If there was any lingering doubt that spring had sprung last week - there can be no doubt now. It's been a week teeming with new arrivals and great wildlife sightings. It's hard to know where to start, so lets start with some spring arrivals. Tuesday saw the first report of Cuckoo on the reserve around the Waltons section and I had my first on Wednesday but there were at least 2 more on site. John Crispin took this shot this week and sent it in - thanks John:
Of course these birds use Reed Warblers as one of their hosts for laying eggs and their timing is good as Reed Warblers are also beginning to come in and the reedbeds are becoming a little noisier every day.
Other migrants coming in include more Willow Warblers, the odd Sedge Warbler and further Blackcaps. 3 male Blackcaps were perched on the same tree all singing as loud as they could to out compete each other for the territory - this also including much chasing and scolding but I didn't get to see the eventual winner. Whitethroat have also been seen and as with most years the brambles on the other side of the main drain from the 1st platform is a good place to spot them. One was performing it's song flight there yesterday and making itself very obvious:
Whitethroat - John Crispin
We're still seeing a few Sand Martins and Swallows each day and this morning came the first report of Swift over the reserve.
Other new arrivals include waders on passage. We have lowered water levels in front of the 2nd viewing platform over the last week and there is plenty of mud showing. It's attracted a number of waders although they are a bit in and out or just passing through. A scope is a good idea though and take some time scanning the whole area. This morning saw a Redshank, 2 Lapwing and 2 Black Tailed Godwits but we've also had Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper and Snipe this week (6 were seen from the 1st platform yesterday too).
Some other birds using this area regularly are a little more obvious. The Glossy Ibis is still present every day and usually fairly easy to spot. He was even seen collecting sticks this week - just being optimistic I guess. Great White Egrets are often present and Little Egrets often accompany the Glossy Ibis during the day. Thanks to John Crabb who sent in these pictures from his visit on Tuesday:
Scan over the ducks in here too. Apart from the usual Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Gadwall there are still a good number of Teal and the odd Wigeon but also as many as 4 Pintail this week. This morning however saw as many as 6 Garganey (5 drakes and 1 female) feeding in the muddy shallows (a pair were seen displaying over the weekend).
Other obvious signs of spring are of course the booming Bitterns. Staff and volunteers from across the conservation bodies in the Avalon Marshes were out very early on Thursday morning undertaking a bittern survey. The reward (apart from breakfast afterwards) was 45 booming males in the Avalon Marshes (plus 2 at Greylake) - that's 2 up on last year. 19 of these were on Ham Wall and a further 2 on neighbouring plots. Booming Marvelous!!
There are a few more flights being seen too of either individuals or sets of 2 or 3 in a chase. 3 were also reported chasing each other at Greylake this week too.
Other stars at the moment include the Marsh Harriers. The Avalon hide is the best place at the moment, with significant activity from at least 3 birds.
Marsh Harrier - John Crabb
On Wednesday I was close to the reedbeds distant of the 2nd viewing platform. The weather was wonderful and several Buzzards began to circle very high on thermals - I counted at least 9. When some came lower they obviously annoyed a pair of Marsh Harriers and several disputes occurred. The Marsh Harriers won out in the end. This was obviously not the only time this had happened as John Crabb sent me these photos from the previous day - thank John:
Buzzard sent packing...?
A few minutes later a Sparrowhawk also flew overhead - it made for quite an enjoyable lunch break!
It's been a pretty good week for birds of prey all round. A Kestrel was seen in the car park on Wednesday morning and the early morning start yesterday meant volunteers saw Barn Owls in at least 3 locations (including Tinneys ground on the Sharpham road and Tawny Owls were also heard. It's been the Short Eared Owls that have really caught peoples interest though. After last weeks sightings, 2 were then seen from the Avalon Hide on Sunday 10th in the morning, then 2 hunting along the wide strip next to the South Drain visible from the rail bridge as you enter the reserve. Finally, I saw one myself this morning and a traveled around Waltons. I flushed if from the western edge and then again from the south. Keep 'em peeled - they're probably still out there somewhere. Red Kites have also been seen more frequently of late with a sighting on both Sunday and Wednesday.
Waltons is still a good place to sit and watch a while. A Redstart was seen in the north Western corner on Thursday and There are a few pairs of Great Crested Grebes to keep you entertained. The Grey Herons (3 nests) are also still within the reedbeds with youngsters visible in one of the nests (best viewed from the path to the Tor View Hide). The hide's been the place to find the Ring Necked Duck too, although if he's not there a walk around the eastern half of Waltons might be in order (it was seen yesterday but I had a quick scan without luck this morning).
John Crabb also had a visit from a pike towards the Tor View Hide on Tuesday. Monsters of the deep! Ducklings beware!
Pike - John Crabb
Also some nice photos of Gadwall:
Right down the lens. Gadwall - John Crabb
Still looking for my first dragonfly or damselfly of the year but there are steady numbers of butterflies around: Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral, Green Veined White, Orange Tip and Comma all seen this week.
Also this week: Nuthatch & Treecreeper both spotted in the car park trees, Great Tit continuing to nest build in out nest cam box (beamed to the monitor in the visitor building at the car park), Roe Deer seen around the back of Waltons, Iberian Water Frogs heard croaking, Common Frog, Common Toad and Slow Worm all seen, 2 Bearded Tits seen in front of 2nd platform on Weds, Stock Dove from the woods opposite the 1st platform (also on Weds), 2 Cranes over on Sunday 10th but 11 over together during the week, 2 Water Pipit seen on the mud at 2nd platform & 2 Yellow Legged Gulls reported on the rafts at Waltons on Sunday.
Finally, a nice shot of a nest building Coot. You can see one sat on a nest on the edge cut island in Waltons too:
Coot - John Crabb
That's it for this week - have a great weekend!