RSPB have just completed a series of enhancements to a site in Unst, which is now under their management. After entering into a management agreement with the landowner, the reserves team are now managing an area of land in Haroldswick, with the aim of enhancing the site for breeding waders.
The wet grassland area and coastal pool was already home to a small number of breeding waders but the landowner was keen to do more, so entered into discussions with our Site Manager and Conservation Advisor, with RSPB now formally taking on the responsibility for the land management of the site. Plans were discussed, and grazing started in winter 23/24, with the preferred method of cattle. Earlier this year a drone was flown across the site, taking photographs and topography levels which were used to work out where the water flows across the site, as well identifying low lying areas that would best suited for wet features. With this information, our ecologist overlayed this information and mapped out the preferred locations for pools and scrapes, which our reserves team were able to mark out on the ground ready for the digger operator.
Levels and surface flow model derived from levels used to inform pool / scrape locations
Early September saw a digger on site for 7 days, adding scrapes, opening pools and modifying an existing ditch, by making the gradient of its edges more wader and livestock friendly. A total of 9 Scrapes and 5 pools were installed.
The Haroldswick site spans across two fields, totaling around 18ha. One of these fields (the Northern one) had a steep sided narrow ditch that ran across it. This was put in in the past to help with drainage, however its structure was making it a danger to livestock, birds and even staff who may have fallen in it once or twice. The digger opened up the ditch, making it wider and adding a gentler gradient to the sides, making it easier for livestock to cross and possible for wader chicks to get out of, should they fall in, as well as nice muddy edges.
Hidden ditches before and after
The scrapes are, as the name suggests, a scrape in the ground. Just deep enough to remove the vegetation and with gently sloped/profiled edges these provide ideal feeding areas for waders. Using the data on the wettest areas some of these scrapes have been positioned so that they hold some water, and all are likely to fill up after heavy rain. This helps with keeping them free of vegetation and the ground soft enough for wader beaks to get in to, they will fluctuate through the seasons, making them ideal for waders and the prey they seek.
Scrape with different edges and bays
Looking at the site and the vegetation, there were some old pools that have become choked by growth. These have been cleared with the digger. A few other new pools have also been created. These are dug deeper than the scrapes, with some of the sides left steeper. Where possible we’ve also created variance along the edges – this creates a longer verge which means more emergent vegetation and more feeding opportunity. It’s hoped that Red-necked Phalaropes will use these pools.
Before on the left and after with new pool on the right.
Coastal pool with no muddy edges on the left, after with muddy edges on the right.
Now the digger work is complete, grazing will continue over the winter and we will carry out wader surveys next summer to see the impacts of the work.
We would like to say a huge thank you to the landowners, the private donors and our contactors for making this work possible.
This work was funded by a philanthropic donation. If you would like to support the work of RSPB Shetland you can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/rspb-shetland
By Beth Aucott and Kevin Kelly