Cress Marsh

I have had an email from Rachel. Apparently there are no plans to fix bird diverters to the pylons because they are high voltage wires and it’s too dangerous. Also there have been reassurances from the site designer that birds are less likely to collide with these than the lower cables........

Interesting comments. I thought spraying of an entire site as a management tactic was a thing of the past. Not only killing vegetation but resultant seeds in the ground as well. Scorched earth?

Seeing as this is a mitigation project with funding from several sources, I would have expected there to be a master plan that also includes planting for a sustainable site, and a timescale for each phase.
Would welcome some information


Disappointing that the disks are yet to be fitted to the overhead power lines. This was brought up months ago.

I don't think the timing of the work to re-seed the site helped. Spraying and removing the "natural" planting across the entire site has created a barren habitat - no vegetation on the scrapes or around the lagoon to provide cover for birds, food or habitat for invertebrates etc.
Maybe things will pick up as we go through next year and the plant life has become re-established?

As Nick and Jon have said, the site has been really disappointing recently. In August there was a good variety of birds and plenty of interest so I am a bit puzzled as to why it has gone rather dead, despite excellent water levels. Any ideas?

Thanks Joy.

Rachel is very keen for the project to be a success, and I am sure she has been in touch with the power company. I did raise the issue during the planning stage but it doesn't seem to have been picked up.

I wonder how much of a deterrent (if any) those power lines are proving to be.

As Nick says, here's hoping things perk up as winter sets in.

Over the last couple of weeks I have called 3 separate times into the site on my way to either Killingholme Haven or East Halton Skitter. Each of these times has been very disappointing. The only sightings have been the usual suspects while walking to and from the hide. The lagoon has the odd mallard or teal and a host of various gulls....but nothing else. I have not considered it worthwhile even writing in the diary. I hope as winter approaches and the cold sets in we may see more species here, but things look grim at the moment.