In our last blog it felt like winter was on it's way, but this time it feels like it is well and truly here. For the last two weeks the air around Beckingham has been full of the sounds of our wintering birds - wigeon and other wildfowl, golden plover and lapwing. Around 300 wigeon are now resident on the marshes, favouring the pond area that can be seen opposite the viewing platform. The more wigeon we have, the better grazed the grasslands are ready for the lapwings breeding in the spring. Listen out for their whistling calls.
Wigeon. John Bridges (rspb-images.com)
Golden plover are a recent addition to the Beckingham winter list, with only small numbers previously, however in the last 3 years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the numbers wintering at Beckingham. Last week there was a flock of around 1000 on the marshes, a spectacular sight when they all took to the air together and circled above our heads.
Lapwing too winter at Beckingham, as well as breed here. There were about 200 on Wednesday flying around the wet grassland fields and settling in the same area as the wigeon on the pond opposite the viewing platform.
Lapwing. Louise Greenhorn (rspb-images.com)
Our volunteers have been getting stuck into some hedge laying in the last three weeks. We have made good progress along a 100m long stretch of hedge behind the viewing platform and should have it finished by the end of January. This is an old hedge that has been previously laid many years ago and is well in need of a refresh - the laying rejuvenates old hedges providing perfect habitat for wildlife.
Hi there, I'm sorry about the very slow response, I've only just seen your message! The main change is probably that the site is a lot wetter than it used to be. In 2012 we undertook a program of work to keep the site wetter in winter and spring, including deepening some of the scrapes and installing windpumps that take water from the main drain running along the eastern boundary of the site onto the reserve. These pieces of work have greatly improved the habitat for wintering birds and for breeders such as lapwing and redshank. We now just need to work out how to keep the site a bit wetter into the beginning of the summer when our wader chicks are looking for food! Hope that helps and sorry again for the delayed reply. Jenny
Hi there,
What is the main change to the marshes which has led to Golden Plover now coming in such numbers?