Ham Wall RSPB  reserve, 4 May 2025

Ham  Wall looking towards Glastonbury Tor © Phillip Delve

Leader: Phillip Delve and Lucy Starling

Wrapped warm against a fresh north wind, four of us arrived by 7.30am at the Ham Wall car park, to a chorus of birdsong: Chaffinch, Wood pigeon, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Wren, Goldcrest, Bittern. While still in the car park and alerted by the call, we were lucky to see a male Cuckoo flying overhead. Then acting on news of a recent sighting, we took a short walk to Shapwick Heath, to see a Purple Heron half hidden in reeds. As few as 25 of these southern European birds are recorded each year in the UK. Back on Ham Wall RSPB reserve, we made our way parallel with a drainage dyke to the first view point. ≈

To our delight, dozens of newly emerged dragonflies were perched on vegetation along the bank side; Scarce Chasers, Four-spotted Chasers, a Hairy Dragonfly. Also here many damselflies: Blue Tail, Variable and Azure.

With four additional members, who joined us at 10.00 am, we headed back towards viewpoint one.

On the way we stopped by an old railway bridge, where dry stone walls are retained by gabion cages. Here four Grass Snakes were basking in sunshine, and away from the snakes, a common lizard.

Then sheltered in vegetation below the bridge we saw three more Grass Snakes.

From the first view point you can see open water, reed-bed, woodland edge. Birds here included: Gadwall, Shoveler Ducks, Pochard, Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Coot, Lapwings, Snipe, Redshank, Great White Egret, Little Egret, several Marsh Harriers. A Barn Owl flew along the distant woodland edge. A distant Glossy Ibis was feeding along the reed edge.

From here we walked the Walton Heath Trail which skirts many pools and reed beds, with tall hedges and some woodland trees. One of several Bitterns was booming close by from the reed bed. Also singing were Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, and Cetti’s Warblers.

As the day warmed, we began to see Swallows, Swifts, and our first Hobby along with a profusion of dragon flies. Eventually from Tor View hide, we saw a distant Bittern flying across the reserve, with Glastonbury Tor in the background.

Finally we headed back to Shapwick Heath. Although the Purple heron was no longer on view, there were several Marsh Harriers, Buzzards, Hobby, a Kestrel and a Red Kite, even a fleeting Kingfisher. By the end of a lovely day out, we had recorded 53 bird species between us, with insects and reptiles as bonus.

Phillip Delve