It is hard to believe that it is August already and while summer may not be over yet, it will not be long before we are talking of changing seasons and bird migrations. In fact, I have already been party to a speculative conversation over whether a high flying raptor heading south may have been an Osprey making an early run for Africa. I hope on arrival he or she gets their towel on the sun lounger first.
So, just as wildlife needs to make preparations for changing seasons, so do we on the reserve. At the moment we are taking any opportunity, essentially any dry day, to get out on the fields with the weed-wiper. An ingenious piece of kit, donated to us by our colleagues from the Ouse Washes, that allows us to carefully and selectively apply herbicides to specific plants.
The 'weed-wiper'
The decision to use herbicides is never taken lightly and both the requirement to do so and the application is carefully controlled and assessed. We are targeting the coarse grass (Deschampsia) and Soft Rush that the cows do not eat. If left unchecked it would take over the reserve, reducing the variety of flowers and insects and ultimately ruin the wet grassland habitat for the wintering waders and wildfowl.
The next stage in managing the grassland will be cutting and baling, which is commencing now. It will be interesting to see how the reserve looks after its haircut!
This activity also helps year on year to improve the pasture for the cattle, which makes it attractive to farmers who have agreements to use the land for grazing, which in turn maintains it as wet grassland. A virtuous circle.
Speaking of improving pasture for the cattle, we are also carrying out lots of maintenance work on the gates, fences and water-control features around the reserve. Cows it seems are dab hands at testing any timber structure to destruction. Still, it gives us volunteers plenty of opportunity to put our newly learnt practical skills to the test. There are few things more satisfying in life than a fence post which goes into the ground straight. Or so I have heard!
Away from the reserve we were also thrilled to be involved last week’s East Devon Heath Celebrations and events with our colleagues from Aylesbeare. It was my first time visiting the Aylesbeare Common and I have to say, I will definitely be going back to explore further. The Dawn to Dusk day was a particular highlight and seeing Dartford Warblers made the early start well worth it. If you haven’t been to this particular reserve I highly recommend it. I know the visitors and families who joined the guided walks were amazed at the diversity of butterflies and dragonflies that were easily found and the pond dipping was a revelation for many.
Photos courtesy of Phill CattonTop: Comma; Middle: Southern Hawker dragonfly; Bottom: Peacock
Speaking of Pond Dipping, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Pond Dipping event that we are hosting at Exminster Marsh on the 18th August between 1pm and 4pm. If you would like to join us then we will be meeting in the Exminster Reserve car park at 1pm. We will provide refreshments, but the Discovery Area also has picnic seating, so feel free to dine alfresco while kids (and adults) can explore the bug hotel, snake sheets, willow house and rabbit run.
For any photographers amongst you, there is still an opportunity to book onto the New to Nature Photography Course at Darts Farm on Thursday 13th August. Booking and more details can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/new-to-nature-rspb-beginners-nature-photography-registration-17645379806
My final thought for this week’s blog is a double sided thank you. On Thursday, Peter and Tom took the Residential and Thursday Working Party volunteers to Berry Head as a thank you for the work they have carried out on the reserve over the year. It was a fantastic day and we were treated glorious weather and amazing views of Harbour Porpoises.
Harbour Porpoise – sorry the folks; I think I missed the shot of them leaping majestically over that yacht!
So to the thank you’s. Thanks to Pete and Tom for a great day and thank you to the other volunteers for being so accepting and supportive to residential volunteers such as myself who come and go. Thank you.
Have a good weekend all, and don’t forget there is still time to take part in the Big Butterfly Count which closes this Sunday. The weather looks good tomorrow, so why not take a walk around an RSPB reserve and see what you can see.
http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/