What a fantastic time of year it is on the reserve with such a variety of wildlife on show and it's so good to see so many visitors out enjoying themselves. There certainly seems to have been an increase in the amount of Bittern activity over the past couple of weeks and visitors are frequently reporting sightings - often of 2 or more birds in a courtship flight or as on Wednesday 2 males in a territorial dispute. Volunteer John Crispin was out on the reserve surveying them on Thursday and managed to get these shots of birds flying over the Loxtons area. Thanks for sending them in John!
At one point there were 3 birds 'in the chase'.
Bitterns: John Crispin
Simon Lewis has also sent me a few Photos this week including this great shot of a Bittern - thanks Simon:
Bittern: Simon Lewis
It's likely that there are now flights from females feeding young in a couple of areas and there's still plenty of booming going including a very strong sounding male out on the north side. It's this area where Marsh Harriers are very active and there is one very aggressive male in particular. He was seen yesterday giving 2 Bitterns in a chase a hard time and forced them down into the reed beds and dived bombed them several times. It's a good possibility that Bitterns in this area will keep a very low profile if that's what happens. I also saw him giving a Carrion Crow a very hard time yesterday. The best place for seeing Marsh Harriers is the Avalon Hide where food passes have been seen this week. Birds are also seen frequently carrying in food items - often with long dangly legs - perhaps those of a Coot or Moorhen chick.
There are plenty of broods around - a quick glance in Waltons often brings sightings of Coots feeding chicks:
Coot with Young - John Crispin
Our other Heron Species are also doing well. Great White Egrets seem to be everywhere this week. Both platforms and the Waltons area in particular offer good views. It's hard not to see these beautiful birds during a visit. John Crabb sent me this great picture this week with the bird's wings looking translucent - thanks John:
Great White Egret: John Crabb
There are at least 6 Grey Heron nests on Ham Wall territory this year - 4 of them within Waltons. They provide great entertainment, especially when an adult comes in to feed one of the now, well grown, youngsters (much noise and flapping). The most visible is to on the 1st island to the left of the Tor View Hide path, although it must be very close to fledging by now. Opposite the first 2 screens is another nest with 2 slightly less obvious youngsters. (The path to the hide also saw several sightings of Water Rail yesterday including a parent feeding young on one occasion).
Add to this a few Little Egrets seen feeding here and there, a now almost resident Glossy Ibis and small groups of Cranes which fly over (groups of 2 and 4 on Sunday 15th), it's quite a collection.
Of course, there are plenty of Iberian Water Frogs for these birds to feed on. You can hear them chorusing loudly - particularly during sunny spells. If you're visiting and hearing an unusual sound you can quite place - it's probably these!
Iberian Water Frog: John Crabb
Another bird people always look for is the Hobby. The best group we've had together so far this year is at least 24 seen over the back of the Waltons section on Sunday. Otherwise they are seen daily all over the reserve in small numbers but around 10 over Waltons on Wednesday and groups of 5 or more yesterday at the back of Loxtons. John Crabb has been out on a mission this year to get some good shots of Hobby - I'd say he's doing pretty well - thanks John.
Of course they are after the many dragonflies that are now out and very busy. 4 Spotted Chasers are very abundant in some parts of the reserve - the back of Waltons is often good. Other dragonflies on the wing include Broad Bodied Chaser and Hairy dragonfly - these will be joined by many more species in the next couple of weeks or so. Their smaller cousins - the damselfly, are also out in force. Thousands of Azure, Blue tailed, Red Eyed, Large Red and Variable damselflies are present and hard to miss (but also hard to identify if they don't sit still). These have been joined this week by the very gorgeous looking Banded Demoiselle - seen at Loxtons, Tinneys and also our site at Long Drove.
Blue Tailed Damselfly - Simon Lewis
Blue Tailed Damselflies copulating: John Crispin.
Butterflies are out too: Brimstone, Clouded Yellow, Orange Tip, Green Veined White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood all seen this week and a blue butterfly - either Holly Blue or Common Blue.
The second platform is still producing the goods but not in the numbers is was in previous weeks. Far fewer waders recorded here since the last blog. Peak numbers: Ruff 3 (down to 1 by yesterday), Redshank 2, Black Tailed Godwits c30, Lapwing 6 is all I can muster. The Glossy Ibis continues to stay with us - often showing from the willow blinds on the other side of the drain if not seen from the 2nd platform. Also in the area this week: a pair of Wigeon still hanging on, a Peregrine on Thursday and as many as 4 Garganey (3 males, 1 female). From the platform 2 Mistle Thrush were also recorded on Monday.
We've were looking at the path to the Avalon Hide yesterday with the volunteers and trying to fill in some of the deeper bumps and squashy bits, as well as give it a bit of a tidy to keep access easy. It's quite nice to sit a while in there and see what's about. Got good views of a Cettis Warbler but also discovered that the Great Spotted Woodpeckers are nesting again in a dead birch by the path. Please be aware of this and not loiter here too long. In the owl box further down Tawny Owls have been seen (including a youngster) and there was also a possible sighting of Green Tiger Beetle that flew up off the path. Also whilst tidying up this morning I had a close encounter with a Roe Deer in the wood. They have also been seen from the old rail bridge and the back of Waltons this week:
Roe Deer: John Crispin.
Another great sighting I had this morning was that of some juvenile Bearded Tits at the back of the area in front of the 2nd viewing platform. One bird perched up just a few feet away - wonderful. John Crispin has also seen some this week. They may not show in public areas but it's nice to know they are out there and breeding successfully. John Crispin managed to get some photos of them this week and sent me some information on key things to look out for - thanks John:
Juvenile Bearded Tit - John Crispin
"Juvenile Bearded Tits have been showing well with black back, black lores (where the bill meets the face), black outer tail feathers and yellow bill. Black lores and a yellow bill indicate a juvenile male whilst for female more brown lores and a greyish black bill which will turn yellow on maturity".
Warblers are everywhere it seems - the rail path great for all the song birds but lots of Blackcaps to be seen and heard along with Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Chiffchaff. Bullfinch and nesting Goldcrests also seen along here this week. Taller vegetation and brambles are a good place to hunt for Whitethroats too, while the reedbeds are alive with the chattering of Reed Warblers a few Sedge Warblers and the calling of Reed Buntings:
Whitethroat: Simon Lewis
Reed Warbler with typher (presumably to line a nest): John Crispin
Reed Bunting collecting food: John Crabb
Also this week: Red Kite seen over the reserve on Sunday 15th and Tuesday 17th, lots of Swifts over the reserve all week, Otter seen from the Tor View Hide on Sunday Morning, Stoat reported running across the rail path by 1st platform on Tuesday, also on Tuesday a small Adder found dead in the car park (perhaps dropped by something), a pair of Barn Owls seen at Tinneys and seen flying over Waltons one evening, Kingfishers also seen at Tinneys (on the Sharpham Road) and several Cuckoos seen and heard including this one from the far end of Waltons - a common calling place:
Cuckoo: John Crispin
Before I sign off just a couple of reminders:
Unfortunately Station road between Ashcott and RSPB Ham Wall will be closed for essential repairs between the 20th May and 1 June. Access to the reserve will be Via Meare village during this period. Follow the link below for more details
http://www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-transport/road-closures/road-closures-within-sedgemoor/?entryid116=112471
There are signs up at the Meare end of the Road saying road close ahead at Station Road. You can access at this point even if it appears you can't. The roadworks are beyond the Ham Wall car park and access as far as that is fine.
Also: the bridge work is getting underway at last with the Environment Agency's contractors starting on Monday 23rd. As before the main track through the reserve will be closed between the car park and the 1st viewing platform but access is available by crossing the road bridge and walking down the other side of the main drain. Waltons, Loxtons and the 1st platform can be accessed by crossing back over at the pedestrian bridge just beyond the 1st platform. Thankfully, the track has hardened up and should be firm underfoot. Unfortunately, there will be no disabled access (RADAR access) to the reserve during this time and we can only apologise for any inconvenience caused. We've been told the work will take 2 to 3 weeks and will let people know when things return to normal.
Finally, one photo for the road, an often overlooked bird in an action shot provided by John Crabb. The humble Mallard:
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend.