West Sedgemoor has been pretty busy this past week, what with the winter walks going on down at the viewing point, and the exciting welcoming of our newest residential volunteer, Helen, who has joined our wardening team for the next 6 months after previously volunteering at the Exe Estuary down on the south coast of Devon.
Management work this week continues down near Swell wood, where hedge coppicing and laying preparations are underway, which I, and I’m sure the rest of the team are, very excited to get stuck into that! We’re planning on laying a large amount of hedge this winter, and in the years to come, as this practise creates so many benefits for the wildlife and the ecosystem, such as providing ideal havens for small animals and birds, including the fieldfares and redwing which have been spotted nearly every day in the hedgerows and in the garden at Dewlands farm. Also, by laying a hedge we will promote new growth from the ground keeping it healthy and thick for years to come.
The start of the hedge management - Annie Pickering
Whilst coppicing and burning the brash at Fivehead, Helen came across this rather interesting crust fungi living on some of the willow branches. Crust fungi is the name of a group of wood-decomposing mushrooms that have a smooth or pimpled surface formed on the underside of dead tree trunks, as seen below. So if you’re feeling like a fun-guy (just me laughing?) and want to see these little critters, head over to Swell wood and keep your eyes peeled on the branches.
Crust fungi - Helen Williams
WeBS (Wetlands Bird Survey) began this week on Monday with all the team making their way around Greylake and West Sedgemoor to count all the birds seen and heard in designated areas. Mild weather was had that day which appeared to correlate with our results; only 6372 lapwing, 443 teal and 550 wigeon, to just name a few, were counted at West Sedgemoor this year- plummeting numbers compared to last years of 9829 lapwing, 650 teal and 1700 wigeon. However, the weather must have had a completely different effect on the golden plover this year seeing as we counted 5388 this week and last November we only counted 1292. These birds move around the levels a lot unlike the majority of the rest of the bird species who like their regular damp fields in front of the viewing platform on Hambridge. I suggest if you’re keen to get a good view of these fascinating birds then book onto our winter walks, it’s definitely worth it!
Sightings this week include tawny owls seen and heard from Dewlands farm at West Sedgemoor by the residential volunteers; dunlin recorded by Paul, assistant warden, out on West Sedgemoor; and bullfinch, fieldfare and redwing as well as blackcap spotted singing in the hedgerows.
Huge thanks to Jo and Rob for again supplying us with bird sighting records from the past week at Greylake, as the team here rarely find time to get over there and do a bit of birdwatching. Sightings include three cranes towards the back of the reserve to the right near the fence line, two marsh harriers flying around and not causing a massive issue with the ducks, and snipe are very hunkered down but once the eye was in you could see them. Gadwall, mallard, teal and wigeon are all in a very restful period out on the water, with one pintail in amongst them. Very few lapwing were sighted on the reserve but many more were seen in the fields coming to Greylake. Chiff chaff were heard very loudly in the reeds on the return path and water rail heard in the coppice area.
David and Helen came across this awesome little water ladybird whilst they were working over at Greylake as well as spotting both a beautiful black-tailed godwit and a grey heron minding their own business from the hide.
Water ladybird at Greylake - David Miller
Black godwit and grey heron - David Miller
Also, I know there’s been some confusion over a mysterious pale bird of prey- some suspecting it to be an osprey, some a very pale buzzard. Luckily David managed to capture an amazing picture of the bird and I think we’ve all agreed that this one is a pale buzzard. It's a striking bird!
Pale buzzard at Greylake - David Miller
That’s it for this week, have a good weekend! Annie