Fences and the one footed Oystercatcher Thursday 16th February 2017

Work has started on the completion of the fence around grazing field 1, the guys doing the work make it look so easy, well easier than when we have to keep repairing sections by hand.

The right tools make for light work!

The machine has switched from banging posts in to straining the wire! so much easier than the "by hand" method.... but eh we love it !!

I walked the eastern end of the reserve on what was a very spring like morning with Skylarks in song and a noticeable presence of Meadow Pipits and Linnets, there haven't been many birds around lately.

Another sign of spring is the presence of Common Shelduck, they really should be one of our breeding species but there was no evidence last season that they bred, maybe this year?

A good sized flock of Ringed Plover (76) and a huge flock of Oystercatchers, around 4250 including a rather poorly bird which had only one foot, it flew off ok but was decidedly lop-sided. A 1st winter Yellow Legged Gull was a good bird to find and "new" for the bird list.