As you may know we have been attempting over recent months to film otters at Radipole. In practise this has meant identifying sites that they frequent (as indicated by recent footprints and a liberal scattering of fragrant otter poo nearby) and then installing a camera trap in the hope that our quarry is still in the habit of visiting the site and that we're looking at the right spot. That last bit is where things can get a little uncertain – many are the times when the otters seem to be one step ahead of us in their nocturnal travel plans.
Patience is the key - there’s always tomorrow night, maybe they’ll be back then, or the next night... After all, it can sometimes take fair amount of time and effort in the first place - plus a bit of Heath-Robinson resourcefulness - to set up the equipment and train the camera’s gaze on a particular scene, so it takes a strong impetus to move it elsewhere after just couple of unfruitful nights.
Last week we had the gear set up at another promising spot beside a ditch which bore all the encouraging signs, but after a few days we had little to show for our effort. There was the occasional appearance of a heron*, as well as some crows and moorhens. As we surveyed the scene with wavering optimism about persisting with the same view for another night, Nick suggested a minor adjustment of swivelling the camera to point at the opposite bank where more footprints were in abundance in the mud.
It turned out to be a good move, as over the weekend otters triggered the video camera five times, and best of all, in one instance there were three of them roaming together as a group. In another shot a couple of them were messing with a small eel at the water’s edge. Here's a still frame of the threesome passing through.
We’re often asked how many otters are on the site – to which there is no definite answer but I guess we can now give a minimum figure with confidence - for last weekend anyway! We reckon this is a group of siblings – they won’t be here indefinitely as their parents will force them to move off and establish their own territories elsewhere. But for the time being we’re happy to have them around even if their old folks don’t take such a rosy view in the long term.
*Nothing wrong with herons – they’re great. Almost as great as cormorants.
The understandable excitement generated by our showy Glossy Ibis of yesterday saw a steady stream of expectant birders making their way up to North Hide in hope of more catwalk antics today. Although the green sheened one did put in an appearance this morning, it was - unlike yesterday - at a distance requiring the multitude of long lenses to work for their money.
Top local naturalist, (and RSPB volunteer) Bob Ford was among the first on the scene yesterday and has kindly given us permission to show the footage that he captured of the Ibis yesterday strutting up and down before the hide-based throng. For those of you who were unfortunate to miss out on this event I am sure that Bob's footage will in some way compensate... and who knows, there is always a tomorrow...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vuv8Yb1VR-Y
...and should the Ibis fail to materialise our merry band of Radipole reed cutters have this week been treated to abundant bearded tits, bitterns (likely to be 3 in number on Radipole), reed buntings, water voles, med gulls, Iceland gull, bullfinch, stone chat, more water voles, harvest mice, otter spraint, marsh harriers and plenty more besides. The lesser celandines and marsh marigold are ready to erupt as the golden precursor to spring To this vivid background colour the ibis just may add a welcome gloss!
Visitors to the North hide this morning would have been greeted with a rather tropical sight. A Glossy Ibis which first appeared yesterday final settled on a feeding spot - and it happened to be right in front of the hide. When I say right in front, I mean it!
See!
This species has started to become a regular visitor to the UK with several large flocks being seen in west Wales, Gloucestershire and Devon in the past couple of years. I was lucky enough to see the Devon flock. If I remember correctly there were well over 20 birds! This bird follows two others seen a few weeks ago at Lodmoor but they were not quite as obliging.
After a few hours it decided to fly off towards Lodmoor where it was originally seen yesterday afternoon. Hopefully it will stick around for a few more people to enjoy. We’ll make sure we tweet the latest information at www.twitter.com/weymouthwetlands
If push came to shove and I was forced to definitively name my number one British bird the answer, almost invariably, would be the bullfinch, (while acknowledging the relative merits of both the starling and the shoveller).
I can remember how, when gazing out of my bedroom window as a kid, the sight of bullfinches would always demand my close observation in a manner never matched by the gardens more regular feathered fare. This was likely to be in part due to their relative scarcity (at least in proximity to the bedroom of my youth), but more so in reflection of the vivid plumage of the males in particular. The clean delineation between their jet black head and the plump pink breast feathers added to their telltale gleaming white rump coalesce to form a thing of undeniable beauty. Suffice to say homework always fell further towards the backburner during these infrequent interludes.
Sadly bullfinches were in a steady decline because of the usual dismal subjects - habitat loss and persecution. Their great love of soft fruit brought them into direct competition with fruit farmers with a predictable outcome. Added to this their winning looks made them a target of illegal trappers for the caged bird trade. To address this decline the bullfinch was made a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species and the indications are that these interventions are bearing fruit.
Working on Lodmoor last week we repeatedly saw a pair loyal to the hedge alongside reserve entrance at the end of Southdown Avenue. A separate group of four was spotted on Melcombe Path and Allan and Frank had up to six around the Viewing Shelter this morning. Radipole too is boasting its fair share with the scrub either side of the kissing gate often quite reliable. Twice last week visitors commented to me how plentiful bullfinches have been of late, both on the reserves and in the wider countryside which is a very welcome observation.
A recent trip to Cornwall also provided unusually frequent bullfinch sightings and I even managed a fleeting glimpse from the bedroom window of my youth... pleasingly the fascination remains undiminished!
Photo: Steve Round (rspb-images.com).
The Radipole visitor centre has been closed for a few weeks now but there is still plenty to see out and about.
A quick stroll through the reserve yesterday rewareded me with a hunting marsh harrier from the buddleia loop (where will they nest this year after the amazing success of 2011?), a group of bearded tits scooting over the reed tops, at least two 'plops' as the ever elusive water voles take to the water and a noisy water rail skulking through the undergrowth near the hide.
Over at Lodmoor too there is plenty of activity and it's not just wildlife, but also a gang of RSPB staff and volunteers hard at work up to their knees in water. But what on earth are they doing?! Well, one glance at the Radipole roof will tell you that it needs new thatch, and why buy when you can get it for free? Our ancestors used to manage reedbeds like we have here in Weymouth for thatch, cutting different areas every year on a cycle. This works wonders for the local wildlife, as it not only keeps the reed bed healthy by stopping trees such as willow taking over but also provides birds such as bearded tit and other wildlife with a brand new seed source every year.
RSPB volunteer Neil bundling reed for thatch...
If you fancy a look at the guys at work, they will be there for a few more days, it may look destructive but I assure you by next year there will be healthy reedbed packed with seed heads and then in a few weeks look out for the same reed being used to re-thatch our Radipole visitor centre.