There's no let up with the recent heat wave is there? Water levels are well down but it just means we have to really think about how we move water around to get ready for our management work. It's at times like this or in times of excessive rain (and we've experienced both in recent years) that you realise just how important understanding the hydrology of your site really is.
We are almost ready to get reed cutting underway in front of the 1st platform (VP1), although there are suspicions that a late bitterns nest is still underway in this area, which may delay things slightly. The levels are now down sufficiently for us to access the area so work will begin here soon - perhaps the week after next. Once it's done and water levels are back up (hopefully) it should produce a nice open splashy area for egrets, waders and ducks to feed and loaf about in.
You still see some of our wildlife from here - as I mentioned there has been some bittern activity here as well as visits from marsh harriers and great white egrets - you can see their heads sticking up out of the reeds.
If you want to get out of the sun, perhaps try the hides or one of the screens at Waltons or Loxtons and just wait a while - you'd be surprised what you can see if you just wait. This morning from the Loxtons screen an otter made an appearance - it inspected an abandoned great crested grebe's nest - there was no sign of the adults or young (perhaps this otter has visited before?). Thanks to Graham Wagner for his photo:
Some other interesting stuff seen from here this week include a couple of kingfishers seen perching and catching fish on Wednesday and around the same time a family of water rails were spotted and this bittern which flew over this morning - thanks again to Graham Wagner:
Another family of water rails were reported in front of the Avalon Hide yesterday by visitors. The Avalon Hide has certainly been one of the best places to see marsh harriers recently. We're uncertain as to exactly what's happened to the nest directly in front. Food has certainly been passed into the nest by the male and the female has been seen bringing back nesting material on several occasions - we are still looking at it to catch sight of any youngsters or clues as to what they are up to.
While you are at the hide there's a good chance of spotting some bearded tits. Several reports this week from here but you could also try the second platform where again we've had a couple of sightings mentioned to us.
There's a few waders popping in and out - black tailed godwits the most likely (here or VP2) but also seen include a wood sandpiper on Monday, Lapwing most days and the odd snipe.
Also within this area a few Linnets have been seen. These are often on the gorse covered bank to the right of the Avalon Hide but may venture closer if you are lucky - I also forgot to mention in my previous blogs that a male was seen in the car park 2 weeks ago so worth bearing in mind.
Also from the Avalon Hide look out for hobby - a few spotted this week (or perhaps VP1) where I saw 2 on Wednesday), swift, swallow and ravens. 5 ravens seen on Saturday, 2 on Wednesday but 7 together on Tuesday. Thanks to John Crispin who managed to get 6 in one shot and then a close up of 2:
In the maize fields beyond on the same day roe deer were spotted but I've encountered some on the reserve this week. One in particular was close to the Avalon Hide path as it enters the wood but Graham Wagner saw this mother and her fawn from the old rail bridge and managed to get these shots - thanks Graham!
It was close to here that I saw a fox both this week and last week - it was in the morning on both occasions as was this shot taken by John Crispin this week - thanks John!
The cooler mornings can often be better for wildlife watching before the heat of the day really kicks in. You may be able to see dragonflies up closer as the warm up before take off. Several species still on the wing: 4 spotted chasers (although literally just one or two now), black tailed skimmer, emperor, southern hawker, brown hawker, common darter and damselflies: blue tailed, common blue, red eyed and small red eyed.
Whilst at Tinney's Ground - a small plot we manage on the Sharpham Road I saw plenty of banded demoiselles in the drain by the bridge - such a beautiful insect:
Plenty of butterflies on the wing too: green veined white, common blue (car park this morning), peacock, red admiral, silver washed fritilary, speckled wood, gatekeeper, meadow brown and brimstone. Also a chance of small copper like the one pictured with some beetles having a bit of a cuddle ....ahem!
If you're short of sightings some days due to the heat it's sometimes just interesting to study the behaviour of those more common birds you see. A great example was photographed by John Crispin. Here's a song thrush smashing open snail shells and eating the contents. Sometimes, they will use a particular stone as an anvil and you'll see a collection of shells around it. Also another shot taken by Graham Wagner showing a bit of variation to their diet- thanks to both of you for you photos:
Song Thrush: John Crispin
Song Thrush: Graham Wagner
It may also be worth stopping at the old rail bridge for a while. Lots of birds this week have been seen feeding in the seed laden plants on the edge of the drain. A lesser whitethroat was spotted again here this week on Tuesday but plenty of other small birds to look out for too. Here's a recently fledged blue tit having a feed:
All along the tree lines on the main path is worth a study right from the car park through to the end really. Chiffchaff, blackcap, blackbird, robin, whitethroat (from VP1), treecreepers on a few occasions, bullfinch, goldfinch (20+ in the car park) and chaffinch all fairly easy to track down too as are the many small groups of long tailed tits being spotted. Thanks to Graham Wagner for his shot:
Also this week: Red kite over the car park on Wednesday, 7 swift from VP1 the same day, Iberian water frogs till making noise at the car park and at Waltons, grass snakes being seen from the old rail bridge still but also look out to the wooded area on the left for kingfishers, buzzards seen daily, sparrowhawk noted down for Tuesday and Wednesday and still quite a few young birds around including ducks and grebes.
That's it for this week - thought I'd leave you a nice shot of a willow warbler taken by Graham Wagner this week on the bridge at the Waltons plastic boardwalk. Thanks Graham:
Have a great weekend everyone!