This I believe is meant to be springtime? However it doesn’t feel much like springtime, in fact if it wasn’t for the presence of the breeding birds I would say that the weather has felt more like October.
What has this meant on the ground for the birds on Havergate?
Well, the terns have been virtually none existent as a presence on the island, activity has picked up in the last few days, notably in the morning. So, fingers will remained firmly crossed.
Even the large gulls (herring gull and lesser black backed) that normally most resilient of breeders as been set back by the rain. Perhaps even as many as 60% of all gulls present on the island have yet to build a nest let alone lay an egg.
Better news comes from Havergate’s rarest breeding species (common gull) which are laying eggs and initial indications are that the numbers will be comparable with the last couple of years, a systematic count of this species will be conducted in two weeks time (weather dependent).
Other marginal breeders on the island including oystercatchers and the various duck species are settling down and laying eggs
It’s been a slow start for butterflies and dragonflies with a solitary record of a red admiral the only butterfly of any note seen on the island
This week also saw the traditional curtain raiser of the survey season, with the Hare transact. The Hares on Havergate are becoming ever more popular with visitors to the island, probably due to their confiding nature and almost guaranteed views.
However, there where some concerns over what has or had happened to the population over the autumn and winter period, there was the unexpected die off of several seemingly healthy individuals in the autumn and the island normally a place of quiet and peacefulness resembled a building site over the winter months.
Last spring the site came in with a healthy total of 27 individuals but this plummeted to 18 in the autumn count. This spring the count is 22 individuals, so whilst not in the same league as last spring or even my first count of 2010 this is a pleasing bounce back. What is even more pleasing as that other “spring migrant” the residential volunteers who made a triumphant return to the island last Saturday have seen leverets from the hut windows, none of which where seen on the official island count. Therefore the population seems set fair for another year.
A word of warning to anyone thinking of visiting the island to see the Hares, whilst it is possible to view Hares at anytime of the year on Havergate from now until the 1st week of August there is no visitor access to the best area to see them, this is due to the nesting common gulls. Please respect this rare English breeding bird and allow them to nest in peace.
After 5 months, the earthwork and engineering work on Havergate is complete. Now after the changes, comes the hard part, namely using the new sluices and island layout to increase the ecological effectiveness of the reserve.
It will be worth keeping an eye on both the RSPB website and the Alde – Ore future for wildlife in the near future as I will be posting some before and after shoots which highlight the amount of work that has been done.
We are all very proud of all the work and effort that is gone in and look forward to increased numbers of birds on the island and a better visitor spectacle which we will be able to share with both visitors and volunteers alike over the next few years.
If you where to visit the island tomorrow, the first thing you would notice is that despite it being spring the water levels in the lagoons are unusually high.
There are two main reasons for this, its important that we are able to replenish the invertebrate stock after running the water levels low throughout winter. In a normal winter, this is the time we would normally run the water levels higher and rehydrate the mud. We are also trying to manage the vegetation on the islands to benefit the breeding birds, as both terns and avocets prefer sparser vegetated island. The higher water levels also fall into the category of managing the island for breeding spoonbills as current thinking suggests that by opening sluices we are able to bring there favoured food into the lagoons, however, there is large degree of unknown in this.
We can take some comfort in that despite the hosepipe ban effecting the region because our water comes from a saline tidal source we will be relatively unaffected, meaning we should be able to provide good feeding and breeding conditions for our birds all year around.
Despite this, it is quiet for bird life on the island, there is still a couple of short eared owls around, the 3 spoonbills are often on Havergate, there was a spotted redshank last weekend and as normal we are getting a trickle of passerine migrants including chiffchaffs, wheatears and goldcrests.
The Hare event was a great success the previous weekend, with all 12 boats fully booked, and the Hares showed extremely well, with some allowing approaches up to five feet.
It is worth pointing out that the Hares can be seen all year around. Though it is more tricky to see them throughout May, June and July as we rope the favoured gorse area off for the benefit of the breeding common gulls. Its heartening to see that the Hares are still popular and subtly this event and time of the year is becoming one of our busiest times of the year. If you wish to be part of this event next year, then I recommend booking early to avoid disappointment or enquire to become a volunteer on the island!
I doubt anyone will have failed to notice the cold temperatures in England over the last week. This has had a huge impact on wildlife locally, nationally and internationally.
One of the most dramatic impacts of the weather around the estuary has been the total freezing of most of the other reserves in the estuary. On average, our reserves at Boyton and Hollesley probably hold around 2000 wigeon and 1500 teal, throw in a few none reserve birds and I would estimate there are around 3 to 4000 wigeon around the estuary. Almost all these birds, swelled with a few continental migrants are on the river Ore now.
Not the greatest video but it does demonstrate just how many duck have been displaced.
One species that will be struggling in this weather is lapwings. Lapwings have been displaced from there usual feeding grounds by this cold snap and having to feed in unusual areas. For instance at the office this afternoon there was one feeding on the next doors garden, here’s one in feeding amongst the gorse and shingle heath on Havergate.
An interesting facet are cold weather movements from the continent. Whilst one always thinks of geese and ducks moving in cold conditions, we have also seen an influx of small waders such as dunlin and redshank. It is likely that most of these birds come from the Wadden sea, which freezes solid in the winter, displaced from here, birds often come direct to the UK as our temperatures can remain that little higher than continental Europe due to our marine and gulf stream influenced environment.
Here are some dunlin and redshanks feeding on the newly created scrapes. At an estimate, there are well in excess of 700 dunlin on the island at this moment. They can be quite confiding, they’ll be two reasons for this, one they’ll come from an area where there is little or no human interference and also has there are entirely focused on feeding in these conditions and can be very reluctant to fly.
The shorelarks are still around, battling away in the snow, as are 3 short eared owls, sadly the cold weather has taken its toll on the spoonbills with all four seemingly fled the estuary. A smew graced doveys lagoon for the last few days of the week, other notable birds include a influx of bar tailed godwits, again from the continent and small passerines like skylark which are fleeing the mainland in hope of feeding out on the island with its relatively low level of snow cover.
In other news its not just birds that have struggled, the contractors have also found it hard going on the reserve this week. However, it should be noted that this is not a life and death struggle merely a case of not being able to do some concreting. I do not think this overall has had a significant delaying effect on the project and we are still set for an early march finish.
Whilst the island is still shut to the general public bird life on Havergate has continued. Highlights so far include wintering spoonbills, shorelarks and short eared owls.
Its interesting how spoonbill wintering ecology in Suffolk is beginning to change and especially in the Alde- Ore estuary.
Spoonbills are well known as a common summer visitor in the estuary and a scarce spring migrant but normally with the exception of a few late stragglers by mid October the birds are normally departed to wintering grounds in southern Spain and northern Africa.
However, last year began a small but notable shift in the local ecology. Last year one hardy soul stayed in the area to winter favouring Orfordness and spending time with the little egrets. This year up to 4 have stayed in the area, to add an extra element of interest two of the birds are ringed (having been ringed as chicks on there breeding grounds) this means there life stories can be tracked. It may be a coincidence but both these birds are from the newly established German spoonbill colony in the Wadden Sea (Niedersachen). Whereas the ringed birds that come through earlier tend to be Dutch birds.
Not unsurprisingly these birds raise hopes of a future breeding attempt. What will be more interesting to see is how these birds cope with winter here. It may mean that come spring there are in poorer conditions than the birds that have migrated or it may be that like little egrets, Dartford warblers and cetti’s warblers to name but a few that have become winterers and breeders.
Shorelark’s ever elusive and enigmatic have become increasingly common on Havergate in the last couple of years. January and February of 2011 where especially memorable thanks to the 23 that stayed on Belpers throughout late winter and early spring.
The shorelarks on Havergate are likely to be from Scandinavia and are heading south to avoid the worst of winter weather in northern climes. They are an unpredictable migrant, with some years being better than others. 2010/ 2011 for example was a very good year, however 2011/2012 is shaping up to be a much less productive year. As of the time of writing the 9 in December and the two over the Christmas new year period are the only records in Suffolk and 9 is the biggest flock in the country since spring 2011.
I’m fairly certain I have spoken about short eared owls before on the blog. However since Havergate must rank as one of the top places in Suffolk to see them at this time of the year, I see no harm in mentioning them again.
So far as a peak count 3 have frequented Havergate this winter. Like the shorelarks these are likely to be birds of Scandinavian origin having fled north to avoid the worst of winter. At least one is still present on site. These will linger on site well into April, offering unparalleled views.
Although I've been involved in the exciting EU LIFE+ project on Orford Ness NT and RSPB Havergate since the funding was confirmed, I had not had the chance to see how work progressing until this month.
Last week, I visited the 'Ness for a project meeting, braving strong winds on the short boat trip across, and was very impressed by the amazing transformation of the Old Airfield. No longer is it a grassy field with dried out pools. now, there are new ditches, pools and water control structures that will allow the National trust to maintain the area in tip top condition for waders and wildfowl.
Then yesterday I joined colleagues from Minsmere for a rare chance to visit Havergate itself. Instead of sitting in an office for a team meeting, Aaron, Dave and Kieren showed us around the island to update us on the project and show us the work that is being done.
And what a transformation I saw. My last visit was in July when the vegetation across the lagoon islands was tall, reducing viewing opportunities, and my last winter visit was more than five years ago. If what I saw yesterday is anything to go by I'll be looking for opportunities to visit more frequently from now on.
The contractors have been incredibly busy. Gullery and North Lagoons look very different as the old eroded islands have been removed and replaced by new low islands that will be ideal for nesting birds come the spring. Right now the lagoons are teeming with waders. The contractors are also replacing all the sluices on the island so that we can control water levels and salinity much more effectively.
Winter is without doubt one of the best times to visit Havergate. As usual, the birding started from October Storm (the RSPB boat) with a flyover spoonbill, bar-tailed godwits and avocets on the river banks and six brent geese on the river. As soon as we reached the visitor centre, we had great views of a young spoonbill (ringed in Germany) feeding on Main Lagoon, among big flocks of wigeons, gadwalls, teals, mallards, pintails and shovelers. Waders featured strongly too, especially grey plovers, dunlins and black-tailed godwits.
As we moved to Gullery Hide, the birding got even better, despite the presence of the diggers. First, I spotted the seven common cranes that have spent several weeks at Boyton Marshes and surrounding area. They were flying distantly, but thankfully landed in view so that everyone could spot them through a telescope (we later saw the same flock at close range at Gedgrave). Then we spent several minutes enjoying close views of bar-tailed and black-tailed godwits, ringed plovers, dunlins, grey plovers, redshanks and turnstones. This was a great chance to compare the ID of some similar species at close range.
Heading south to the central areas of the reserve, we were treated to incredible views of a short-eared owl hunting along the bank - one of the special birds that regularly visits Havergate in winter. In fact, I don't think I've ever had such good views of these fabulous birds. Nearby, a brown hare posed briefly on the boardwalk. Belpers Hide produced more ducks and waders, including a spotted redshank and two oystercatchers - both scarce birds in winter.
All too soon, it was time to board October Storm and return to the mainland. Yet, despite the relatively short visit, I was once again reminded what a special place Havergate is, and I'm excited about the future for the island's birds. Keep up the good work Aaron, Kieren and Dave.
If you would like to visit Havergate, visitor trips run on the first Saturday of each month and on selected event weekends. Trips are limited to a maximum of 12 people per boat. For further details, or to make a booking, please call the Minsmere visitor centre on 01728 648281. Please be aware that due to the works, the next visitor trip will be on Saturday 3 March.