also this week: A peregrine seen from the Avalon Hide on Tuesday and a sparrowhawk on Monday, a grasshopper warbler reported reeling from VP2 on Tuesday, plenty of cuckoos heard particularly close to Waltons but also from the car park, Common Tern seen over Waltons on Monday, Jay seen along the main track, both fox and roe deer seen around the reserve this week, kingfishers seen this week around Waltons a few times but also Loxtons and VP1 and plenty of noisy coots around the reserve, including this youngster just been feed a choice and juicy piece of vegetation. Thanks to John Crispin for the photo:

If your visiting the reserve don't forget to buy some of our compost - see details below.