Well it really feels like summer when the number of grazing animals on the marsh increases and we enter the time for our main grassland management. Hay bales dotted about the fields and short turf makes the grassland look nicely trimmed ready for the increase in water levels and the arrival of our autumn visitors, in the shape of wildfowl and waders. The weather has been kind and assists our access onto ground that turns too wet and muddy in an instant, although I know we will soon all be shouting for rain. The air seems alive with colour opening up water features and ditch edges increases feeding opportunities for dragonflies and damselflies, and the butterflies are enjoying what seems to be a bumper year for bramble.
The grassland management has been the focus of the month, supported by Natural England we concentrate on trying to knock back the large rush tussocks that flourish on the wet and marshy ground. With our newly acquired weed wiper we have started a programme of works to treat the tussocks before then cutting and removing them. In places the material is extremely thick and so far over 27 hectares we have harvested 327 large hay bales, predominately of rush.
This work really helps to get the grassland in to good shape not only for our breeding waders but for our winter visitors too. This time of year is a quiet time for birds, but come October the marshes will start to come alive with wintering waders and wildfowl. A walk down Station Road will bring sights and sounds of wintering ducks like teal and wigeon especially and a high tide there is a good chance that there will be more unusual birds such as black-tailed godwits.
The high tide roost at Bowling Green Marsh is well worth a visit and if you are a little apprehensive about the identifying one species from the other in the mass of birds that congregate, why not come on one of our walks where there will be staff and volunteers to help you
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