Elmley Update – April/May 2014

Now is the time..

• We are an exposed site. Please be prepared withsuitable footwear and clothing.
• The spring migrants are arriving albeit slowly
•  Birds pairing up, displaying and nesting. It has the promise of a good season but time will tell. You should be able to spot some chicks
• With the warmer weather insect activity is increasing. Butterflies include Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral. A good variety of Bumblebee and the first dragonfly spotted 19###sup/sup### April
• Marsh frogs are now very vocal and grass snakes and common lizard can often be seen
• Our Hares are performing well. Unfortunately this can attract the attention of certain ‘undesirables’. If you see any suspicious behaviour please report it immediately to us

Other reserve news…

• We have erected 6 new ‘perching posts’ alongside the track between Kingshill Farm and Spitend. We hope you find them useful.
• Due to storm damage the owl box in the Oak trees has been replaced – thanks to Mike Norman for the box. No pressure Mike but the old one lasted 20 years… Thanks also for the Little Owl box which is in the adjacent Oak and occupied
• On the farming calendar: The cows with their young calves ‘at foot’ are returning in small numbers. We carefully control the stocking density (numbers animals/hectare) according to the conditions of the pasture and above all to the nesting sensitivity of particular areas. This and water management is a fine balance to ensure optimum conditions to achieve our conservation objectives.
• The new Elmley NNR website is now open. We hope you like it and invite your comments and any ideas you may have on how it might be improved.
• If you require any information regarding the management/history of the reserve etc please feel free to contact us.
• 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

With thee the swallow dares to come, And cool his sultry wing; And, urged to seek his yearly home, Thy suns the martin bring. O! lovely Month! Be leisure mine, Thy yearly mate to be; Though May-day scenes may brighter shine, Their birth belongs to thee