A week of glorious weather here on the Exminster Marshes has seen a spate of activity out on the fields, with the contractors working full pelt to cut and collect the grass whilst the fine weather holds. This has inevitably led to more ditch edging for the volunteers. As Laura explained last week, this involves wielding large strimmers and rakes to ensure the edges of the ditches are sufficiently short to allow waders and geese to access the water and soft mud.
It hasn’t all been toil though; the spotting of a Wheatear on the reserve marks some of our early passage migrants making their way to central Africa for the winter, and inevitable excitement amongst the volunteers and staff. House Martin numbers have also been building. This species also makes the great migration over to Africa, however they habitually gather into large flocks in September and October in the UK before then moving off south together. They can be seen on the wing over water and field tops swooping after insects, or look up, and you may see a collection gathering on the power lines above you. As we travel deeper into Autumn, flocks will become larger and more evident, especially as they appear to become restless as they approach migration time, performing aerial displays on the wing. Why not come down to the reserve this September and look out for some of these enigmatic birds yourself?
Wednesday this week saw a hiatus from ditch edging, as Tom, Phill, and I headed over to Bowling Green marsh to get acquainted with the thick, black, estuary mud that was blocking the outfall. This necessitated digging out the mud to clear the sluice, and then creating a pathway for the water to travel back down to the estuary where layers of silt had blocked the course. It was a race to beat the turning tide, but hopefully with a newly clear route, the sluice gate can return to its function of maintaining water levels in the ditches and connected water body.
In other news at Bowling Green Marsh, a Eurasian Spoonbill has been spotted on the reserve. With only 4 pairs breeding in the UK, and an overall Amber Red List status, this bird is unmistakeable with its large spatulate bill, and is a very interesting addition before it continues its passage south.
Keep your eyes peeled for more weird and wonderful species across the reserves this coming week as migrants continue to arrive. Why not take a camera with you; you can share photos of wildlife large and small on the RSPB community pages to show off your finds.
Have a lovely weekend,
Jay