Well, as promised, the area in front of the 1st viewing platform is wetting up nicely and beginning to create a bit of interest. We managed to walk out on the flat area just in front today to place a grit tray for Bearded Tits to use. They change there diet around this time of year and move from a diet of insects etc towards a diet of seed throughout the winter months. They need to take in grit like many birds to aid…

Another week has flown by but it's been a productive one. Thanks to the hard work of volunteers we have finished reed cutting on the islands in front of the 1st viewing platform and we are currently raising the water levels once more. There have been some naturally lower and stickier parts on the islands anyway and a few birds have been sitting and feeding on the islands. WE even saw some voles & shrews scampering for…

Well you may have noticed yet another missing blog from last week. It was my own stupid fault as I badly cut the back of my hand at work last Friday morning and ended up in hospital having it stitched. I know excuses, excuse. It was a bit tender to say the least but I'm better now (thanks for asking) ready to report on all the goings on over the last fortnight.

Perhaps the star of the show over recent weeks has been…

It's the start of a very busy time at Ham Wall for staff and volunteers (even if the birds are a little quiet). We're making good progress with clearing the reeds from the islands if front of the 1st platform. It may well be a couple more weeks before we finish but the end results are usually pretty good once the water levels are brought back up.

Other areas are draining down a bit - mostly through natural evaporation…

Well it's been quite a time since the last blog but it seems all the favourites have still been performing at Ham Wall in my absence. The 2 Glossy Ibis are still being seen regularly - usually in the area in front of the second platform but we have also lowered levels in the adjacent section (to the left of the Avalon Hide Path) and they have also been seen in here this week. Unfortunately, like the 2nd platform area…

Yet again another wonderful week on the reserve - although the very hot weather has made working quite difficult as well as perhaps calmed down some of the activity from the birds. The early mornings have been the time to come by the sounds of it, with cooler weather, good light and a magical feel.

The early starts is best for catching up with the Little Bittern (well beyond the 2nd platform on the right). 2 males have…

Well, there's no doubt as to the star of the show this week. On Sunday evening a Collared Pratincole was spotted on the reserve and with it, over the next few days, came many visitors hoping to add one to their list. It's a summer visitor to southern Europe but a vagrant to these parts (and a first for Somerset I'm told?) Sadly I've not been sent any photos of this handsome bird. But if you search twitter there are plenty…

As the summer holidays fast approach we have got a lot of kids events going on around Somerset!

Mini Beast Safaris at Greylake

Thursday 28 July and Tuesday 9 August 11am-12.30pm

Come on a morning bug hunt to find out what is lurking in the undergrowth and explore the hidden world of everything that crawls, slithers and buzzes.

£3 per child.  No booking required.

Kids Tractor and Trailer Safari at West Sedgemoor…

Firstly, apologies for the 'missing blog' last week. We've been having a few computer problems at the office recently but i also had to go out late on Friday to rescue a poorly swan who was taken off to Secret World for some treatment. I know - excuses, excuse! Well, I've left myself a 2 week backlog of news and a whole stash of great photos people have kindly sent in.

There has been a noticeable drop…

HAM WALL - MAIN FOOTPATH NOW OPEN

We are extremely pleased to announce that the work being carried out by the Environment Agency on the railway bridge has been completed and the path has been reopened.

There is now full access back on to the reserve via this route and the disabled parking spaces opposite the first viewing platform are available as before using a radar key.

Apologies for any difficulties the closures…

Once again a very active and interesting week on the reserve. You may have read articles this week on social media regarding some of our extra special birds we have on site at the moment. Great White Egrets were the main feature giving news of probable number of nests and about the ringing of some of the young birds. It's hope we can learn a lot more about the behaviour and distribution of this newly colonising pioneer…

As often with Ham Wall it's the long legged birds which steal the show.  Bitterns are still busying themselves feeding youngsters. The activity suggests that we have at least 7 nests on the reserve this season. Waltons is a good area to try and track them down but they are also within the Loxtons area and visible from the Avalon Hide. One was seen perched up in the reeds preening from the hide during the week.

John…

After a week off last week the amount of vegetation growth around the reserve was very striking on my return. It means that some views are becoming slightly more obscured and there's plenty more places for the wildlife to hide away. The weather has also been particularly hot this week which often leads to less activity from wildlife at the hottest times of day but, as always, there's plenty to report and some great pictures…

It's a fantastic time of year on the reserve with so many opportunities to get some great wildlife sightings. There's so much to see but also so much to hear, which is all part of a great experience for visitors. Whether it's crazy Bitterns in some kind of dispute:

Crazy Bitterns: John Crabb 

Hungry Grey Heron Chicks calling noisily...

Grey Heron & Chick: Natalie Talbot 

...the chorusing of many…

What a fantastic time of year it is on the reserve with such a variety of wildlife on show and it's so good to see so many visitors out enjoying themselves. There certainly seems to have been an increase in the amount of Bittern activity over the past couple of weeks and visitors are frequently reporting sightings - often of 2 or more birds in a courtship flight or as on Wednesday 2 males in a territorial dispute. Volunteer…

It's certainly a busy time of year for the reserves wildlife. The reserve is a hive of activity and alive with bird song. A simple walk along the rail path can take a while with a host of species to look out for. There are plenty of Blackcaps and a few Garden Warblers to get you started. Add to this Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Bullfinches, Goldcrest, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin and all the tits & finches and you're…

What a fabulous week on the reserve this week. Spring has well and truly sprung and visitors are flocking to the local reserves to see whats on offer. Some of the stars of the show this week have to be the Hobbys. They've been easy to view every day over all parts of the reserve and are always a pleasure to see (unless you're a dragonfly of course). 

John Crabb sent me these photos of Hobby over Ham Wall on Tuesday…

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…

Another brilliant week on the reserve this week with, once again, loads to report.

Birds of prey feature highly this week, although I'm falling short of photos in this area I'm afraid. Last weekend, Monday and Tuesday saw Short Eared Owl hunting over the reserve (probably 2 different birds here).  Three sightings on Monday morning from the first platform and around Waltons followed by a further evening sighting…

If there was any lingering doubt that spring had sprung last week - there can be no doubt now. It's been a week teeming with new arrivals and great wildlife sightings. It's hard to know where to start, so lets start with some spring arrivals. Tuesday saw the first report of Cuckoo on the reserve around the Waltons section and I had my first on Wednesday but there were at least 2 more on site. John Crispin took this shot…

The star of the show this week was probably the White Stork. It's been seen a few times in the local area and was first seen circling high over Ham Wall on Tuesday. It was than seen flying in front of the Avalon hide the next day too and is still currently in the local area as far as I know. John Crispin was on hand to grab these shots of the bird -  thanks John.

White Stork - John Crispin

Other welcome stars…

There's a bit to catch up with as I was away last week but there's so much going on I'll focus mainly on the past 7 days or so. Yet another mixed bag of weather this week: rain, high winds and hail and then some glorious sunshine. Spring has most definitely arrived and there is evidence all around to prove it. Some more firsts this week: the first Willow Warbler reported during the week but one was heard singing around…

There have been several 'firsts' for me this week. On Monday I have my first Sand Martins of the year - I heard them (perhaps 3) fly over the car park in the morning. Later on a visitor reported seeing some from the first platform. As I traveled into work on Thursday morning a single House Martin flew over the Meare road - at the Glastonbury end, so I got my first one of those too.

Monday also saw the first hatching…

Firstly, apologies for the lack of blog over the last couple of weeks. I was helping to run a corporate team day for some employees of Bristol City Council 2 Fridays ago (when I usually write the blog) and just didn't have the time. Then I was off on annual leave last week. It means there's a bit to catch up with but I think I'll concentrate on this week and just add in a few snippets from the previous fortnight. Fortunately…

Teacher Taster Day Wednesday 16^th March, 4.30-6pm

Come to find out how a visit to the Avalon Marshes can benefit your class.

To book your free place contact: jane.allen@rspb.org.uk Tel 01458 860494

Alternatively we are happy to give a short presentation to your staff in school.

Schools right across the age range can benefit from a class visit to the Avalon Marshes near Glastonbury where RSPB delivers educational visits…