The last of the September sun has been out and shining down on everyone on the Exe estuary this week before the inevitable Autumnal wave comes in. This has meant a few important changes for the wildlife around us.
We’re fortunate enough in this area to see some of the magnificent Osprey as they pass through on their way to sunnier lands in Africa for the winter. After feeding up for the trip, they will wait for a break in the weather front to begin their long journey south – which is exactly what this past week has brought. It is expected that the sighting count will now drop dramatically. For those of you, like myself, who regrettably didn’t manage to catch a glimpse, we shall have to wait until March and April before they begin showing their masked faces on our shores again.
This week has also been a great time for bat watching, particularly Common and Soprano pipistrelles. They have also been actively feeding; although for very different reasons than the Osprey. With the end of the mating season drawing in, and colder weather on the horizon, these mammals will be preparing to hibernate. This means laying down fat reserves in between states of torpor when the temperature drops. Torpor is a short-term form of hibernation whereby body temperature decreases and metabolic rate can drop up to forty times lower than that of an active bat. Thus, our bats will slow into this state when colder weather hits in order to save energy. This makes mild mornings and evenings of great importance to them to eat as much as possible to store up these important fat reserves, as well as seek good places for the upcoming hibernation period.
Whilst our wildlife have been busy, so too have the staff and volunteers at the reserve. Over at Topsham, the Bowling Green hide has received a second lick of varnish, and is looking very smart for those birders arriving to enjoy the multitude of waders, as well as Yellow and Grey wagtails being spotted about. On Exminster marshes, the Thursday volunteers have been hard at work removing Brambles and Thistles along the ditch edges. Whilst blackberries provide great nutrition for certain birds on the reserve such as the little Wren, if left unchecked, they encroach on the open grassland space and block off access to the soft mud on ditch edges necessary for the incoming geese and waders to feed. However, with Brambles in check for another year, we look forward to seeing what next week will bring us on the reserve.
If you are interested in volunteering your time, new volunteers to the Thursday working party are always welcomed, please phone the reserve office on 01392 833 311 for more information. Equally if you aren’t a member and are interested in becoming one, you can find details here:https://www.rspb.org.uk/joinandhelp/join/
Have a lovely weekend,
Jay