It's been a pretty good week all round but the best news has come this morning. Having spoken to the contractors who have been working on the Environment Agencies bridge it looks as though the main path through the reserve will be open again today. Maybe even now as I write this blog.
It will be a relief for all those coming to visit to see the Starling murmurations over the weekend. The majority of the birds have been on Ham Wall this week - many of them down the far end beyond the 2nd viewing platform. A pair of Bullfinches were also reported feeding in these areas this week. As always it's worth giving the starling hotline a call if you're planning a visit - they can change roosts on any night but it will give you the last known location. Hotline No. : 07866 554142
Here's some shots of the Starlings taking off on Thursday morning sent in by John Crispin - thanks John!
There's been some wonderful warm weather this week - although the least said about Wednesday, the better. There was a noticeable chorus of singing birds at the car park this morning with Song Thrushes in particularly good voice. There's a hint of springlike activity with all the bird song, fighting coots, daffodils and snowdrops in bloom, booming Bitterns and displaying Great Crested Grebes.
The pair in Waltons were together and head bobbing together but only very briefly. This kind of pair bonding activity should increase steadily over the next few weeks. Still they are always a handsome bird to watch, even when not displaying.
Great Crested Grebe - Photo by John Crabb
Waltons has been one of the places to see the Glossy Ibis of late - on the cut island in front of the 3rd screen - the last report I had of it here though was on Sunday. It has been seen flying into its normal roost site on Shapwick Heath on most evenings but it's often uncertain where it spends its days. This cut island at Waltons has also been frequented by Snipe feeding, with 3 seen on Thursday morning at this location:
Snipe; Photo - John Crispin
From the Tor View Hide Grey Herons can still be seen sitting or others seen flying in carrying sticks. There are 2 perhaps 3 locations where birds are currently sat or nest building. John Crispin sent in this shot taken on Thursday - thanks John.
A selection of duck species can also be seen here but perhaps the 1st platform is a good place to sit and stare a while for these. Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Shoveler & Wigeon have all been seen here this week. A large number of Wigeon flew out of this section yesterday when they were spooked and John Crispin took this shot of males fighting over a female on this week.
The second platform also has its fair share of interest. The Starlings spent the early part of the week here but also a Black Necked Grebe was reported to me at this location. I was out on site and not far away but neither myself nor another visitor could locate it, although we did spot a Pintail which, was nice. A Black necked Grebe was later reported over at Shapwick Heath, so the chances are it was there, even if very briefly.
Great White Egrets are often seen here too but you could also try the Avalon Hide or the 1st platform where Little Egrets have also been dropping in from time to time. 2 Great White Egrets were seen flying together for some time on Thursday - almost displaying perhaps.
Great White Egret: Photo - John Crispin
The Avalon Hide is probably still the place to go and see Marsh Harriers. 2 were certainly in the area yesterday. Bitterns have also been seen here this week. I had one close to here on Thursday but have also seen one from the 1st platform and the Tor View Hide this week. Listen out for booming males too - one or two been heard around the Loxtons area recently.
Loxtons screen is perhaps the place to go for a Kingfisher sighting. I have fairly regular reports from this location and this week was no exception. On the was to the screen on Monday a Great Spotted Woodpecker perched up and showed very nicely, although this was trumped by our offices this morning with 3 birds chasing around at the Avalon Marshes Centre.
Not much to report in the way of mammals this week. The usual couple of Grey Squirrels along the rail path but several Roe deer seen this week. I had 3 together in the wood by the owl boxes yesterday and later o 2 more by the first woodland strip on the footpath side of the canal. Another was seen enjoying the sunshine around Waltons on Tuesday and snapped by John Crabb. Thanks for sending in this and your other photos John:
Also this week: several buzzard sightings including one being mobbed mercilessly by a Crow this morning, a Kestrel hovering over the Ham Wall car park again this morning, Raven flying over during the week, c400 Lapwing seen on both sides of the track from the 2nd platform on Thursday - a wonderful sight in the sunshine, Plenty of Long Tailed Tit groups but often with Blue Tit, Great Tit and Goldcrest mixed in and these Canada Geese doing a pretty dance after mating:
Canada Geese: Photo - John Crabb
Finally, always a nice bird to see - the Treecreeper. It's been seen several times in the last week or so using the Alder trees by the boundary ditch between the Waltons & Loxtons sections. I was lucky enough to see it there last week and on Monday. John Crispin got this shot on Sunday:
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend!