Photo of juvenile Aquatic Warbler at Marazion Marsh 12th August 2012. Photo courtesy Paul Freestone.
Right on cue, the weekend 11th & 12th August produced our first Aquatic Warbler (trapped and ringed Sunday morning) and Spotted Crake of the autumn. Last year the volunteer ringers caught two Aquatics but no Spotted Crakes were discovered so lets hope these birds are the first of a flurry. The Crake was found in one of the mist nets on Tuesday morning by Margaret Rawlins, a ringer from Cheshire who also helped out last year for a week. Unfortunately the weather has now taken a turn for the worst so Margaret's efforts have been suspended at the moment until calmer and dryer conditions return.
We lower the water levels at the front of the marsh at this time of year to "mimic natural drawdown" as we say in the trade i.e. to allow air into the system to help with reed litter and other vegetative decomposition. By allowing water levels to drop in late summer this aeration process helps address the build up of compost-like material which collects during the year. It also helps the ringers wade out to access nets set deep within the reedbed which they would otherwise normally only be able to reach by boat! it was in one of these that the Aquatic Warbler was found. The muddy areas are also attracting other birds too: Water Rail, Moorhen, Green and Common Sandpipers, Redshank, Ruff, Greenshank and Dunlin. Today a lone Wood Sandpiper turned up, our first of the year.
If you are planning a visit and are fortunate enough to see one of these, please check the legs and let us know if it is ringed or not - you may have found another!
Good birding.
Site Manager, Cornwall reserves