OLD HALL MARSHES NATURE RESERVE

Updates courtesy of Suzanne Grimwood & Sarah Potter

November - December 2009 Highlights

Habitat Management :All is quite on the fields, as there is currently no livestock out on them. This will continue throughout the winter period and cattle will return to the fields in the spring. We have a new sheep grazier lined up for next winter. The barn was revamped, thanks to all the hard work done by Peter, which has allowed us to double our capacity. Therefore, we now have 40 forever chomping cows, plus their calves and Jenson the bull to keep us busy and produce farmyard manure for future use. Being relatively quite on the livestock front has created a perfect opportunity to get cracking on some fencing repairs.

Curlews - Peter Hewitt

The penultimate stage of the Crassula Helmsii eradication project has commenced! The salt water has been drained off resulting in very low water levels on Joyce's Head and the adjoining fields. As soon as possible, freshwater will be abstracted from the Salcottstone brook and we hope for some rain to aid the process of and fill it up naturally, aiming for ideal water levels again going into the breeding season.

Birds: Brent geese numbers steadily rose during November, with numbers averaging 1,170 in December. This is down on last December's average of 1,399. Amongst the busily feeding brent geese a number of snipe, ruff and black-tailed godwits have been seen, and a paled-bellied brent goose (21/12). Highlights for November included: several sightings of a Ferruginous duck (first spotted 27/11), glimpses of a Snow bunting (4/11) and a Tree sparrow (16/11), the biggest highlight being a Little auk (10/11). Other sightings have included: two Red-breasted geese (escapes, 16/11), Barnacle goose (27/11), Great northern diver (4/12), Ring-tailed hen harrier (24/11) and a Woodcock (3/11). December highlights included: a Smew (8/12), Spoonbill (11/12), two groups of White fronted geese (31/12) as well as several sightings of Peregrines, Merlins, and Whimbrel. Goldeneye numbers increased quite dramatically, with 17 seen in November and 71 spotted in December and 20 plus Red-breasted mergansers have been seen in the channels. Hen Harrier roost counts continued, recorded once a month as part of a National Scheme. So far none have been seen coming to roost in our reedbed.

Brent Geese - Peter Hewitt

Other Flora and Fauna: Moth trapping continued over November, with a few trappings in December before the weather turned bitterly cold. A number of Feathered thorn, November, Green brindled cresent, and Dark chestnuts visited, as well as a Satellite (11/12), Yellow-lined quaker (12/11) and a Sprawler (12/11).

Staff: We continue to miss site manager Paul Charlton who has been off sick since mid September. We all wish him well and hope to see him back at work very soon. Howard Knott left our team in December, after volunteering with us for 5 years! We wish him all the best for the future and many wonderful adventures for his quest to rediscover the British countryside. New recruits have included Mark Groves and Hamish Stewart, which have bumped up our volunteer numbers nicely. Gill Humbles has become queen of Mapmate and is the answer to our data based prayers! They have shown great enthusiasm and commitment to the reserve, so lets hope they stick around for a long time!

Events: Matthew and myself showed our support for the Stop Climate Chaos campaign by attending the Climate Change road show in November.

Sarah Potter December 2009

July-August 2009 Highlights

Habitat Management : After such a dry summer, we were relieved to finally see some rain. The end of October was wet. 15mm fell on 26/10, totaling 41mm, a much-needed improvement on September's 19mm. The improved fields began to look lush and green and water is starting to make an appearance in Bale and Pennyhole Bottom, which have both been bone dry since July. The lack of rain during September and the beginning of October required us to carry on with the supplementary feeding of the livestock. The cows were collected from the fields at the end of October to over winter with the grazier. This was something of a relief as the hungry cows continued to seek grass in all fields apart from their own! Forty cows, their calves and Jenson the bull are over wintering in our newly revamped barn, thanks to all the hard work by Peter. This has allowed us to double the capacity from last year. As for the sheep, they were taken away in mid October for good after terminating our contract with the grazier.

Birds: The recovery of the improved fields was just in time for hungry wintering brent geese and Wigeon. The first flock of 190 brent appeared on 20/10. The thrice-daily counts, part of our annual monitoring, have seen the numbers rise to a steady 2–4,000 most days. A spotted flycatcher made an appearance on 6/9. A jack snipe and curlew sandpiper appeared on 17/09. A red kite was seen as part of a 7-raptor day on 12/10 – much to the absolute elation of volunteer and local birder Brian Churches . Three red-throated divers were seen 6/10, as well as a common scoter on 16/10. Good views were had of a sandwich tern on 16/10, spotted again the following day, joined by four common terns. Redwings started appearing on 15/9, later joined by more abundant field fares on 18/10.

Other Flora and Fauna: Moth trapping continued as always, September seeing the first of our Autumnal species. Highlights being an Essex Red Data Book species, dusky lemon sallow, which first appeared on 9/9, three were trapped in one night on 11/9. Watervole transects began on 25/9, with disappointing results compared to the same transects carried out earlier in the year.

Staff: Dhruti Bell swapped places with Matthew Smith at the end of September for the Dual Residential Volunteer Scheme. Matthew joined us on 5/10 and is settling in to our small team – an extreme contrast to the busyness of Minsmere! Lets hope he likes the peace and quite.

Events: The Chelmsford Members Group decided that for RSPB's 25 th anniversary at Old Hall, we should hold an event for their enjoyment. 12 th September saw all our hard work and Dhruti's planning finally come together. Although the day was a success, we were prepared for 250 people, resulting in the staff nearly out-numbering the visitors! However, there were 50 very happy visitors, who enjoyed guided walks, informative displays about our and other reserves in the region, moths, and a slide show – which could be enjoyed with a cup of tea and a selection of delicious homemade cakes supplied by the CMG Committee. The following day was the Maldon Prom show people birds event which was as usual rather windy.

Sarah Potter October 2009

July-August 2009 Highlights

Habitat Management: Work is still ongoing in the fight against Crassula helmsii . In the last few weeks, water levels have been topped up with the addition of more sea water on the grazing marsh, which should stop any further growth of this invasive weed. The months of July and August have been particularly dry: July 57mm(72.5mm in 2008), August 19mm (67.5mm in 2008). Located in one of the driest parts of the country, the lack of rainfall has meant that the grass is not growing much and supplementary feeding of some of the cows has been required.

Birds: Two common cranes dropped in frustratingly briefly at about 06.30 on 02/07. Good numbers of greenshanks, and sporadic sightings of hobby occurred throughout. Good numbers of green and common, and occasional curlew and wood sandpipers were seen through the period. Yellow wagtail numbers built from two on 01/07 to 55 on 29/08. A Temminck's stint was seen on 26/08. An unusual sighting of three sandlerlings was made on 03/08. Now a regular here, a spoonbill dropped in on 05/08. 313 common terns roosted on the mud in Tollesbury channel on 09/08. A visitor reported news of a tantalizing glimpse of what was thought to be an eagle species on 09/08, but it seems this will have to go down as one of those unsolvable mysteries. A little stint was spotted on 11/08. A corn bunting was seen in 21/08. An osprey fishing on 25/08 was part of a five-raptor day, which also yielded a smart juvenile redstart. Many passage whinchats and wheatears appeared towards the end of August, in contrast to the few sightings of them in the spring. Great swirling flocks of about 500 corvids (mainly jackdaw and rook) joined up to 2,500 black-headed gulls in late August, invading the grazing marsh coincidental with a proliferation of flying yellow meadow ants, creating scenes reminiscent of ‘The Birds'. Seven of the nine marsh harrier nests were successful, fledging 16 young between them. A minimum of 8 bearded tit nests fledged at least 28 young.

Other Flora and Fauna: Emergence of white-letter hairstreak was somewhat earlier this year, towards the end of June and a peak of 35 was found on 01/07. As always, moth trapping continued and it is hoped we might identify enough new species to notch up another place in the reserves league table of species recorded! Several sightings of young stoats have entertained pishing volunteers and visitors.

Staff : Local volunteer Andy Daw left at the end of July, but has been snapped up to volunteer at South Essex Marshes which is nearer to where he now lives. On 29-30/07 as part of the dual residential volunteering scheme, the three volunteers from Minsmere, Titchwell and Strumpshaw joined our dual scheme vol, Dhruti, for a wet grassland training day at OHM, followed by a ragwort pulling task force on West Canvey . It was deemed to be a great success, despite the difficulties in traveling home caused by the rail strike.

Events: Dhruti arranged and led a Brownies guided walk on 01/07, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all and may become a regular event. A small Old Hall stand was present at the final Chelmsford Local Group Glen Chantry open day, which raised a whopping £4,706.19 on 31/08.

September to October 2008 Highlights.

Livestock: So far, 435 ewes have adjusted well to their new surroundings. The new sheep comprise of a good commercial mix including Jacob's. The grazier is based in Norfolk and has sheep on another of our reserves on the Essex/Suffolk border at Cattawade Marshes.

The grass is still growing, therefore, the cows are taking full advantage and munching away. Some are trickling off the reserve to return to their home farm.

Habitat Management: A s part of our Phase II Crassula eradication system, Joyce's Head is being drawn down to replace with seawater to eradicate this alien plant in the aquatic system.

Birds: Passage migration has been slow but steady over September and October. Paul Charlton saw a dark-morph falcon (09/09) and could not think what it was. After some deliberation and checking the I.D., he concluded that it could have been an Eleonora's falcon. Co-incidently, in early September, a single record was observed in Maldon.

It would appear that the marsh harriers that bred 16/17 young in fact migrate south for the winter as numbers have dropped to c4-5. A single short-eared owl was seen quartering on the grazing marsh on three occasions; two common buzzards flying high over the reserve (21&22/09) and one honey buzzard (28/09). Superb close regular views of an osprey feeding on a large fish on a post and hunting over Salcott Channel. The occasional sighting of a peregrine chasing after passerines and one merlin (22/09) and a max of two hobbies (28/09).

A great-white egret was seen during the WeBS count (17/10) which later roosted at Abberton. Some of the winter species have arrived - a red-throated diver (21/10), a pair of goldeneye on Tollesbury Fleet (16/10) and a max of three eider. The brent geese arrival has been slow this year but 2-3,000 were seen (unfortunately no juveniles were seen therefore suggesting a poor breeding year) during the ABB Project at Leigh-on-Sea. C500 were seen in the Tollesbury Creek on the rising tide (22/10). They are not feeding on our lush improved fields that we have specifically prepared to create the ideal short sward that they desire. Two sightings of two red-breasted geese were seen with the Canada Geese. Derek Burchell, a local Tollesbury birder, suspects there is a good chance they are the pair that were at Abberton earlier in the year. Also, two pink-footed goose flew NE right over the reserve (29/09).

Passage was seen again with two arctic terns (30/09) and six sandwich terns (15/09). Wintering waders have increased dramatically in October with max numbers of 1544 golden plover (17/10), c800 grey plover (19/10), 825 lapwing (17/10), 70 black-tailed godwits (15/10), 128 avocets in Joyce's Saltings and 465 oystercatches on great cob island. Max numbers of the following migrants -: 43 spotted redshank (15/09), 5 juvenile little stint found on McClure's (03/10), 36 ruff (17/10), 306 curlew (17/10) and 756 redshank seen.

An early record of a group of eight snow bunting flew past Brian Churches on a cold day

(13/10). Also noted were a group of six redwing flew SW of the car park, nine fieldfare (22/10), a max of five stonechats (09/10) and six chiffchaff (03/10). Regular sightings of a kingfisher shooting past on both channels and at least 50 meadow pipits on the move.

Non-Avian Species seen were -: 9 Red Admirals, three Comma, one Peacock and a water vole.

May 10th to June 26th 2008 Highlights.

Alec Cowan, our Stockman left at the beginning of May to head back to the wild Welsh pastures. He has been replaced by a local chap, Peter Russell who has settled in really well and has been appointed a contract.

The lambs are huge and are nearly the same size as the ewes. There were a few cases of flystrike (blue bottle fly larvae burrow their way through the skin mainly seen at the mucky rear end) before they were sheared. They have now been dipped with a multi-purpose dip that helps combat scabies, ticks and flystrike.

Around 200 Aberdeen Angus cows with spring and autumn calves have descended our shores. The other day, young caves a few days old arrived that are very cute! They have been vaccinated for Blue Tongue.

May was an exceptionally wet and cold month with 108mm of rain compared to 85.5mm last year. This had an effect on the breeding season. Avocets have been disrupted due to the increase of rain on Pennyhole Bottom and Bale Field. However, they have successfully hatched chicks on the grazing marsh and 6 were sitting on nests on Irongate island (10/06). 43 lapwing nests were found compared with 56 from last year. They were mainly on the grazing marsh compared to the improved fields from previous years. 22 nests were predated and 16 out of 21 nests have had cameras on them. All 21 nests hatched successfully due to human interference of erecting the nest cameras. .A little ringed plover chick was seen on 9 Acres pool (10/06). A few avocet chicks have been seen as well as lapwing chicks.

A surprisingly rare summer occurrence of bittern was seen at the reedbed (17/06). Regular sightings of up to 5 eiders have been seen at The Point, a drake garganey was seen on Bale (18 & 22/05) and a red-crested pochard on Pennyhole Fleet which is an unusual (21/06) Regular sightings of peregrine, hobby and a sparrowhawk (04/06). A fleeting glimpse of a common crane Field 6 (28/05) whilst counting cows. I knew there was a good reason for checking the livestock!

A ruff just coming out of summer plumage (23/06), a common sandpiper (27/05), a curlew sandpiper (14/06), a Temminck's stint (18/05), and a little stint (14/05) were seen on the Bale Field. A sanderling (25/05), 20 Turnstone (22/05), 4 Greenshank (18/05,14/06), a max of 97 Black-tailed godwit have been feeding regularly on Pennyhole Bottom(10/06), a max 62 Bar-tailed godwit (22/05) on Salcott Creek and Joyce's Saltings, 2 wood sandpiper (14/05, 24/06) in Irongate and 20 knot in Tollesbury Channel (19/05).

A boat trip kindly skippered by Natural England boss Ian Black (23/06) was carried out by the Old Hall motley crew. Between 12 to 14 terns were spotted with 7 nests and 2 chicks. This is a poor show as up to 46 Little Tern came up from the shingle at The Point (22/05). This is due to the constant disturbance of large groups from the local sailing club making a nuisance of themselves on the eastern quarter spit where the little terns breed. Black-headed gull nests were counted as well. An adult and a first summer med gull (18/05) and two first summer little gulls were seen at McClures (18/05).

Paul found a nightingale singing in the early morning of 11/06 during a CBC Hedgerow survey. Cetti's have not only been heard singing in the reedbed but have spread their wings further a field to the car park and the yard. Three yellow wagtail (22/05), two corn bunting (27/05), a pair of blackcaps mellifluous sounds in Copse (18/05), mistle thrush purring in B Field (22/05). A smart looking black-redstart was seen in Crescent (12/05). A passage wheatear darting around (14/05).

Our most recent water vole survey was carried out on the 13th May by five of our volunteers. While en route to their study location, an ironic event took place. They were lucky enough to see their first water vole, but unfortunately, it was flying through the air, gripped in the talons of a male marsh harrier!

Brian Churches , our local birder, saw a badger walking on top of the sea wall towards Salcott Field. He was stopped in his tracks by the sight of a fully-grown. A slow-worm wiggling on Crescent Sea wall (12/05), a grass snake slithering near to the Irongate wood pile (25/06) and a common seal was bopping up and down on the estuary (11/06). Jason, our volunteer found a Cheery sticker weevil in Double Hedges whilst doing a butterfly transect.

Nicole and Jason, our two residential volunteers helped out at the local village summer fair in Tolleshunt Major. It proved a highly successful event with much interest from the local children. We dissected owl pellets, made masks and enthralled children with large inflated insects as part of our bug hunt.

April 1st to May 10th 2008 Highlights.

April was a wet and cold month with 33.75mm of rain compared to 1mm last year. The lapwings started later than last year due to the cold weather. The first recorded nest was seen on the 1st but up until the 9th was a lull period and there after it really kicked off. 30 nests have been found with 13 predated, 5 hatched and the rest being monitored at present (10/05). Interestingly, 10 out of the 13 nests predated have been on the improved fields most likely due to corvids and foxes.

Water rail surveys were the first with a good start at the end of March. We tape lured 14 territories mainly in the reedbed. The bearded tits seem to respond quite well to the tape and so far we have tracked 22 birds, as well as an explosion of 11 Cetti's territories that have now expanded to the car park. 2 grasshopper warblers (first heard in 5 years) have sung their little hearts out in the reedbed(06/05). Whimbrel spring passage has been excellent with a reserve record of 250 (03/05) seen by Neil Harvey.

Chris Tyas and Brian Churches did a mamouth Bird Thrash on the reserve (05/05). They got 93 species, an increase of 2 from previous years. Highlights were; a male scaup amongst the tufted ducks which was a surprise, 3 wood sandpipers on Bale, 2 male wigeon on Salcott Field, a Temminck'stint on Bale, mediterranean gull on Seamans, a black tern on Irongate and a short-eared owl on the far end of the grazing marsh.

The usual summer visitors have returned and brought the good weather with them as well. The turtle doves coo as you enter the reserve with a blast of the cuckoo in the distance. A cacophony of passerines hit you with many whitethroats with a lesser whitethroat near Double Hedges. A profusion of sedge and reed warblers in the low ways A few sightings of northern wheatears, a black redstart – seen in the farmyard by Paul from his desk (28.04) and a ring ouzel seen on the grazing marsh(07/05). A whinchat was seen on the grazing marsh (02/05). And regular views of yellow wagtails since the beginning of April.

The announcement of a pair of peregrines nesting on the roof of Reactor 1, are a regular visitor to the reserve, Brian Churches saw a hobby catch a peacock butterfly(25/04) which was a rare treat! A large female sparrowhawk took a mallard chick (04/05), great views of a common buzzard (09/04) and a merlin (02/04). A pair of grey partridge have been regularly sighted near the car park

Wader numbers have really dropped – 31 black-tailed godwits on Bale, 300 knot roosting on Joyce's Head Saltings, c.400 golden plover on Bale (11/04). Passage migrants include a little stint (19/04) Bale Field, a wood and common sandpiper during the wader transect(10/05). A pair of little ringed plover seem to be showing an interest on the improved field – 9 Acres (10/05). Regular sightings of spotted redshank and the odd greenshank. 3 little gull(05/05) over Bale Field and little and common terns have returned and seen feeding on the borrowdykes.

March 2008 Highlights.

Volunteers: Jon Rapley finished his time as a residential volunteer but is still helping out as a local volunteer once a week. Jenny Boatwright has left to take up a seasonal post from May with a tern colony on Anglesey .

Amanda Turburville, Jason Moule, Nicole Khan, and Adam Taylor make up the long term volunteer team for the spring and summer. Adam is a local lad from Tiptree, looking for a change of direction after studying sport science. Amanda Turburville and Nicole Khan are both recent graduates from Writtle College studying environmental conservation. Jason worked alongside Nicole at Hainault Forest Country Park , and he has a particular interest in owls. Robert also joins us as a local volunteer, having previously worked with the team at the Ouse Washes.

Management : Recent activities on the reserve have included the continued control of the invasive water weed, Crassula helmsii, using saltwater, and the reintroduction of freshwater to certain areas of the reserve. The volunteers have recently moved the diesel pump to Salcott Field to allow the abstraction of water from the creek to create flooded areas to encourage lapwing to breed. They are now involved in monitoring the presence and behaviour of lapwings in this area.

Livestock :The ewes gave us a bit of a surprise by starting to give birth a week early. In Alec's absence, we gained to assistance of Peter Russell to help with the early arrivals. One flock continue to graze the improved fields, whilst the others have been moved onto the south seawall.

Birds : A red-throated diver was seen of the Point and four shags at Salcott Channel (24/3). Although brent numbers on the improved field have declined into the hundreds, a local birdwatcher reported that a black brant was amongst them (24/3). A maximum of 27 red-breasted mergansers have been seen using the two channels, whist a drake scaup has been seen regularly in Tollesbury Fleet (31/3). An immature drake eider has also been sighted off the point (24/3), and a female long-tailed duck has been seen in Salcott Channel (5/3).

Marsh harriers continue to be a regular site on the reserve, with at least ten seen in a day (31/3). In addition, a ring-tailed hen harrier was seen by the stockman and a volunteer whilst out checking the sheep on the grazing marsh (17/3). The pair of barn owls have been regularly sighted hunting across the reserve (31/3), and are believed to be using an old railway carriage in the reedbed (18/3). A tawny owl has been seen in the copse (29/3), and a short eared owl was recorded during this months WeBS count (11/3). On the 24th, a common buzzard was seen high over the reedbed, and then drifted north. Peregrine and merlin have been regular visitors.

A very good record of 195 avocet in Tollesbury Fleet. A green sandpiper landed briefly by a small ‘puddle' on an improved field (19/3). The highlights of this month's high tide counts have been, a sanderling on eastern quarter's spit (11/3), and seven spotted redshank scattered across the reserve (27/3). A good number of 23 turnstone feeding together at Eastern Quarter Spit (25/3). 91 black-tailed godwit on Bale Field (30/3)

During the latest water rail survey in the reedbed, 6 water rails, 8 bearded tits and ten cetti's warbler territories were also recorded (31/3). The following migrants have been seen on the reserve – 2 male blackcaps in the copse (27/3), a striking male wheatear (31/3), a chiffchaff, two house martins and a swallow (31/3).

Non-Avian Species : A grass snake was spotted in the reedbed by a volunteer during a water rail survey (19/3). At the end of one of the counterwall's a stoat has been seen (1/3).

December 2007 to January 2008 Highlights

Volunteers and Reserve Work : The volunteers have been assisting the stockman with fencing on the grazing marsh. Elijah Webster is leaving us at the start of the coming month to spend some time at a monastery in Greece .

Livestock: The sheep have continued sea wall grazing at the eastern end of the reserve.

Birds: There are now up to 3300 dark-bellied brent geese (7/1) feeding on the improved grassland. A pale-bellied brent goose was seen amongst a flock at the start of December (6/12). A black brant and 13 ruff have also been seen in the company of the brent (16/1). It has been a particularly good couple of months for raptor species on the reserve, the highlight being hen harrier sightings, with a ring-tailed spotted first during roost count (16/1) and further daylight sightings since. Seven marsh harriers were recorded during a reedbed roost count this month (20/1). A merlin was seen during a high water count (25/1), and a sparrowhawk sighted earlier in the week (23/1). A male smew and a long-tailed duck have both been spotted amongst a group of goldeneye in Salcott Channel (23/1). A pair of scaup were seen in Joyce's Head at high tide (25/1). 20 common scoter were flying off the point (20/1). A great Northern diver has been seen in Salcott Channel, whilst a red-throated diver was sighted in Tollesbury Channel (20/1).

Non Avian News: A grass snake was seen on the north seawall during December (18/12). During a high water bird count, three seals were seen in the water off the south seawall (22/1).

Visit www.rspb.org.uk for more details.