Its that time of year when we have contractors out on to the marsh helping with our habitat management.
Every year, we de-silt and reprofile the edges of some of the scrapes and ditches on Aveley Marsh. This helps keep them open and in good condition for wintering duck and waders, and also our breeding lapwing and redshank. The sides are kept very irregular, creating lots of ‘edge’, and they are given a very gentle slope. This ensures lots of accessible feeding areas. In some areas, we ask Ian the driver to get quite imaginative, and create a patchwork effect of wet and dry areas.
Each year we move to a different area, so the work is done on rotation.
Skylark, meadow pipit and pied wagtails have really enjoyed foraging where the digger has been working, no doubt finding plenty to eat on the freshly turned earth.
Its turned into a rather wet afternoon here at the moment, but earlier, a walk along the riverwall, and the autumn colours around the marsh were quite striking.