As spring progresses - the reserve seems to get more and more lively. I'm not talking about the visitor numbers - although it's great to see so many people out enjoying and being enthused by the reserves wildlife. It is of course the wildlife itself. Spring migrants are pouring in. Hundreds of Sand Martins at times. Many resting in large groups in the reed beds at times - doing great Starling impressions.
Talking of impressions, there are a couple of cheeky Sedge Warblers around the reserve who do great Bearded Tit impressions. You hear the 'pinging' and then realise its surrounded by chattering and whistling noises - rather distracting. It's the Reed Warblers we tend to get the most and the reedbeds are beginning to come to life with their incessant chattering. Add to this the calls of Reed Buntings and the belting call of the Cettis Warblers, it can be quite a noisy place.
A walk along from the car park will give you an idea of all the other arrivals: large numbers of Blackcaps singing almost constantly. Stop every so often to see if you can pick out the Garden Warblers (they have similar songs) - there was one in the car park on Tuesday near the toilets but also one just past the old rail bridge on the main path too. Also listen out for the descending call of the Willow Warbler and the song of the Chiffchaff (this is one everyone can learn) as its 2 note call says its name -or something similar anyway. Here's a great shot of one taking flight during the week from John Crispin - thanks John!
Also reported along the main path this week - a pair of Bullfinches just past the bridge but before the 1st platform - also search this area for Goldfinches too. As you approach the 1st platform make sure to look up - there are often hoards of Sand Martins in flight but also keep you eyes open for House Martin, Swallows and one of my favourites - the Swift - more are arriving every day.
From the platform there's always a good chance of Whitethroat. They often perch up on the brambles opposite and call as the drop in their parachute like flight. It's not a bad place to catch sight of Cuckoo either. I had two here on Wednesday flying over Waltons and in front of the platform calling in flight. There was one which flew over the car park this morning too so again you need eyes and ears everywhere - there's so much happening. Here's a Cuckoo shot from John Crispin taken this week - thanks once again John!
If it's Hobby you're after you could be in luck here too. 7 Flew over Waltons yesterday and 6 were seen from the Avalon Hide on Wednesday. Again one flew over the car park this morning. Also reports this week from the Loxtons screen. It's also worth scanning the line of dead trees nearby (these can also be viewed from the main path by the 2nd platform for both Hobby & Cuckoo - they've been known to perch here quite regularly in the past.
Of course it's not just bird life which is exploding - they wouldn't be here if it weren't for the increase in insect life. For Hobbys of course this means Dragonflies and Damselflies. If you see a dragonfly at the moment it's likely to be a Hairy dragonfly although there was a report of a broad bodied chaser last week. David Turrell visited us this week and grabbed these shots of both male & female Hairy Dragonflies - thanks for sending them in David:
Hairy Dragonfly male: David Turrell
Hairy Dragonfly female: David Turrell
Butterflies too are abundant at the moment - particularly Orange Tip and Peacock. Also of note include: Holly Blue, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White & Green Veined White.
In the car park pools you could see well grown tadpoles and hear the croaking of the Iberian Water Frogs (try also the Waltons area for these - more vocal during sunny spells).
Of course all the reserves usual stars are still on show. Bitterns continue to boom and you're always in with a good chance of a sighting at this time of year. Both platforms recorded flights this week as did the Avalon Hide. 4 flew together from the 2nd platform last Sunday and one perched up obligingly on the reeds in front of the Avalon Hide on Thursday. Here's another take off shot from John Crispin - this time of the Bittern:
Great White Egrets are an easy spot these days. There are several places you can try. They often fly over the car park itself or check out the reed beds just beyond - you can also do this from the main path on the way down to the reserve. If not try either platform - both had birds in front this morning. Nicola Berry sent me this shot of a Great White Egret landing, thanks Nicola:
Cattle Egrets are still being seen locally. Some have been seen over the reserve this week but also on the scrape at Shapwick and in fields along the Ashcott Road.
The other Heron star (not that we discount Little Egret & Grey Heron) is the Glossy Ibis (or 2 to be precise. Showing some nice breeding plumage but no signs of breeding as yet). Try the area in front of the second platform or the willow blinds on the footpath side which look into the same area. Alternatively, they have been seen from the Tor View Hide a few times this week. Here's a couple of shots of one of the birds catching a couple of morsels from my colleague Abbie Thorne:
Whilst looking into this area look out for one or two Waders which have dropped in this week. We've had reports of Wood Sandpiper (Sunday), Snipe, Black Tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover (Tues) and Common Sandpiper. 7 Whimbrel also dropped in on Tuesday. They were heard calling then landed in the area overlooked by the 2nd platform. John Crispin got a shot of them in flight- thanks John:
Also in the same area look out for Garganey - up to 4 males reported this week but frequently 2 being recorded by visitors. Not surprisingly a big decrease in the numbers of Teal, Shoveler & Pochard over the last week.
Also on the reserve this week: Marsh Harriers continue to wow visitors from the Avalon Hide - good close action including food passes and sky dancing, Lapwing displaying in front of the 2nd platform, Grasshopper Warbler reeling towards the Sharpham end of the reserve on Sunday, a Whinchat passing through at the Tinneys section on the Sharpham Road (often Skylark here in adjacent fields), Great Crested Grebes with young from both the Tor View Hide and the 1st platform, lots of Little Grebes calling from around the reserve, Greylags with goslings from the second platform and plenty of other action:
Thanks to Nicola Berry for the greats shots of Mute Swans - nice reflections too. Plus also from Nicola an alternative way of viewing the reserve - bet its wonderful up there:
That's it for this week - have a great Bank Holiday weekend!