A week this week much like the last - which of course means there's a lot to talk about. There always seems to be plenty going on!
Volunteers undertook the monthly WeBS count (Wetland Bird Survey) on Monday but it was fairly quiet as surveys go, although this is nothing new for the October WeBS. Highest counts came in at Gadwall 100, Wigeon 70, Mallard 64, Snipe 18 and Lapwing 150 although later in the day I counted around 350 (that's the way surveys go sometimes). These are the figures for the north side of the reserve (everything left of the rail path). They also had one Bittern flight and 3 Great White Egrets.
Preening Wigeon taken this week by John Crispin.
One of these has been spending a lot of time in front of the 1st platform, where we have been raising water levels all week after completing our reedbed management work in this section. It's looking fantastic and there has since been an increase in wildfowl using this area. The regular Great White Egret is one of the ringed birds from France, now residing in the Avalon Marshes.
Remember that the old rail track is currently closed whist Environment Agency (who own the path) contractors make structural repairs to the bridge. You can still access the reserve via the path on the other side of the drain. Simply walk along to just past the 1st platform to the new bridge where you can cross back over. Please see the Website for further info.
The increases in wildfowl numbers are a gentle reminder that autumn is here and winter is coming. It's reflected in the behaviour of a lot of species too. Jays have been far more visible - often loitering close to oak trees from which they are making a cache of food for winter. Many smaller birds are flocking together - particularly tits. Gangs of Long Tailed Tits are a frequent sight and often mixed within are Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and who knows what else - if you don't look you'll never know. Flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare are being seen daily. A flying visit to the reserves car park this morning saw a group of c35 Fieldfare pass overhead.
Not all birds are necessarily behaving as expected. During the WeBS count volunteers observed a Mute Swan ripping Typher leaves from its stems and laying them down - almost as though it was nest building.
The Starlings are behaving normally however. Estimates are now over 15,000 birds and they have been dropping into the Loxtons section. The Starling Hotline is now up and running and can be used as a guide to help you locate the roost. Of course we cant predict where the birds will be but the hotline will give the location of the birds the previous night and so give you a fighting chance of getting up close.
Starling Hotline: 07866 554142
We owe great thanks to John Crispin for so diligently keeping this up to date as best he can - visiting every day.
Of course the Starlings attract a host of predatory birds. This week, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel have all been loitering at roost time. In fact Buzzards and Marsh Harriers can be seen fairly easily every day. Marsh Harriers have been seen hunting in front of the first platform since water levels have been raised but have spent a lot of time over Waltons & Loxtons of late.
Buzzards too are commonplace and were seen soaring high on thermals during sunny spells on Tuesday.
One was also seen in an altercation with a Carrion Crow the same day - crows often pursue and hassle them if the get too close for their liking.
Yesterday a Kestrel was given chase by a crow close to the new Avalon Hide and this morning a more serene flight from a Kestrel across the car park, where one has been seen frequently of late.
Work on the new hide is ongoing. Staff and volunteers have nailed cladding all the exposed posts and capped them off, added shelving, some external fencing and done most of the netting on the flooring. We are still however awaiting the windows. We are hoping they will be fitted next week - fingers crossed.
In the car park you may have noticed the arrival of the toilet block and visitor building. Utilities need to be installed in both (which will include us digging more trenches) and the toilet access ramp completed as well as fitting out the visitor centre. Still a little way to go here I'm afraid - but we are making good progress.
The new Avalon Hide looks to be a fantastic addition once its opened. We've been seeing regular Bittern & Marsh Harrier flights whist working there and a very busy Kingfisher which has been seen hovering over the water on occasions Kestrel style. Kingfishers are also frequently sen at Loxtons and within Waltons. They have also been seen perched on the rails opposite the 1st platform (photographed on Tuesday).
This area is now host to a good range of species as water levels rise: Great White Egret, Bittern, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Cormorant and Lapwing seen and c150 Black Tailed Godwits flew over on Tuesday heading West. I'd seen around 100 land in the area in front of the 2nd platform the same day. This area too is still teeming with ducks and waders at times (as long as you can get a good view too - they are there - many just well hidden). It often takes the arrival of a Marsh Harrier to send everything up.
The changing weather has meant a decline in Butterfly and dragonfly numbers, I have seen Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma and Speckled Wood this week however. There seems to have been a drop in Dragonfly numbers this week in particular but Migrant Hawkers, Common Darters and Ruddy Darters remain - often seen still mating on the wing:
Mating Rudy Darters - Carol Coward
Also this week: 4 Raven seen from the 1st platform this morning along with more Shoveler (2 more Raven over the car park), Grey Wagtail on Tuesday distant of 1st platform, the odd Skylark passing over, a Tawny Owl flushed from an Owl box close to the new hide, Treecreeper heard along the canal bank, c200 Corvids using the north of the reserve and adjacent fields - mostly crows, groups of Greylags passing overhead, Iberian Water Frogs still in the car park pools, Roe Deer again around the Waltons trail and a few Bearded Tits seen here and there including 4 which passed over from Loxtons to Waltons on Tuesday.
These were also snapped this week by John Crispin.
That's it for this week - have a great weekend