Here's the recently completed otter sculpture installed at Ham Wall reserve. Memorial plaques can added around the wooden base for those who wish to remember loved ones. Another lovely addition to the reserve.

It's felt like summer for much of the week at the reserve and visitors have been out in their droves enjoying the local reserves and what they have to offer. It's certainly been busy - thank you to those of you who sent me information or photos to include in the blog this week - at least 6 of you. There will be lots of photos this week - I've included most of what was sent me but not all - there were too many!!! …

Things are certainly hotting up on the reserve - in more ways than one. A beautiful week has seen plenty of visitors to the reserve enjoying the sunshine and they have been rewarded with a host of wildlife. 

Migrants arriving - some staying and some just passing through - but it's a time to keep your eyes and ears open to what's about. There's been a big influx of Reed Warblers this week and the noise in the reedbeds…

It's been a wonderful week at Ham Wall - the sun has been shining making it almost feel like summer and the wildlife is very active. It's a special time of year for wildlife enthusiasts as creatures awaken from winter slumbers and migrants are on the move. Ham Wall has had its share with grass Snake and Adder reported on the reserve this week, Marsh Frogs being seen in the car park pools and heard croaking around the…

Apologies for the lateness of this blog. Technical issues and being absent from work for a couple of days have really delayed this one! It was written ready for last Friday so concentrates up to that date only......

Another steady week of activity on the reserve this week as we await the big April rush. Many birds of course are in full song and of particular note this week have been Cetti’s Warblers. These little brown…

Spring has most definitely sprung and the evidence is all around. Last weekend saw the arrival of 100's of Sand Martins on the reserve and even during this week small groups c20 can be seen most days. They are not always flying low though so familiarising yourself with their call can help you locate them.

Bird song has been increasing steadily over recent weeks - those calling of particular note have been a couple…

Apologies for the slightly delayed blog this week, I'm afraid I was unable to attend work on Friday so it's been pushed onto today!

All the photos this week come from the Waltons area of the reserve, where there seems to have been plenty of action this past week. Following on from last weeks photo sequence of pair bonding Great Crested Grebes, the pair were seen mating in Waltons this week.

A rudimentary…

A bit of a mixed week at Ham Wall this week with some glorious weather for a couple days and a miserable day yesterday. It's been busy though with lots of visitors, including families, over the half term break.

There's been plenty for people to enjoy, with the increase in birdsong of particular note. Just a little reminder that spring is on the way. There seem to be a few Song Thrushes about, with 3 in the car park…

It may still be February but I'm thinking about the arrival of Spring - one of my favourite times of year. There seems to have been an increase in bird song in the past week, showing I'm not the only one with spring on his mind. Blackbirds, Dunnock, Blue Tits & Great Tits and a multitude of Wrens (I've been seeing a lot on the reserve this week) have all been singing there hearts out at times. Chiffchaff have also been…

Work is underway on the Avalon Hide - what will be yet another new addition to the reserve at Ham Wall. It resembles more of a neolithic wood henge than a hide at present but eventually it will be a 2 storey raised hide on a bank overlooking the north of the reserve. 2 bridges are already in place to enable access from the main visitor areas. Starting at the 1st platform you will walk along the old rail track cross the…

I've certainly felt the cold on the reserve this week. Temperatures have fallen well below freezing at night time and frozen, although thinly, large areas of water on the reserve. This often means birds are forced to gather closer together in areas of unfrozen water - one such area being in front of the 1st platform (rather conveniently for visitors). Good numbers of duck have been present including: Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler…

Plenty of testing weather on the reserve this week with high winds, driving rain, hail and snow to deal with but none the less we're making plenty of progress. The view from the 1st platform will reveal that work has started on the Avalon hide to the left of the Central Wood. Telegraph poles have been driven in to reveal the outer shell of what will be a raised 2 tier hide. Weather conditions & access issues (eg if tracks…

Yet another busy week on the reserve this week, scrub work underway on the old canal bank/footpath side of the reserve and the new small pedestrian bridge is now open. This will eventually allow access to a new hide (the Avalon Hide) which will be built behind the wood diagonally right of the first platform. Preliminary work has begun here by contractors, who will be building a 2 level raised hide overlooking the north…

This Coot had a lucky escape as he avoided the clutches of a Marsh Harrier on the reserve this week. This was witnessed and Photographed by John Crispin at the 2nd viewing platform, who sent me the following photo sequence. Thanks for the photos John!   Of course, the Coot may not be so lucky next time!

He lives to squeak another day!

Happy New Year Everyone!!  Welcome to the first sightings blog for 2015!!!   Firstly, apologies for the lack of blog last week - I simply just ran out of time. It was notable by its absence - as many of you picked up on the fact it wasn't there and quizzed me - I should of known I wouldn't get away with it!  It means I've made it hard for myself to squeeze in nearly 4 weeks worth of stuff in one hit. To save me…

This will probably be the last blog before the Christmas break arrives - it will return in January!!

The biggest news of the week is that we have opened the new car park. There's still some finishing touches to do but we wanted it to be open in time for Christmas, as this will be a busy time with many visitors wanting to see the starling roost. There is an automatic gate which closes at the stated times so please make…

The weather this week has certainly reminded us that it's winter. Although the WeBS count (wetland bird survey) for this month was slightly down on Novembe,r the winter pattern of species on the reserve continues.There  have been fluctuations in the numbers of wildfowl visible from both platforms (the second platform in particular) though. On a good day there's a lot to scan through (worth doing as you never know what…

The Starlings have yet again dominated the headlines here this week with the main bulk of the roost dropping into the Waltons section of the reserve. It is likely that the cold weather will swell the numbers further as birds arrive from the north & east of the continent. The rail path or the Tor View Hide are great places to watch the spectacle at present.The roost is still proving popular, with good numbers of visitors…

The main talking point this week has been - not surprisingly - the Starlings. Numbers are beginning to swell and the latest "guesstimates" seem to be in the region of as many as 750,000. There has been a smaller roost on Shapwick Heath but the main bulk of the birds seems to be at Ham Wall at the moment - this of course is subject to change as more experienced Starling watchers will tell you. There is a huge area for…

Don't seem to have had much time for actually getting out on the reserve this week and seeing what's about. A training course took up Tuesday and we've spent a good couple of day doing odd jobs in the new car park area. Things are starting to come together but there's still  a fair bit to do. The contractors should be in Monday & Tuesday to finish the surfacing and infilling - once this is leveled out and…

A week more in keeping with the time of year this week. Some very rainy days have not dampened our spirits however and there's plenty to report as always.

Very little progress with the car park this week as we await more material to infill the, soon to be planted blocks, between parking areas. The surface then needs grading to get a level finish. Early December now looks the best bet with toilets to follow in January…

Follow the link to listen to radio 4's Living World programme featuring Chris Sperring interviewing Ham Wall volunteer Andre Blacker as they search for Great Crested Newts on the reserve this Autumn.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04nqs40

The colder weather has seen some significant changes on the reserve over the last couple of weeks. Temperatures have dropped steeply for a few nights and it may have finally put pay to the majority of the remaining dragonflies we had on the reserve. Migrant Hawker and Ruddy Darter have both been seen this week however but in reduced numbers. Butterfly numbers have dropped too with my only sightings this week being of…

The mild weather has continued and is giving us some wonderful days to enjoy autumns wildlife. At Ham Wall the winter wildfowl numbers are climbing slowly with a few extra Teal & Wigeon around this week. I've also seen small parties of Redwing flying over the reserve and plenty of waders to keep us amused.

The very brief star of the week was a Spotted Redshank which was spotted in front of the 2nd platform last…

A week similar to the last at Ham Wall this week. It still feels as though we are in a bit of an autumn lull before the bulk of wintering birds arrive. There's plenty to get excited about though, as we are privileged enough to have a fine selection of resident birds here in the Avalon Marshes to keep us entertained.

The water level in the are between the 2 platforms is still rising offering a nice mix to attract…