It's been another interesting week at Ham wall with some more fantastic sightings to report. There's was a particularly good day yesterday mainly due to the number of volunteers out and about first thing undertaking a bearded tit survey - annoyingly there were far more this morning in certain areas of the reserve than yesterday but I guess that's how it goes sometimes.
One lucky volunteer got to see an otter swimming in the area in front of the first platform (VP1) - it would have been to the left of this area as you face it so maybe not directly visible from the platform - thanks to Nick Wigzell who managed to take a shot of the beast before it swam away:
Otter: Nick Wigzell
Another prime sighting was that of a spoonbill which was seen to fly over the area we call Godwins (it's between the car park and Waltons) towards an area called Long Drove. It then returned around 10 mins later (about 10.30am). Also over at Long Drove whinchat was seen and also in the area groups of meadow pipits and skylarks flying over.
So lots of birds on the move by the looks of it. Some of the winter thrushes area arriving. I had a fieldfare calling in the car park trees yesterday morning and they were also reported elsewhere around the reserve along with redwings.
Along the main path look out for siskins and redpolls - check out the alders in particular as they like feeding on them. Check out all the flocks of small birds as well - they may very well be mixed flocks - people have recorded treecreepers, chiffchaffs and goldcrests in amongst mixed tit flocks this week.
Cattle egrets were also spotted yesterday with 4 yesterday from the second viewing platform (VP2), this was eclipsed by the group of 32 seen on Tuesday morning from VP1 (they had also been seen at the Avalon Hide and VP2 earlier). This however can be further eclipsed by the 97 recorded in the roost at Canada Farm (west of Shapwick Heath and managed by Natural England). Birds have also been noted this week at Tealham Moor and Catcott Lows, so plenty of places to try. Thanks to John Crispin for his shot of some of the cattle egrets that flew in front of us at VP1 on Tuesday morning:
Cattle egret: John Crispin
Great white egrets of course are widespread throughout the Avalon Marshes. On Ham Wall it's hard not to see one on your visit. There is often one present from VP1, and more often than not, more than one present at VP2 where you can also catch up with little egret (both frequently seen at the Avalon Hide too). Some jackdaws were playing around over the Godwins area yesterday and seemed to chase simply everything away. This included 8 little egrets which were settled in trees and a juvenile marsh harrier which flew over.
If it's grey heron you're after then simply walk along the main track and check out the main drain running parallel to it. There is one juvenile bird in particular who seems to enjoy fishing here - either that or he's been ousted to this area by other birds. Other, adult birds, have also been seen feeding along here this week.
When you are walking the main track look out for those mixed flocks but also check out the ivy clumps. The face south and are nicely sheltered and as a late nectar source are attracting a wide range of insects including hornets and hoverflies (thanks to Mike Pearce for his photo). It's also traditionally been a good place to see large numbers of red admiral butterflies.
Hoverfly: Mike Pearce
Red admirals on ivy
Around the car park and along the main path look out for chiffchaff (4 in the car park on Wednesday), blackcaps (1 male and 3 females - also Wednesday in the car park), coal tit, great spotted woodpecker, song thrush, reed buntings seen feeding on grit, jays collecting acorns as well as chaffinch, blackbird and robins.
VP2 is perhaps the most interesting place at present. Water levels in here have been lowered slightly and mud has appeared here and there. It's attracting a few waders, with green sandpiper and snipe being recorded this week along with occasional visits from a few black tailed godwits (around 20 on Monday) and varying numbers of Lapwing which seemed to increase as the week went on. As many as 200 - perhaps more were recorded over the last couple of days in there - really nice when they all go up together. Yesterday a peregrine flew over and put them all up along with teal, wigeon, mallard, gadwall and shoveler. There was also a scaup seen here which was then later spotted over at Loxtons.
Thanks to John Crispin for his shots of black tailed godwits with a few lapwing mixed in taken this week:
Black Tailed Godwits (with lapwing in 3rd photo): John Crispin
Bearded tits have been seen and heard from this area this week although often they are distant from here. None were picked up in the Waltons section this week but they have been recently so you never know. They have however been seen from the Avalon Hide and VP1 - thanks to John Crispin for his shots of flocks of bearded tits taken yesterday:
Bearded tits: John Crispin
Also this week: hobby seen flying over on Sunday along with 30 Canada geese, a single swallow and a willow warbler from the car park, bitterns seen from both VP1 and VP2 during the week - 2 were seen flying over Waltons yesterday and another which flew over the old rail bridge at around 4pm yesterday, 4 red kite which flew distant from VP1 yesterday too, 3 different marsh harriers seen throughout the week including a male which flew over the car park on Wednesday, 6 raven over the car park on Tuesday, vocal cettis warblers from all around the reserve, little grebe and great crested grebe both from the Tor View Hide and a water rail on the path on the way up, sparrowhawks seen from both platforms throughout the week and kingfishers noted at the old rail bridge, Loxtons, the Avalon Hide, Tor View Hide and VP2.
Phew, I need to take a breath. I think I'd better leave it there for this week. Have a great weekend and thanks for reading.