With last weeks rain out the way nature is well and truly making the areas around the Exe it’s home for the summer. House martins, swallows and reed warblers have relished the recent sunshine along with many other birds and wildlife around the reserve.
With the grazing season upon us there has been a rush to get all gates and fences up to scratch to keep the cattle where they belong around Exminster marsh. Other hard work has included the same for Labrador bay to keep in their ponies and making the kissing gates kiss once more.
Speaking of fences, I’m sure everyone is as eager as me to know what’s happening within the new predator fence on Exminster reserve. There has been a small group of lapwings showing interest in the site and one male displaying frequently over the area. Along with our usual residents sitting more at ease with the predator fence up, a flock of Egyptian geese flew in to check it out.
The breeding lapwing survey has started on powderham marsh with good numbers of displaying and sitting birds at the site. Others of interest around powderham marsh has been a barnacle goose which seems to have settled in with the resident Canada geese and wheatear, ringed plover, little ringed plover, green sandpiper and oystercatchers have all been seen there in the last week with small flocks of teal still hanging around from winter.
What about butterflies I hear you asking. Well a short walk from the Exminster marsh car park to the discovery area and back will give you good views of orange tips, speckled woods, peacocks and small whites.
What can you do to bring wildlife closer to you and your family? Good question. You could quite simply do like our new residential volunteers and put up some feeders for birds in your neighbourhood, this is a perfect time as they need all the food they can get to feed their hungry families giving yours some great entertainment.
How about fun activities?
. 27th April 6am-10am £8 (including breakfast, booking essential,01392 432691)