Friday 4th March 2016

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More than sand.....

This afternoon I ventured to a part of the reserve that I haven't paid much attention too in the past the Northern edge of the upper marsh.

Its quite interesting out on this part not least because navigating across it needs some thought, a bit of jumping and wellies!!!

One of the creeks which criss cross the marsh
The Reed bed get inundated on a very high tide, as demonstrated by the amount of sea borne rubbish along the edge of the reeds, but is fed by fresh water seepage as demonstrated by the water running off into the creeks (the tide hasn't reached the reeds for a few weeks).

It is here that one of the specialities of the reserve may? be found its a snail about 3mm high one of the "Whorl" snails, Vertigo angustior, there's no photo not because its rare, but because, its VERY RARE and is specially protected.

I suspect that there are Harvest Mice using the reed bed and I'll look into that in the next few weeks. There were clear signs of mammals using the creeks but too far to get decent photo's my guess is Brown Rat, Stoat,  Dog, Fox, and possibly Otter.

Oddly or not?, only one Common Snipe pushed from this side of the marsh.

The Red Kites are still making daily visits to the marsh and dunes, today one of them a female? (very small bird) was feeding on something on a post.

It is clear that nature is stirring on the reserve with Meadow Pipits, and Pied Wagtails, putting in an appearance after an absence in the past weeks.

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