Elmley Marshes

Forum post: Chicks....

Flatcoat — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:28:00 GMT

On Elmley on the 13th and the Lapwing chicks all under their parents until sun came out, counted about 8 in total, looked quite mature....it takes a little while to get your 'eye-in' but if you see one the rest seem to appear soon after...great day.

Photo: Hop, skip and a jump!

Rolf W RSPB — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:50:00 GMT

Ed Rush captures the moment a brown hare appears to leap head-long into a ditch at Elmley Marshes. Brown hares can swim, which, given the number of shallow scrapes and ditches that define the wetland landscape, could mean the fastest option for getting around.

Photo: "My... what big ears you've got." "What a big nose you've got!"

Rolf W RSPB — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:44:00 GMT

Photographer Ed Rush captured the moment these two characters came beak to nose at Elmley Marshes.

Forum post: Latest sightings and News from Elmley Conservation Trust

Rolf W RSPB — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:24:00 GMT

Avocet, Little Grebe, Reed Bunting, Common Sandpiper, Little Egret , Reed Warbler, Green Sandpiper, Grey Heron, Sedge Warbler, Turnstone, Teal, Whitethroat, Grey Plover, Pochard, Blackcap, Curlew, Mallard, Whimbrel, Shoveler, Ringed Plover, Pintail, Lapwing,Garganey, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Black-tailed Godwit, Gadwall, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Marsh Harrier, Greenshank, Hen Harrier, Snipe, Common Buzzard, Jack Snipe, Merlin, Yellow Wagtail, Hobby, Pied Wagtail, Peregrine, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Green woodpecker, Kestrel, Wheatear, Red Kite, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Mediterranean Gull, Short-eared Owl,

... and in additional to that marvellours spread, a Bonaparte’s Gull put in a good appearance, seen clearly from the hides if you knew what you were looking for compared with the numerous black-headed gulls; it just goes to show it is always worth checking through the common birds.

Now is the time ………

The nesting season is in full swing after a delayed start. Sitting Lapwings can be seen across the Estate. To avoid disturbing these and all the other wildlife please remain in your vehicle whilst on the approach road to and from the car park. Also please avoid taking the ‘short-cut’ between the hides. We expect the first Lapwing chicks to be hatching within the next 10 days. It has the promise of a good season!

Hares are still very active showing good boxing displays. Leverets of all sizes can be seen around.

The livestock is returning to the Estate in controlled numbers - Cows + calves plus some sheep. They all form part of the main workforce of the Estate.

Water voles are present in most of the ditches and are more active now. The ditch to Wellmarsh hide and in front of Southfleet hide are good areas in which to see them

The Barn Owls are showing well in the Oaks below the farmhouse. Please observe them from the car park wall and do not be tempted to have a ‘closer look’.

From the site manager Steve Gordon "Thank you"

Other Estate news …………

You will have noticed the new gates and cattle grid along the entrance track. This forms part of 8km of fence we erected this winter in an effort to reduce fox predation of our ground nesting birds.

We have ploughed 2 hectares of the fields close to the farm. We will sow this with a Wild Bird Seed conservation crop consisting of Kale, Quinoa, Triticale and Millet. 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.

Work will take place very shortly to install waterless urinals in the Men’s toilets which will hopefully enhance your ‘visit’.

Forum post: Re: Elmley Marshes, North Kent.

Shane — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:21:00 GMT

Thanks M, I'm so pleased things have not changed at Elmley since the RSPB stopped managing it.

Blog post: Wagtails and Water voles!

Lyndsey — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:35:00 GMT

There is a lot of activity at Elmley Marshes at the moment.
The drive down to the car park is fantastic with close views of displaying
Lapwing and Redshanks wandering closely along the track. I can confidently say
you are very likely to see at least one stunning Yellow Wagtail and if you are
sharp eyed you may also see some Brown Hares. Along with Marsh Harriers, you
can get all this even before you have parked your car!

At the carpark and around the farm Swallows are building
their nest in the toilet block as they do every year and making a mess, however
we don’t mind – they are great to watch!

The Reserve is also looking great and supporting a good
number of nesting Lapwing and Redshank so please keep to the signposted paths to
avoid any disturbance to them. Marsh frogs can be heard in the ditches running around/
through the reserve. Whilst you are listening for the frogs keep your eyes open
for water voles sitting on the very edges of the ditches or swimming across.
Water Voles are very quick to disappear when disturbed so you will often only
hear a small splash as evidence of one jumping back into the water.

Photo: Female reed bunting

Yorky — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:53:00 GMT

The female was paired with a male and hopefully they will breed this year.

Photo: Yellow wagtail

Yorky — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:49:00 GMT

This yellow wagtail was one of several which were near to or on the road leading to the estate.

Photo: Redshank

Yorky — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:17:00 GMT

Forum post: Re: Tagged marsh harrier

Yorky — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:08:00 GMT

Thanks for the information. I didn't know how much work has been done tagging these birds.

Photo: Tagged marsh harrier

Yorky — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:04:00 GMT

The tagged marsh harrier 03?

Photo: A bonus stoat

Yorky — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 20:36:00 GMT

Whilst out looking for hares this stoat suddenly appeared from long grass. It was only in view for a couple of seconds before disappearing down a hole. I have seen quite a few stoats at Elmley but usually am not quick enough to get a picture. Fortunately this time I was able to get a few shots.

Photo: Hare in the grass

Yorky — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:51:00 GMT

The weather was poor, cloudy with a strong cold wind. I saw the hares ears twitching in the grass. Took some photos and left the area without disturbing the hare. Superb animal to photograph and Elmley is the best place to see them.

Photo: Kestrel in action

Yorky — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:37:00 GMT

The kestrel settled on the wire mesh briefly. There was a strong wind blowing and when the kestrel took off it had to cope with the strong headwind. The photo shows the flight and tail feathers and emphasises the wingspan of the bird.

Forum post: Re: Elmley Marsh Hares

Yorky — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:26:00 GMT

There are plenty of hares still but they seem to have dispersed away from the area close to the entry road. Also with the weather being cold and windy they tend to stay in the long grass where it is warmer. I posted some pictures I took a couple of days ago on Flickr - Hares of the world group.

Photo: Look out below!

Rolf W RSPB — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:09:00 GMT

As if RSPB Elmley Marshes wasn't looking spectacular enough from the ground, with thousands of waders and wildfowl, from above, their reason for being there was blatantly clear. With all the recent precipitation, notably sideways snow earlier in the week, the water features designed and sculpted into the terrain by our team of staff and hard-grafting volunteers showed-up admirably from 1,400ft. The reserve is in tip-top condition, and from my goose's eye-view I was half inclined to splashdown on one of the floods and start grazing myself! The lapwing were already displaying when I crossed the ground last week, everything is set for a bumper year, the redshank are looking towards the tussocks for a cosy nest, I looked down onto the back of a marsh harrier scouting-out the reed fleets, and looking to the southern horizon on this first clear day in a week, I knew the yellow wagtails were well on their way already; the stage is set, take your seats please in the bird hides, and let the show begin!

Forum post: Re: Aare you open?

Skinnysox — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:04:00 GMT

Thanks Aiki, Thanks Bryan!

Didn't get there in the end but hoping to make it this weekend instead!!!

Blog post: Snow and Cranes.

Lyndsey — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:32:00 GMT

The recent snow fall may have stopped our work on the reserve but it hasn’t stopped the wildlife. On a recent count just before the snow fell over 7000 Wigeon, 5000 Teal as well as Pintails and Gadwall were all on the reservoir and in front of Southfleet Hide. Heading into Wellmarsh Hide we had Dunlin, Knot, Golden Plover, Bar tailed Godwit and Turnstone and also spotted 43 Barnacle Geese a bit further out in the field. Very high numbers of Lapwing all over the reserve along with Golden Plover, Curlew and 800+ Brent Geese.

I am keeping my eye open for the Cranes that have been seen on Southern Sheppey (on the 23^rdthey were sighted on the fields along Harty Ferry Road) but not on the reserve yet.

Blog post: Path Open!

Lyndsey — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:42:00 GMT

We were able to reopen the path leading to Counterwall Hide today. All over christmas we have had the sluice open to empty the borrow dyke and excess water out into the Swale and have finally got the level low enough to allow access.

Blog post: Happy 2013!

Lyndsey — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:32:00 GMT

A quick update on path conditions: The path leading to Counterwall hide is still flooded and so remains closed. All other paths and tracks on the reserve are extremely wet and muddy so please take care. Our main phone line is currently down so if you would like any information or want an update then please contact Lyndsey - 07714139415 or Nick - 07703717540.

Over the Christmas period staff and volunteers were on the reserve everyday to check on the livestock and make sure everything was in order. However the decision was made on boxing day that there just wasn’t enough nutritional grass to sustain our herd of Sussex cattle and so we arranged to have the grazier come in and take them off. This was easier said than done as he couldn’t get the lorry down to the corral for loading. This meant that our two lucky volunteers who were in that day assisted Nick in driving the herd all the way up the main track to Rose Cottage, the corral on ECT land which is far more accessible for the lorry. It only took an hour!!

Elmley is a wader and wildfowl wonderland at the moment with Wigeon and Teal numbers looking fantastic. 5000+ widgeon alone can be seen on the reservoir when the swale is choppy and they want some calmer waters. Around 200+ Dark Bellied Brent Geese were on the swale New Year’s Day which is always a spectacular site for the start of a new year!

In addition, there are the usual buzzards, Marsh Harriers, Peregrines, Merlins, Sparrowhawks and Kestrels. Also the irregular sightings of both Male and ring-tail hen harrier. Short Eared Owls are still stopping visitors in their track when spotted and also hunting Barn owls.

Mike our volunteer giving the cattle their christmas dinner