Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath

Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath

Saturday 19 June 2010

We parked at the car park at Ashcott Corner and set off into the Ham Wall Reserve. The weather was bright and sunny, but there was a cooling breeze that needed a second layer of clothing. I used to visit Ashcott Corner 37 years ago, when I worked for the River Authority, so it was interesting to see it again. In those days, the peat extraction was operating and there were far fewer trees.

At the bridge crossing the South Drain we were rewarded by good sightings of two Kingfishers hunting along one of the drains and posing on overhanging branches. Following the Glastonbury Canal, we saw several Whitethroats. I overheard a comment: “Oh, it’s only another Whitethroat” – how quickly we accept these things.

Then great excitement as a Bittern flew low over us. Only my second sighting – and the first was some time ago and only a partial view in reeds, so this was my first proper view. Bigger and more strongly coloured than I had expected.

A lovely walk through the southern end of the Ham wall reserve yielded a steadily increasing list of birds. Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler and Reed Bunting all put in appearances. Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler were heard, but not seen. However, a Cuckoo put in an appearance, sadly an increasing rarity these days.

We also saw a Greater Spotted Woodpecker and then another Bittern, or perhaps the same one coming back. We circled back to the car park along the old railway line for lunch. Some of the party left at that stage, but most stayed for a visit to the Shapwick Heath in the afternoon. Very quiet along the South Drain and we split into two groups to visit the hides at Meare and Noah’s Lake to avoid overcrowding and introduce an element of competition.

I was in the party visiting Noah’s Lake first. I always find the view from the hide slightly surreal with the primitive-looking Cormorants nesting on the dead trees in the lake, like something from a distant past. We also had distant views across the lake of a Marsh Harrier and a Hobby, but they declined to come closer to give us a better view.

We then swapped with the Meare Hide group, where all was quiet, except for Gadwall, Mallard and Tufted Duck on the water and a distant view of a large group of Swifts wheeling over the far side of the reserve. The stroll back to the car park yielded nothing further, except for delightful views over the Somerset Levels. Many thanks to Richard, once again, for so ably organising and leading a charming day out.

Roger Saxon

Birds seen, in BOU order or alphabetic order

BOU order

Mute Swan

Greylag Goose

Canada Goose

Gadwall

Mallard

Tufted Duck

Little Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Cormorant

Bittern

Little Egret

Grey Heron

Marsh Harrier

Buzzard

Kestrel

Hobby

Moorhen

Coot

Oystercatcher

Lapwing

Black-headed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Common Tern

Wood Pigeon

Cuckoo

Swift

Kingfisher

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Sand Martin

House Martin

Wren

Dunnock

Blackbird

Cetti’s Warbler

Reed Warbler

Garden Warbler

Blackcap

Whitethroat

Chiffchaff (heard only)

Willow Warbler (heard only)

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Carrion Crow

Starling

Chaffinch

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Reed Bunting

Alphabetic order