Elmley News – August 2014
Posted 31st July 2014
Now is the time…
- August is upon us and with it the drying of the marsh, albeit this year the water levels have remained as high as anyone can remember.
- It has been a fantastic breeding season for our waders. Our independent surveys figures are now complete with over 500 fledged lapwing at Elmley and the Swale NNRs and abundant Redshank.
- With the warmer weather insect activity is increasing, although not in as greater numbers as last year, possibly owing to the mild and very wet winter. Butterflies include Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral. A good variety of Bumblebee are common, especially near sea-walls. Damselflies and dragonflies are now abundant.
- Marsh frogs are now very vocal and grass snakes and common lizard can often be seen.
- Our Hares have done very well too with leverets and juveniles now common, even in the yard. Unfortunately this can attract the attention of certain ‘undesirables’. If you see any suspicious behaviour please report it immediately to us
- There are barn owls in the oaks trees. Stock doves have now ousted the barn owls from the main box and owlets have fledged. Barn owls may still be seen over the unmown patches across the reserve.
Other Reserve News…
- From August you will be able to spend the night at Elmley. There will be three beautiful ‘Shepherds Huts’ available to spend the night at Elmley, and get an early morning birdwatching in or just watch the sunrise from bed! Details will be on the website or contact us for more information.
- Wildlife and landscape photographer Robert Canis is running some additional landscape and wildlife photography workshops – book early as the last lot sold out in a day!
- On the farming calendar: A busy few weeks as the hay is made on the top fields and the marsh is ‘topped’ to remove the long lignified (dead) grass to allow new, nutritious grass to grow for both livestock and over-wintering birds. Water levels on the flood at Spitend are also being monitored and will be topped up by pumping if they are too low – it’s a fine balance!
- Cover crop is now blooming. Last year’s sunflowers have given way to the lovely blue chicory.
- To avoid inadvertent disturbance to roosting and feeding birds at Spitend please access the hides using the nature trails rather than going through the wooden gate and keep below the sea wall. Please note that there is no access to the reserve beyond Counterwall hide. Thank you.
