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The weather was pretty dour early in the week and the blog was looking a bit lean a couple of days ago but the brighter weather has woken everything up again and the last few days has seen plenty more activity on the reserve. Last weekend saw a huge influx of Swallows and Martins and Swifts in particular...

The amazing weather of last week continued into the early part of this week and with it the interesting sightings continued to flow. The weekend saw a huge influx of Swifts over the Avalon Marshes, with 1000's seen and there were several hundred flying over the reserve today as well along with...

Here's the full bird list for Ham Wall for April 2013: Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Hen Harrier, Red Kite, Osprey, Hobby, Bittern, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Cranes, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, White Fronted...

Another great week nearly over, with once again plenty to report. The wonderful weather and the amazing variety of birds on show at Ham Wall & Shapwick Heath has proved to be a big draw for visitors and we have been very busy all week. The new car park for Ham Wall (work should begin in August) can't...

Drop into Ham Wall on Thursdays in May and join the Wardens to watch Bitterns take to the air to perform their exciting aerial courtship displays. May is the best month at Ham Wall to catch sight of this often secretive bird. Several males are still booming on the reserve (at least 8) and by now the...

Another bumper week of sightings on the reserve this week, with yet again plenty to report. In fact one of our volunteers and local birdwatcher Joe Cockram got over 90 species from Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath on his visits to the reserves on Monday. That's pretty impressive and shows just how well...

Spring has finally sprung for good this week and what a week it's been on the reserve, with an awful lot to report. The warmer weather of the last week to 10 days has made an amazing difference to the reserve. There are warblers galore along the treelines of the old rail path and the reedbeds...

Firstly, please accept my apologies for the missing blog last Friday, I was away from work for the whole week, so this week we have a bit of catching up to do. Overview of last week (30th Mar-5th April) Sand Martins and Swallows continued to arrive on the reserve and were greeted by some quite...

A very cold week on the reserve this week but spring is just around the corner. A number of Sand Martins have been seen on a daily basis. You got to feel for them though - they must be wondering what the hell they are doing here at the moment. As many as 20 have been seen daily from several locations...

Although there is a hint of spring on the reserve, it seems the winter is reluctant to release its grip for the moment. It's been a cold and wet couple of days on the reserve and wildlife has seemed more reluctant too to show its face - not surprising (I've felt the same way). There has been...

The last 2 days have been a bit of a contrast here at Ham Wall. A very cold start yesterday led to a gloriously sunny day and today the slightly warmer start has lead to some miserable and wet conditions this afternoon. It looks like they chose the right day to undertake the Bittern survey yesterday...

Spring hasn't exactly sprung on Ham Wall but it's certainly stirring from its winter slumber. There's been plenty of bird song of all kinds on the reserve this week including: Great Tit, Chaffinch, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Robin and Wren amongst others. Song Thrush too has been...

Good numbers of visitors have been enjoying the Ham Wall sunshine today and been treated to sightings of several of our more unusual visitors. The Pied Billed Grebe is still present form the second viewing platform and has actually been seen a lot closer in than it has been over the last few days...

The drier weather has continued this week and this has been a great help to staff in lowering water levels around the site to get them at the optimum level for our breeding birds. Fairly large numbers of visitors have continued to flow through the reserve this week in search of the Pied Billed Grebe...

Always nice to report a rarity on site. This bird was first sighted on Ham Wall on Friday 15th in the afternoon from the second viewing platform. It was still there yesterday and has been attracting quite a lot of attention from birders - many whom have travelled considerable distances to see it. ...

Here's the full bird list for Ham Wall for January 2013: Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Merlin, Bittern, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Crane, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler...

It's been a relatively dry week for a change in comparison to many we've had recently, although water levels locally are still high with the last of the snow melt and a few deluges adding to the problems. We have been able to operate our pump for much of the week and are beginning to make some...

Thankfully the snow we had in midweek came to nothing, although the temperature has remained low as I have found out to my cost after slipping in a ditch up to my waist on Wednesday morning and filling my wellingtons with more icy water this morning - I seem to be making a habit of this lately. Thank...

Firstly apologies for the lack of blogs recently. Of course, it was the Christmas break but then I had a bout of sickness which means I have only just returned to work. This means there is plenty to catch up with and I have done my best to gleen information from wherever possible - thanks to John Crispin...

Well, as suggested by some, the world didn't end today and the reserve is indeed full of life. A visit out this very morning proved highly productive with a host of species on show. The female Smew is still present from the 1st platform but often swims down the channels and is hidden from view. Today...

As I write this the rain is lashing down again at Ham Wall, although the rest of the week has been pretty good, albeit a little chilly. Much of the water on the reserve has been covered with a sheet of ice this week but the wildlife is coping well at present. The evening sunsets have been particularly...

Some more great sightings for you this week. The stars of the week turned up yesterday (x2) and more joined them today. This morning 6 Waxwings were present (and still there at lunchtime when I left) in the Alder trees surrounding the car park at Ashcott Corner and also feeding in the small Rowan Tree...

It's been a pretty dry week at Ham Wall, which has enabled us to work full steam ahead with management work in Phase 1 (the section in front of the 2nd platform) and things are looking really good out there. Most of the ditching work has been completed and we are all but finished with both reed and...

Here's the full bird list for Ham Wall for October 2012: Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Hobby, Peregrine, Red Kite, Merlin, Bittern, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Glossy Ibis, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mallard...

The area in front of the 1st viewing platform continues to offer a wide range of birds to please the more experienced birder as well as the newbies. Good numbers of Wigeon, Mallard and Gadwall are easy to see along with groups of Shoveler (more in Waltons too) and a few Teal, which prove harder to...