Bit of an odd week weather wise on the reserve with torrential rain yesterday, showers on other days and some sunny spells. Monday was perhaps the strangest with an eerie strange light across the reserve and a blood red sun at times - apparently dust from the Sahara and ash particles from fires in Spain and Portugal were to blame.
Its all meant quite a quiet week in terms of visitors on the reserve but there's plenty of wildlife interest to talk about with plenty of butterflies and dragonflies still on the wing. Red Admirals in particular are being seen along with a few Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood all seen quite regularly but also reports of Brimstone along with a Painted Lady - surely ready for a return migration by now.
The rail path is a good place for insect spotting during the sunny spells but look out also for a variety of bird life. Chiffchaff has been heard singing throughout the week and gangs of Long Tailed Tits are following the tree lines - they always brighten my day. Reports also of Goldcrest (2 by the 2nd platform), Bullfinches and Treecreeper. Look out also for some very busy Jays.
The 1st platform seems to always have something to offer. The Glossy Ibis puts in many appearances here each week - often hidden amongst the groups of Mallards. Great White Egrets are a daily fixture, while Kingfishers are often seen too. This week one has been perched on the post and rails in the water on several occasions. On Monday 11 Bearded Tits took off from this area and circled before landing again in the same place - easily seen from the platform. A pair of Stonechats regularly perch on the bushes opposite too.
Also from the 1st platform this week: Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk, Bittern, Little Egret, Great Crested Grebe and 2 Snipe and a Kestrel hunting in the distance on a daily basis:
.
Behind in the Waltons area there are more species to add to your list. Little Grebe are an easy spot from the screens and Shoveler were present this morning too. From the Tor View Hide a Water Rail was reported this morning skulking about around and under the hide. Also this morning several Bittern Flights were recorded by visitors (3 different birds seen on Monday too). Some noisy Cettis Warblers were close to the path on the way up with another very close to the hide.
John Crispin grabbed a great shot of a Bittern calling in flight this week. Get to recognise this quite guttural call to help you be aware of their presence:
During the week a few sightings of Bearded Tit from here but the best sighting must be that of an Otter at around 11am on Tuesday. That's 7 or 8 sightings across the reserve in recent weeks. Also from the hide this week sightings of Great White Egret, Raven, Marsh Harrier and Cattle Egret (5) on Wednesday.
Cattle Egrets are being spotted more frequently again at the moment. They are roosting locally, with groups of up to 31 being spotted. Dawn and dusk could be a good time to see them on the move. You could try the old rail bridge or stand in the car park and see if you can seen any groups in flight.
30 passed over the 2nd platform on Sunday (photo by John Crispin - thanks John) it looked like the might land at one point but continued west, 31 were seen on Monday with other smaller groups reported throughout the week.
The 2nd platform had a variety of duck with plenty of Gadwall but also joined by groups of Wigeon and Teal. Look out also for Great White Egret (up to 5 seen here this week at one time) and Little Egret too. You may be lucky enough to see them stood side by side to get that real size comparison:
Another Little Egret seemed to upset one of the Mallards this week too as John Crispin's photo shows:
Marsh Harrier have been seen here on a regular basis with 3 different birds seen here on both Monday and Wednesday. John Crispin was on hand again with the photographic evidence - thanks John:
Also look out in this area for any waders which might be present. Lapwing are usually here with a peak of around 50 this week along with a few Snipe. Ruff & Green Sandpiper have popped into this area in recent weeks and have been recorded over on the scrape at Shapwick Heath this week so there are still about. Amazingly they also recorded a juvenile Gannet on the Noah's Lake section during the week - most likely blown inland by strong winds.
Bearded Tits have also been seen here this week too with a max of 13 seen on Monday. Swallows also recorded here with 7 on Monday and 3 this morning flying and feeding as the sun shone. Up to 40 Coots have also been seen, the Glossy Ibis is often here too if it's not at the 1st platform (although it has been seen on at least 2 occasions from the Avalon Hide this week) and around 20 Pied Wagtails flew over.
Pied Wagtails can form roosts and we have recorded them flying over in much larger numbers in the past in colder winters. Look out also for flocks of Redwing which have again been seen this week but I'm still awaiting my first Fieldfare.
Starling numbers are building slowly but we are now in the region of about 6000 with 3000 roosting in Loxtons still and another 3000 in a plot of land just behind. Roosting approximately 5.30pm and lifting off approx 7.15am
Also this week: Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Buzzards over the car park, Coal Tit at the Car Park, c70 Greylag Geese roosting on Ham Wall from the 2nd platform with most leaving in the early morning, the young Grey Heron still visiting the small car park trail frequently (often easy to photograph), still small numbers of Common Frog and Common Toad being spotted and 2 calling Iberian Water Frogs on one section of the reserve yesterday.
I'll leave you with a great close up of a Grey Heron taken by John Crispin on the reserve this week:
Have a great weekend everyone!