Ham Wall

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• Seasonal highlights

Seasonal highlights

Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.

Spring

The reedbeds come alive with the explosive song of the Cetti's warbler, the squeal of the water rail, the chattering of reed warblers and there is the chance to hear the 'boom' of the male bittern. Swallows, swifts, martins and hobbies arrive from Africa - up to 30 hobbies may be seen in the air at one time. A good selection of wildfowl are present, which stay on to breed. Wading birds, including whimbrels and sandpipers, pass through on migration. Otters and water voles are present through the year, so a glimpse of these is always possible.

Bittern	Cetti's warbler	Hobby	Reed warbler

Summer

Hunting barn owls eagerly look for voles and mice for their young and are regularly seen at dawn and dusk. Dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies can be seen hawking along the ditches and rides. Broods of young ducks and grebes bob in and out of the reedbed edges. Marsh frogs chorus noisily.

Barn owl	Gadwall	Great crested grebe	Little grebe

Autumn

Roe deer browse the grassy banks. The railway line becomes a hive of activity, with birds feeding on the berries and seeds. These include redwings and fieldfares, lesser redpolls and siskins, bullfinches and tit flocks. Kingfishers flash up and down the ditches and are quite numerous after the fledging of the young. Bearded tit flocks 'ping' in the reeds and may be seen flitting from edge to edge.

Bullfinch	Fieldfare	Kingfisher	Lesser redpoll

Winter

Millions of starlings come in to roost in the reedbed at dusk. Large flocks of ducks, particularly gadwalls, shovelers and teals are on the open water. Wintering bitterns and little egrets feed in the shallow cut areas in the reedbed. Birds of prey such as peregrines, merlins and short-eared owls regularly hunt over the reserve.

Peregrine	Shoveler	Starling	Teal