RSPB Ham Wall

Sunday 6 September 

RSPB Ham Wall from the Avalon Hide

A weekend in east Somerset including Glastonbury, Shepton mallet and the East Somerset Railway so how could I possibly miss out on a visit to the Somerset levels and RSPB Ham Wall ?  Even a beautiful, warm and sunny morning on Sunday.  Driving over from relatively nearby Shepton Mallet many Rooks and Jackdaws, plus a single Magpie, foraging amongst the stubble on the recently harvested fields.  And no sooner had we arrived in the car park than a Carrion Crow flew over.

Resting Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo

Moving off towards the first viewing point and nearby hides we stopped at the canal bridge to find a pair of distant Mute Swans and their two cygnets on the water below whilst at the far back of the nearby water many Mallards and Coots.  Arriving at the View Point a quartet of resting Cormorants, handful of Mallards and three Great Crested Grebes.

Great White Egret Egretta garzetta

Then it was across the track and check the opposite pool where I found a Moorhen, Mute Swan and quartet of Gadwall.  Also a lovely view of the distant Glastonbury Tor from the furthest hide.  Returning to the View Point a Hobby arrived from over my shoulder and disappeared behind the bushes in front of the water.  Within minutes, a Great White Egret flew in from over the reeds and paused a while atop the artificial Sand Martin nesting arrangement.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor

Time to move on to the Avalon Hide where a Purple heron had been reported.  Passing the reed bed on the right a pair of Bearded Tits suddenly flew up in front of me as the Coots continued their feeding.  On to the hide itself and once ensconced, with many other birders already present, time to check what was out on the reduced water level now offering more mud.  A good number of resting Mallards accompanied by a handful of Teal.  Off to my left a few more Mallards plus a single Common Sandpiper and the first of nine Little Egrets.  Looking to my left I found another Great White Egret plus a second that came in to my right.  Almost in front of me a couple of resting Lapwing along with five Snipe whilst at the back a pair of feeding Black-tailed Godwits.

Great White Egret Egretta garzetta

Then it was time to concentrate on the three visiting Glossy Ibis, looking quite dull in the she of the reeds rather than their usual glossy black coats.  However, sad to say, no sighting of the Purple Heron which had moved further back into the reeds les than ten minutes before my arrival.  Not to worry, we had had a lovely and rewarding visit to this well-known site.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

Birds seen:

Mute Swan, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Osprey, Hobby, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Barn Swallow, Cetti's Warbler, Bearded Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow.

Great White Egret Egretta garzetta

Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa

Gadwall Anas strepera

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Glastonbury Tor seen from Ham Wall

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