The weeks seem to be flying by at the moment but at least we are making good progress with the reed cutting work in front of the 1st viewing platform (VP1). Just another couple of sessions with our lovely volunteers next week and, fingers crossed, we'll be finished. We can then slowly bring up the water levels and create some nice splashy margins for wading birds to probe about in and areas for ducks to loaf about in. We've also cut the vegetation directly in front to enable better views from the platform.
It's all nice and open at the moment and there are good opportunities to look for grey heron, great white egret and little egret (pictured)which are all evident each day. On a few occasions too a bittern has been seen either out on the edges or climbing up in the reeds to always worth a scan with your binoculars if you're there.
This little egret was photographed by John Crispin this week. The next extension is perhaps a sign of aggression? Thanks John:
There have been quite a few bittern sightings this week actually, although nowhere specific seems better than anywhere else. 3 were seen in Waltons yesterday (1 on the east and 2 on the west), while another 3 were also seen around the Loxtons area. Further sightings from VP1, VP2 (2nd viewing platform) and the Avalon Hide has given a real spread this week.
Great white egrets are all over too and far more obvious than the bitterns. Perhaps the best place is VP2 where multiple birds are often seen here. John Crispin captured this shot on an early misty morning this week - just in time for the egrets breakfast:
While this slightly later breakfast snack was taken by Graham Wagner from the Tor View Hide - thanks to both John & Graham for their shots:
The Tor View Hide has proved quite popular recently - plenty of good sightings here. Yet another otter sighting this week - a mother and 2 cubs seen from the Tor View Hide around 1pm on Saturday (another 2 - mother and cub seen in the drain near the old rail bridge on Sunday at 12pm too)
Water rails have again been seen both on the path and in front of the hide this week, while on Tuesday both hobby and sparrowhawk were seen along with a kingfisher and 2 jays. Look out also for both little grebe and great crested grebe. A juvenile great crested grebe was seen repeatedly catching small fish in front of the hide on Tuesday. A flurry of camera clicks went off each time. Some visitors were waiting for a kingfisher to use the stick stuck into the ground on the edge on the right hand side as a fishing perch. They have been using it so always worth a look.
Marsh Harriers have been using much of the reserve too this week. VP2 or the Avalon Hide maybe the best spots to try. This bird dropped into a clump of rushes yesterday and immediately attracted the attention of a group of mallards which actually swam over to investigate. This behaviour has been seen before - perhaps these ducks just know when the harrier is not in hunting mode? Thanks to John Crispin for his photos and info!
Look out also for this years juvenile birds. 2 were seen flying together distant from VP2 yesterday - perhaps just having fun? Thanks again to John Crispin:
Another one of John's shots now - this time of a second year male - judging by the plumage. It's been seen over Loxtons on a few occasions this week.
Other birds of prey seen or heard this week include sparrowhawk this morning from the first platform, hobby from the Avalon Hide yesterday, buzzard (pictured) on a daily basis including this one photographed by Graham Wagner over the car park yesterday and a tawny owl heard calling from the reserve on Wednesday at 4.30pm.
There are still plenty of dragonflies for hobbies to munch on including migrant hawkers - there are certainly plenty of these and common darter like those pictured below. Thanks to Giles Morris who took them during his survey yesterday.
Common darter -male: Giles Morris
Common Darter - female: Giles Morris
Look out also for ruddy darters and the remaining few southern hawkers like this one photographed by John Crispin. Thanks John.
Hobbies are also known to take swallows and martins. Reports of just such an event on Monday at the car park where a hobby took a hirundine from off the top of the telegraph wires. There were plenty here on Wednesday morning - at least 100 with 50-100 goldfinches for company..
Plenty of other insects to look out for including butterflies of course. Thanks again to Giles Morris for his photos of 3 of our most prominent butterflies at present. Pictured in order are comma, peacock and red admiral. Look out also for green veined white, speckled wood and small tortoiseshell - all record
He also grabbed this shot of a hornet in one of our woodland sections - thanks Giles.
Also this week: Several snipe seen over the Avalon Hide on Saturday but 1 or 2 also seen from VP2 along with black tailed godwits, 3 bearded tits seen from the Avalon Hide yesterday but also some heard from VP1 on Wednesday whilst we were out cutting the reeds, kingfishers seen from both Tor View and Avalon Hides this week, a gaggle of 21 greylag geese from VP2 yesterday morning, also from VP2 a good selection of ducks including teal, a few wigeon, pochard, tufted duck, gadwall, shoveler and mallard, ravens flying over the reserve on a couple of days this week and grass snakes seen swimming in the car park ponds again this week.
Look out also for a variety of birds along the main track. Chiffchaff (including 4 within a tit flock), blackcap, willow warbler, goldcrest, great spotted woodpecker and several others all seen this week. Look out also for flocks of long tailed tits following the tree lines and calling to each other as they go. Thanks to Graham Wagner for his shot taken during the week along the main track:
That's it for this week. Sorry for the slightly delayed post. I got delayed with other things at work and have had to finish it off at home. It might explain any spelling mistakes - particularly in the second half. Thanks for reading - have a great weekend!