Welcome to another update from Greylake, West Sedgemoor and Swell Wood reserves.
I will begin with another photo overlooking West Sedgemoor, taken from a bit higher up the hill when I was out on my daily exercise last weekend.
Following the new restrictions that were put in place last week we have been given special permission to carry out some essential work and repairs which support the farming operation here at West Sedgemoor. These repairs will stop cattle escaping onto roads and footpaths, which could be dangerous. Given the recent warm weather and the ground drying out, it won't be long before the cows are back out in the fields. On Monday, our skeleton staff, just me and estate worker Ashley, went out to audit the infrastructure. While out on my checks I found a number of gates that needed repairs, but I also found these footprints. I can't think what might have made them. They were quite big and reasonably fresh. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
On Wednesday, as we repaired an essential section of fencing which had come down over winter, we were also treated to the sound of a booming bittern somewhere out on the reserve, which was wonderful. We do get one or two at West Sedgemoor each year, but there isn't a lot of suitable habitat. For bitterns, you're better off looking at Ham Wall, or sometimes Greylake, once they're open again. In the meantime, I found this lovely photo of a bittern in our archive, taken by John Crispin. Thanks John.
It was a good day for wildlife watching. During lunch we heard the calling of kestrels. We spotted the male flying away and perching in a tree in the distance. The female was perched on a wall by the barn, where they've been see regularly, and was eating something. Although we can't be sure, the male may have provided the female with food, a sure sign of courtship behaviour. So we can hope for them to nest here this year.
On Thursday we were installing an essential electric fence. The weather was glorious and we were in t-shirts. I even had to put sun cream on. We were surrounded by bird song, the loudest being the chiffchaffs, which have returned here from their wintering grounds to breed. We could also hear cranes and curlew calling from somewhere out on the moor and herons flew across frequently from their nests in Swell Wood to feed out on the moor.
Hopefully you can still find wildlife to watch in your garden, or while out exercising. I've enjoyed seeing a pair of great spotted woodpecker coming to the feeder in the garden here. The first (quite bad) photo, is of the female, without the red spot on the back of the head. The second is of the male, although you can't really see the red in this photo.
Have a good week. Enjoy whatever nature you can. There are a lot of live cameras and other wildlife experiences to be found out there online and I'll be back next week with another update.
Kathryn
P.S. All photos by me, unless stated otherwise.
West Sedgemoor Residential Volunteering team