Booming Bitterns & Hungry Hobbies at RSPB Ham Wall

Date:  3 May 2018

Location:  RSPB Ham Wall, Somerset
Weather:  Sunny, but a little chilly

For a few days we decided to venture to Somerset and visit some of the nature reserves there. We knew Ham Wall was a great place to see Bitterns and Hobby so that was our first stop.

We were staying in Glastonbury and Ham Wall was just a short drive away. It was easy to find and we arrive around 9.30am, parking was great, with lots of spaces.

It wasn't long before we spotted our first wildlife: a Swan on the pond near the car park, then as we walked a little deeper into the reserve we heard that familiar sound 'cuckoo, cuckoo' - excitement kicked in and we desperately tried to spot it. A helpful gentleman helped us out by letting us look through his scope and there it was, my first sighting of a Cuckoo this year :)

The visitor centre at Ham Wall

Beautiful pond with a solitary Mute Swan

Terrible pic I know...but it's a Cuckoo! My first sighting of 2018

We saw a few members of the RSPB who were monitoring Bitterns and they pointed out a Hobby in a far away tree, I could see it through my binoculars but too far away to get a picture. They then pointed out a Marsh Harrier, Cetti's Warbler and a Bittern flew from one reed bed to another. It was all too much to take in, so many lifers in a few minutes I had to sit down :) - We had literally been here less than half an hour and we had already seen almost all our target birds, this was awesome!

The only Bittern pic we could get between us, but its a bittern! (another lifer)

The Cetti's Warbler was a bit more obliging for a pic

From here we made our way to the Avalon Hide, on the way we spotted Great White Egret, Herons, and more Hobbies flying around. There were also Great Crested Grebe, Buzzards and we could hear the Bitterns booming. Butterflies like Peacocks and Red Admirals were plentiful and the views of Glastonbury Tor was spectacular too.

Peacock Butterfly

Great White Egret

Great Crested Grebe

Grey Heron

Views of Glastonbury Tor

Unfortunately it was quite quiet at the Avalon Hide, we sat there for about half an hour and didn;t see any Marsh Harriers or Bitterns so we decided to make our way back to the car for something to eat. On the way back the RSPB were still counting the bitterns and pointed out a lovely Whitethroat and a Common Tern, the first Tern we had seen this year. We got back to the car and refuelled with a sandwich - we both agreed Ham Wall was awesome!

Common Tern next to a Black Headed Gull

A pretty Whitethroat

After lunch we had a quick look around the car park where a Black Redstart had been spotted, but we didn't see it. We then made our way back into the reserve and back to the Avalon Hide. We saw a Heron being mobbed by Black Headed Gulls, Cormorant, Buzzards and a Swan flying above.

Cormorant

Mute Swan

Heron being mobbed by Black Headed Gulls

Buzzard

Just before we approached the hide Dan spotted something sitting in the trees. I look into my binoculars and there was the most beautiful Hobby. He must had sat there for 10 minutes and we have some pretty good pics. What a stunning bird, I had never seen one before and I wasn't disappointed. We we got the Avalon hide there was a bit of excitement and someone pointed out a Tawny Owl sitting on his nest box. We took a seat and it wasn't long before a pair of Marsh Harriers flew over the reeds. So exciting, another lifer for us :)

Hobby

Tawny Owl

Marsh Harrier

The time was getting on a bit and we were feeling a bit tired, so we decided to call it a day. We were so glad we ventured to Ham Wall, we saw so many birds and so many lifers bringing my #My200BirdYear up to 117. We look forward to return later on in the year. As we walked back we saw an adorable Gladwell family, Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler and a pair of Swans flew over us in the car park :)

Sedge Warbler

Reed Bunting

Gladwell mum and chicks

Swans flying above as we arrived back in the carpark