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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 Bittern, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Cranes, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Canada Goose...

We've experienced a range of weather this week on the reserve with cold winds, calm sunny spells, rain & hail. It's confusing for us so imagine how it is for the resident wildlife, nest building, incubating eggs or rearing young. It's been an interesting week again though with the...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

Firstly, apologies for the lack of recent sightings blogs for the last 2 Friday's. I was on annual leave last week and the week before I had to stay home and nurse my 2 daughters through chicken pox - mildly bird related I guess but I'm back now and ready to blog away. With all the stories of...

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 very snowy day today so was unable to get into work myself what with school closures etc. I also can't be of too much assistance in giving info about the state of the roads close to the reserve but if you are out and about take great care or seek other local knowledge before traveling...

Still a very wet Ham Wall at the moment making some of our duties a little more tricky than normal. We are still managing to run our somewhat sticky guided walks albeit with a slightly diverted route but there's still plenty to be picked up across the reserve. The Marsh Harriers in particular...

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...

Here's the full bird list for Ham Wall for November 2012: Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Short Eared Owl, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Merlin, Bittern, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Glossy Ibis, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag...

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 first viewing platform at Ham Wall is still offering a great spectacle to visitors to the reserve. Good numbers of duck are present, particularly Wigeon with their familiar whistling call, Mallard and Gadwall. Lesser numbers of Teal and Shoveler (more are congregated in Waltons at present) can also...

Work has now finished in front of the first viewing platform and we have been gradually raising water levels in here over the past week to suppress any re-growth on the islands. Happily, the by product of this is splashy islands being enjoyed by a host of ducks and waders. It's a pleasing site at...

Here's the full bird list for Ham Wall for July 2012: Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Hobby, Merlin, Bittern, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted...

Although not so heavy the rain has continued this week and we have had to close Loxtons Trail for the moment as it has flooded in two areas. There has been a fair amount of activity on the reserve though this week. Bitterns continue to make flights with the 1st platform still a good vantage point...

It's been a mixed week weather-wise on the reserve this week but the heavy rain still continues to cause problems for our breeding birds. Last weekend however, saw some interesting sightings with Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Stonechat, Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret & Bittern all seen. The highlight...

After all the headlines in the media this week about Buzzards and its happy outcome (for now at least) thought we should celebrate with a couple of Buzzard pictures to get us started. Of course buzzards can be seen every day at Ham Wall almost without exception, often in pairs or larger groups...

Here's the full bird list for Ham Wall for May 2012: Short Eared Owl, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Hobby, Red Footed Falcon, Bittern, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Glossy Ibis, Common Crane, White Stork, Black Winged Stilt,...

What a scorcher of a week and probably a welcome relief for some of the birds and indeed visitors on the reserve. The hot weather has brought the visitors out in force, of course coupled with the news that the Great White Egrets are nesting at neighbouring Shapwick Heath. The Egrets can be seen daily...