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

Crymlyn Burrows SSSi, Neath Port Talbot - 12/3/2016

Saturday 3rd March was a bit of a dull, cloudy and chilly day, but we decided to get up early and go out exploring anyway. We visited one of our favourite nature spots Crymlyn Burrows to see what we could see.

Crymlyn Burrows is a SSSI area and lies between Neath Port Talbot and Swansea - There is a salt marsh, sand dunes, woodland and access to Swansea Bay - it is an awesome place to spot wildlife and this is what we discovered on that day...

The tide was in, which pretty much covers most of the reserve. In the distance is Baglan Energy Park  and the hills behind are Margam.

The first bird we saw was a little egret stalking the water's edge for food. I have never seen one in Crymlyn Burrows before, a very beautiful bird. (Photo credit: @Danturner23)

Seeing the tide was in we were unable to walk through the reserve. Instead, we followed the path than runs around the outside of the burrows where we started spotting plenty of birds:

Jay (you can just about make it out, sorry about the bad photo)

Blue Tit

Carrion Crow preening each other on nearby lampost

A pair of greylag geese in the distance.

There were lots of buzzards around and we found this pellet on the ground, full of small bones and fur.

One of the beautiful buzzards circling above.

There was plenty of fungi and plants around too, including this old turkey tail fungi...

...and this earth star fungi that was hidden in rotting wood.

Lots of gorse was flowering, brightening a rather grey day.

Continuing on the path we realised they were felling quite a few trees near the cycle track. I have tried to find out what is happening, so if you know I would be interested if you got in touch. There are lots of birds around this area...

Goldfinch

Dunnock

Good to see these new additions to the reserve, bins for litter and dog mess.

We made our way pass the new university and headed towards the dunes.

Another new addition were the signs to show the area is a SSSI with a few rules about protecting the habitat and vegetation...

...and warning sign to say 'Do not disturb the birds' - lets hope people read and respect these signs. We also noticed a new boardwalk had been laid to give people better access to the beach.

On the beach I couldn't see any birds to start, then I saw a small movement in the pebbles. There were infact lots of ringed plovers and sandlings(?)

Near the shoreline were oystercatchers.

Ringed plovers and sandlings(?)

Also lots of black headed gulls.

Lots of flotsam and jetsam washed up the beach, including this life ring...

...and creepy dolls head!

There were lots of mermaid purses on the beach. They are egg sacks, but not sure if it's from a ray, shark or skate?

We also found this huge bone, any ideas what it is? 

After walking awhile along the beach we made our way back over the dunes and into the burrows.

Here we start seeing more birds including a male stonechat...

...and here's the female stonechat looking rather plump!

A skylark in the long grass

A rook stalks the dunes.

Skylarks forage in the seaweed left from the water from high tide.

Some pretty, colourful turkey tail fungi on a nearby log.

The male stonechat is joined by a male reed bunting.

Crossing a very muddy river (there are car wheels in the water, acting like stepping stones...but it still gets very muddy)

A black headed gull on the mud. It's loosing its winter black head and will be left with a small black splash on it's head in the summer.

Close up of the male reed bunting - a very striking looking bird.

The burrows looked a lot different from when we came in the morning, the tide was now low and this revealed more plants and wildlife on the reserve.

A redshank wades in the water.

A flock of rock pipits were in the tree.

Back at the car we realised there was a lot of litter thrown in the trees, luckily we had our litter picking stuff in the car...

...so three bags later, it looked alot better :)

Crymlyn Burrows is one of my favourite places to visit, you are guaranteed to see lots of wildlife any time of year and whatever the weather is. It's important we protect such a valuable habitat and hopefully the new Swansea University will too.

Click here to check out my other blog from 

Crymlyn Burrows last year.