We are delighted to announce that we've just started a five-year project to improve our 76 hectares wet grassland grazing marsh at Freiston Shore
At present we rely on intercepting and storing excess winter rainfall to keep our wetlands wet into June. We need to do this in order to provide the right conditions for nesting lapwings and redshanks ('bums on eggs'). These birds rely on flooded ditches and pools to provide food for their chicks. Unfortunately the past few springs have been so dry that we've been struggling to provide enough water. So with help from our Ecologists and Atkins consultants staff on voluntary green leave we have come up with a project to take surplus water from our neighbours, HM Prison - North Sea Camp. Of course, it's never as simple as it seems and we need to ensure that any raising of water levels at North Sea Camp doesn't impact on their extensive vegetable production, so a thorough hydrological investigation is required to determine how much water we can take and when.
Thankfully we have been successful with a funding bid to WREN's Biodiversity Action Fund and have been able to appoint specialists to conduct the required research for us. The investigations will take about a year, at which point we hope to be able to install a wind pump to bring the valuable additional water onto our wetland. This should enable us to keep the wetlands wetter for longer and increase the number of successful nesting lapwings and redshanks, but a bit more rain would also help!
We are very grateful to WREN for supporting this important work. WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants, generated by a tax on landfill, to community, environmental and heritage projects within 10 miles of landfill sites owned by Waste Recycling Group Limited. More information about the fund can be found on the WREN Biodiversity Action Fund webpage
John
This week we have had the biggest high tides of the autumn. These bring birds into the inland water bodies of our reserves off of the saltmarsh. Giving you a real wader spectacular, as hundreds of waders – e.g. knot, oystercatchers, redshank, black-tailed godwit, dunlin – fly up off the saltmarsh in great waves as the tide approaches. Its is worth watching, then fascinating to watch them all feeding and the busyness of the flocks. Then as the tide recedes the birds leave the reserve in similar waves. I was lucky enough to see this departure while painting on the reserve this morning.
Waders on Freiston Shore Lagoon (Photo: Neil Smith)
It was a busy morning at Freiston today as lots of birders had flocked to see one bird that has been around the reserve this week. I admit, I joined the twitch last night, when John (Site manager), Simon (Visitor and Publicity Officer) and I raced over to Fresiton Shore at the end of the day, on hearing it was showing well. Neither Simon or I had ever seen the species before so their was a bit of excitement in the air, on arriving we headed to the end of the hide track, and looking over from the final viewing point in the hedgerow. And what a great view, and in the bright autumn sunshine! But of what you maybe wondering – a long billed dowitcher! It is an American wader, and a rare visitor to this country. It was still there at lunchtime today, in a similar place.
Well, that was my excitement of the week..unless anything else turns up during tomorrow's high tide walk!
Tides remain high this weekend, so why not make a visitor to see the wader spectacular yourself, who knows you might be treated to a fantastic view of our American visitor too:
Sat 1st Oct - 8.0m at 09:11 and 7.5m at 21:35
Sun 2nd Oct - 7.4m at 09:57 and 7.0m at 22:16
We the end of summer, comes the rush to get all the habitat management tasks done before we reach winter water levels. At Freiston, this includes vegetation clearance on the islands on the lagoon, so I was joined by a group of volunteers and Graham (the warden) at the end of August to make a start. We began by beginning the hand weeding of the two shingle islands, favoured by the terns and black-headed gulls in the breeding season. This is the only way to create the bare shingle they prefer year on year. It is a satisfying task because as one of the volunteers pointed out to me, you can look behind you and see the difference you have made. But it is hard work, so after lunch we concentrated on strimming and raking the vegetation off the grassy, and sandy islands. We got all these done, and it was pleasing to feel like we had made a difference which will benefit the breeding seabirds and waders next summer.
To get the birds in both in the breeding season and in flocks during the hide tides as is currently happening, there needs to be a supply of food! Today, I spent doing the nektonic and benthic sampling of the lagoon with a work experience student. Although, we found very little in the nektonic sampling, we were soon impressed by the size and quantity of ragworms to be found in the mud, along with a few bloodworms! Although, by the end of the day we were a bit muddy!!
The routine maintenance continues, and after several days by myself, I convinced Graham to come and spend some time at Freiston on Tuesday. It is amazing the difference two pairs of hands make! We mowed, strimmed, mended fences, litter-picked, checked the tidal flap, etc. All good fun! I also put up some new posters in the hide about the star species we are expecting on the reserve this autumn/winter, so please take a look when you are next at the reserve. The highlights of the day were to be seen as we turned a corner on the seawall near the sluices to take the slope down. First we saw a kingfisher flying along the back edge of the lagoon before landing on the wire of the tidal flap, then a wheatear distracted our attention from it!
Why not come and visit and tell us what your highlights are?
Jenny (Assistant warden)
Recent Sightings
With the return of spring, some of the highlights have include three wheatears (20th), two yellow wagtails (11th), one whimbrel (20th), all on the wet grassland. While on the inner sea bank, a willow warbler and a goldcrest (both 11th) remind us this is an area not to be forgotten about. Plus, common terns, avocets and black-headed gulls are all back on the lagoon, so hopefully it will be another good breeding season.
Photo: Black-headed gull in flight (Neil Smith)
However, despite the warm weather not all the dark-bellied brent geese are gone yet, with a peak of 1160, plus one pale-bellied brent, recorded on the re-alignment area (3rd). A lone pink-footed goose was grazing the wet grassland (20th).
Raptor highlights have been a short-eared owl hunting over the wet grassland (20th), and a buzzard over the lagoon (3rd).
A group of four sanderlings were flying around the saltmarsh (29th). Offshore sightings included seven eiders (15th), four goldeneyes (15th), four red-breasted mergansers (15th), four fulmars (29th), twelve gannets (29th), and an Arctic skua (29th), so it is worth enjoying the wind break of the sea-watching shelter to see what birds are flying/swimming past.
Habitat Management
We have let water off the lagoon after raising levels as high as possible during the first two months of the year. High water levels during the winter, kills of the vegetation so leaving the islands in a better condition for the breeding season. Letting water off during the spring, re-exposes the island to enable black-headed gulls, avocets, and common terns to nest.
On the wet grassland, the lack of water remains a concern, with only rain water available which we do try and store in the reservoir during winter. The lack of rain during the last few months has left the site very dry.
Estate maintenance continues to fill up a lot of my time, especially with the nice weather encouraging the vegetation to grow.
Survey work has the staff up and out rather early for at this time of year but it is a brilliant part of the job, and a lovely time to be on site. Graham (Warden) was treated to a short-eared owl hunting over the wet grassland during his first survey visit this spring.
But its not all about the birds!...a few of the practical volunteers assisted with some water vole surveys. It was great to find there were definite signs of water voles in a couple of ditches on the wet grassland.
Photo: Feeding station, just one of the signs that we have water voles on site (Alex Parker)
The pollen and nectar mix in triangular field is growing well, with the purple phacelia really brightening up the site, so worth a look if you walk the wetland trail. We have also planted the wild bird seed mix again, which we hope will provide an extra food source for the passerines in the autumn months.
Please do come and explore Freiston Shore for yourself.
After raising the water levels in the lagoon over the winter months, we used the low tides during March to let water off. The water level is now down to its spring height, exposing the larger islands to allow the black-headed gulls and avocets to begin nesting. We will let a little more water off at the start of May to make the final few islands available for terns.
On the wet grassland, we have continued to pump water both into and out from the reservoir to keep the area as wet as possible, with the start of the breeding season approaching. Lapwings can be found displaying as you walk round the site.
During the last couple of weeks, Graham and I with the help of our trusty practical volunteers have been relaying the path from the car park, pass the hide to the sea bank. This has been hard work, with lots of raking, barrowing, and shovelling, but we are pleased with our efforts to improve the condition of the track and hope they will last a few years. However, you my notice if you look carefully, we missed a bit, well actually we ran out of granite but don’t worry Graham and I will be finishing this section off soon.
This week the cows arrived back on site for the summer, and can be found grazing the wet grassland, where they will help maintain the grass length across the site.
Unfortunately, there are no cows to be found in the picnic area, and the efforts of keeping up with the grass’ growth are left to me and the pedestrian mower. March brought about the start of this year’s battle – I am sure you can appreciate the word ‘battle’ from your efforts with your lawns at home!
The highlight of the month was three short-eared owls, seen during a guided walk on 13th. These birds are hard to spot at the best of times and so to see three at once was amazing, as they hunted across the managed re-alignment before perching on posts on the fence line with the neighbouring arable field. It was a memorial experience for me, and I expect also for those lucky enough to share it.
Other highlights during this ‘talon spotting’ walk were a distant buzzard, and a sparrowhawk sat on a post on the saltmarsh. Also, views of the pair of barn owl resident in the nest box, who are now sat on a nest.
The peak dark-bellied brent goose count for the month was on 30th, with 1350 recorded on the wet grassland.
The passerine sightings for the month included seven tree sparrows, nine linnets, and 21 skylarks (all on 16th.)
But the surprise of the month was a muntjac deer, which was on the lagoon (on 30th)! Thought to have got in through a since repaired weak spot in the fence at the far corner, and it found its way out again, as it was gone when Graham went round to open the gate to let it off.