There's still time to vote for Ham Wall in the Countryfile Magazine Awards in the BEST NATURE RESERVE category.
Obviously it would be a great honour to win this award (it's great that we've even been nominated) but of course we need your votes and there's some stiff competition. If you would like to vote for us go to the link and register and please feel free to pass this on to anybody else you think might be interested in voting. Countryfile obviously liked what they saw when they came down to film the starlings but as we all know there's a lot more to this fantastic reserve than that.
And also remember:
The Great Crane Project has been nominated in the BEST CONSERVATION PROJECT category, so please offer them your support too and really show what the South West has to offer. Voting is open now and closes in early June.
Here's the link
http://www.countryfile.com/awardsvote
Many thanks
The highlight of the week has got to be the Osprey. It was first seen last Saturday (12th) and has been hanging around Ham Wall even until today. The area in front of the 2nd platform it's favourite spot (a scope best for a good sighting if settled). It has been seen circling, hovering and making dives for fish with success as captured by John Crispin:
Opsrey with fish.
For more shots see the other of today's blogs about the Osprey!
Last weekend saw some other great sightings on the reserve. Last Friday (11th) a Glossy Ibis was seen at Meare Heath on Shapwick and it flew towards Ham Wall where it was seen on 2 occasions. Saturday turned up 5 Cranes flying high over the reserve with another single bird which flew low in front of the 1st viewing platform on the Sunday (13th). The same day from the 1st platform 4 bitterns were seen flying and interacting together on at least 2 occasions. This area still seems to be the best for a sighting although there are other signs of birds becoming more active around the reserve (possibly females feeding young). Another bird was seen today perched up on top of the reeds at the far end of Loxtons close to the railway path.
Good numbers of Hobby were noted last weekend and today 10 or 11 seen from the rail bridge. They were flying low along the main drain running away from the bridge catching emerging flies - possibly Mayfly or some dragonflies (a few 4 spotted chasers have been seen today) Also from this point 2 Jays flew back and forth and a pair of Blackcaps catching flies for a nearby nest. Numbers of Swift are still quite good but well down on the hundreds of last week as they have passed through headed for their breeding grounds. The same is true of Swallows and House Martins with just a few seen today.
Marsh Harriers are still a daily occurence - especially the sub adult male and a female seen from the first and second viewing platforms today.
2 Kestrels were seen mating in the last area on the left as you walk through the reserve (something you don't see every day) and it was in this area that a group on a guided walk saw 2 Short eared Owls (same as last week).
Cuckoo sightings are still good by both sight and sound and the reedbeds are alive with Reed Warblers, Cettis Warblers a few Sedge Warbler and good numbers of singing male Reed Buntings. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard 'reeling' in the area in front of the 2nd platform on Weds (but not today as I walked by with a guided walk - typical (the Osprey was at Shapwick at this point too for a double whammy of disappointment - although they had great views of bitterns)
Great White Egrets are feeding on Ham Wall daily with 2 in Waltons on Tuesday in front of the last screen - great views therefore from the rail track also. One seen today on the walk but 3 flew over Westhay Village near our office at about 14.30 today.
The railway line trees again were good today with blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrests, Treecreeper, Goldfinches,Chaffinches, Song Thrush and a host of others all singing beautifully and showing well. Whitethroats still well visible in brambles opposite the 1st platform.
Also this week: young fox in the woodland in front of the first platform and a few Roe Deer, Great Crested Grebes with young in both Loxtons and in front of the 1st platform and nestin in Waltons, Little Grebes, Little Egrets, Sparrowhawk & Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Have a great weekend!
Just thought I'd post a few pictures of the Osprey which has been hanging around Ham Wall for the best part of a week now. It spends a lot of its time perched on top of one of our "Bittern High Seats" which we use to gain some height during the monitoring of Bitterns. This seat is visible from the second viewing platform. It was also seen on another high seat in front of the first viewing platform on Tuesday afternoon - maybe it wants to volunteer for some Bittern surveying.
It's been seen out hunting and catching fish on several occasions. Thanks once again go to John Crispin for some great photos:
Gone Fishing!
Dinner is served! On the "High Seat" with fish.
Success! Flying with what looks like a Rudd (or could be Roach - It's not me who's the fish expert)
Don't you just love the British Weather! Osprey enjoying "Sunny Somerset"
UPDATE 15:45pm
The bird was seen this morning in the same area at 7.10am hovering but did not make a strike. It then flew off towards Shapwick Heath where it was seen in front of Noahs Hide for much of the day. But at 15:15 today it was back in front of the 2nd platform again. circling, hovering and making several dives for fish. It eventually settled back on the usual seat - maybe to enjoy a meal - but was too distant to tell.
Well it's still raining most days and it must be having a bit of an effect on some of our breeding birds, but hopefully it will ease off and get back to normal (although in May that normally means some rain anyway).
Bitterns are still booming however undeterred and some sightings have been seen. The best vantage point at the moment being the first viewing platform, where on several occasions 2 birds have been seen together flying and calling and 3 together on one occasion. Plenty of single sightings too from this area - sometimes you just have to be patient though.
One of the best sightings of the last week has got to be the very handsome male Whinchat which was seen last Saturday (5th) opposite the 1st viewing platform perched in the brambles. This is the same set of brambles where some of the best sightings of Whitethroat can be had. He was present for some time on Saturday and showed really well and was picked up the next day too in the same place - no more reports since however.
Another great sighting this week was of a Short Eared Owl - still present towards the far end of the site - the one this morning being in the area in front of the 2nd viewing platform. On Weds in this area a Cuckoo was perched in a willow in full view calling for at least half an hour. Several other Cuckoo sightings this week - often of pairs flying together.
Cranes were again seen in the area on several occasions this week. The fact that Aller Moor one of their usual roost sights has been quite flooded may give some explanation of the rise in sightings in this area. In fact, it has been reported that a few Cranes have roosted close to the reserve on occasions by flooded fields in the last week or so. 3 Cranes were reported flying over Ham Wall headed south on Tuesday morning while about an hour or so later 9 were seen over the reserve car park.
Swifts have been on the reserve in abundance again this week with hundreds seen feeding along with great numbers of House Martins & Swallows. Hobbys too are now quite visible - especially when the sun shines (yes, it has been shining from time to time). 6 were reported last Saturday and around 13 on Sunday but most days good sightings can be had and today was no exception.
Ray Summers the Warden had a great view of Sparrowhawk this morning as he cycled into work along the railway line. It was sat on the railings of the bridge that crosses into Loxtons and gave him a good stare as he went past. Kestrels too have been seen this week at both ends of the reserve and there are always plenty of Buzzards. Marsh Harriers too are a daily visitor with both female and a sub adult male spotted regularly. The female spends a lot of time hunting over the north of the reserve and can often be seen from the 1st platform.
Also this week: Skylarks on the land adjacent to Tinneys Ground on the Sharpham road (always nice to hear), Great Crested Grebes with 3 young swimming behind in front of Loxtons screen and nesting in Waltons, Bulfinch close to the 1st platform, plenty of reed Warblers and a few Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps, Song Thrush, Willow Warblers, Garden Warblers and Chiffchaff all singing along the railway line in trees, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Roe Deer in the 1st wood on the footpath side of the reserve, Marsh Frogs calling from Waltons & Loxtons, Tree creeper heard along the railway line track close to Loxtons and daily views of both Great White & Little Egrets.
Dragonflies/Damselflies seen this week: Hairy Dragonfly, Blue tailed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Variable Damselfly Azure Damselfly & one of my favourites Banded Demoiselle (I'll try and get some photos of these for a future blog).
Despite the huge amounts of rain we've been having over the last couple of weeks the reserve has managed to stay above water apart from a few puddles along the trails and there is quite a lot to report. Last Friday (27th April), discovered too late for last weeks blog, an Osprey flew from Ham Wall towards Shapwick Heath in the early morning (7am) and on Thursday 26th April 3 Whimbrel flew in front of the 1st viewing platform - thanks to Tony Rogers for reporting this and sending a couple of pictures. Last weekend saw 5 Black tailed Godwits flying over the reserve and a pair of Water Rails with 7 young reported by our Information Volunteer on the first platform. Great White Egret was also spotted feeding in front of the 1st platform and have also been seen every day this week from both platforms.
One of the big WOW factors of the week has been the numbers of Swifts flying and feeding on the reserve every day this week - easily in their hundreds. They are joined also by great numbers of Swallows & House Martins and a few Sand Martins too. On Thursday morning a volunteer was lucky enough too witness a Sparrowhawk taking one of the House Martins over in Waltons section. Hobby too are present and more obvious this week, particularly when the sun is shining (although a rare thing at the moment). Wednesday in particular saw a lot of activity by Hobbys all day with as many as 6 seen at one time. Another of our migrants, the Cuckoo, has also been seen & heard on several occasions this week with 2 seen chasing each other by the first wood on the left as you enter the reserve. The first platform and around the Loxtons trail seem to be the best places to pick them up at present.
A single Short Eared Owl has been seen towards the far end of the reserve several times this week, including this morning, but late on Thursday a visitor was watching 2 together in the last section on the left of the reserve towards Sharpham. Marsh Harriers too are being seen daily, both male (inc a juvenile) and female. The female was showing particularly well on Weds from the first viewing platform, where she seemed to hunt for long periods throughout the day.
A Grasshopper Warbler (and quite possibly two) has been heard at at least 3 different locations on Thursday & Friday this week. Thursday in Loxtons & on the north of the reserve and today in front of the second platform. I was able to watch him for some time perching up and 'reeling' for quite long periods.
Bitterns are still booming well at Ham Wall with at least 11 individual boomers identified on Ham Wall over the last couple of days. Sightings are happening but not in abundance. The first platform once again the best bet with 2 or 3 birds seen flying together on 3 or 4 occasions this week. A single bird was also seen on the cut island in front of the screen at Loxtons on Tuesday morning but it soon sloped of into the standing reed.
Great Crested Grebes have been seen with young in at least 2 locations (within Waltons & in front of the Loxtons screen), with adults carrying their stripey youngsters on their backs.
Also seen this week in terms of birds: Kingfisher from the railway bridge, small numbers of lapwing flying over, 2 Redshank flying past the 1st platform on Weds, Green Woodpecker heard on both Weds & Thurs, Great Spotted Woodpecker most days, Raven on both Weds (landed in Waltons) & Thurs, Bullfinch on the rail track, Curlew flew over Loxtons on Thursday and Shelducks dropped into Loxtons also, plenty of Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Garden Warblers, a Peregrine flying over Loxtons on Thursday and Kestrel seen over the last section on the left towards Sharpham end on Thursday and twice this morning.
Plenty of mammals have been seen this week too: Roe deer around the back of Waltons on Monday, a fox from the second viewing platfrom on Weds, a baby Badger on the rail track at the Sharpham end on Thursday, Stoat on the railway path near Loxtons also on Thursday, Rabbits, Grey Squirrel and a field vole hiding under a metal sheet meant for reptiles.
Also under the metal sheet was a slow worm and grass snake was seen swimming across the main drain on Weds. Marsh Frogs very vocal, particularly on Weds in the sun.
Dragonflies/Damselflies: Hairy Hawker, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure damselfly, Variable Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly.
Butterflies: Green veined White, Large White, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral.
PHEW! I think that's enough for now. Have a Great Bank Holiday Weekend!