RSPB Lychett Bay - delivering for nature and for people by Rob Farrington (RSPB) and Paul Morton (Birds of Poole Harbour)
Lytchett Bay is a large tidal bay in the north of Poole Harbour. To the west of the bay is a newly created wetland reserve called RSPB Lytchett Fields, which is managed by the RSPB Dorset team.
The site has historically been a private site with no public access, however in 2013 the seawall that protects the fields breached and the site began to flood and drain daily with the rising and falling of the tides. With this natural mechanism in place it has become one of the premier sites in Dorset to watch wildlife and is particularly great for wading birds - especially in the spring and autumn as passage migrants pass through feeding up on the newly created pools.
Photo 1: Black-winged Stilt - Lytchett Fields May 2014, Ian Ballam
RSPB Dorset recently linked up with local charity Birds of Poole Harbour, who funded the installation of public viewing areas and access at the site, so that now anyone can enjoy this spectacle. With the site proving so popular to both birds and people, the RSPB is also currently working with the Dorset Bird Club - who are funding some site management works which will improve the viewing experience for visitors and the habitat for the birds.
Since the creation of RSPB Lytchett Fields in 2013, an incredible 31 species of wader have been recorded on the fields along with a great variety of mammal, butterfly and dragonfly species around the rest of the site. RSPB Lytchett Fields is also great for birds of prey during the winter with marsh and hen harrier, peregrine and merlin, all taking advantage of the abundance of food. Whilst the fields and surrounding scrub attract good numbers of other birds such as breeding reed bunting, cetti’s and reed warbler and migrants such as whinchat, yellow wagtail, willow warbler, whitethroat, blackcap and spotted flycatcher.
Photo 2: Yellow Wagtail - Lychett Fields - Ian Ballam
You can find a useful PDF called ‘Birding Lytchett Bay’ on the Birds of Poole Harbour website: www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/interactive-map and then clicking on the Lytchett Bay area of the map.
Photo 3:Little Stint - Lychett Fields by Ian Ballam
Photo 4:Firecrest - lychett fields - Ian Ballam
Photo 5: Spotted Crake - Lytchett Fields Aug 2014 - Ian Ballam