Afternoon everyone!
I hope that you are well.
What have you all been upto today? It's been quite quiet so far today, I think everyone is doing some Christmas shopping (if you are stuck for presents for those hard to buy for people - have you considered RSPB membership, but remember to come to Rye Meads to get it, or have you seen the RSPB's good natured gifts? You can create a habitat for bumblebees, sponsor a puffin, plant 40 rainforest trees or more! Click here to see the range).
Had great views of bullfinch today. The best place to see bullfinch is looking over the 5 bar gate just past the Draper hide. The last few times I've been out I've seen them from there.
Stop here and look for birds flitting between hedgerows.
Autumn and winter is a busy time for the volunteering team. They've been out and about cutting path edges and cutting the reedbeds. We have a plan for how we manage the reserve, especially the reedbeds. We cut the reedbeds on a rotation - we cut a different section each year so that there is a wide range of reed growth, which will be good for a variety of species. Did you know we have all the indicator moth species that show that the reebed is in good condition? Well we do.
The volunteers have cut the reeds at the Draper hide, so if you go in there it looks something like this!The volunteers cut a different section each year, and then they rake it off instead of leaving it. The reeds are removed so that the leaf litter doesn't dry the reedbed out. The cut stubble is a great habitat for snipe, so do keep a look out! The bittern and water rail have been seen here too!
See you soon!