February Newsletter

Friends of Elmley Renewals

2017 stickers now available for collection or send a SAE to us - Kingshill Farm, Elmley, Kent, ME12 3RW. If collecting, David is here Mon, Tues & Friday's and is usually around the car park or farmyard. The stickers work with static not glue so if you want to take it off you can. It will re-stick with a drop of water and a little pressure next time.

Renewals keep trickling in. Thank you to everyone who has paid their 2016-17 subs in person or by Paypal. Don't worry if you don't know when to pay as you will receive an email from us or Paypal at the time.

Farming and land management

January has brought a hardness to this winter we have not seem for several years. The accompanying high pressure has also blocked our usual succession of weather fronts and so, despite our team's rain dancing, they have produced very little meaningful rainfall across the marshes. Luckily we have been able to pump water onto the fields along the entry road and with some recent rain this has been enough to draw in some good numbers of waders and fowl in the last few weeks. For a good Spring we will need a sustained period of heavy rain to fill our rills across the broad acres of Elmley to sustain the waders muddy edges through to June. However, it is not all bad news as you will see from the WeBS survey below January recorded a peak just shy of 35,000 birds, a great result for a cold dry year so far. Thanks again to our dedicated volunteers who count them! There are some early signs of Spring to enjoy too. Blackthorns are beginning to burst buds and some early lapwing can be seen displaying on their favorite annual spots. A joy to see in some winter sun! The thumbnail is of one of our newly installed farmland bird feeders installed along the cover strip. We are experimenting with positions and feeds to sustain the linnets and finches along the cover strip. I'm sure the pheasants will be regulars too!

Thank you all for your continued support and do collect your 2017 car sticker on your next visit, either from David in the farm yard or the office if he is not available.

Thoughts from a Regular

Not a great deal of activity this month, nevertheless,spring is fast approaching. We have seen Marsh Harriers mating,and Skylarks singing! Speaking of Marsh Harriers, We also noted the return of KaTy, last seen almost 2 years ago to the day, on the 22nd of February 2015. She was wing tagged, at the Ouse Washes in 2013.which reminds me to encourage everyone to note where and when (not only at Elmley) and report any green wing tagged birds you see here http://hawkandowl.org/our-work/research/report-marsh-harriers-with-green-wing-tags/ and see if you can find them here http://www.nwnrg.co.uk/research/marsh_harrier/MH_Project_Recoveries.htm The recent hard frosts made for some spectacular views, and has laid the grasses low allowing better views of the small passerines that enjoy them.

Winter Birds

Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

Ruff

Philomachus pugnax

Brent Goose

Branta bernicla

Redshank

Tringa totanus

Greylag Goose

Anser anser

Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

(Greater) Canada Goose

Branta Canadensis

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

Shelduck

Tadorna tadorna

Gadwall

Anas strepera

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscus

Teal

Anas crecca

Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Stock Dove

Columba oenas

Pintail

Anas acuta

Wigeon

Anas Penelope

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

Shoveler

Anas clypeata

Little Owl

Athene noctua

Pochard

Aythya farina

Short Eared Owl

Asio flammeus

Tufted Duck

Aythya fuligula

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Jackdaw

Corvus monedula

Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Rook

Corvus frugilegus

Great White Egret

Egretta

Carrion Crow

Corvus corone

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

Green Woodpecker

Picus viridis

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Coot

Fulica atra

Buzzard

Buteo buteo

Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus

Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

Merlin

Falco columbarius

Bearded Tit

Panurus biarmicus

Peregrine

Falco peregrinus

Goldcrest

Regulus regulus

Hen Harrier (m)

Circus cyaneus

Wren

Troglodytes troglodytes

Curlew

Numenius arquata

Skylark

Alauda arvensis

Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus

Avocet

Recurvirostra avosetta

Cetti’s Warbler

Cettia cetti

Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricaria

Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Grey Plover

Pluvialis squatarola

Robin

Erithacus rubecula

Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus

Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Little Stint

Calidris minuta

Fieldfare

Turdus pilaris

Snipe

Gallinago gallinago

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Jack Snipe

Lymnocryptes minimus

Meadow Pipit

Anthus pratensis

Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosa

Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Linnet

Carduelis cannabina

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalis