Hello from Exe Estuary reserves, today is Friday again..... it’s amazing how fast time flies when you do something that you enjoy!
Last Monday we went to work at the RPSB’s Greylake reserve in Somerset. This reserve is wet grassland similar to Exminster marshes and they needed a hand to finish off an electric fence. It is quite important to conclude this fence as soon as possible because Lapwings and Redshanks breed in this area and last spring they had some problems with foxes and badgers that, once entered within the reserve, killed the chicks of these species.
Furthermore, this week we have carried out a similar task in Powderham. We’ve checked the electric fence to prevent that foxes and badgers can slip in the area where Lapwings breed and kill their chicks.
In addition, last Thursday we carried out our December high tide bird counts on Exe Estuary reserves. It is the first time I have undertaken this activity on Exminster marshes. Compared to Bowling Green Marshes and Goosemoor where you monitor a small area, on Exminster marshes the work is a little more complicated because you have to examine a much larger area. Also, making the job more complicated was the pleasant presence of a Peregrine hunting over the marsh, causing the ducks and waders to be very flighty. Moreover, it is nice to report the presence of a large number of Ducks, Geese and Waders.
Lastly, we’ve filled the bird feeders in Powderham and have noticed the presence of Cirl Bunting’s on them.
That’s it from me for now. See you soon!
Ezechiele Squarcina
Thanks for the report. When I counted the Exminster Marsh in November with Mark a Peregrine caused similar problems by putting all the birds to flight making the counting very difficult. I think that it followed us across the marsh trying to capture birds we disturbed. Steve