The RSPB are planning a major extension to the freshwater lagoon in front of their hide at Bowling Green Nature Reserve in Topsham, Devon. These works will create more habitat for the reserve’s wetland birds, encourage them closer to the hide and offer better views of the wildlife for visitors.
Photo by Rspemary Despres - family enjoying the view across RSPB Bowling Green from The Lookout Hide.
Tom Pace, RSPB Warden at Bowling Green nature reserve, said: “We are really looking forward to the arrival of the excavator so that we can start shaping the ground in front of our Bowling Green hide, to extend our freshwater lagoon and hopefully create some islands too. These changes will bring the wetland’s water closer to the hide and with it, the fantastic birds that call this reserve home.
“Visitors will enjoy spectacular close-up views of the birds and their interesting plumages and behaviours, without the need for a powerful scope or binoculars.”
“The works will also increase the area of water for dabbling and diving ducks and provide extra muddy margins for waders to feed. Some small islands will be created out in the water to provide refuges where the ducks and waders will feel safer at high tide. If we are lucky, the islands may also become nesting sites in the future.”
Work will start on Monday 3 July and possibly run until Friday 15 July (work will holt on the weekend of Sat 8 – Sun 9 July). A local earthworks contractor will carry out the project using an excavator and dumper, which could cause some initial disturbance to the reserve’s birdlife. However, now is the best time of year to carry out these works, as it is the end of the breeding season and before passage migration begins. The work has also been scheduled to coincide with low tides during the day so as to again to minimise potential disturbance to the birds on the reserve.
The RSPB’s Bowling Green hide and wildlife garden will be open as normal throughout this time, allowing visitors to watch the work progressing. But the RSPB advise that the public don’t plan any bird watching visits to the hide during the above dates.
The viewing platform at RSPB Bowling Green will also be open as normal and offers good views across the estuary.
Tom said: “We hope that this project will provide a richer wetland for the waterfowl at RSPB Bowling Green and also a greater wildlife spectacle for visitors to the reserve.”
For any enquiries please call site staff on: 07872814863 or 01392 833311
Photo 2 by Rosemary Despres - family enjoying the wildlife garden at RSPB Bowling Green Marsh