Ham Wall, Somerset Levels

The last day of the year and a trip to Ham Wall was planned. The mist would lift quickly they said but it didn't! So we arrived to reed beds of mist and at times a fine 'mizzle' - not ideal for photography but our spirits were high and we had coffee and cake. 

However despite the grim and dull weather the day would prove to be a great birding day.

We walked out to the Avalon hide and looped back to the second platform and then to the screens and the Tor View hide.  Saving the best to last and in heavy drizzle we had jaw dropping views of the Glossy Ibis plus at long last the Water Pipit landed for a few seconds not too far away. Tally for the day was 44 birds including Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Great Egret, Reed Bunting, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Marsh Harrier, Snipe, Glossy Ibis, Water Pipit, Little Grebe.

So lesson learned despite the weather the birds are still out there. Here's to some great wildlife watching in 2017

    Great Egret 

               

                  Water Pipit - present in the same area for several weeks now

               

                   

   Glossy Ibis - closest views ever! 

                

               

   Superb iridescent colours

                

               

                  Several Great Egrets seen around the reeds near the Tor view hide

                

   Little Egret

               

                   Teal

               

                   Marsh Harrier

Shapwick & Ham Wall - Somerset Levels 23/3/16

A frosty but sunny early morning start for our visit to our local reserves of Shapwick and Ham Wall.  Our aim was to spend some time at Noah's hide hoping to catch a glimpse of some Otters that had been seen on Noah's Lake.  Unfortunately after a good hour or so we did not see any. We did however on our way to Noah's see our first ever Mink bounding along in the bracken.  From the hide itself we had a superb view of a Bittern fly past in front of the hide as well as listening to them booming around us.  There were at least 3 pairs of Great Crested Grebes on the lake head flicking and we saw one pair 'dance' if a little distant.  A kingfisher whizzed past a few times and was seen fishing from the trees in the lake.  Sand Martins were seen at the back of the lake skimming low over the water.

From the main path we had a great view of a circling Sparrowhawk getting ever higher in the sky.

On to Ham Wall where we virtually bumped into another Mink as it came out of the water onto the grass and sloped off into a woodpile.  Can't believe we would see 2 Mink in one day, beautiful animals.

There are still a few winter ducks to be seen as well as Great White Egrets and the coming and goings of the nesting Herons.

Highlights of the day had to be the Bittern, Kingfisher, Snipe,Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Bullfinch, Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff, Sand Martin, Great Egret, and Mink.

Bittern fly past

                

                   Almost gliding

                

                    Beautiful tones in the sun

I bring weed - Great Crested Grebes

               

   The Grebes start to dance lifting out of the water

A brief dance and it's back to the head flicking

            

               

                   Kingfisher hunting from the stumps on Noah's Lake

   Dive, dive!

               

                  No fish this time - back to the perch

               

Chiffchaff singing from the willow

                

   Sparrowhawk way up high - often seen at Shapwick

               

  Look at that eye!

   Sparrowhawk - beautiful bird, great hunter 

               

                   Kestrel at Ham Wall car park 

  Mink - friend or foe a beautiful creature

               

                   Mink in the woodpile

   Tufted Duck 

                

                    Snipe at Ham Wall - fantastic camouflage 

Early Spring & an Ibis - Ham Wall & Shapwick 30/1/16

It felt almost Spring like on our trip to the Levels this morning. A bit cloudy and dull at times but it seemed all the birds were singing and active. We started at Ham Wall side and a walk along the muddy track (the bridge is still closed) to the new Avalon Hide. Along our way we are pretty sure we had our first glimpse of a Water Vole, it was just too quick to get a clear ID.  From the Avalon Hide we walked onwards towards the second platform bridge where I suddenly caught a glimpse of a Glossy Ibis overhead. We watched as it sailed into the lagoon, take off and circle and then finally settle out of view! Wow what a view and tick! Great Egrets are quite active flying from reed bed to reed bed and we had some great views. Surprised to hear our first booming Bittern the boom being a little half hearted! A pair of Great Crested Grebes were seen displaying and they even dived for weed but no dance! Still some good numbers of ducks to be seen including a few Pochard on the Scrape Shapwick side. 

A total of 39 species seen today including Marsh Harrier, Shoveller, Teal, Wigeon, Tufted, Gadwall, Bittern, Kingfisher, Cettis, Reed Bunting, Snipe & Great Spotted Woodpecker. 

Spring was definitely in the air! 

    Glossy Ibis

                

                   Restless Ibis

   Off again

               

                    Great Egret - the green breeding 'lores' can now be seen

   Great Egret - potential nest site?

               

                  Little Grebe

   Great Crested Grebes pairing up and displaying

                

                   A good display but no dance

   Marsh Harrier and yes ..... Blue sky

               

                   On the hunt

    Marsh Harrier a female or juvenile 

               

                   Long tailed Tit