Happy May everyone!
There’s good news to report this week as eight little lapwing chicks have been spotted on Powderham, as of Wednesday. We will be keeping an eye on them and the other nests closely over the next few weeks as more chicks begin to hatch and then fledge, we can determine how successful breeding has been. We will keep you posted on any developments. You’ll need a scope, or a very good set of binoculars, as well as a keen eye to see these cute little fluff balls at first. They often shelter in the long grass or underneath their mother, however they soon grow up as it typically only takes 5 to 6 weeks for them to fly the nest. Duck and geese chicks have also been spotted around the reserve so keep an eye out.
Other sightings around the reserves this week include hobbys, a small bird of prey of the falcon family, around the main lagoon on Exminster. Garganey and tufted ducks, seen from the Bowling Green hide and sandwich terns, although not strictly on the reserve they were seen from the viewing platform at Bowling Green. This viewing platform gives a great view of the River Clyst estuary as it meets the Exe estuary and at low tide in particular the many bird species that frequent.
We hosted an Environment Agency work party this week at Bowling Green, a big thank you for their hard work helping us upgrade the fencing in front of the viewing platform. This work was continued by the Thursday work party, so thank you to them too. Together we replaced the two strands of wire with a wire mesh as well as replacing the rotten posts and I personally think it looks a lot better. In the process I learnt to use monkey strainers, possibly one of the coolest and most ingenious hand tools I’ve used!
A young lapwing chick. (Image:Wikipedia)
As spring is a time of change Mark is leaving us, good bye and good luck. Two new residential volunteers will be joining next week; I will no longer be the new guy!
Hope you all have a good bank holiday weekend.