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Trying not to get worked up about disturbance - a thread
1/12
1/12
One of the Curlew roosts on the Medway, Tailness/Shepherds creek, is holding c. 300 birds at present.
Yesterday, at first light the pre-roost gathering had just started...
2/12
Yesterday, at first light the pre-roost gathering had just started...
2/12
...and by first light many of these birds had shifted up onto Deadman's island...
3/12
3/12
... with a smaller number choosing just south of the creek on the Tailness saltings (aka West Point).
Waders will usually have favoured sites, but with two or three back ups for all parts of their tidal routine- and they need them.
4/12
Waders will usually have favoured sites, but with two or three back ups for all parts of their tidal routine- and they need them.
4/12
An hour after dawn (so an hour before high tide), Tuesday's main roost was disturbed, flying south and west to the rear of Tailness by the inner sea wall.
5/12
5/12
The cause? A lone kayaker who, staying out of the wind and working against the tide, had chosen a course close to the saltings.
6/12
6/12
Even though this main roost was up and away at some distance, several of the smaller groups he had passed had felt safe enough to hold their ground.
It is always easier to set a large roost to flight than a smaller one.
7/12
It is always easier to set a large roost to flight than a smaller one.
7/12
Of course, also easy to think birds have plenty of choice on an estuary like the Medway. But even a larger salting like Tailness now tends to go under on higher springs (study Google Earth for lush vegetation- they're usually the only dry patches left on a spring tide)
8/12
8/12
If bad disturbance, waders can take 2, 3 tides to settle back into a routine. And this wasn't: on a moderate tide and safe areas available, the birds will likely be back on the next tide.
The problem comes when flushed routinely. This was 1st time I've seen here this year.
9/12
The problem comes when flushed routinely. This was 1st time I've seen here this year.
9/12
For waders on the Medway, increased vols of weekday disturbance during lockdown do seem to have brought subtle changes at some roosts.
Why always a need to record every type of disturbance event seen, and nos involved.
10/12
Why always a need to record every type of disturbance event seen, and nos involved.
10/12
But an incident like this will not, on its own, change behaviours permanently, Right now waders have extra daylight, better weather in which to rest up/feed/moult.
(The roost puts up with Marsh Harriers warming up on and spooking them daily- they're prey, after all)
11/12
(The roost puts up with Marsh Harriers warming up on and spooking them daily- they're prey, after all)
11/12
Medway lacks decent signage on important roosts- and the @birdwisenk Codes are still new, with many not yet familiar with them.
Why I don't get angry at every disturbance event. One like today just resolves me to keep chatting birds with as many estuary folk as I can.
12/12
Why I don't get angry at every disturbance event. One like today just resolves me to keep chatting birds with as many estuary folk as I can.
12/12
