Throughout August, water has been extracted from Pennyhole Bottom using a diesel pump. Normally the water body dries out naturally through evaporation but this year we have had to give nature a helping hand. A major food source for avocets and other waders is the chironomid larvae and by draining the water the chironomid non avian predators are killed off, assisting the growth of the chironomid population once the water is reintroduced.August has also been an unfortunate month for our close knit team at Old Hall with Peter, our legendary stockman, out of action for a couple of months after a disagreement with an anthill on a quad bike. Get well soon, old chap as we are all having fig roll withdrawal symptoms and fed up with fencing and cattle duties now! The end of August has been largely focused on writing my Old Hall diary. Due to very basic I.T facilities at the reserve, my planned weekly blog never quite got off the ground. However, the project I set myself has risen from the winter ashes of 2009 and reformed as a diary spread over the time I have been volunteering at the reserve.
A wonderful Essex rural scene looking towards Salcott Village, viewed from the back garden of the volunteer's house