April Update
The start of spring has been full of wildlife updates with otter sightings, displays of cowslips and cuckooflowers, and the breeding season now in full swing.
Wildlife update
Otters: We have been carrying out otter surveys on site for 10 years now as part of the Somerset Otter Group annual survey. This is a designated weekend each year when surveyors cover as much of Somerset as possible and collate the data to get an idea of populations throughout the county.
Our 10 survey locations were monitored over a weekend in April by staff and volunteers. They are checked on Saturday, then again on Sunday morning to see if we had any overnight visits. Plenty of recent signs were found throughout the site including spraint, footprints and runs. Fresh spraint was found on Stockland Marshes on Sunday morning, giving Steart Marshes a consistent set of positive results for 10 years!
We have also had recent sightings reported of an otter with 2 kits, which is great news as otters were virtually extinct 50 years ago and continue to face many threats in modern life from habitat loss, pollution, traffic and disease.
Our new willow otter sculptures have taken up residence by the roundhouse, which is due to be lime rendered soon ready for use with groups over the summer. Do have a look if you haven’t visited yet!
Plants: So far this spring we seem to be having a great year for both cowslip and cuckoo flower (also known as lady’s smock, mayflower or milkmaids depending where you are in the country). The cuckoo flower patches have more individuals than in previous years, which is great for orange tip butterflies. Cowslips are also growing in a greater density and appearing in new areas, particularly those that we cut late last year, showing the effect of different grassland management schemes.
Birds: The wintering birds have left and breeding season is now in full swing. We are keeping an eye on Otterhampton Marsh to monitor the breeding wader population after recent upgrades on the predator fence. Avocet, oystercatcher and little ringed plover are nesting. A pair of Lapwing have been seen displaying on Stockland Marsh, with another on the eastern end of Otterhampton Marsh, outside of the predator fence. Other birds of note include a little tern seen from Stert Point, 13 cattle egret and a singing grasshopper warbler near Combwich.
Upcoming events
Health Walks every Monday and Thursday at 2pm
We will be willow weaving at the Avalon Marshes Dragonfly Day Sunday 25th May 10am-5pm
We are back at the Bath & West Show again this year in the Woodland & Countryside area, 29-31st May
Dragonfly Weekend here at Steart Marshes 9th/10th August – pond dipping, art, walks and a science hide!
