An update from residential volunteer Helen Williams

 

Working on nature reserves is always exciting, every day is different and no two days are the same. At West Sedgemoor we have been doing lots of estate work repairing fences, willow coppicing, chainsaw and tractor work before the winter months makes some places on the reserve inaccessible. We are currently coming the end of the summer season and into out winter work programme. The cattle will be shortly returning to their winter quarters in the next few weeks, so they still have lots of time to accidentally fall in ditches and escape in to the neighboring fields. Our winter walks at West Sedgemoor begin again in late November when the ducks which winter on the reserve will have returned. For your chance to see this unmissable experience of 10,000 of ducks, hunting birds of prey and maybe glimpse a Somerset crane click this link to find out more: https://rspbduckwatch.eventbrite.co.uk    

 

Cattle egrets have been seen regularly at Greylake these past couple of weeks, with a group of about 20 lapwings about, a few snipe and mallards. It’s still quite quiet on the reserve at the moment, but you never know what you might see. We are currently in the process of clearing vegetation in front of the hide/ screens to improve the view for visitors and undertaking electric fence maintenance.

Autumn is slowly arriving at Swell wood. The leaves are changing colour which looks lovely on a sunny, slightly breezy day. Listen out for nuthatches, tree creepers, greater spotted woodpeckers and other woodland birds in the car park, at the hide and whilst walking along the woodland trails. Our Halloween trail will be running on Monday 29th October at Swell Wood between 11 am and 4 pm for more information about the event lcikc here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2100505726932087 

 Thanks again to our amazing team of volunteers and the Taunton mid-week conservation team (which you can follow on Facebook) for the enthusiasm and assistance is making our reserves amazing.