Since the last update on the Freshwater Habitats Project, the transformation of the Freshmarsh is well underway.
The pump that was installed at the beginning of August has been working most weekdays to keep the water off the Freshmarsh to allow the contractors to move and shape the material. This has created fantastic feeding opportunities for the wading birds, the ringed plovers are particularly enjoying this with over 50 of them feeding on the soft mud. For more sightings click here
The new perimeter ditch that runs at the bottom of the Parrinder bank was completed:
View from the Parrinder hide (16 August 2021)
Whilst this ditch was being finished off, the second amphibious excavator was working on creating the central bund that runs north to south from the Parrinder hide
New central bund, Phill Gwilliam
As much of this material is still quite soft and there is still water seeping onto the Freshmarsh from the reedbed, this bund won't be completed until the water control structures have been installed and the material has had more time to dry out.
With the basic outline of the central bund created, the focus for the past week has been the creation of the second bund that runs east-west from the West Bank Path to the new central bund to create two new compartments. These two compartments will be managed in rotation to benefit passage waders who favour areas of fresh mud and shallow water to feed and roost on.
Before the new bund is created.
Bund being created (16 August 2021)
Bund almost created (19 August 2021)
A birds eye view (Jeff Kew, 20 August 2021)
Coming up this week, work will begin on creating new islands within the large eastern compartment to benefit the breeding birds such as avocets and common terns and we might start the preparation work for the restoration of the reedbed that will follow on from the freshmarsh works.
If you have any queries please do get in touch with us at: titchwell@rspb.org.uk
Best wishes
Lizzie Bruce
NW Norfolk Reserves Warden
The project LIFE on the edge: improving the condition and long-term resilience of key coastal SPAs in S, E and N England (LIFE19 NAT/UK/000964) is supported by the LIFE Programme of the European Union in partnership with the RSPB and the National Trust