Not exactly the best start to the school summer holidays is it? It's felt almost autumnal on a couple of occasions this week. It reminds us that a busy time is coming up both for movement of birds as well as for staff and volunteers on the reserve readying ourselves for habitat management work.
Next week we hope to be able to cut the taller reeds directly in front of the Tor View Hide (so then you can actually see out of the western side) and we have already begun forming the bridge to the islands out in front of the 1st platform ready for access with our reed cutting machine. The first bits to be cut will be sparser areas which wouldn't lend themselves to nest building by warbler species, Bearded Tits, Reed Buntings etc and we can be pretty certain there are no ground nesting species still active. We leave it as long as we can for birds to complete any breeding but like to cut here as early as we can too. Cutting the vegetation growth here early deprives the roots of some energy throughout the winter and makes them sparser and shorter. It creates a slightly different habitat but also keeps views from the 1st platform open for longer.
Despite late July being a traditionally quiet time for bird watching - there is still plenty to see. Some birds are beginning to move around. The numbers of House Martins over the last couple of days are evidence of this as are the accompanying Swifts. Wader numbers remain good across local sites. From the 2nd platform this morning c100 Black Tailed Godwits were present and around 50 Lapwing. That is until a Sparrowhawk flew across the area and put them all up - witnessed and photographed by John Crispin - thanks John.
I was near the Avalon Hide this morning when I witnessed the same thing. This time however it was a female Peregrine which caused the disturbance - a wonderful sight though. Not also the 2 smaller waders in the bottom of the 2nd picture - Ruff perhaps (any ideas anyone?)
Also reports this week of a few Snipe in this area along with Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and a single Greenshank on Tuesday. The Glossy Ibis has been seen here on a couple of occasions this week but also over on Shapwick Heath on the only tiny piece of mud left on the scrape. I've also had 2 sightings this week of it in the square immediately left (west) of the Avalon Hide. If you strain your head its worth keeping an eye on this area just in case it's visible here. 19 Whimbrel were also reported this week flying south east over the reserve on Wednesday morning.
Also from the Avalon Hide this morning reports of a Hobby (one was also seen on Monday from the Tor View Hide - it was distant though - more likely over Loxtons and visible from the screen there). Also sightings of Cattle Egret - 2 were flying in the distance (definitely worth looking out for them from here). 3 flew over us yesterday - we were distant in front of the 2nd viewing platform but they headed that way. Great Crested Grebe is present also as well as a few wildfowl. Great White Egret also dropped in while I was there.
There have still been Bittern flights in this area too. There may even be a late nest still active. A bird definitely dropped in here yesterday and there were a couple of other reports throughout the week. Yesterday one also flew from the Loxtons direction over the rail path towards the Avalon Hide calling all the way as it flew.
Elsewhere there have been a few sightings of Bittern over Loxtons this week - One flying east in fron of the screen and one flying east behind the screen (calling).
Loxtons seems to be getting a build up of wildfowl at present c180 birds. Most of the Gadwall and Mallard but also Shoveller and Pochard - many in eclipse just to make things trickier for you. Also on the West side of Waltons a Tufted Duck mother with 3 young. Also from the screens here great views of Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebes coming in quite close.
The reserves Marsh Harriers are much more mobile now - sightings now all over the reserve. We've fledged at least 8 birds this season so not surprising they are easy to spot. John Crispin got these great shots of a female over Loxtons this morning - thanks again John!
During sunnier spells - lets hope we get plenty you can pick up on all the butterflies and dragonflies that are on the wing on the reserve. Butterflies seen this week include: Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Comma, Speckled Wood, Green Veined White & Small Copper. Dragonflies include: Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Ruddy Darter, Common Darter, Emperor and Common Hawker. Look out also for Migrant Hawker - coming soon.
Plenty of other wildlife too: a Slow worm was seen by the newly installed eel pass (visible from the old rail bridge), Grass Snake has also been reported - although I seem to be seeing less this year myself (maybe I'm just not looking hard enough), Iberian Water Frogs continue to chorus noisily during sunny spells - try the car park pools for these - you may even see some of the many tiny new Common Frogs or toads in these areas. Also on Wednesday 2 foxes were seen together in and around the reserve too. They saw us but just sat and watched us from a distance before disappearing.
Of course all the water is full of life - the more you look the more you see from Water Scorpions to small fish. The reserve seems to have a pretty healthy fish population - great for the Grebes of course but also the Kingfishers. There seems to have been an increase in sightings this week - a couple going to historic nest sites which is nice. Try Looking from the old rail bridge towards the eel pass or just round at Waltons. Listen for the whistle and try to catch that flash of blue.
Look out also for the many family groups or juvenile birds being spotted around the reserve. 2 Blackcaps (possibly juveniles) were seen from the 1st platform on Sunday, while this juvenile Blackbird was enjoying the sunshine too:
Also photographed by John Crispin (thank you once again) this young Lesser Black Back Gull on one of our rafts - identified by the tertial feather pattern:
Also this Whitethroat possibly a youngster or a female out and feeding well for itself - catching a spider in the last shot:
Also this week: Common Tern in front of the 1st platform on Sunday, Barn Owl seen out and about also on Sunday in areas behind the Avalon Hide close to the footpath, 3 Great White Egrets seen together from the 2nd platform on Tuesday and at the same time another bird in front of the 1st platform, plenty of Buzzards seen too and Bearded Tits once again seen and heard from the Avalon Hide.
Finally this week some interesting behavior observed from a Great Spotted Woodpecker. An adult bird was seen on one of the telegraph poles close to the eel pass. It had wedged 2 green nuts (hazel nuts?) into a crack in the pole and was pecking away frantically at them. it knocked one out and flew off while the other nut remained firmly wedged. This happened last Thursday and was witnessed by one of our volunteers. I walked past the same time yesterday and the bird was present on the same pole - although it flew before i could see what he was up to. The owner of the cottage opposite told me he was pecking away agin so perhaps this is a clever habit it has learned!
That's it for this week - have a great weekend!