Curlew release pen and LRP's.
Head started Eurasian Curlew release pen with Conservation Breeding Team members
A new project to help the declining lowland population of Eurasian Curlew was launched this year. More details here https://www.wwt.org.uk/news/2019/06/07/bird-on-the-brink-receives-boost-after-bumper-baby-arrival/17039?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn
The South Lake duck marsh has been selected as one of the release sites in the Severn Vale, this part of the reserve had completely dried up due to the drought spring so the usual Lapwing, Cranes and other species are not nesting here this year. It will have very little impact on the birds that use the duck marsh once erected. The structure is temporary. More news in the coming weeks.
Careful reserve management attracted the first pair of Eurasian Curlew to nest on the reserve last year, that attempt failed but this year they have hatched four young see here https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge/wildlife/latest-sightings/curlew-hope-and-other-news/17033 for more details.
We have a good track record for breeding waders and manage the reserve for them, we believe that we now offer the perfect habitat for Curlew to not just winter, stop on passage or summer but to breed and rear young as well. The single wild pair is not enough for a viable local population, we hope the 'headstarted' birds will join with the local wild birds in local hay fields and on Severn estuary to boost the young birds within this population.
Little-ringed Plovers nest cages- an attempt to help
Repeated attempts by Little-ringed Plovers to nest around the reserve have been thwarted by flooding or predation soon after laying, to give them a chance we are trying out nest cages placed over newly created LRP islands. We had an opportunity to get out there today while other work was completed and the scrape was flash flooded overnight. The LRP's have been nest scraping mostly on bare mud since April with no success, these divots fill with water when it rains. You can see the now flooded baked mud in the images. Fine gravels let the water drain away. The forecast looks to be improving after the weekend, we look forward to levels dropping a little, perhaps the plovers will take to these new islands with protective cage atop, we shall wait and see with fingers firmly crossed.
MJM
Other news today includes..
Duck Decoy
Cuckoo singing for much of the morning.
Tack Piece
Two Wigeon on the scrape.
Top New Piece
Swifts feeding over the scrape
Rushy Hide
2cy Mediterranean Gull among the Black-headed Gulls, Green Sandpiper, pair of Teal and Avocet colony on the pools.
South Lake
Water levels were up, 48 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Avocet and plenty of Black-headed Gulls on the scrape. At least four Sand Martin feeding with Swallows and House Martins when it rained.
Middle Point
Grey Plover, 27 Dunlin, 16 Ringed Plover and the breeding waders (Avocet, Lapwing and Oystercatcher) with juveniles.
