November News

Now is the time…

• Wet, wet, wet! Well, October turned out to be sodden but incredibly mild and November promises plenty more so the bone dry marsh has begun to fill up already.
• Passage birds have come and are going with Whimbrel and several others still showing in fair numbers.
• Long-eared owl. Many of you will have seen the pair roosting in the orchard. As with previous years they move about and are now infrequently showing.
• Clouded yellow butterflies have been spotted on 1^st November! The last for sure but lovely all the same.
• Wildfowl numbers have begun to swell and the wildfowling season has push ducks in from the surrounding areas. Wader numbers have yet to build although there are some rarities about for the sharped eyed. We expect a cold spell this month to accelerator the build-up of both wildfowl and waders beyond the current growing numbers of Golden Plover and Lapwing.
• Hawks & owls have had a very successful summer largely thanks to abundant prey. Young peregrines and kestrel are a common sight on the entry road and by the hides.

Other Reserve News…

• Our shepherd’s huts are proving popular, (particularly Little Owl with the view of the barn owls from bed!). Details will be on the website or contact us for more information.
• On the farming calendar: November will see the cows alone on the marsh with moved calves indoors following a longer weaning period using a new technique to make the process of separating cow from calf as stress less as possible. Please do give way should you see cattle being transported or a herd being moved. At Spitend you may also see the rams ‘tupping’ as they have been introduced to the ewes again and will stay until mid-December.
• Land management: The water controls across Spitend are now in good order so attention has turned to repair and maintenance. The blue-green algae effecting the floods in front of the hides will be diluted and washed out by the autumn rain this month.
• Cover crops. It looks like there will be a plentiful supply of berries this winter. Our next supplementary cover crop will be sown next spring to provide sunflowers again next summer.
• 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.
• To volunteer. Several of our Friends have given their time to support our work. If you would like to join in let us know – 07786 333331.