Wetland Paradise

I spent Thursday on Elmley National Nature Reserve in Kent with owner Philip Merricks and what an amazing experience it was.  This is an enormous 2,000 acre site of which 600acres is leased to the RSPB and the rest managed by Philip with his excellent manager Steve Gardon.

It is an extensive area of saltmarsh and grazing land specifically managed with wet grassland birds in mind.  Lapwings and Redshanks are two of the main target species and this is the peak time for chicks to be emerging.  We were not disappointed and many chicks of both species were obvious.  However Rod Smith a local ornnithologist who is monitoring the non-RSPB area has noticed that with Lapwings broods are small at two and three chicks per pair rather than four.  Also there are chicks of varying stages of development which may be as a result of the very dry weather or adults being in poor condition because of the very cold winter.

Nevertheless the spectacle of so many birds and young gladdens the heart of any conservationist and I was very impressed with what I saw.  It was also noticeable that there were more birds with chicks outside the RSPB area than within it.  Why?  Well Philip and Steve carry out active predator control removing corvids for a limited time in the nesting season and eliminating Foxes and North American Mink.  The RSPB make do with only a perimeter fence.  It is my belief that to assist threatened species we have to do this and I know it is sometimes difficult for charities having to consider discontented members.  Educating members is vital but I believe the RSPB and others will have to follow this route eventually.

We did see plenty of other birds too.  Spoonbill asleep as usual, Marsh Harriers and Hobby overhead and plenty of wildfowl with young including Shelduck, Shoveler and Gadwall.  Avocets too were successful with a few chicks seen.

Also pleasing was the sight of good numbers of Yellow Wagtails and Corn Buntings.  These are two species of Farmland birds which have given much concern at their drastic decline.  On this Farm Reserve they were doing OK.  Brown Hares too were very obvious a wonderful mammal that needs protection as well.

It was a fabulous visit and shows what a land owner can do when you have the enthusiasm of Philip and his manager Steve.