We're on flood alert once more down here on the Exminster Marshes, and the water is already starting to cover the road. My double layer of waterproofs failed to keep out the torrential rain being swept sideways by the wind on the walk to work, and I noticed smashed tiles on the road from the rooftops of nearby houses as I left home. Most of us looked pretty bedraggled as we arrived at the office today, but we still had sympathy for the birds struggling to make headway against the wind and rain (although I reckon some of them were enjoying the extra burst of speed they could get...as long as they were happy to head north).
So, all in all, it looks like the reserve is going to be flooded again soon. However, and this may seem odd, we're still concerned about having enough water around. Although it seems unlikely at the moment, a week without rain or a broken pipe could quickly send water levels plummeting and that would be bad news for our wading birds in the coming breeding season - both adults and chicks need wet ground to feed. And site manager Peter discovered we had just such a broken pipe and were losing water from one of our hydrological blocks (the reserve is divided up into several of these 'blocks' and we have control over the water levels in each individually, though we can connect them if and when we want to). So I bravely volunteered to don a pair of waders and we walked out onto the marsh, where I courageously plunged my arms into what turned out to be spectacularly cold water and valiantly inserted a bung into the broken pipe. In all seriousness the water was surprisingly cold, but it's all part of the adventure and variety of doing this sort of work. One minute you're waist deep in a ditch with huge flocks of brent geese flying overhead, the next you're back in the office with a cup of tea writing about it.
Not ideal fencing conditions
Work has continued on the predator exclusion fence, and it brings me great joy to report that we've nearly completed it. Yesterday, before the worst of the weather came in, we put up the final sections of post and rail fencing to more or less finish the cattle-proofing work, while last week we completed the meshing that keeps the predators out of the few non-electrified sections. All that remains is digging in some old railway sleepers to shore up the gates and putting some electrified scare wires over the top of them, and then hopefully we can switch on the power and welcome in the breeding lapwings. We've noticed them starting to display territorial behaviour, calling and tumbling, so the sooner we finish the fence the better. It's been a real team effort this winter, with staff, long term volunteers and our weekly Thursday volunteers all putting in plenty of hard graft to get the fence done, a great example of the kind of project we can all take part in to give nature a home!
I'm particularly keen to get the fence finished soon, because sadly I'm going to be leaving in just two and a half weeks' time. I'm moving on to an RSPB internship at Frampton and Titchwell, but it's all thanks to the wonderful experience I've had volunteering first at RSPB Mersehead in Scotland and now here on the Exe Estuary. Looking back on the last ten months I'm amazed at the different things I've done and how much I've learned from all the people I've worked with, both staff and fellow volunteers.
The reserve continues to host thousands of birds, with big flocks of dunlin, lapwing, redshank, black tailed godwit, wigeon, teal, shoveler and curlew all present. We've also had more sightings of cirl buntings over at Powderham, which means they've been present for months now which is great news. Stonechats, Cetti's warblers and water rail continue to be seen and heard around all the ditches, and I spotted a lovely grey wagtail yesterday too. We're also regularly treated to spectacular rainbows, one of the many things I will miss after I leave!
Double rainbow over Exminster Marshes - one advantage of the rain! Next time there's a shower why not come down and see if you can see one too?