It's the first blog of 2024 so I firstly want to wish you a Happy New Year.
It's always exciting to think about what may occur on the reserve this year and thoughts are tentatively moving towards a new breeding season too.
There are a few distractions currently though and the theme from the last blog of 2023 have very much carried forward into the new year. The rain has continued to fall for much of the Christmas and New Year period and the reserve is full to the brim of water in many compartments. After yesterday's rain the main drain has once again begun to overtop and flow back into the north of the reserve where we have been pumping 24/7 since well before Christmas. It has meant that the main drain is now so high that we have had to stop pumping - we may get them back on over the weekend if levels drop sufficiently.
The good news is that we look set to have a couple of dry weeks and this should be advantageous in getting more of the reserve open after any necessary repair work and clearance have been done.
This has taken place in Waltons, where the plastic boardwalks were all floating up due to the depth of water. It has now receded enough for us to make some repairs and get the 3 screens back open. The path to the Tor View Hide remains closed due to water levels across the path and the trail itself was only just passable in wellies on Tuesday. The Avalon Hide path is still well under water and impossible to access at present.
The main path through the reserve and the two viewing platforms remain open. No problems reported from over at Shapwick Heath which is adjacent to us.
The sun is shining today and bring some optimism with it.
In terms of wildlife, there has still been plenty to see. A pair of Ring Necked Duck have been using the first area on the right - visible from the old railway bridge - not sure they were reported yesterday but could still be there.
Marsh Harriers have been pretty obvious each day, often seen in multiples. 5 or 6 reported together on a number of occasions but 9 were seen on Wednesday and with them was a female Hen Harrier (also seen over the car park on Tuesday). The Marsh Harriers often pass over the roost site of the Starlings in the morning looking for dead or struggling Starlings for an easy snack. They have been moving around a bit lately. Went over to Shapwick then back to Ham Wall at the first viewing platform (VP1) then back to Shapwick and perhaps split between the two.
Here's a selection of 6 different Marsh Harriers (male and female) from John Crispin, showing the variation you can get in plumage from different birds. This can be quite useful in identifying individuals - particularly if surveying for example.:
Plus one at sunset from Mike Uren:
These can often be seen from VP1 where surprise, surprise water levels have remained high. Any higher bits of ground has birds clamouring for the same space. These Snipe and Mallards had to find a way to share between Christmas and New Year as Bryn Evans' photo shows:
and a similar photo from Mike Uren with birds trying to find a bit of higher ground:
These Snipe were photographed this week by John Crispin from the second viewing platform (VP2):
The sun is shining today and this can help bring out colours in some birds. Bryn Evans' photos here of the female Mallards show the contrast of the colours in the speculum of the two birds.
and the male from Bryn too:
Normally, at this time of year, I would expect to see good numbers of Lapwing out enjoying the splashy islands at VP1 but they are having no luck this winter so far. around 250 did fly over here yesterday and landed briefly over on the cut island at Waltons but soon moved off again.
A few Cormorants are continuing to use the rails as perching places each day and are sometimes joined by the odd Great White Egret. More often than not at present the Egrets are using the edges of the main drain along with Grey Herons. The herons often nest early in Waltons, so lets hope the water here can drop soon.
Bryn Evans' photo here shows a Great White Egret being buffeted by the wind from VP1, whilst Mike Uren's shot shows one in a slightly calmer moment:
Great White Egret: Bryn Evans
Great White Egret: Mike Uren
Fishing by the side of the main drain - Bryn Evans
With access to a lot of the reserve limited at the moment it is a good chance to look a bit more closely at those birds considered more common. The birds you could encounter every day along the main path for example or on your feeders at home.
Some pose quite readily such as these Robins:
Robin: Bryn Evans
Perhaps even getting closer:
Robin: Mike Uren
That's a bird in the hand but I don't have two in a bush. I've got one to show that not all birds are willing to be photographed so readily:
Blue Tit: Bryn Evans
Although with a bit of patience:
or even bribery, it can get better:
Blue Tits: Mike Uren
Nice action shot from Mike there. Here's another of Great Tit:
Chaffinch male and female:
Chaffinches: Bryn Evans
Also from Bryn: Dunnock on the main path and Jackdaw and Magpie at the car park - they all count if you're making a species list:
I actually find it quite fascinating to observe these more common species and watch their behaviour. You can often see them doing unusual things or just learn more about how they interact with each other or search for food.
A good example is the Song Thrush. I've often seen them on the main path at certain locations smashing snails on their favourite stone. This one was photographed by John Crispin on the grassy track opposite VP2 this week:
Look out along the main track too for Redpoll and Siskin - they can often be seen feeding in Alder trees on the small cones the tree produces. A group of around 40 Siskin were seen near the far end of the reserve on Wednesday. This one was photographed on 29th Dec by Bryn Evans:
Other species seen along the main track include gangs of Long Tailed Tits, Treecreeper, Bullfinch, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Goldcrest and the occasional Firecrest. One was reported down near VP1 at the weekend but you could also try on the main path between the two boardwalks which exit the car park. We had a little flurry of sightings here just before the Christmas break.
Another favourite seen quite often is the Great Spotted Woodpecker. I see them on most days I'm around the reserve actually. Waiting to here the drumming soon as they begin to set up territories and create nest holes. This one was snapped by John Crispin this week in the oak down by VP2:
I expect we will have another cold snap yet but some birds are already starting to think about breeding season. We await to see if the Herons begin to nest build, but also for the first booms or at least grunts from male Bitterns. It's not out of the ordinary for us to hear them at Ham Wall in January - usually slightly ahead of those on the Norfolk coast where it's likely to be slightly colder over on the east.
One event has been seen though. The first weed dance of the year by Great Crested Grebes - again we have witnessed this in January many times but it does feel early for those kind of shenanigans doesn't it? This was in the first section on the right as you walk along the main track from the small platforms on the side of the track.
Also out on the water a fair selection of duck. Mallard already mentioned but also Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pochard (around 10 seen from VP1 - but this is the peak this year, less than normal), Wigeon and Teal - male and female here photographed by Bryn Evans.
Also this week: Jays seen across the reserve but often at the car park, Buzzards seen daily, Chiffchaff along the main track, Sparrowhawk seen over the Avalon Hide in high winds on Tuesday - as it banked it zipped off at 100 miles an hour with the wind behind it, Little Egret seen from VP1, 2 Egyptian Geese also seen from VP1, Merlin seen over the car park again - this time on Monday, a Shrew ran between the too car park buildings early this week, Fieldfare and Redwing over the car park on Tuesday and Green Woodpecker at the car park on a couple of occasions.
That's it for this week. Quite a lot to talk about, despite the conditions. I'll leave you with this image from Mike Uren of Mute Swans enjoying the wet conditions on the main drain over the Christmas period:
Thank you to all those who contributed there photos and information this week and from over Christmas: John Crispin, Mike Uren and Bryn Evans.
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!