We have set a new bird record for Langford, with the most ever greylag geese being recorded, 1004 of the noisy honkers were on site during the October Wetland Bird Survey, they were accompanied by 14 Egyptian geese (also a new high count for the site) and excitingly by 3 pink-footed geese, an uncommon, on-the-deck visitor to the reserve. The garganey and great white egret also stand out as exciting Langford WeBS birds.
P1
P2
P3
Total
Gadwall
2
95
99
Coot
3
96
101
Great crested grebe
4
9
Grey heron
8
Greylag goose
26
115
863
1004
Canada goose
Mallard
22
16
20
58
Moorhen
Snipe
1
Tufted duck
19
87
108
Water rail
Green sandpiper
Little grebe
Mute swan
42
Teal
14
93
107
Cormorant
6
7
Little egret
Shoveler
25
Wigeon
Pochard
Common gull
Black headed gull
49
50
Lesser black backed gull
Ringed plover
Garganey
Egyptian goose
Lapwing
12
Pink footed geese
Dunlin
Great White egret
Over the past week other birds of note have included bittern, marsh harrier, red kite, rock pipit, peregrine, merlin, pintail, hobby, grey plover, whooper swans and golden plover.
The eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted that there are a number of areas of reed on site protected by fencing, this is to protect it from goose grazing, with greylags in particular loving the tasty juiciness of fresh reed shoots. Seeing as half the world's greylag population is currently on site, this protection is more important than ever. In theory as the reed matures it becomes more resistant to grazing pressure, however we have also ended up protecting some of the more mature areas too, particular on Phase 2 where grazing has been hardest. In general reed is continuing to spread out at Langford, however it is a slower process than at other sites as a result of the grazing and low soil nutrient levels. We embrace this slow process and want to always ensure we have bare, un-reeded areas on site which form part of the overall habitat mosaic, but we also want to help the reed along a bit. The protective fencing has this year been assisted by us keeping water levels low, stressing the reed and encouraging it to send out long runners. We have also spread 10 hay bales out on Phase 3 to slowly help build up organic matter and thereby improve soil condition, as well as setting up three exclosure plots containing mustard and radish. Again the idea of planting this green cover crop is to increase organic matter and improve soil quality, the crop will be killed by the winter floods, rot down, releasing nutrients and providing food for insects at the same time... which in turn provide excellent wading bird food.
Caged reed on Phase 1 bravely sending out runners into the grazing zone!!
Hay spread on Phase 3, alongside caged reed (left) and the exclosure areas protecting the radish & mustard crop