September was a very busy month for us here at Langford, so apologies for the rather quiet state of the blog over the last few weeks! We've had a great time though, with so much going on.
It kicked off with attendance at the two-yearly RSPB Reserves Conference. This time held locally in Nottingham. It was great to welcome colleagues from all over the RSPB to the Midlands for three days of great talks and field trips – one of which was to our very own Langford. A group of 30 people from across the UK joined Joe, Anna and I for a guided walk around site on a glorious afternoon – in fact, we couldn't have asked for better weather. With the reserve looking great in the September sunshine, we discussed habitat creation and management, our amazing partnership with Tarmac, visitor facilities and of course were treated to some fabulous wildlife along the way….the highlight being bearded tit, heard from the floating bridge!
On the 23rd September, we hosted a work party for Chris Kennedy and his volunteers from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. We spent the day reed planting (another glorious sunny scorcher!), out on the old silt lagoon 7. This area is still in need of a boost in places as the reed establishes itself. The group planted well over 1500 seedlings and dug two small 'amphibian ponds' – small pools on top of the higher islands that will stay seasonally wet when the water levels drop, benefiting a whole host of wildlife as well as frogs and toads. A massive thanks to Chris and his volunteers for a really successful and enjoyable day – we hope to get back over to Besthorpe for a work party day with you over the winter!
And another work party on the 29th September, this time for Anglian Water, saw another 3000 reeds planted on silt lagoon 7, taking this years total to over 10,000 seedlings planted on site over Phase 2 and the silt lagoon! Another amazing effort by everyone involved and huge thanks to Anglian Water for giving their time to help us.
And I even managed a weeks break down on Alderney – a beautiful island, lovely people, great birds (including a Blyth's reed warbler) and a real treat on the last evening….a Clifden nonpareil moth, a scarce migrant to the Channel Islands and UK and a real stunner!
Bearded tit - although not at Langford in September! Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)