RSPB Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath

Common Crane Grus grus

Tuesday 4 March

What a fabulous morning at RSPB Ham Wall this morning.  Clear blue skies and full sun but still just below freezing when I set off west on the M5 and a hint of mist /fog at times for the first fifteen minutes or so.  Arriving in the warming sunshine, but still very cold and requiring the extra layers, I had a target of 5 species I hoped to see and add tot he year list.  Come late morning four had been recorded, Bittern (at least four booming birds), Great White Egret, Pochard and Cetti's Warbler.  Not really expecting to see a Linnet but it seems to have eluded me back in Warsash.

Male Pochards Aythya ferina

Making my way round the track and various pools I added just about all the ducks with large numbers of both Wigeon and Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Little Egret and Great Crested Grebe.  Robin, Great Tit and Chaffinch almost so tame that given the opportunity they would literally have taken food from your hand.  No wonder lots of notices asking visitors not to feed the birds.  Even a couple of almost tame Dunnock and we all know how flighty these little birds can be! A special early delight was the sighting of both a Jay and Goldfinch in the same tree.

Dunnock Prunella modularis

However, having made my way through the very sticky mud of the underlying peat to reach the Avalon tower hide I was to be more than rewarded wondering whatever was coming next! Not content with a couple of Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard to join the Kestrel seen as I approached the reserve a couple of Snipe were discovered next to a handful of Lapwing.  Then, far off at the back of the reeds next to the tree line a pair of Barn Owls at their nest box entrance - or, rather, one adult poking its head out below the other standing on guard at the entrance hole.

Barn Owls Tyto alba at nest box entrance 

And if that was not enough, a Red Kite drifted across in front of us whilst a trio of Great White Egrets moved across the back from left to right so revealing the arriving 9 Common Cranes. The Cranes split into two groups with a trio taking to the reeds whilst the other six spent much time moving around the site giving wonderful views. Enough for one morning?  Certainly not as first one, then all six of us in the hide with bins and scopes, fixed on the passing one, no two, no three, no a quartet of very high passing Goshawks.

Common Cranes Grus grus

All that success and the weather getting warmer by the minute and not helped by the fact that I was still dressed for a negative figure temperature, so time to get back to the car, remove some layers and enjoy my picnic lunch along with a lovely warm cup of coffee from the site's cafe.  Making my way back not having seen a Blackbird all morning a Song Thrush on the grassy track in front of me.  And no sooner seen that at least four Blackbirds seen between her and the car park!

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

The afternoon walk took me across the road from Ham Wall to enter the Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve and walk a length of the old railway track.  Mallards in the canal and then a quartet of Little Egrets hidden in the reeds on my right.  A climb to the top of the Tower Hide revealed both the Mute Swans along with Shoveler, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Teal, Gadwall and Coot on the water. Even a couple of Canada Geese.

Gadwall Anas strepera

So on down to the first cross-road to take a left turn inland through the trees to both the Noah and 70 Acres Hides.  Nothing to add from either hide other than a couple of Cormorants with very many more of the duck already seen.  However, approaching the Noah Hide a Jay dashed away to the left so disturbing a Blackbird.

A pair of Carrion Crow on the return journey and as I exited the reserve a trio of Jackdaw put in an appearance and then, arriving back at my car in the RSPB car park  male Bullfinch had finally arrived on its favourite bush to be joined later by a female.

Male Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Bittern, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Heron, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Goshawk, Kestrel, Water Rail, Coot, Crane, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Barn Owl, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch.

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

Great White Egret Egretta alba

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Shoveler Anas clypeata with a Teal Anas crecca

Pochard Aythya ferina

Common Crane Grus grus

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