I'm off work tomorrow (Friday 8th) so I'm writing this a day early this week - lets hope I don't miss anything too spectacular. Although things in terms of bird life are quietening down a bit (as is quite traditional at this time of year) there is still plenty of weird and wonderful things going on at the reserve at the moment.

I'll start with more of a weird thing. This character was spotted on the Avalon…

Another week has flown by here at Ham Wall and there's a general feeing that, for many birds, the breeding season is just about at an end. Most of the great white egret nests have now fledged - a very successful season with around 75 chicks recorded across the Avalon Marshes reserves with 14 of these birds ringed by the team. Look out for the red rings with white lettering on the legs of birds when you visit the local…

A similar week to last week, with some very hot days keeping wildlife a little quieter and visitors away too - although the thought of hitting Glastonbury Festival traffic has probably put people off too.

Bitterns are still showing well in some places, with VP1 and the Avalon Hide once again hotspots. Young birds (2 or 3) have been seen again yesterday standing in the reeds in front of the Avalon Hide with another bird…

It's been a hot week at Ham Wall - not surprisingly a drop in activity in the middle of the day when the temperatures are so high. 

All the usual suspects are there though - hungry mouths are still demanding food. Bitterns are still being seen from all over the reserve, with the first viewing platform (VP1) one of the best places. Some of the flights from around the site are a little more random, perhaps suggesting…

I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend last week to celebrate The Queen's Jubilee - and if that's not your thing I hope you managed to escape it all and get out and enjoy some wildlife. 

At Ham Wall, it' s bitterns and marsh harriers that are stealing the show at the moment - although there is of course a whole host of wonderful wildlife to enjoy. 

The first viewing platform (VP1) is a great place to start…

"I've never seen so many bitterns", is a comment we've heard several times from visitors over the past couple of weeks. Females have certainly ramped up the feeding flights and spending just a short time at the first viewing platform (VP1) can bring rewards. We believe there are 2 nests quite close together with both females flying south over the main track to feed in Waltons and beyond. 

I guess we shouldn…

We've actually had a fair bit of rain in the past week or so - for the most part it's been overnight which is good while we are working outside. It will however add a bit of a growth spurt to all the lush vegetation around the reserve - we will go our best to keep all the paths and benches etc clear and cut the best we can.

You will probably have noticed the extra growth in front of the first viewing platform…

A big increase in bittern activity this week with large numbers of flights being recorded at several locations. This suggests that females are now out and feeding youngsters at nests. A good number of flights from the first viewing platform (VP1) in particular. I was at the second viewing platform (VP2) yesterday lunchtime and witnessed 2 birds in a long chase to the north - so this kind of behaviour is still being seen…

It's a fantastic time of year to be out watching wildlife and Ham Wall has continued to offer a brilliant spectacle this week. This, combined with wonderful weather, has made for some very happy and impressed visitors. We aim to please.

One of the stars of the show is the glossy ibis - or should I say 7 of them. They have been seen regularly from the first viewing platform (VP1) in varying numbers and have been quite…

There is always plenty to see at RSPB Ham Wall and this time of year is no exception with the breeding season well under way and this new life starting to thrive. Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that a small number of visitors have been causing disturbance across the site, to both the wildlife and other visitors, through their behaviour.

 You can help by:

• Keeping to the paths. Please don’t go rummaging through…

Well, there's a lot to catch up on after 2 weeks without a blog. Easter weekend saw several glossy ibis turn up on the reserve with up to 7 being spotted together. 2 weeks on and they are still around the area - spending a lot of time from the first viewing platform (VP1). We are all waiting excitedly to see if any breeding takes place within the Avalon Marshes.

VP1 certainly seems the place to be at the moment. Good…

This week, while usual blogger Steve enjoys a day off, we welcome back guest blogger Alison Morgan, volunteer coordinator for the Avalon Marshes New Colonists Group. You can read Alison's previous blogs on the project from 2019 and 2021.  I'll add in a few recent sightings at the end of the blog - it's been an exciting week!  In the meantime, over to Alison:

Great White Egrets of the Avalon Marshes

The egrets…

Well, it certainly feels as like spring has stalled a little this week - colder weather, showers and even a little snow at the weekend. Any migrant birds hitting our shores for their spring/summer break must be wondering why they bothered. This shot was taken late last week by Robin Morrison of a great crested grebe caught in a snow shower. Thanks Robin:

Some slightly warmer looking grebes now - the first taking a sensible…

Well, I certainly picked the right week to have off work last week. The warm weather has pushed that feeling of spring right to the front and the reserves wildlife is responding. More butterflies are being spotted - I've had four species on the reserve so far: peacock, small tortoiseshell, brimstone and comma all enjoying the early flowering plants such as celandine after a winter of hibernation. Thanks to Mike Pearce…

A much warmer week this week in general (if we forget the horrible deluge of rain all day on Wednesday).  The warmer weather has definitely triggered more wildlife into action and there is a definite feel of spring. Many trees are beginning to green or show buds and flowers are beginning to appear such as celandine and of course snowdrops and daffodils. 

Asa more flowers emerge so too will the insect life. There's a good…

It's the first blog for 3 weeks - apologies for the delay but as you may imagine the recent storms have caused a few problems around the reserve and these have taken priority. We have had several wind blown trees around the reserve, with Loxtons perhaps the worst hit area. 

We had this trail closed down for a few days as it was inaccessible. Staff and volunteers have been working really hard across the reserve to get…

Quite frosty this morning but generally it's still pretty mild. With Valentines day on the horizon many of the reserves birds certainly have love on their minds. An increase in bird song can be heard during sunny spells. Song thrush in particular have been far more vocal this week and great tits too can be heard  - perhaps staking out a claim to territories. 

Other birds have already moved onto the next stages with…

Another week has flown by in the blink of an eye - I've been very busy this week with some other staff members away or poorly. At times I don't feel I have time to look up and see what wonderful wildlife is around. Although just a few minutes of downtime a day on the reserve is enough though to get a flavour of what's happening and there are plenty of wonderful volunteers and visitors who feed back to me too.…

Well, we are still in January (just), it may be chilly at times but many birds have already got breeding season on their minds. It was an icy and foggy start this morning as I got to the Ham Wall car park but I could hear straight away a couple of bitterns booming. One from Shapwick Heath and one over at Ham Wall. 

In fact, during they day yesterday I heard bitterns from at least 6 different locations on Ham Wall and I…

There have been some very frosty starts to the days this week (it was -6c on my drive in this morning) but the days have generally cleared up well and been quite sunny. In fact at times you could be fooled into thinking spring was here already. Some wildlife has definitely responded to these mild temperatures. As I mentioned in the last blog birds have been singing more readily and others have been staking out territories…

Firstly, Happy New Year everybody. I hope you had a rested, safe and peaceful Christmas. I'm sure you are all looking forward to what the reserve, and the Avalon Marshes in general, has to offer this year and what surprises may be in store.

It has been remarkably mild in general, with just the last couple of days feeling more wintery this week. People are remarking on hearing bird song and seeing some birds prospecting…

 Ham Wall Christmas opening hours 

The reserve, toilets and car park will be open throughout the festive period.

The Info Point, refreshments and Robin Robin trail will be closed on the following days:

• 24 December – Christmas Eve
• 25 December – Christmas Day
• 26 December – Boxing Day

We hope you are able to enjoy the reserve safely over the whole of the festive season and that you have a Merry Christmas…

Another week has flown by at Ham Wall. I'm sure you are all starting to feel a bit more festive as we get closer to Christmas. If you feel a visit to Ham Wall coming on we will be open throughout. However, the car park buildings will not be staffed from 24th to 26th. Be aware if visiting for the starling murmuration the period between Christmas day and New Year can be very busy so be prepared to come early or leave it…

Some pretty nasty weather through this week with Storm Barra making a bit of a mark. Thankfully the reserve got off pretty lightly with just a couple of trees down. Not surprisingly there were very few visitors around at times although one or two brave souls were out and about. It gave us a bit of heart as we donned chest waders to erect a small floating raft in Loxtons (on Tuesday during wind and rain), with the help…

 Credit Aardman/Netflix).  

 We’re delighted to be partnering with Netflix and Aardman on Robin Robin, a half-hour, stop-motion, festive story for the whole family, about a young robin trying to fit in. It’s debuting on Netflix on 24 November – get the date in your diary! 

To celebrate, we’re inviting you to join exclusive Robin Robin-themed adventure trails right here at Ham Wall this Christmas season. 

Over 30…