Well that was a better week - my week off work last week was a bit of a wash out - its been nice to get back to work and there's been plenty to get on with. We are continuing to cut in front of the 1st platform to open things up a bit. The Glossy Ibis seems to like it - it's been seen on the islands here every day. It's been seen here at 6am on a couple of occasions this week so it's possible it may even be roosting here overnight. If we've been working here it has tended to move further down to the 2nd platform area although I believe the Shapwick scrape has been pumped down again so it may pop over there too. 24 Canada Geese were loitering from the 1st platform this week too.
Great White Egrets are also being seen in front of both platforms and are now such a regular feature at Ham Wall you almost ignore them - just part of the furniture now.
Cattle Egrets are also being seen on occasions. 4 were reported from the Avalon Hide on Monday morning and I saw a few myself on the north of the reserve yesterday. They flew of as I drove my machine by. There would have been visible from both the Avalon Hide and the 2nd platform but would have been a little distant.
The 2nd platform area is full of birds. You often won't get that impression unless they are disturbed due to the vegetation growth. When they go up you can see hundreds of duck - mostly Mallard and Gadwall but also a few Tufted Duck and Shoveler. Small numbers of Teal have also been reported this week.
Waders are being seen here too: 70+ Black tailed Godwits at times, a few Snipe, plenty of Lapwing and a single Green Sandpiper. There will be plenty more over the next few weeks.
In the evenings Barn Owls are being seen - the Avalon Hide probably the place to go. Volunteer Dean Reeves was there last week and got this lovely photo of Barn Owl sat on the gate just to the left of the hide. Thanks Dean!
Other birds of prey are being seen and heard too. It's not unusual to hear Tawny Owls across the reserve of an evening an during the day Buzzards are often seen. Sparrowhawks have been noted on several days this week - particularly around Waltons (1 on Wednesday but 2 following each other along the Waltons trail on Tuesday), Sparrowhawk at Tinneys on Tuesday too (the plot on the Sharpham Road) Hobby are still being seen too - just singles though, while Marsh Harriers continue to thrill with lots of sightings every day. Just keep your eyes open and you're almost certain to see one during a visit.
John Crispin took this shot this week of a harrier with prey but could not tell what exactly - thanks John - lovely shot.
A walk around Waltons can be quite rewarding at the moment - especially if you include a visit to the screens and the Tor View Hide. We've cut in front of the hide and Water Rail have been seen here out in the open this week. They will probably continue to do so all through the autumn and winter so always worth approaching the hide quietly to get a good chance of a sighting. A group of Bearded Tits was also reported from here this week so look out for these too.
From the screens lots of wildfowl to see. Plenty of young birds too including Coot and Moorhen - both pictured below - thanks to John Crispin again for these:
Also within Waltons, Little Grebe adults and young:
This morning on a trip round Waltons 3 Jays were following the tree line - I've seen several around the reserve this week and on Wednesday a fantastic report of an Otter on the western side. Marsh Harriers often hunt over here as well as in front of the 1st platform but it's the Kingfishers that seen to be quite prominent in this area. Lots of sightings this week - I often hear them before I see them so familiarise yourself with their whistling call to give yourself a better chance.
Thanks to John Crispin for these 4 fantastic shots taken this week.
Also this week: Ravens seen flying over Waltons on Wednesday, Grass Snake at the Waltons pond, c20 Swift flying and feding on Thursday, Lots of Sand Martins over the car park this morning, Great Spotted Woodpeckers at the car park, female Pied Flycatcher at the far end of Ham wall last Sunday (13th), juvenile Reed and Sedge Warblers being seen, large groups of Long Tailed Tits following the tree lines, Goldcrest and Treecreeper reported along the main track, Bitterns being spotted from all parts of the reserve - just be patient and still lots of calling Cettis Warblers - when you hear one listen for the replies from other males to give you an idea of numbers.
Finally a nice shot of a Cormorant for John Crispin. There are plenty on the reserve and we even had a breeding colony this year for the first time. You can't fail to see these on a trip to the reserve and can see as many as 20 on the raft in front of the Loxtons screen on most days.
The close up shows the wing feather tracts. The different layers of feathers are called coverts - used to help smooth the air flow over the wing. Thanks again to John.
That's it for this week - and I'm sorry to say I'm away again next week so no blog from me. You'll hear from me in 2 weeks time hopefully. Have a great weekend and following week.