What’s been happening on the reserve recently?

Winter sometimes feels never-ending, however, with a window of time to undertake important habitat management over 700 acres, it can go by all too quickly for the Reserve Team.

February is the time to round off vegetation clearance, in readiness for the main wildlife breeding season. The main focus for the team of staff and volunteers has been coppicing of willow and alder scrub, mainly around the Wensum Wetland and Starmoor. This annual task opens-up lake edges, encouraging the spread of reed, whilst the occasional tree is left as important song perches. Thankfully, after a wet start to the winter, water levels have been dropping across the site allowing last minute work on the Waderscrape, topping islands with gravel and cockleshell.

Away from the wetlands, the team has been undertaking selective thinning of the woodlands, widening existing rides and creating open glades. Last year, 6 species of butterfly were recorded in one such glade! Fallen timber does not go to waste; log piles and dead hedges were constructed throughout the woods (an important shelter for wildlife!).

In between the practical habitat work, the team have installed 2 new Barn Owl boxes, one in the Wensum Wetland and the other in Crane Mere. With a total of 12 Barn Owl boxes in select locations, the Reserve Team hope for another successful year (3 pairs & 9 young in 2024).

Over the next month the team will move onto infrastructure management, including path work and fence maintenance. All four Tern Rafts will receive an annual clean and top up of gravel, in hopes of a successful breeding year for our Common Tern colonies.

Our all-important Longhorn cattle have spent most of February in Walkers Meadow, adjacent to the overflow car park, whilst the sheep have been grazing grasslands behind the scenes.  With the recent cold snaps, both cows and sheep have been treated to extra hay rations.

So far this year, 88 bird species have been recorded on site, with highlights of a single Whooper Swan (8^th Feb), 3 Bittern (10^th Feb) 3 Stonechat (17^th Feb) and 400+ Lapwing (22^nd Feb). Summer breeding birds have already started returning; up to 24 Shelduck, 8 Oystercatcher and 110 Barnacle Geese. In the next month we should be welcoming Avocet, Little Ringed Plover, Sand Martin and Swallow back from their wintering sites.

You may have noticed the increase in bird song; Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Robin and Dunnock (all early singers) have been joined by Skylark and Yellowhammer. When you get a chance, take a minute to soak in these true songsters – it will only get better through spring (The Dawn Chorus – coming soon!).