Well, there's no doubt as to the star of the show this week. On Sunday evening a Collared Pratincole was spotted on the reserve and with it, over the next few days, came many visitors hoping to add one to their list. It's a summer visitor to southern Europe but a vagrant to these parts (and a first for Somerset I'm told?) Sadly I've not been sent any photos of this handsome bird. But if you search twitter there are plenty of great images.
I had good views myself on Wednesday of the bird perched on the ground and then in flight as it caught insects on the wing - with graceful, swooping manoeuvers - very Tern like. On one occasion it was seen to catch a dragonfly directly over the 2nd platform. Of course, I wasn't there for that showpiece. I'm so pleased I saw it though - a great, albeit brief addition to the reserve. It was seen late on Wednesday night but was absent yesterday. Whatever could be next for the ever growing list at the Avalon Marshes reserves?
With so many people travelling to see it, many wanted the double whammy by getting Little Bittern too. Many people managed it and if you add 2 Glossy Ibis and numerous Great White Egrets and "Great" Bitterns to the mix you have one hell of a days birding.
Little Bittern has been seen in a few places this week. One from the Tor View Hide on Tuesday and one distantly behind the 2nd viewing platform on Wednesday (beyond the back of Loxtons). Most people now seem to be aware that the most active section has been further down the rail path from the 2nd platform. There are more flights earlier in the day as a rule, but some people get lucky during the daytime. One bird perched up in the reeds for a long period on Wednesday and was also seen in flight. Here's a couple more pictures taken by John Crispin last week. Thanks John:
It's been great to see so many satisfied visitors on the reserve. What an awesome place this reserve has become. The Glossy Ibis have also been showing well - sometimes from the 2nd platform but often you need to cross over and search the whole section to find them. The small blinds and in front of the bench near the junction with the Avalon Hide path give you more views of this area and a greater chance of spotting them.
On Friday they were spotted doing this..........
I say!.......and this goes out before the watershed. Thanks to Moi Hicks for sending in the photo.
Not sure what will come of this. It could be a bit late for this year and I get the impression that these may not be fully mature birds but I guess it's good to practice in readiness for next season perhaps!
This area has been proving to be really productive in recent months. We have also dropped the water level just a little, which could encourage a few passage waders to drop in. Lapwing are using the area regularly, Snipe have been seen along with a Redshank and up to 6 Green Sandpipers:
Green Sandpiper - John Crispin
The section is vegetating over bit by bit but we hope to reproduce this kind of area just next door in the section to the left of the Avalon Hide path. We'll do some more cutting work in there this winter and open it up again and hopefully produce some satisfying results.
Also seen in this area this week: Peregrine hunting on Tuesday afternoon, plenty of Swift (one with a very stumpy tail) and House Martins picking off insects, Great Crested Grebe, Greylag Geese, Marsh Harrier, several duck species and of course Great White Egrets:
They are seen here regularly and all around the reserve really.They are having a successful breeding season with at least another 13 birds being added to the population. A good number have been ringed and we should be able to learn much about their behaviour and how they may distribute from the Avalon Marshes. There still seems to be an active nest as a bird is regularly flying directly over the car park between Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath, so you need to keep your eyes open right from the start.
The car park pools have much to offer too. Iberian Water Frogs (including many small ones) can be sen here along with a good selection of dragonflies. This week on the reserve: Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, 4 Spotted Chaser (still 1 or 2), Broad Bodied Chaser, Black Tailed Skimmer and Emperor. Including this one sent in by Mike Smethurst - Thanks Mike:
There are a good selection of Butterflies being recorded as well including: Green Veined White, Large White, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Small Copper, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Comma.
After the car park the rail path can also come up trumps. Many birds to tick off on the way including large gangs of Long Tailed Tits, Singing Chiffchaff and Blackcap and perhaps Bullfinch with young as seen on Tuesday (before the 1st platform). It's also worth stopping at the rail bridge. Kingfisher has been seen here this week as well as in the car park, at Waltons and from the Loxtons screen. Listen out for thier whistling call to give you a clue as to their presence:
Kingfisher: John Crispin
The Avalon Hide is definitely still worth a visit. Flights from Bittern and Great White Egret recorded here this week and the Marsh Harriers are still very visible. These birds have pretty much fledged though but there's a good chance of seeing juveniles popping up and down within the reed beds.
There's also been a Hobby seen regularly perching out in the water on what I'm assuming is an old grebes nest. It sits on the ground munching dragonflies and just generally chilling out. I saw it there on Monday and have had several reports of it each day this week displaying the same behaviour. It's worth a trip to see if he's still up to his old tricks.
Also from here both Mute Swans and Coot with young, broods of duck and as with VP2 Swift and House Martins feeding regularly. If you're about in the evening keep and eye out for Barn Owls coming from the edge of the wood to the left of the hide (or view this from the first platform VP1). It looks as though the Great Crested Grebes have given up the nest and therefore the second brood. They'd been sat there for a while and now they're off and I haven't seen any chicks.
There are young birds in Waltons. One pair with a well grown youngster hanging around but also some small youngsters from a second brood. Surprised if they tolerate the older bird much longer. These birds can be viewed from several locations around the reserve at the moment. Natalie Talbot managed this shot last Sunday of a successful fishing trip. Thanks Natalie:
Also this week: A Raven flying over Waltons on Tuesday, Bearded Tits which fluttered up and then came down in the reeds in front of the Avalon Hide, a Bittern heard booming (quite late I thought) from the 2nd platform as people waited for the Collared Pratincole, Song Thrush regularly in the car park and many many Goldfinches using the car park feeders (and a few Greenfinch), Rabbits seen along the rail path and the Loxtons Trail, Roe Deer seen around the Waltons Trail, Water Rail once again seen feeding youngsters along the Tor View Hide path and Common Tern seen mid morning yesterday from the 2nd platform.
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend!