Bad day for Voles!
Posted 21-06-09 at 11:52 PM by astafjevs
For the first time in my life we joined an organised wildlife walk today, and it proved to have been as good a £6.50 as I've ever spent. Ham Wall was once again the destination, for the RSPB's Barn Owl walk.
Arriving early, we headed to Shapwick Heath which wasn't quite as productive as last time. Still, good views of lapwing,whitethroat, reed warblers, swans, cormorants and gulls. Heard but not seen were chiffchaff, willow and cetti's warbler. It's locally renowned for its easy otter spotting but once again my luck was out! We did see herons and egrets though.
So on to the main event, and a guided walk around the parts of Ham Wall which don't have public access. First up, a noise that has had me scratching my head for a while; turns out its a greenfinch. Walking on, and a marsh harrier is pointed out. I couldn't see it and we moved on far too quickly for my liking, but I needn't have worried as a couple of minutes later its back, and not even I can miss it! A nearly-adult male, I'm told. Grebes, herons, tufty's, pochard, reed warblers chattering, and then a distant barn owl. Walking on we get really good views of a hunting owl, which soon becomes a view of an owl and a vole. On we go, past an obligingly perched reed bunting, past a G C grebe on its nest, where we get a good view of the changing of the guard and an insight into how odd they look on land, another view of a barn owl, egret and heron, and then embark on the return leg. A different barn owl, also with vole, and then the walk ends with me unable to watch a barn owl hunting because there's a bittern in the way. Unbelievable stuff, magical place, and I haven't even mentioned the soup and cookies included in the price!
Arriving early, we headed to Shapwick Heath which wasn't quite as productive as last time. Still, good views of lapwing,whitethroat, reed warblers, swans, cormorants and gulls. Heard but not seen were chiffchaff, willow and cetti's warbler. It's locally renowned for its easy otter spotting but once again my luck was out! We did see herons and egrets though.
So on to the main event, and a guided walk around the parts of Ham Wall which don't have public access. First up, a noise that has had me scratching my head for a while; turns out its a greenfinch. Walking on, and a marsh harrier is pointed out. I couldn't see it and we moved on far too quickly for my liking, but I needn't have worried as a couple of minutes later its back, and not even I can miss it! A nearly-adult male, I'm told. Grebes, herons, tufty's, pochard, reed warblers chattering, and then a distant barn owl. Walking on we get really good views of a hunting owl, which soon becomes a view of an owl and a vole. On we go, past an obligingly perched reed bunting, past a G C grebe on its nest, where we get a good view of the changing of the guard and an insight into how odd they look on land, another view of a barn owl, egret and heron, and then embark on the return leg. A different barn owl, also with vole, and then the walk ends with me unable to watch a barn owl hunting because there's a bittern in the way. Unbelievable stuff, magical place, and I haven't even mentioned the soup and cookies included in the price!
Total Comments 2
Comments
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Sounds like a great day out, seeing the Bittern must have been a haighlight, it's not the easiest time of year to see them (not that they are easy to see at any time of year
)Posted 22-06-09 at 12:12 AM by clydebirder
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Ham Wall is brilliant for bitterns, I've either seen or heard them (or both) every time I've been this year (5 or 6 times). Apparently one was heard booming this Saturday (equalling your record of the 20th!) but didn't seem to be doing it yesterday.
Its a fairly new reserve set up especially to attract the bitterns towards the west (due to coastal inundation of their eastern breeding grounds) and it certainly seems to be doing its job, the guides yesterday suggested there might be as many as 5 bittern nests (which I assume means 5 breeding pairs) there this year.Posted 22-06-09 at 12:06 PM by astafjevs
