Another week with very little rain means the water levels are continuing to drop on the reserve. You can't help thinking we may in in for a deluge at some point soon. Water levels do traditionally drop at this time of year. In some ways it may be helpful for us when we move into reed cutting season with a lot less water to move to gain access with machinery and it also exposes fresh muddy fringes and shallow areas which many birds take advantage of.
In front of the second platform (VP2) great white egrets are seen regularly and in quite good numbers (depending on which angle you are looking from). At least 6 were visible from the platform this morning but there were more hidden round the corner so it's not been unusual to see 10 or more as well as a few little egrets and grey herons getting in on the action too.
A few waders are being picked up also. A redshank flew over calling in flight on Wednesday, whilst 3 green sandpipers were picked up from VP2 on Tuesday. We've also had reports of snipe and lapwing but the biggest numbers have been black tailed godwits.
As many as 22 have been spotted feeding in the shallows at VP2 and in front of the Avalon Hide. John Crispin took these shots this week of birds feeding in the water in in flight on Wednesday. Thanks John:
Numbers of waders should increase as breeding season finishes and we begin to move towards autumn - with birds very mobile at this time. Other birds are on the move too - species such as swift already look to be gathering together and there are daily sightings of swallow, house martin and sand martin - a short stay at either platform should bring you something. There was even a cuckoo seen along the main path on Tuesday - although I don't have a more exact location for this one I'm afraid.
A few hobbies are being seen too with up to 3 seen from VP2 on Wednesday but other sightings of single birds throughout the week from the 1st platform (VP1) & the Avalon Hide. Thanks to John Crispin for his hobby photo taken this week:
One was seen chasing a swift for several minutes in front of the Avalon Hide a couple of weeks ago - unsuccessfully it was said. Of course they are better known for catching insects on the wing such as dragonflies and there are still plenty of those being spotted on the reserve at the moment. Some, such as ruddy darters (just about emerging) will be on the wing until as late as November - depending on when the first frosts come and finish them off.
Dragonflies spotted this week include: emperor, common hawker, brown hawker, black tailed skimmer, common darter, banded demoiselle, just a couple of 4 spotted chasers, red eyed damselfly, small red eyed damselfly, blue tailed damselfly & common blue damselfly.
Plenty of other insects to look out for with many crickets and grasshoppers in the longer grasses by the car park pools and the more you look the more you see with hundreds of beetles, hoverflies and bumblebees to seek out. Butterflies seem to be having a good year. I don't know all the ins and outs of it all but I've heard that if the hot weather continues it could cause problems with certain food plants which would have a knock on effect on next years populations. Think I need to look into this a bit more unless someone out there can confirm this.
Anyway, there's a good opportunity to get a good butterfly list at the moment. Seen this week: Common blue (car park this morning), gatekeeper, meadow brown, speckled wood, small tortoiseshell, peacock, red admiral, brimstone, large white, small copper, green veined white (pictured below), painted lady, silver washed fritillary, white admiral (seen on Shapwick Heath but they have been seen on Ham Wall recently) and small skipper.
Hobby of course aren't the only birds of prey on the reserve. Buzzards are seen daily as are marsh harriers. One nest we believe has fledged 3 birds whilst the one in front of the Avalon Hide still appears to have parent birds dropping in food to what looks to be a single youngster. It's interesting behaviour to watch though and while you're there there's plenty more to take in.
How about barn owls - well this is as good a place as any or VP1. The box in the wood opposite VP1 (to the right of the Avalon Hide we know has 2 youngsters as they were ringed 2 weeks ago so there are active birds here. One adult was sat on top of the box when I passed nearby on Tuesday. There could also be activity in the wood to the left up by the gate. Sightings have been had from the Avalon Hide this week as well as great crested grebes, great white egrets, little egrets, snipe, roe deer and bearded tits (on a few occasions).
John Crispin saw several on the north of the reserve whilst undertaking a survey of the marsh harriers this week. Several juveniles were amongst them including this individual:
It looks to have very worn tail feathers - due to the abrasive nature of the reeds perhaps?
Other youngsters are about still with plenty of ducklings, cygnets and young moorhens and coots around the reserve. Thanks to John Crispin for his photo of 2 young coots discussing the days events:
Reed buntings sedge warblers and reed warblers are still active and calling in the reedbeds with the latter seen carrying food this week.
Also this week: bullfinch seen around Loxtons, a lesser whitethroat sen close to the old rail bridge, a grass snake seen swimming at the same location, a common tern seen from the Tor View Hide on Wednesday, great crested grebes with juveniles seen from VP2, kingfisher also from VP2 on Tuesday, Ravens seen flying over and calling a few times, sparrowhawk spotted from VP2 on Wednesday, chiffchaff & blackcap both heard in song from the car park and Iberian water frogs heard calling loudly from the ponds at the car park this morning.
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend!