Ham Wall Murmuration

The visit here is to the RSPB reserve just west of Glastonbury, hoping to catch the starling murmuration at sunset. Two options:   

1) Walkers – an 8 mile walk taking in The Abbot’s Fishpond at Meare, a footpath along the River Brue (great views of Glastonbury Tor), Westhay, Avalon Marshes Centre (coffee, cake, craft) and return via Shapwick Heath to Ham Wall. More or less flat, as you’d expect in the Levels, but some paths likely to be muddy (or worse after rain!). Aim to return to Ham Wall for 2 pm giving 90 mins to explore the reserve before assembling for the starlings.

2) Twitchers – serious bird lovers may want to go solo and stay on site to  explore the hides at Ham and Shapwick (just adjacent).

I’m sticking with a 10 a.m start as the site can be popular at weekends so we want to get a parking space. All meet up at 3.30 pm to await the starlings (time suggested by RSPB) – sunset is 4.27 pm. If you search for ‘avalonmarshes.org’ you can find a dedicated page to Ham Wall (and other nearby reserves) where you can get a useful downloadable map of the site.  Two stops for coffee and lunch – we can make a lunch stop (aiming for 12.30) at the nice outdoor café/craft shop at Avalon Marshes - coffee, cake and themed tea towels (be warned there is still an hour of walking – the latter can be hard to digest).  Wellingtons are strongly advised - this is a flat walk not needing walking boots but it is squelchy in places with two points requiring wading through very short overflows that reach halfway up wellingtons. Walking boots will be overwhelmed!

Please note:

1. Starling appearance cannot be guaranteed – they often perform here but sometimes elsewhere. Hopefully we will see them from a distance if they choose somewhere else.
2. Dogs – no problem on the main walk (though short leads needed at many points due to livestock). The RSPB do allow dogs on the main footpaths at Ham but they are not allowed in the reed bed walks etc (the best bits!). I leave it for owners to decide.