I spent last Sunday taking advantage of being able to stroll around Exminster and the marshes without pesky work getting in the way. As much as I love working in conservation nothing beats being able to switch off and just take in all the amazing wildlife around you.
Along my travels there was activity everywhere even from the off, a woodpecker drumming, great tits singing, green shoots on blackthorn, skylark up and singing away.......... is it spring already?
As I arrived at Exminster marshes I was confronted with hundreds of lapwing up performing a mesmerising display of undulations, presumably attempting to escape the attentions of a hungry peregrine. I was transfixed for some time but my attention was finally drawn away to the whistles of wigeon who also seemed on edge but hadn’t taken flight, I scanned around with my binoculars and there was wigeon after wigeon, redshank and golden plover, hang on a minute... is that the upturned rear end of, I’m not sure, get out of my way wigeon...yeah it is a pintail. That was a lovely sight for me as it was the first I’d seen for quite some time, there is always certain elegance to a pintail (even when you are looking at its rear end!).
Phoo Credit: Colin Scott
I made my way further down station road more and more birds were arriving on the marshes, it was high tide and I seemed to have timed my trip to perfection (due more to luck than judgement!). Walking along the canal I was treated to the spectacle of flocks of brent geese flying in towards the marshes, as they flew in formation directly over my head with the rushing sound of their wings in my ears, they reminded me of squadrons of world war 2 fighter planes. I kept watching the skies as the geese flew in and it was at that moment I caught sight of the peregrine gliding on high, it wasn’t long before it pulled in its wings and hurtled down, bang! It hit its target it but couldn’t keep hold, as the bird was left stunned on the water the peregrine turned and went to strike again but the plucky little fella had enough wits left about him to dive under and evade the hunter. The peregrine flew away into the distance looking a little dejected and I still have yet to see a successful hunt although this
time admittedly, in a rare softer moment, I was rooting for the prospective prey. I finally accepted I should probably go home and began my trudge along turf path, on the way back I heard what sounded a bit like a squealing pig coming from a water rail skulking around in the reeds but accepted that my chances of seeing it was slim to none and that I’d already been treated enough for one day!
Seeing all these wildlife moments in one day was a great reminder of how worthwhile the work put in around the reserve is and how vital the time and efforts of volunteers are, without them we would not be able to carry out all the work that goes in to conserving our habitats and ensuring nature thrives so people can experience days like I had just enjoyed.
Here on Exminster the hedge clearing has continued this week with the work party doing a superb job as usual. Dennis captured some really good action shots!
We are currently looking for volunteers to join our work party, if you are interested please call or email Tom Pace on 07872814863/tom.pace@rspb.org.uk
How do we et this bramble out of the tree then?! Photo Credit: Dennis Mc William
Helen had at work Photo Credit: Dennis Mc William
Photo Credit Dennis Mc William