October update

Now is the time …October

Water voles are present in most of the ditches – we have a strong population here at Elmley. The ditch to Wellmarsh hide and in front of Southfleet hide are good areas in which to see them.

Insects – Dragon/Damselfly numbers still good particularly around the Kingshill ponds. Still good Moth numbers/species. Excellent Bumble bee numbers this year.

Lizards and grass snakes can be seen sunning themselves – even now. Marsh frogs still croaking.

Birds – Starling numbers are increasing all the time and some wonderful sights across the marsh skies when these flocks are being pursued by various birds of prey.

Some of the Grey and Golden Plover are still showing their summer plumage

Autumn is here Numbers are picking up……things moving through………

Other reserve news …October

• Water – we have limited reserves and for this reason are unable to maintain the flood in front of the Southfleet hide and in some of the other ditches. Drying out of the North Kent Marshes is a seasonal feature. We await the rains.
• A lot of activity across the reserve re: track repairs/removal of redundant fencing/habitat enhancement etc. Too much to restrict just to Tuesdays when we are closed. We apologise for any disruption caused to your day but please be patient – it will be worth it!
• Some of the works in progress – a viewing area along the entrance track with improved scrapes (please remain inside your vehicles)/a viewing mound here at Kingshill /enlarging of the pond below the farmhouse. Two new hides are also planned along the Swale – the base mounds for which we prepared last year. We shortly hope to provide a screen on one of these at Sharfleet to allow viewing across The Swale – wonderful seascape/ landscape/high tide roosts etc
• The new gates and cattle grid along the entrance track form part of 8km of fence we erected this last winter in an effort to reduce fox predation to our ground nesting birds. It is the longest fence of its type in Europe and the results are good.
• The wild bird seed mix is doing well and includes Sunflower, Millet, Quinoa(the tall plant similar to Fat hen), Kale, Phacelia( the blue flower) , Buckwheat and Chicory. This will provide food and cover for many birds over the winter. It will hopefully also help with our re-establishment of the Grey Partridge. As a further aide the blue feeders you can see along the edge of the cover crop provide winter food for the partridge and other birds.
• We are in the process of re-seeding another 1.1ha. One strip of autumn sown Wild Bird Seed Mix/One strip of Pollen and Nectar Mix for Bumblebee conservation.  Further information available at www.kingscrops.co.uk
• The grass has been ‘topped’ across the reserve as part of our grassland management. It helps maintain the sward structure, encourages regrowth and prepares the reserve for the wintering birds and for next year’s breeding birds
• 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.

Thus harvest ends its busy reign & leaves the fields their peace again
 Where Autumns shadows idly muse & tinge the trees with many hues
Amid whose scenes I’m feign to dwell & sing of what I love so well
But hollow winds & tumbling floods & humming showers and moaning woods
All startle into sudden strife & wake a mighty lay to life/ Making amid their strains divine
All songs in vain so mean as mine