Last month the driest, and now the coldest, as the water areas freeze and disappear under a dusting of snow. The wetland birds are fortunate to have the estuary on their doorstep, their other policy is to use their numbers to keep sections of water open and a count of 1,200 wigeon on Exminster Marshes and over 500 teal on Powderham Marshes at the end of November illustrated that this was the tactic they were employing. The associated muddy margins are then crowded out by waders such as snipe who struggle to probe into the frozen ground. The lagoon is always a favourite haunt for a selection of wildfowl, including tufted ducks, gadwall and shoveler, as the deeper water counteracts the cold temperatures. The marshes look a little bare now and as if something is missing, as most of the cattle have gone back to the farms for the next few months. Sometimes returning through the winter, but this year if the frosty weather continues it will stop and deter any intentions of the grass to grow and so their return will be delayed. The month has also seen some unusual visitors to the Exminster. In the form of an American robin, snow bunting and Bewick swan to name the main stars! Making the roads a little busier and the footpaths a little muddier, they brought good trade to our local businesses with the Swans Nest and Turf benefiting from more people being about on some otherwise very dismal days.
The pump system to raise the water levels has been a must this month, with the lack of rainfall, and just before the cold weather set it we were getting good numbers of wildfowl and waders. The winter roost at Bowling Green Marsh has been spectacular, with both black and bar tailed godwits, teal and wigeon up close – and for those who are regular Autumnwatch viewers the wigeon at bowling green were the stars of the show – or more to the point their bottoms were! It has been a real month for media and if you read this in time then do look out for our Exe Reserve on Countyfile on the 12th
of December