Well it has been two weeks since my last blog as I had a much deserved day off last Friday and it’s all starting to kick off.
On my way into work this morning, as I was walking along muttering to myself I was stopped in my tracks as the sound of a chiffchaff singing caught my attention. This was undoubtedly an overwintering bird, I have been catching snippets of their call since I have been here but this was the first time I heard their classic song and was a nice addition to the cacophony of great tits, blue tits, starling, jackdaw and song thrush I wake up to. Spring is on its way!! Have to say I don’t know about anyone else but I’ve been feeling the tingly spring feeling myself this week!
Chiffchaff-RSPB Images
After getting the predator fencing up and running again early last week since the recent floods and in time for the breeding season, a lot of our practical focus over the past couple of weeks has been on scrub clearance on Labrador Bay. We have been battling against encroaching bramble, sycamore and bracken in an attempt to restore the field to wildflower pasture. The work party came out and made good progress last week and this week we had some enthusiastic students from Exeter and Plymouth Universities getting their hands and even a sock dirty after a lost welly incident which delayed proceedings! It is a beautiful place to work with stunning views along the coast but we will have an ongoing battle with the scrub for a good few years before we get it to the grazed grassland habitat that is essential for the Cirl Buntings success. We returned to hedge laying with the work party this Thursday and progress can really been seen, with views across the marsh starting to open up.