All of the images used are taken by staff, volunteers and visitors. If you wish to submit photographs for future editions please send them to: rolf.williams@rspb.org.uk.

Charity registered in England and Wales no 207076, in Scotland no SC037654

Issue 1: July 2011

Welcome to your regular update on our work from your team in North Kent!

East Kent Reserves At Elmley Marshes, lapwing numbers are slightly up on last year. The volunteers who conducted the annual nest monitoring recorded that clutch sizes were smaller than usual. Motion-activated cameras, a tool that minimises disturbance to the birds, were used to monitor nests around the clock. Despite the dry spring and small clutches lapwings successfully fledged 30 youngsters this year - twice as many as last year! Redshank and avocet are doing well too, all of which is a testament to the wardening team’s hard work with water management. Given the drought it is rewarding to see 80 mini-RSPB logos on The Flood! We have maintained sufficient levels and an early green sandpiper and spotted redshank have dropped in. Beyond waders, it has been a good spring for yellow wagtails. This striking summer migrant is suffering a national decline but continues to breed successfully at Elmley. Local volunteers have been helping to clear floating pennywort, an invasive alien plant species that has clogged the ditches at Seasalter Levels. We are working hard to improve the site in partnership with Canterbury City Council, Swale Borough Council and Natural England. Harty Marshes was acquired in late 2009, and is a former arable site that we are reverting to grazing marsh. We reseeded the fields late last year and expect to take our first hay crop by September; we will then install new livestock fences to allow us to commence grazing.

A marsh harrier at Elmley, tagged on Sheppey in 2009 and spotted by local photographer Gary this June.

Seasalter Levels with Whitstable on the horizon.

The RSPB is in partnership with the Environment Agency (EA) at Great Bells Farm and the farm was bought by EA to compensate for anticipated habitat losses in North Kent over the next 100 years. Located between Elmley Marshes and Eastchurch village we have designed the new 195 hectare nature reserve for the EA . This is a combination of state-of-the-art computer modelling (below) and good old fashioned survey work of existing fauna and flora. The aim of the project is to create a high quality wet grassland akin to Elmley Marshes. Throughout, there has been close consultation with our colleagues in the EA, our regional ecologists and Natural England. Approval to create the habitat is expected in August, after which the creation of rills, dams, bunds and scrapes will commence.

nature’s voice

On the Marshes Newsletter for the RSPB in North Kent

Public access to Great Bells Farm has always been limited, however, as the reserve takes shape, we will endeavour to open the site to visitors. It will take some years for Great Bells Farm, Seasalter Levels and Harty Marshes to mature and we will keep you updated on these exciting projects.

For more information about RSPB reserves and recent bird sightings visit the reserves pages at:

www.rspb.org.uk/kent

West Kent Reserves Northward Hill was looking in excellent condition as snapped from the air in February (courtesy of Medway Airsports Club below). The standing water literally reflects the RSPB’s hard work and investment on the marsh but the subsequent drought demanded even more careful water management. Efforts focused to preserve the best areas of the reserve, and lapwing responded accordingly, numbers almost equalled last year’s but half of the birds nested on the wettest 15% of the site. First indications are that redshank and avocet have done less well. Herons took a big hit during the winter freeze of February 2010, but this year they have bounced back. There were 94 nests (a small increase) and nearly 100 juveniles can now be seen feeding on the adjacent marsh. There were 60 little egret nests already in the heronry at the first count and we expect this to exceed 100. The reed beds were battered by the December snows and keeping the rills at good levels is an ongoing battle, but water vole and bearded tit are doing very well and once again marsh harriers appear to have nested. The national population of nightingale is not out of the woods, but Northward Hill has been rich with the song of 20 males. Two cuckoos are holding territories but the same number of turtle doves is a poor showing. Wood warbler and lesser-spotted woodpecker made a fleeting appearance in the way that treecreeper did last year. We’re hopeful that for treecreeper at least, they may make a come back. A lot of work is ongoing clearing glades and removing sycamore in favour of the native species. Elm trees up to 18 years of age survive and are favoured by the white-letter hairstreak (below). Mature oaks are used by purple hairstreaks that feed on honeydew from aphids. Both butterflies are now on the wing and can be seen in the wood with a little sunshine and patience.

The weekly volunteer work party has been very busy in rain and shine building a rabbit-proof picnic area next to the main visitor car park. This should be completed very soon but the grass will take a while to grow.

Bird monitoring The North Kent team has completed breeding bird surveys in accordance with RSPB and British Trust for Ornithology science-based methods. This included visits to within 100m of every part of our reserves, which cover about 1,500 hectares of land! Some of the results are referred to in this newsletter. The Medway supports the largest Sandwich tern colony in southern England, little terns have returned, and 350 pairs of Mediterranean gulls is the highest on record. The RSPB’s Nor Marsh and Motney Hill support these populations as well as common tern, ringed plover and redshank.

Julian Nash Site Manager, North Kent Marshes

Julian joined the RSPB in 2004, following a varied career including the print industry; he has followed the classic career path into senior RSPB management, starting as a day volunteer at Rainham Marshes. He landed a job there and worked his way up to become the Site Warden. He joined the Kent team in 2009 and is a specialist of coastal grazing marsh ecology and management - although he describes it more simply, “I am a farmer.” He is proficient at Geographical Information System mapping tools and considers himself an all-round naturalist.

Rachel Hewitt Volunteer, Elmley Marshes Currently living in Leysdown, Rachel is a student of Environmental Studies through the Open University. She has been a regular volunteer but just finished a 2-month paid contract following a successful application to the Vodafone ‘World of Difference’ sponsorship scheme. Rachel has been monitoring redshank incubation using temperature data loggers, assisting a PhD project on mustelids, and developing her practical skills in reserve management. Rachel was inspired by the writings of Gerald Durrell and said, “If my life can be half of that man’s I’ll be very happy.”

‘Distinguishing Features’ Introducing you to the RSPB staff and volunteers of North Kent

Conditions at Shorne Marshes Reserve were very good early on, but have subsequently dried back. Lapwing numbers across the reserve are similar to last year, which is good considering the dry season. Nest cameras were used and confirmed that nine fledged successfully. Redshank were up following the first survey, but down in the second. Rye Street, traditionally a dry site, has had five singing corn bunting and there is also evidence that water vole are up on last year, so there have been winners and losers given the uncharacteristic weather.

New dredgings deposited at Cliffe Pools Reserve earlier in the year have settled, creating a muddy edge along the northern perimeter of the pools. Some 5-600 shelduck, avocet and gulls have immediately taken advantage of the new perch. Avocet have exhibited highly territorial behaviour this year suggesting that they may have attempted to breed; early indications are that waders as a whole are increasing at Cliffe Pools. Two spoonbill and green sandpiper were highlights from June. Tern rafts were floated and looked successful initially with common terns going straight to them, but gales broke them loose at a critical time. The terns regularly perch on the rafts. Our regional ecologists have approved the proposal to create a tern island using shingles stored else-where on site. There are >20 common terns in the area likely to return and increase in numbers given this opportunity. The new sluice gates installed last autumn will permit us to adjust the levels in the pools, shallowing some and deepening others. There will be a number of benefits: i) We will create new islands from existing causeways (below) suitable for terns, ducks and waders. Reptiles will be translocated from the causeway starting this month, and the levels will be adjusted later in the year. ii) There will be an increase in edge habitat for winter waders. iii). Flushing of the pools will tackle recent blooms of the toxic blue-green algae.

Nightingale at Cliffe Pools car park.

For more information about events and for general enquiries please contact us at: Phone : 01634 222480 Email : northkentmarshes@rspb.org.uk

Events at Northward Hill: ‘Gentle Harry’s Farm’ outdoor theatre (Rude Mechanical Theatre Co) Wednesday 13th July 7.30pm start. Tickets from the reserve or www.therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk

Music in the Cherry Orchard (acoustic trio) Saturday 16th July 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Tickets from the reserve.

What-ever the Weather Sunday 24th July 10am to 12pm. Guided walk looking at the wildlife, weather and the sun (helioscopes).

Wildlife & Countryside Fair (the annual flagship event and celebrating Explore Kent) Sunday August 7th, 11am to 5pm, RSPB Northward Hill. Fun for the whole family. FREE ENTRY Car parking donation.

Education & People Mark Reckless (Member of Parliament for Rochester and Strood) joined Bligh Junior School at Northward Hill in celebration of a national event organised between the RSPB, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the Field Studies Council to promote outdoor education. This site is one of 40 RSPB Living Classrooms that annually engage 60,000 pupils in formal education. Councillor Chris Irvine, member for Peninsula Ward was also along for the morning and, with the MP, enjoyed

We bid a fond and sad farewell to two of our three residential volunteers. Cath Dewhurst has been with us for ten months and Les Edwins (centre) for a year! Dave Sharpe (right) will have completed his year in October. Residential volunteers contribute to all aspects of our work and benefit from a comprehensive RSPB training package.

Volunteers from Goldman Sachs took a break from the City to clear litter and debris from along the Thames river bank at Cliffe Pools. The Community Teamworks scheme is now in its 15th year, and Goldman Sach’s contribution equals 30,000 man days per annum. The team were keen to beat last year’s effort of one full skip and we were forced to bring in a second such was their success. Our thanks to them all for their hard work on a hot day.

sweeping for bugs and dipping for aquatic critters. The serious benefits of these fun activities are outlined in the RSPB report, Every Child Outdoors, published the same week and calling for government to support the cross-curricular and life-skill opportunities of out door learning.

Princess Bakare from Bligh Junior talks with RSPB Field Teacher Heather Cornally and the MP.

A team of staff and volunteers from North Kent joined the Zoological Society of London at Selfridge and Co. in June. The store’s basement exhibition space on Oxford Street was turned over to a series of events and a c t i v i t i e s p r o m o t i n g sustainable fishing and the conservation of the River Thames. Lead Field Teacher Dave James (left) from Northward Hill, and Communications Officer for Kent, Rolf Williams (the albatross!) lead the charge giving shoppers a surprise, a welcome break and a bit of an education.

The RSPB works in partnership with many organisations