Elmley Update – 30th June 2014

Now is the time…

• Summer drying is now clearly visible as the whitening pasture, cracking ground and low ditch levels.
• It has been a fantastic breeding season for our waders. Our independent surveys figures look very promising with over 430 fledged lapwing and abundant Redshank. Full details to follow in July. 
• With the warmer weather insect activity is increasing. Butterflies include Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral. A good variety of Bumblebee are common, especially near sea-walls.  Damselflies and dragonflies are now abundant – see our website for a list.
• 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.  The barn owl box is occupied with an adult pair with their three owlets in the little owl box!  We expect the owlets to fledge over the next week or two.

Other Reserve News…

• From August you will be able to spend the night at Elmley.  There will be three beautiful ‘Shepherds Huts’ available to rent 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 has put together a very special slideshow, ‘Elmley through the seasons’ made up of stunning photographs that Robert has taken over the last twenty years visiting Elmley.  It is well-worth a watchhttp://www.robertcanis.com/text-elmley-av.php
• Walk Swale Medway – We have just had Swale resident Hope Fitzgerald to stay at Elmley.  She was visiting as part of her 3 week continuous walk around Swale and Medway, exploring the area, meeting people and sharing her experiences on social media with the aim of inspiring her fellow Swale and Medway residents to explore the special         landscape on their doorsteps. Having lived over the water from Elmley for 14 years and never visited, she was blown away.  Read more about her walks and join in here: http://walkswalemedway.co.uk/
• On the farming calendar:  Bulls will remain here for another 4-6 weeks. Attention turns to ‘topping’ or mowing the marsh 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.
• Please do not remove the fly screens from the toilets. They do not restrict  the nesting swallows but they do make our lives easier in keeping the toilet block clean for you