It's a fantastic time of year on the reserve with so many opportunities to get some great wildlife sightings. There's so much to see but also so much to hear, which is all part of a great experience for visitors. Whether it's crazy Bitterns in some kind of dispute:
Crazy Bitterns: John Crabb
Hungry Grey Heron Chicks calling noisily...
Grey Heron & Chick: Natalie Talbot
...the chorusing of many loud Iberian Water Frogs:
Iberian Water Frog: John Crabb
Or angry Coots having a fight:
Fighting Coots: John Crabb
..and there's always one who has to rush in and get involved too....
Running Coot: John Crabb
.....there really is a feast for all your senses (not sure about the sense of taste - unless you bring your own sandwiches).
The Grey Heron chick on the way to the Tor View Hide is still sat in the nest - at well over 50 days old he's not left to explore the big wide world yet. He knows he's onto a good thing at the moment. Other Heron nests are within Waltons but not as easily seen as this rather noisy fellow.
If you're on your way to the Tor View Hide keep your eyes peeled for the Water Rails with chicks on the path or by the side. Sightings have been numerous this week and there have been some very close encounters. Andrew Kirby sent me these pictures - thanks Andrew.
Water Rail feeding young with dragonfly larvae: Andrew Kirby
The Tor View Hide has been the place to view Bitterns too (or from the rail path looking into the eastern side in particular). There were so many sightings yesterday that it was hard to keep track of all the movement - brilliant.
Bittern: John Crabb
In the other side of Waltons last Sunday, on a misty morning, John Crispin took these shots of a Bittern creeping through the reeds. It gives you an idea of how it uses its long toes to clutch stems of reed to walk/balance on. Thanks for sending them in John:
Bittern walking on reeds: John Crispin
It's also been a great place to spot Great White Egrets over the last couple of weeks, although if I'm perfectly honest they seem to be everywhere you look. I take this sudden flurry of extra activity as a good sign - there must be more hungry mouths to feed somewhere! Thanks to John Crabb for these great shots taken this week:
Great White Egrets: John Crabb
The 2nd platform is not proving quite as productive as it has done in the previous few weeks. The majority of waders have moved on through, although c25 Black Tailed Godwits have been present on occasions this week and a single Bar Tailed Godwit on Monday. Redshank are also here along with several Lapwing (probable nesting) and a single Ruff was present early in the week. A Whimbrel has also showing since last weekend but looks injured by the way it's been moving its wing. It's still here and is feeding so maybe things aren't so bad.
Of course, the Glossy Ibis, is still there and still pulling in a few visitors. It's not always out in the open from the 2nd platform but it's a good place to start. If not there then cross over to the footpath and look in front of the benches or willow blinds along that edge to get better/alternate views of the area. He's (if it is a he) probably in there somewhere.
A short walk from here is the Avalon Hide. As before, it's the place to see the Marsh Harriers at the moment and the very protective male - who loves to chase stuff off. This week (Thurs) a Red Kite and a Buzzard were seen circling high over the area and were both seen off by the male Marsh Harrier. Red Kite was also seen on Tuesday on 2 occasions.
On the way to the hide there's always a chance of seeing Cettis Warbler. I've been seeing one here quite a lot lately but they are definitely becoming harder to see now - back to normal for this bird then. On the path the other side of the wood is a Sedge Warbler which sings well and there's oftena Reed Warbler on the other side for comparison - a good learning opportunity.
There are also Great Spotted Woodpeckers nesting with noisy chicks being heard from within the dead tree trunk. Judging by the noise there are at least 3 youngsters. Natalie Talbot sent me in these pictures this week - thanks Natalie!
Bearded Tits have also been heard in this area this week - both on the way to the hide and in front of the hide itself - worth bearing in mind. Listen out for their 'pinging' calls.
All over the reserve this week have been screaming, diving, swooping Swifts - great birds to watch:
Swift: John Crabb
Similar in shape and flight are of course the Hobbys - another great bird to watch. Still several being seen daily although the peak numbers are probably now through. They'll be chasing the many dragonflies and damselflies now seen on the reserve. Hairy Dragonfly, 4 Spotted Chasers, Broad Bodied Chaser & Scarce Chaser all seen this week, while for damselflies: Azure, Variable, Red Eyed, Blue Tailed & Banded Demoiselle all recorded.
Scarce Chaser: John Crispin
Butterflies include: Brimstone, Green Veined White, Orange Tip, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood.
It's the fat juicy caterpillars of some of our larger moths (I did move a hawk moth species from the Tor View Hide path yesterday before it got stepped on) that the cuckoos are after. Several can be heard around the reserve often from the car park or around Waltons in particular. The South West corner a good spot, although I did have one perched up in a dead tree right towards the far end of the reserve yesterday.
Cuckoo: John Crabb
Plenty of birdsong to enjoy around the reserve too - the car park a good place to start and along the tree lines of the old rail path. It is closed at present between the bridge and the 1st platform - access from the other side of the drain on the footpath (follow the signs). Apart from that short stretch, the rest of the reserve is open as normal. Regrettably, this bridge closure by the Environment Agency (for structural repairs) means we have no RADAR access at present. We are hopeful the works will be finished by the end of next week. Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers, Garden Warblers and Whitethroats can all be heard singing frequently:
Whitethroat: John Crabb
Also this week: 3 Adder sightings (one by workmen by the bridge, one on the footpath close to the gate and one in our log piles on the north of the reserve - never had them here before), 2 Common Tern over Waltons on Tuesday then from Loxtons screen and 2nd platform, 20 Little Egrets feeding together early morning, Barn Owl & Tawny Owl seen this week (using boxes around the reserve), Wigeon still from the 2nd platform and 4 Shelduck recorded from the 1st platform last weekend with 2 snapped by John Crispin:
Finally, some cute fluffy chicks - some Canada Geese goslings, photographed by John Crabb this week:
Canada Goose goslings: John Crabb
Many thanks to John Crispin, John Crabb, Natalie Talbot & Andrew Kirby for all your photos and information this week - very gratefully received.
I'm afraid there won't be a blog next week as I'm away but will hopefully return with a big catch up and lots of great news the following week.
That's it for now. Have a great weekend!!