Well, as promised, the area in front of the 1st viewing platform is wetting up nicely and beginning to create a bit of interest. We managed to walk out on the flat area just in front today to place a grit tray for Bearded Tits to use. They change there diet around this time of year and move from a diet of insects etc towards a diet of seed throughout the winter months. They need to take in grit like many birds to aid digestion of the seeds. We've also placed one close to the Avalon Hide (pictured) - there have been a few sightings here lately so you never know, you may be in luck.
There have been a couple of large groups of these birds seen this week of c20 or so. I had several birds around me on Wednesday with some birds perched up just yards away - a real treat. These groups are often a bit left of the 1st platform area - maybe just to far to see or hear but small groups have come nearer - lets hope they find the trays. The 2nd platform too has been good this week. On Tuesday morning they were heard on numerous occasions but without any sightings, however the following day 8 were seen to fly up and move west.
The 1st platform area has also been home to the Glossy Ibis on several occasions this week. Lots of good feeding opportunities here as the water level slowly rises. John Crispin managed these shots this week of the birds both on the ground and in flight. Thanks John:
As we walked across to put out the grit tray several Snipe were disturbed and shot off with their distinctive call and zigzag flight (at least 12). Great White Egret and Little Egret were also present. We'd earlier seen groups of 12 Great White Egret and 11 Little Egret come up from areas close to the Avalon Hide and with others in front of both platforms too, that's a healthy total for a bird rare in Britain (if not so rare to the Avalon Marshes).
John Crabb sent me these pictures taken from the Avalon Hide on Thursday. Thanks John:
Great White Egret
Little Egrets struggling to stand on the floating weeds.
Bitterns are still being seen too. The first platform and Waltons seem to have the most reports, although there was a flight in front of the Avalon Hide this morning as we set up the grit tray.
One bird stood within Waltons fro at least an hour on Tuesday - visible at the far end of the channel in front of the first 2 screens. For a few people it was their first ever sighting of this bird - wonderful for them.
Bittern in front of the first platform on Tuesday: John Crispin
Bittern in flight from the Tor View Hide on Thursday: John Crabb
The Tor View Hide is still a good place to try and track down Water Rail - another sighting this week in the open area. Also look out for Reed Warblers which are still present (2 seen on Tuesday), Kingfisher seen on Wednesday and Moorhens including juveniles in the open areas:
Juvenile Moorhen; John Crabb.
2 Kingfishers were also perched together on posts in front of the 1st platform on Tuesday afternoon.
Waltons has also been a good place to see the Osprey this week. It was seen on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday (6.45am) flying over. No report to me yesterday, although I was at West Sedgemoor with our volunteers helping them out for the day - good views of Wheatear, Whinchat, Raven & female Merlin made for a good day.
A Raven flew over Waltons this morning too, with it's cronking call for all to hear! On Weds 6.45am 800-1000 Starlings lifted out of the Waltons reedbed - a mini murmuration. Numbers should begin to build during October.
The area in front of the 2nd platform is still producing some interesting stuff. Good numbers of Teal present and a few Shoveler and Wigeon (7) but no reports of Garganey this week. 50 Wigeon came out of Waltons on Wednesday and dropped into the next section nearer the car park (another 30 joined the them later flying in front of the first platform before dropping in).
Waders here are harder to see than the impressive scrape at Shapwick Heath but we've had the following (max numbers recorded): 3 Ruff, 6 Black Tailed Godwits, 1 Dunlin, c30 Snipe & c50 Lapwing (also some at 1st platform).
Also this week: Yellow Browed Warbler to the left of the boardwalk leading to the car park at the Ham Wall end, Marsh Harriers (Male, Female, Juvenile) - try Avalon Hide, Waltons for sightings, Red Kite reported over Shapwick on Wednesday, 2 Bullfinch in trees next to the Loxtons screen, Great Crested Grebes in Waltons, Great Spotted Woodpeckers around the reserve, Stoat on the rail path on Monday and the usual good numbers of Iberian Water Frogs in the car park pools - they were croaking loudly on Monday. I've heard a few Chiffchaff still singing around the reserve this week but also listen out for their call - a soft whistling hweet - something new to learn maybe.
Keep your eyes open for the remaining dragonflies: Migrant Hawkers and Southern Hawkers but also Common Dater and Ruddy Darter - the latter seen mating and egg laying in the car park pools on Monday.
Ruddy Darter
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend!