Wetland Bird Survey Report for March 2024

After our four severe flood events in October, December, January and February, I had hoped that by now we would be entering a vaguely drier period... sadly this isn't the case and our water levels are slowly creeping up about 10cm a day, meaning we now have a metre more water than we'd like to have at this time of year. Long sections of the Visitor Trail are still underwater and we are still closed to the public. I'd like to think that we'll have dried out, tidied up and repaired the flood damage by mid-April, however that is still a hope rather than a firm commitment! The perimeter public footpath can however be walked and this gives brilliant views across every part of the site.

Thankfully the water levels didn't interfere too much with the March WeBS count and although the wildly fluctuating levels in general haven't been optimal for wintering wildfowl, a good range of species were picked up, with the remnants of the wintering ducks mingling with some signs of spring, including whooper swans moving through and the first black-tailed godwit of the year. 

Early March is the time when whoopers move through Langford airspace, with some of the herds dropping down to sample the watery delights we have on offer. On 8th March, one elite swan counter recorded 519 coming over or landing at Langford, a new record high count for the reserve.

The flooding, whilst frustrating, has meant that cattle egrets have become a more regular sight, both on and around the reserve. Photo below (taken by Stuart Carlton) of 5 of the cattle egret that have been feeding on the non-flooded parts of the reserve, but more regularly in the field at the river end of Westfield Lane, which can be seen from the perimeter public footpath.