January Wetland Bird Survey

After the December WeBS count was cancelled, when the team got lost in the thick mist lying over the Trent Valley, it was a relief that the January count was accompanied by beautiful weather. Most of the team had been found again by this point and with a spring in their step they set forth to record an impressive array of species.

(P1, P2 and P3 refer to Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 map of reserve available here https://twitter.com/RSPBLangford/status/1485705096365289481/photo/1).

Great white egret, great northern diver, smew and ring-necked duck all recorded on the same count!!! Amazing! Marsh harriers and bearded tits are being seen regularly at the moment too, the latter primarily from the Seasonal Trail. We're hoping for a flood-free winter, which will in theory greatly increase the chances of beardies breeding at Langford again this year, with the high spring water levels of the past two years having put them off.

The volunteer teams have been hard at work recently cutting reed and removing willow from the reedbed. Both activities are required for keeping the reedbed healthy, varied and optimal for our priority species. With these activities now drawing to a close we'll be raising the water levels so they reach optimum winter depth by the end of January in preparation for bitterns starting to prospect for nest sites... Based on past experience though, we will be raising levels with an element of caution, maintaining some capacity in case of any unforeseen water inundation events!

Photos below, white nun (drake smew) taken by WeBS Team Overlord Stuart Carlton and male bearded tit taken by Jaime Scott