Monday was my first day with the Exe estuary team, we were out spraying the docks on the Powderham side of the reserve. We were spraying the docks with Roundup, killing the plant to the root, to stop the weed spreading across these fields in the future whilst also making it easier to monitor the breeding Lapwing over the season. This was made rather tricky by the terrain which consisted of ploughed fields and rather sticky conditions created from the recent flooding . Tuesday consisted of scrub clearance at the Labrador Bay reserve to help restore previous pasture land on the seaward slopes, leaving scrubby areas of hedge specifically for the Cirl Buntings which are present on site. We were removing both Buddleia and Sycamore which are both invasive tree species. Wednesday we were back on the Powderham side, we spent the day mending the predator fence on the reserve, which stops both fox and badgers from gaining entry into the breeding area. Thursday was spent with the dedicated volunteer party erecting some post and rail fences by the new willow screens on the far side of the reserve, which were put in place to limit bird disturbance, as it runs by a well used public right of way around the reserve and to the Turf locks pub.
The willow screens in place
Also this week on Exminster marshes we have had a tracked tractor with a soil spreader on the back to reinvigorate the scrapes. This will hopefully encourage the lapwing and other wader species to breed on the reserve this year and in the future.
The tracked tractor with soil spreader in action
Steve Cooper