WHERE: AVALON MARSHES
When: Sunday April 15, 2018

The Avalon Marshes in Somerset are, in my opinion, the premier wetland site in the whole of the UK. Species of bird and other creatures which are absent or elusive elsewhere, are widespread and often give us great views here. Some of the iconic species we regularly see on my guided walks include bittern, bearded tit, marsh harrier, great white egret, kingfisher and more.

We have encountered otter, brown hare and roe deer, and, with early or late walks, barn owls show up from time to time. Throw in a sprinkle of rarities, like glossy ibis and cattle egret and you begin to see why these walks have been enormously popular with our guests over the years.

JOIN ME, SIMON KING, FOR A GUIDED WALK ON THE AVALON MARSHES

• We meet at 06:30 at the RSPB car park at Ham Wall and take it from there.
• Walking is easy going on flat, fairly even ground, but, depending on the weather, it can be soggy underfoot off the main track. Stout walking boots or, if you prefer, wellies, are the order of the day.
• Please bring enough food and drink for the day and a back pack suitable for carrying this and any other kit you may have with you.

Binoculars are a must (if you don’t have a pair I can provide you with one for the day) and do bring your spotting scope if you have one. Don’t worry if not, I shall have mine with me which we can share. Whilst the day is not geared specifically for photography (contact me via the website for bespoke photographic workshops) but there may well be good photo opportunities, so if you’re keen to try and capture images of the day, do bring your camera kit.

The guided walk will end at about 15:00 but you are of course welcome to stay on and enjoy the magic of the Avalon Marshes in your own time for the rest of the afternoon and evening. I may even join you!

LIMITED TO 10 PLACES ONLY

NOTE REGARDING PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOPS

If you would like to discuss the possibility of one-to-one photographic workshops on the Marshes or elsewhere in the UK or overseas, do get in touch via the email address below.

[email protected]

SPECIES WE HAVE SEEN DURING OUR WILD DAYS OUT WITH GUESTS ON THE AVALON MARSHES.

Mammals:

Otter, brown hare, roe deer, rabbit, wood mouse, field vole, red fox, stoat.

Birds:

Mute swan, whooper swan, tundra swan, greylag goose, Canada goose, Egyptian goose, gadwall, wigeon, mallard, shoveler, pintail, gargany, teal, pochard, tufted duck, goldeneye, goosander, mandarin, red-legged partridge, pheasant, cormorant, bittern, great white egret, little egret, cattle egret, grey heron, spoonbill (night heron and little bittern breed on the marshes but are very elusive), glossy ibis, little grebe, great crested grebe, osprey, red kite, marsh harrier, sparrowhawk, buzzard, kestrel, hobby, peregrine, merlin, water rail, moorhen, coot, crane, lapwing, golden plover, ringed plover, snipe, jack snipe, black-tailed godwit, bar-tailed godwit, whimbrel, curlew, redshank, spotted redshank, greenshank, green sandpiper, wood sandpiper, common sandpiper, common gull, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull, great black-backed gull, black-headed gull, stock dove, wood pigeon, collared dove, cuckoo, barn owl, tawny owl, swift, kingfisher, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, jay, magpie, rook, carrion crow, raven, firecrest, goldcrest, great tit, blue tit, coal tit, marsh tit, bearded tit, long-tailed tit, skylark, sand martin, swallow, house martin, willow warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, garden warbler, lesser whitethroat, common whitethroat, sedge warbler, reed warbler, Cetti’s warbler, wren, nuthatch, treecreeper, starling (vast murmurations in winter), blackbird, song thrush , mistle thrush, fieldfare, redwing, robin, dunnock, house sparrow, grey wagtail, pied / white wagtail, meadow pipit, chaffinch, siskin, goldfinch, redpoll, linnet, bullfinch, reed bunting.

In the right seasons, we see a huge range of dragonflies and damselflies, butterflies and other invertebrates.

There’s also the chance of encountering an Adder or grass snake.