The reserve has been bustling the last few days with lots of visitors out enjoying the lovely sunshine - particularly this morning with lots of families out for the half term break - great to see. 

There has, as always, been plenty for people to feast their eyes and ears on this week and some subtle changes in the numbers of birds - and some less subtle. Starling numbers look to be increasing having had a fairly steady…

Bit of an odd week weather wise on the reserve with torrential rain yesterday, showers on other days and some sunny spells. Monday was perhaps the strangest with an eerie strange light across the reserve and a blood red sun at times - apparently dust from the Sahara and ash particles from fires in Spain and Portugal were to blame. 

Its all meant quite a quiet week in terms of visitors on the reserve but there's plenty…

Another week over and another step closer to winter. Some new arrivals on the reserve are an indicator that this is the case. The first Redwings of the season, with 6 reported over Ham wall on Wednesday, seen from the Tor View Hide. Redpolls have also been seen - look out for flocks of small birds particularly on the large alder trees on which they like to feed. 

Also this week we've had a Yellow Browed Warbler seen on…

It's been a lovely week on the reserve, with lots of sunny spells bring the visitors in and they've had plenty of wildlife to enjoy. In particular the old rail path which runs through the reserve has been a hive of activity for insects. Hundreds of Red Admirals can seen along the length of the track. The ivy in particular is covered in them in some places along with bees and hoverflies amongst other invertebrates enjoying…

A visit to Ham Wall invariably starts at the car park. But why not loiter for a while here and see whats lurking in the tree lines, around the pools or passing overhead. There have been a number of great sightings here this week. Yesterday a Bittern flew over heading for Shapwick Heath, while on Wednesday a flock of Lapwing and a Marsh Harrier added to the list. Great Spotted Woodpeckers still visit the feeder cam quite…

Time is certainly flying by here at Ham Wall - it's already over a month since the last reserve team update and we're nearly through September!  Here's what we've been working on over the past few weeks.

Education shelter
The storage benches are now complete inside the education shelter and I think you'll agree they look amazing. Volunteers Garry, Reg and Pete W have done a fabulous job! The bird silhouette…

Another week has passed and although there's not much new to report it is easy to forget what wonderful wildlife lives here week in and week out. We must remember how lucky we are to have them. I'm guilty of it too - Oh it's just a Great White Egret or ......it's just another Bittern. The slightest glimpse of one of these birds 12 years or so ago when I started working here would have been major news. Now they are part…

Well there can be no doubt now - Autumn is here. It's not just the weather that's the giveaway - the wildlife is a good indicator too. Sightings of Wigeon (14 seen over on Shapwick Heath), Teal (4 recorded on Ham Wall in front of the 2nd platform yesterday) and the first Pintail of the season (again on Shapwick - but look out for them on Ham Wall too - usually in front of the 2nd platform).

Large groups of House…

Isn't the Avalon Marshes an amazing place?  There have been some huge successes over the past few years and it seems that there is so much more potential for this area too. There have been some interesting sightings this week too across the Marshes too (although this is nothing new these days!). From our neighbours at Shapwick Heath a Wryneck was reported along the main track on Wednesday - don't think it was tracked…

Well it's September so I guess that means autumn is here. August is traditionally a quiet month for birding although it could be argued - not in the Avalon Marshes - there always seems to be something of interest these days. We should start to see a slight increase in movement from some birds - particularly waders. In fact this week saw the arrival of a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper (on Monday evening) seen feeding on the…

Well that was a better week - my week off work last week was a bit of a wash out - its been nice to get back to work and there's been plenty to get on with. We are continuing to cut in front of the 1st platform to open things up a bit. The Glossy Ibis seems to like it - it's been seen on the islands here every day. It's been seen here at 6am on a couple of occasions this week so it's possible it may even be roosting here…

Hello to all Ham Wall blog readers! A quick introduction – I’m Ali Blaney, the 'new' warden at RSPB Ham Wall, although I’ve been in post for over five months now and those months have flown by. Prior to being at Ham Wall I’ve worked with the RSPB at Old Moor in Yorkshire and Lakenheath Fen in Suffolk, both amazing reedbed and wet grassland sites with fantastic wildlife (and lovely people!). I'm very…

No let up with the rain this week but no let up with the interesting sightings either if you're prepared to dodge the showers. As I mentioned last week, we have started our reed cutting out on the reserve. We've cut the area on the western side of the Tor View Hide and opened this up nicely. Yes - you can actually see out of it now properly - always a handy thing with a hide. A Water Rail was spotted from the hide on…

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…

Things are finally slowing down a little on the reserve after a frantic breeding season. There's a bit less action but you can see lots of family groups of birds moving around together. On a brief trip out this morning I came across a group of Reed Buntings on the way to the Avalon Hide with also groups of Long Tailed Tits and Great Tits in the wooded area. The most spectacular sight though was that of 100's of House…

Well, the news is finally out. Cattle Egrets have bred on Ham Wall this year.  It's nice to be able to talk about it. It's only the 2nd time in Britain (they bred here in Somerset in 2008) and the first for an RSPB reserve (there are also breeding Cattle Egret at RSPB Burton Mere on the Dee Estuary this year too). 

We have 5 nests (yes an actual colony) with 9 youngsters counted - such a great addition to the reserve…

There's still lots of activity on the reserve at the moment but the noise levels have all reduced somewhat with a significant drop in birdsong - although there was a very vocal Chiffchaff in the car park yesterday. Where you do hear calling it's often contact calls from family groups of birds. The car park is full of Goldfinches, Chaffinches and a few Greenfinch which is nice. Blue Tits and Great Tits are using the feeder…

It feels like we are creeping towards the end of the breeding season already with lots of fledged birds being spotted and lots of family groups of smaller birds flitting amongst the branches and emptying the reserves feeders at the car park. In particular groups of Goldfinches (although wonderful to see some good healthy Greenfinch too) taking plenty of sunflower hearts. On the live feeder which beams back to the Welcome…

Wow what a scorcher of a week. So glad it's cooled off a bit today. Not surprisingly visitor numbers have been a lot lower this week - not many of you crazy enough to come out in such high temperatures. It can't be easy for the wildlife either in those conditions. I suspect the early mornings are very busy before things really heat up.

For you early birds there have been all the usual rewards. An early morning…

Another week crammed full of incident at Ham Wall.  Ok lots of the stuff is the same as the last couple of weeks ...but what stuff it is. Where else can you see Great White Egrets in abundance, Cattle Egret, Bitterns galore, Glossy Ibis, Marsh Harrier, Red Footed Falcon ... just to name a few. Maybe I should rephrase the question to where else in Britain can you see all this.

Let's start with the Red Footed Falcon. Still…

Well, its great to be back in the world of technology - we have finally got our broadband and phones back in the office - a very frustrating 2 weeks. Of course it has meant no blog for 2 weeks either for which I can only apologize. 

As always Ham Wall has delivered over the past few weeks, with many happy visitors leaving the reserve stunned at the variety on show. Lots of highlights to mention, so lets start with the…

It might have been a bit of a wet start to the week but it hasn't dampened our spirits. How can it when there is so much amazing stuff going on. If you thought we couldn't add to last weeks impressive list then you were wrong.

Thursday saw 2 Cranes pass over the reserve. They were visible from the Avalon Hide but flew directly over the 2nd platform heading south. They were seen by many people including Natalie…

Lots of fantastic comments coming back from visitors at the moment. Something to be really proud of. People are astounded at the variety of wildlife on offer and of course the number of more unusual species you can count on a brief visit.

Cattle Egrets are being seen regularly across the Avalon Marshes at the moment. The peak number seen has been 17 last week but 11 seems to be a regular figure banded about. They were…

Not quite such a nice week this week with some cold breezes across the reserve at times. It hasn't stopped the action though and there is now plenty of evidence of birds with young. Of course you may see these for yourself - some are quite obvious like the Greylag goslings in front of the 2nd platform, the Great Crested Grebes carrying youngsters on their backs (1st platform and within Waltons) or these Mallard Ducklings…

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…