Hello,
Welcome back to another Behind the Scenes update from the reserve wardens.
Bird Surveys
We have completed our monthly Wetland Bird Count (WeBS) which allowed us to have a pleasant walk around the reserve, despite the low bird numbers.
The survey season is picking up pace as April ended and May arrived. The bittern is continuing to boom on a regular basis, and I was even treated to a brief glimpse of it as it flew low along one of the ditches. We have made a start on the bearded tit surveys though it has been freezing cold, so their activity is quite limited.
Over at Snettisham Jim has made a start on breeding redshank surveys across the saltmarsh area. Both of us have started monitoring ringed plovers, avocets, and the gull colonies. The numbers are quite disappointing, which we are putting down to the constant northerly winds, sleet, frosts, and thunderstorms that we are experiencing.
Beach Nesting Birds
So how are the ringed plovers fairing? Because of the cold weather mentioned, the birds haven’t been showing much interest in breeding.
However, last week we were quite glad that there were no ringed plovers with eggs on the beaches as we experienced spring high tides which with a northerly wind are even higher than predicted. This resulted in the whole beach being underwater at high tide, if there were eggs, they would have been washed away.
As we suspected the high tides have damaged the cordons so we were out on Bank Holiday carrying out essential repairs to these cordons.
The good news is that following the high tides, a number of birds have started laying at Snettisham, so far, they have decided to nest outside the cordons. This has meant us dashing out and installing additional cordons before they are trampled or disturbed.
Freshwater Habitats
Over the past two weeks we have been reviewing tender submissions from interested contractors to complete the earthworks this summer. With a contractor selected I have been working with colleagues to draw up a contract and planning a pre-start meeting. I have also been sourcing quotes and showing different contractors around Titchwell who are interested in installing the new predator fence that we have planned for the Freshmarsh, later this year.
Visitor Experience
Part of our role is to also support the visitor experience and over the past week we have been working with them to develop some new interpretation panels to help visitors identify the wildlife they might spot. We also had a Visitor Experience Group meeting to review and plan events, much of which is COVID dependant.
Everything else...
We have made a start with the vegetation strimming around the picnic tables and along the path edges to ensure they are accessible for every visitor that comes to enjoy Titchwell.
Due to the ongoing flooding of a path at the eastern end of the East Trail we closed a section off on Friday to reduce the trampling of vegetation. However, we have reopened the grass path that takes you to the end of the East Trail so you can still view the eastern section of the reedbed.
As we plan to restart pond dipping in time for half term we have been in the pond making adjustments to make it an even better experience for families to enjoy.
We have a network of camera traps out on the reserve to monitor some of the mammals that we don’t often see. However, they are also great at capturing the birdlife and this week we were treated to a sparrowhawk dashing through.
With heavy rain showers and windy conditions the sluice at patsy’s needed some vegetation clearing from it, as it become blocked with cut reed, which caused the water to rapidly rise. As the water levels dropped a little egret was fishing along the waters edge.
New member of the team
Some of you may have spotted that we were advertising for an Assistant Warden to join the team. Since the last blog we have been reviewing applications and completing interviews and after much deliberation we have offered the role Ryan Doggart. Many of you will know Ryan as he spent the past winters with us a residential volunteer. We are very excited to have him join the team to assist us in managing the four reserves that we cover.
The visitor operations team are also looking for someone to join the team as Centre Assistant. This unique role is a varied and exciting one and you will be required to work in all areas across the Visitor Centre at Titchwell Marsh. Mainly, assisting us with activities and events, supporting the team in the shop, serving in the café or pointing out wildlife as it dashes by! If you are interested, you can apply here https://bit.ly/333cdLt
That is it for this instalment of what goes on behind the scenes to ensure our reserves are managed for both the wildlife and our visitors.