Ham Wall

28 Jan

On Sunday, 29th January, Caroline Wright organised a day out for those interested at the RSPB Ham Wall nature reserve, in Somerset. The visit was timed to catch the starling murmuration around sunset. Over a dozen members of the club made the journey on a less than bright day. The reserve is well staffed, with good amenities, and ample parking. The area used to be dug for peat, and now has numerous waterways and reed beds, being part of the Somerset Levels near to Glastonbury.

The group dispersed for most of the day, capturing images of egrets, herons, northern shovelers, swans, coots, grebes, kingfishers and the remarkable marsh harriers who kept their distance, and many more. One of the more rare sightings was of some otters. The reserve offers a pair of hides overlooking waterways, and plenty of viewing points and seats from which to watch the birdlife. There are two circular walks of differing lengths to give a different view of the land and water.

Sunset was just before five o’clock, and due to the thick cloud, the RSPB volunteers on site suggested people gather early as the murmuration would be early too. Having been directed where to best see the incoming starlings, about two hundred people gathered and watched numerous flocks arrive from all directions, with a hint or two of the murmurating, the flocks merged and then began to settle to roost for the night about half a mile away.

While the light was not ideal, the visit allowed members to familiarise themselves with the reserve, see some winter visitors and see the beginning of territorial disputes before breeding, together with a wide variety of bird species. The numbers of starlings have to be seen to be believed, blotting out the hillsides beyond. With Spring not far away, the RSPB reserve makes an excellent site to visit with so much to see.