Another interesting, wildlife packed, week on the reserve this week. You could be fooled into thinking it was winter at times on the reserve this week until you hear the chattering of Reed warblers in the reed beds, the calls of Cuckoo, booms of Bitterns and the melody of warblers and other song birds in the trees. When the suns out, it's an amazing place to be at the moment.
One of our many singing Blackcaps on the reserve: John Crabb
The Glossy Ibis continues to show well on the muddy area in front of the 2nd viewing platform (he's been here since September) and has given many visitors a closer view from the 2 willow blinds we have erected (with the Avalon Marshes Young Wardens) recently. There have been a few great close up photos on social media this week. We now have a Ham Wall Twitter feed, which started this week. Why not follow us for the latest news from the reserve @rspbhamwall or for Somerset reserves in general @rspbsomerset. Feel free to share reserve sightings and photos with us too! We're also on Facebook too.
Anyway, back to the real business of the blog! The 2nd platform area has still been the place to watch this week. Good numbers of waders are popping in and out but some you can pretty much guarantee every visit at the moment - among those include: Black Tailed Godwits up to 110 or more, Greenshank up to 13, Common Sandpiper up to 3, Redshank up to 4 and Lapwing up to 4. Among those seen frequently but perhaps not every day include: Green Sandpiper 1 or 2, Ringed Plover up to 6, Little Ringed Plover up to 3, Dunlin up to 5 and Snipe 1 or 2.
Also this week a visit from varying numbers of Whimbrel. As many as 25 were seen Sunday but numbers of just over 10 on most days (there were certainly a few out there this morning too). Last Friday evening (after blog time) 2 summer plumage Spotted Redshank were seen and they remained there throughout most of Saturday but haven't been seen since. A Little Stint was also seen but may have been amongst birds flushed up by a passing Peregrine on Thursday morning (it could still be around somewhere).
Thursday morning was a particularly good one. 3 Cranes flew over the reserve heading in a southerly direction and were seen by many. This adds to the 6 seen and heard 'bugling' during a flyover on Sunday 24th.
Thursday morning also saw further sightings of Short Eared Owl over Waltons and then in front of the 1st platform before dropping behind the wood near the Avalon Hide. I was unaware of this as I walked around that area and almost trod on it before it flew up and dropped 20 yards or so away from me (a lovely sighting).
Great White Egrets were in front of both viewing platforms for good lengths of time, the same morning as volunteers were out observing Bittern behaviour to see if any nesting has begun. It's a great time of year to see both and over the next month you could almost guarantee a sighting of these two during a visit. Bitterns are being seen a little more frequently and often in pairs, threes or fours and sometimes more as males chase females. 4 were seen from the Avalon Hide on Monday!
Great White Egret: John Crabb
Bitterns: John Crispin
The reedbeds and open water may well be full of life but so too are the tree lines and areas of scrub or bramble. Lesser Whitethroat was seen in brambles close to the rail bridge on Thursday morning by a visitor as were a pair of Bullfinches a little further along to the 1st platform. Close to both platforms Common Whitethroats perform their song flights and perch well for a photo opportunity, while in the trees behind the 2nd platform (by Loxtons) a female Brambling along with a Siskin were spotted by an eagle eyed visitor on Monday.
Within Waltons, it's been a few days since anybody reported seeing the Ring Necked Duck. This of course doesn't mean he's not there (or somewhere locally). It's still worth checking all the Tufted Ducks out just in case he's there. The Grey Herons are now feeding youngsters on at least 2 nests. One very visible along the left hand side of the path to the Tor View Hide (one youngster) and another more distantly from the first 2 screens (2 youngsters).
Waltons also had some rather aggressive Great White Egret confrontations on Wednesday on the islands on the west side. Both Great Crested Grebe & Little Grebe show well from the screens and hide, while there's always a good chance of Cuckoo on a walk round and the Lesser Black Backed Gulls seem to have taken over one of the rafts and were seen mating again here on Thursday.
Lesser Black Backed Gulls: John Crabb
Hobbys are in too with up to 5 seen over Waltons yesterday - expecting a much bigger influx during the next week or so. By then we may actually have some dragonflies and damselflies on the wing. I've still yet to see one although both Variable and Large Red damselfly have been reported. Hairy Dragonfly is imminent (if it ever gets warm enough).
Butterflies are about - most noticeable this week are a few extra Orange Tips. Add to these: Peacock, Red Admiral, Green Veined White, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone and you can begin to build a short list at least.
Brimstone: John Crispin
Also this week: Roe Deer seen around the back of Waltons on Monday (seen several times recently in this area), some very showy Cettis Warblers - most notably around the screens at Waltons (in the open less that a metre away, Common Sandpiper on the Waltons rafts, Swift, Swallow, House & Sand Martins, Wigeon and Pintail from the 2nd platform, Marsh Harriers from the Avalon Hide, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Garganey seen frequently from the 2nd platform this week:
Garganey: John Crispin
That's it for this week. Have a great bank holiday weekend - surely Ham wall is worth a visit!