Greylake

UFO at Greylake!

Becky T, Assistant Warden — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:15:35 GMT

Yes, an Unidentified Floating Object has landed at Greylake. It has been given a couple of 'names' so far, Aquatic Platform and Pond Dipping Platform. It was given a test run this weekend, during our Spring Spectacular event, in very showery, cold and breezy weather conditions.

A few visitors braved the unseasonal weather to join volunteers and staff at Greylake for some pond dipping to discover what lives in the water! There were plenty of stickleback fish, fantastic looking caddis fly larvae, greater ramshorn snails, and freshwater leeches to name a few findings.

So bring your own net and have a go at pond dipping yourself!

Welcome to the Dipping Deck! (Moorings for small boats also available. Only joking!)

Bluebells at Swell Wood

Trish Harper — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:44:46 GMT

This Bank Holiday weekend visit one of Greylake's neighbouring RSPB reserves on the A378 at Swell Wood. There you can explore an enormous woodland carpet of bluebells. Come along with the family to see woodlands in their full spring glory. Join our wardens on Sunday for a walk around the Scarp Trail to enjoy the spectacle. The woodland birds are also in great voice. Well behaved dogs on leads (and their owners) welcome too.

Great for photo opportunities too. Send in your photos of our bluebell woods (low res please) or add to the gallery on our community pages, so that we can start a spring flower collection on our Community page.

Lost a Sandisk?

Trish Harper — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:53:05 GMT

A kind visitor to Greylake found a SanDisk (Extreme HD Vido 30 MB) a short while ago and they've kindly sent it to me here at West Sedgemoor. If you've lost one and think it may be yours, give me a call - 01458 252805 or email trish.harper@rspb.org.uk.

Hope you're all enjoying your visits to Greylake, for photography or just to enjoy getting out in the fresh air and sunshine .... at last! We've renewed another stretch of the path so do pop in and have a stroll.

Why the big fence all around the reserve? and Why are the willow trees cut down?

Trish Harper — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:12:00 GMT

If you're a little concerned about all the coppicing and clearing on Greylake at the moment, here's a quick update. This information is also in the hide for all our visitors. If only we could improve on the weather too!

So ...Why the big fence all around the reserve?

• We’ve had a fence around half of the reserve for the last four years at the far end of the area, which couldn’t be seen from the hide but stops foxes getting in.
• It makes for safe nesting areas for lapwing, redshank and snipe, all species in decline.
• All these birds nest on the ground in open fields.
• Breeding pairs of lapwing in 2008 – none.
• Attempts were made but all failed due to lapwing chicks and eggs being eaten.
• We have spent the last five years doing intensive monitoring of lapwing nests with miniature cameras on the nests to provide evidence of what is affecting their nests.
• And at Greylake, foxes are the number one predator of lapwings.
• Several pairs attempted to nest outside the fence last year and were at high risk of attack from foxes.
• Breeding pairs of lapwing in 2012 - 47 pairs raising 50 chicks – all thanks to this fence.
• This site is now the most important site on the Somerset Levels, and probably in the South West of England, for breeding lapwing.
• Over the last few weeks, a major project has begun to expand the fence to encompass 90% of the reserve, providing a large, safe area for ground nesting birds, including lapwings.
• Our vision is to provide a safe place for lots of breeding lapwing at Greylake without the need for a fence, and the surrounding Levels and Moors.

Why are the willow trees cut down????

• Lapwings find it safer to nest away from trees and willow withies.
• Trees provide perching and nesting places for birds that eat lapwing eggs and chicks.
• Carrion crows are the number one bird predator of lapwings at Greylake.
• This has formed our decision to coppice the willows along sections of the reedbed loop trail.
• The willows have been coppiced (cut down to the ground) but will grow back in summer providing thinner ‘screens’ of willow.
• We can then coppice the willows every 2-3 years, to stop them getting too big.
• In turn, this will be great for birds like chiffchaffs, and other small birds that feed on insects and caterpillars that are attracted to willows.
• The construction of the fence has obviously caused some areas to look a bit muddy!
• We have noticed though in our work at Greylake, that the numbers of snipe and jack snipe are much higher this winter than in a normal year.

We hope this helps you to understand and continue to enjoy visiting Greylake, discovering the wonderful wildlife.
Please feel free to fill in our visitor questionnaire in the Greylake hide.

Thanks for your patience - From all the team at West Sedgemoor, Swell Wood and Greylake reserves.

Biodiversity at Greylake

Trish Harper — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:53:00 GMT

During my morning stroll around the reed bed at Greylake this morning, I started to think about the biodiversity an environment like reeds provide and why they are so popular at reserves like Greylake.

During my induction as an RSPB volunteer, it was explained to me that the fields at Greylake used to be arable farmland when the drive from European policy makers to produce more food led to widespread use of fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and artificial fertiliser. This damaged the land and infected water systems that insects, birds and plants relied upon. Arable farming has changed dramatically since then, with many farmers now actively encouraging wildlife onto their land. However, many management plans had to be implemented to make the land suitable for wildlife once again. Thus reed beds have been used. This is because once the reeds are well established they can provide a well balanced safe waste water treatment solution as they have an astonishing capability to purify the effluent in the environment, leaving the soil free of nitrates, phosphates, toxic substances and turbidity. This is achieved both directly by the reeds themselves, which utilize the nitrogenous biological content as their nutrient source as well as directly extracting large volumes of water by transpiration. On a hot summer day a mature reed bed will transpire one centimetre of water. In addition reed beds are also good for carbon dioxide emission capture and sequestration, and add considerably to the local biodiversity due to their suitability as an important habitat for birds such as reed warblers and reed buntings. Several rare species of birds such as the bittern and bearded tit are also dependent on reed beds for their survival. It’s not just the birdlife that benefits from these remarkable tall grass habitats but many insects such as moths, beetles and snails also depend on them.

Reed bunting - Photo: Nick Stacey

So why not pop along to Greylake and come and see biodiversity in action for yourself. Sorry about the weather though. That's the one thing just beyond our control. Thankfully Greylake has a lovely hide so do come and read our information boards in the hide and find out more. And still quite a few snipe, wigeon, and teal on Greylake, good numbers of lapwing, and the kestrel is a regular visitor too.

By Bev Phillips - Volunteer Information Warden

Another busy day at the reserve!

Trish Harper — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:18:00 GMT

Approaching south Somerset from my Bristol commute this morning (Monday 4 March) and the weather wasn’t looking promising. As I arrived at Greylake grey sky enclosed around me. At that moment I didn’t think I would find much bird activity around the reserve. A quick walk around the reed bed proved me wrong, one grey heron, two buzzards and numerous mute swans. Once nestled at the hide I was immediately drawn to a snipe feeding not two metres from me, using its long, slender bill to extract invertebrates from the mud. Three more Buzzards including a spectacularly pale one, little grebes dancing and an array of wigeon convinced me it was in fact another busy day at the reserve.

Once satisfied I headed off to Swell Wood Nature Reserve to spy on those noisy herons. From the car park I could hear their mating calls, loud and eccentric squawks bellowing from their nests. I always feel so relaxed at Swell Wood, surrounded by those ancient Oaks and woodland. There is always something to see, even from the car park coal tits, blue tits, great tits, a nut hatch feeding and even a cheeky grey squirrel making the most of the peanuts in the bird feeders. Do be sure to call and see us over Easter at Swell Wood. You can meet the wardens on Good Friday to Easter Monday and also the following two weekends (10am-4pm) to find out more about the heronry.

Photo: Pete Woodgate

By Bev Phillips - Volunteer Information Warden

A warmly welcomed weekend (Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd February)

Dave L, People Engagement Volunteer — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:50:00 GMT

I think the evenings of Saturday and Sunday were the warmest I’ve felt for a long time after leaving the Greylake hide at the end of the day- Saturday especially had some incredible lighting, although its slightly stronger and colder wind seemed quite determined to get in through the open viewing windows. Over the two days the usual birds were showing from the hide- mainly teal, with some wigeon, mallard, little egret, swan, and the occasional coot. There was also the large numbers of snipe that weren’t so easy to spot but were amazingly close (some just the other side of the water hiding on the muddy bulge), and once you got your eye in they just kept appearing! The best time for seeing them was definitely later on in the day as they started feeding along the grass strip leading away from the hide, also when and where they were joined by numerous lapwing coming in for their evening feed and roost. A particularly nice addition for me was several curlew which flew over the reserve calling several times on the Sunday, landing at the more distant water body where throughout the day I could also spot a few shoveler. Unfortunately this time though no pintail decided to make an appearance.

Curlew (by Nick Stacey)

Alongside the hide I saw the brambling feeding on the ground both to the right and the left, mainly on the Saturday. In comparison the water rails only made a brief appearance on the Sunday in the willow bed to the left, otherwise just making a lot of noise!

We sadly saw relatively little raptor activity on the Saturday, and the activity we did see tended to be at a further distance from the hide. On top of the numerous buzzards perched on the various gate and fence posts (or foraging for worms on the ground) the highlight was a marsh harrier hunting in the earlier afternoon followed by a barn owl hunting (but a long distance away) later in the evening. There was also a very brief sparrowhawk appearance, but both peregrine and hen harrier stayed hidden. I was surprised as Sunday again started quite quietly, although to my delight activity had picked up later on in the afternoon, and we became split between watching both a sub adult male marsh harrier and a peregrine hunting- occasionally they had a go at each other in the process.

Male marsh harrier (by John Crispin)

Whilst I was only there for brief periods the usual birds were making themselves known in the car park including the brambling and reed bunting. However, on top of these regulars feeding from the tables I could also see numerous lapwing, fieldfare, and redwing feeding in the field looking out north from the car park.

Lastly, there was also apparently a little pinging from some bearded tits around the Reedbed Loop on the Saturday. Sadly though, I do think that out of everything it’s going to be these I’m least likely to get a glimpse of next time I head to Greylake.

Bearded tit (by John Crispin)

The songs of birds - now is the time to start learning

Dave L, People Engagement Volunteer — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:57:00 GMT

Looking out of the window as I write this blog post I can see the snowdrops in flower, and over the last few weeks I’ve also noticed more birds singing- spring is on the way! For any interested in learning birdsongs and calls (myself included) then now is the best time to try and start learning. At the moment it’s easier to pick out the fewer species that have started to sing- and, as more birds start to join in with nature’s orchestra I hope that I can slowly add their sounds too alongside those I can recognise. The other benefit of starting now is there are fewer leaves on the trees, making it easier to see and identify the bird you’re listening to.

Photo by Lynne Newton - young sedge warbler

I have an audio CD to try and help with learning bird songs and calls, which first gives me something to listen for when I’m next out, and second gives me a reference to come back to after having heard a bird initially outside. However, nothing can truly beat the field experience for matching sight and sound of each bird species first hand, and it’s this experience and knowledge which becomes most relevant too!!! But if you're still not sure do visit the RSPB Bird Guide where you can listen to songs and calls online.

Take part in the World’s biggest Wildlife Survey

Dave L, People Engagement Volunteer — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:26:20 GMT

To take part all you need to do is count the birds in your garden or a local park for one hour over the weekend of 26^th or 27^th January ......... then tell us what you see.

1) Over the hour keep a log of the highest number of each bird species you see landing on the ground at any one time

2) Register online and submit your results. It doesn’t matter how many or few birds you counted - the lack of birds can tell us just as much!

........ and, to say thank you we’ll give you a £5 discount to use in our online shop.

You could also check out the various Big Garden Birdwatch events taking place on RSPB reserves around the country.

For more information visit http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/

Now over half a million people take part each year, and with 30 years of data we can keep monitoring YOUR GARDEN BIRDS to see their population trends and patterns. It’s really important conservation work, and each form submitted will become part of something BIG!!!

Weekend sightings out in the snow (19 & 20.01.2013)

Dave L, People Engagement Volunteer — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:05:54 GMT

A snowy Greylake over the weekend with frozen ground left the ducks and waders outside the hide with fewer places to feed and less active, instead trying (like us in the hide) to keep warm. Most (birds) were huddled tightly on the other side of the large body of water N-NW further out from the hide, and were packed so densely they could have even been mistaken for a muddy bank stretching out across the water. However, on second glance the ground would occasionally move, and through binoculars you could see it was alive! A telescope was then needed to start picking up the various different species which included shoveler, pintail, mallard, and wigeon, in amongst mostly teal. On several occasions we did watch some action though as they all became spooked (less often we could see a raptor for the cause of it), once or twice rising up in some incredible swirls, and other times landing at the far end of the scrape directly in front of the hide.

(Willow snake in snow: Dave Laithwaite)

We also saw fewer ducks out along the grass strip leading NW from the hide, which more noticeably no longer displayed its previous numbers of snipe- the frozen ground seemed to prevent the snipe from getting their bill into the hard mud to feed. However, looking SW alongside and into the coppiced willow next to the hide the ground remained much softer and far better for feeding, and the occasional snipe would fly in from the fields to probe around. Similarly making the most of the softer ground were moorhen and water rail. We saw one water rail frequently on the Saturday- it seemed less obliging on the Sunday and didn't appear until later on in the day, but when that one was later spotted the experience was doubled as it was joined by a second. We then continued to watch the two water rail appear every now and then for the rest of the Sunday afternoon. Of the smaller birds moving about in the willow we spotted a brambling and chiffchaff (seen mainly on the Saturday although even this seemed infrequent), long tailed tits (appearing in the afternoon on Sunday), alongside reed bunting, blackbird, and robin (showing across the weekend and moving right up next to the hide).

(Water rail: John Crispin)

For most of the time there were a few duck moving around in the scrape directly outside the hide- mostly teal, but also some mallard and sometimes wigeon- it was fascinating watching them dip their head under the freezing water, then pulling it back to allow it to bead over their beautifully waterproof feathers. The mallards in particular even seemed slightly restless with an apparent sign of spring setting in, as head bobbing displays, scuffles, and the occasional mating were noticed. All three duck species (teal, mallard, and wigeon) could also be seen further right of the hide (N) moving about in the grass and reeds. A little grebe was also spotted diving around in the scrape on the Sunday, while at around 3pm each day four little egrets also flew in at the far end.

The raptors again seemed less active over the weekend, and unfortunately we saw no merlin or hen harrier (other than a brief glimpse at the far end of the reserve) from the hide. However, we could often spot a pair of peregrines in either of two large dead trees far out from the right (N) of the hide, and buzzards were constantly perched out on the various fence or gate posts. At several points over each day a juvenile marsh harrier was also flying low, quartering the fields further out from the hide- a close look showed it as being the one with a gunshot to the wing, although the broken primary feathers have now just been replaced by a gap in the feather line. Best of all was on the Sunday between around 11am and 12 noon when we saw some brilliant hunting activity- one peregrine started by flying low up and down over the far huddle of ducks, unwilling to take them from the ground so instead trying to scare them up. Efforts in vain, and ducks unwilling to move, we watched the peregrine for a short while fly back and forth before it was then joined by the juvenile marsh harrier, flying in from the fields further out. At first we thought both were flying right at each other, but each showed more interested in flying over the ducks. The hide was then filled, for a short while at least, with sound as each of us called out where one raptor had gone down, another had come up, or the direction either were flying in!

(photo: John Crispin)

Although I wasn't in the car park much on either day other people did see at least two brambling coming in to take seed from the feeding platforms. They were also joined by pied wagtail, reed bunting, chaffinch, and robin. Lots of snipe were apparently also feeding out in the fields NE from the car park, again most likely as the ground was less frozen. This led to action, as at one point a wisp of them was chased right overhead of the car park by (possibly the same juvenile) marsh harrier.

I lastly had a fine finish to each day (Saturday and Sunday), when just leaving at around 4:30pm there was a barn owl out hunting over the field north of the car park, and also across the sacrificial crop field (looking out from the car park viewing platform). Watching its brilliant white moving with sharp turns in the dimming light... what a fantastic end!!!

Predators from the hide at Greylake

Dave L, People Engagement Volunteer — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:40:00 GMT

Last Saturday (12th) two pairs of peregrine were seen frequently throughout the day from the hide at Greylake. They were mostly seen perched on the various fence and gate posts, but every now and then they would fly over the ducks and waders feeding on the ground and in the water, bringing them all up in large flocks. At one point, and with great speed, a teal – itself too slow moving up into the air - was caught a couple of metres from the ground by a lightening strike from one peregrine. The predator flew low and fast across the front of the hide, and after seizing its victim continued by then plucking it whilst perched on a nearby post.

A female merlin was also showing nicely on both Saturday 12^th and Sunday 13^th, perched again on the nearby fence posts and patiently waiting for onlookers to enjoy, and take in, her characteristic details; a small, compact figure with relatively short tail, a pale buff breast streaked with brown contrasting the mainly brown back with barred tail- check out the RSPB Handbook of British Birds for more details!

Lastly, although further away from the hide, marsh and hen harrier were still also seen at points- we know they’re about, and I’m sure other people will be getting far better sightings!!!

Barn owls in the car park

Dave L, People Engagement Volunteer — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:30:00 GMT

Over the last few weekends a Barn owl has been spotted from the Greylake car park from around 4 in the afternoon. On Saturday 12th it even landed in perfect view on the treestump in the car park.

(photo: Lynne Newton)

For the rest of the day the usual birds are showing at the feeding platforms including pied wagtail, a brambling, reed bunting, chaffinch, and robin. Bring your own feed and watch as they come out from the willow trees or scrub to feed. Sunflower seeds appear to be their favourite, always disappearing first when the mixed seed is left out!!!

Tracks in the mud

Dave L, People Engagement Volunteer — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 11:40:00 GMT

The vastness of the winter floods has given incredible landscape views over the Somerset levels and moors. However, as they waters now begin to recede and leave bare ground behind my eyes have been drawn to the much smaller scale of animal movements. It seemed almost impossible to miss the numerous types of footprint pressed and preserved perfectly in the muddy ground either side of the trail path at Greylake, whilst attempting the second clear up operation this winter before re-opening the reserve. I could certainly identify the deep, four toed, almost triangular swan prints. Nonetheless, it was the small mammal tracks that had me more stumped, and without an ID guide to hand I could only surmise later from one photograph and memory that the one set of tracks, for example, made up of small imprints, each 2.5cm in length, consisting five toes, and followed by a tail drag line was left by a water vole. It certainly seemed possible as they had been known to favour the spot in the past. Still, I wish now I had taken the time in making a better record- maybe through a detailed sketch (perhaps aided in its accuracy by drawing on gridlines), by taking more photos and including something better for size comparison, or best of all would have been to trial taking a simple plaster cast. Despite being such a small experience, seeing all of this made me think again about keeping an open mind ready for whatever nature can throw at me. It also spurred me on to improve my animal tracking!!!

Visitor comments - after the floods!

Trish Harper — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:34:00 GMT

Visited yesterday, Thursday 10th Jan. Wonderful flocks of lapwing, golden plover and a large flock of snipe being chased by a merlin. Also pintail, wigeon, brambling, reed bunting, chiffchaff, cetti’s warbler and goldcrest. A very good day and some sunshine! Hurray!

Snipe - Photo: Nick Stacey

Chiffchaff - Photo: Nick Stacey

Lapwing & Golden Plover - Photo: John Crispin

Greylake Open- a second attempt

Dave L, People Engagement Volunteer — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 12:53:00 GMT

Greylake is now once again officially open to the public, after RSPB staff and volunteers spent yesterday clearing up the boardwalks from the leftover duckweed, silt, and mud. The carpark still remains a fantastic site for viewing the brambling and other small birds coming down to the feeding platforms. Nonetheless, walking along the trails you can now experience large groups of snipe, and even some jack snipe, flying low and directly overhead as they come up from in front of the hide, cirlce around it, and then drop back down. Looking out from the hide itself the ground seems to move with life as again more snipe and lapwing probe the ground. Then out on the water the likes of teal, wigeon, mallard, and some pintails can be seen. To utilise this food source peregrines, hen harriers, buzzards, and marsh harriers may be seen patrolling the skies, while joining the many little egrets there is also a great white egret around. Please do drop by either during the week, or at the weekend when an RSPB volunteer will inevitably be around and all too pleased to show you everything that's about...and in great numbers.

Photo of a snipe: John Crispin