NATURE DIARY ON THE MARSH

NATURE CALENDER OF STANPIT MARSH
Of the more common species

Nature Calendar of the Marsh
Of the more common species

SUMMER DIARY
JUNE – JUL Y – AUGUST

HARBOUR & MARSHLAND BIRDS
The muddy creeks and pools on North and East marshes provide perfect feeding areas for many waders and resident birds when the tide is in – Redshank, Curlew, Teal, Mallard, Little Egret, Herons, and many gulls can be regularly seen here. Oyster-catchers, Lapwing, Dunlin, Shelduck and other waders tend to roost on the outer rims of the marsh whilst the tide is in. Here too is where many of the Coot prefer to feed on the marshland grasses. When the tide goes out, the birds follow too – feeding on the many marine creatures that live within the mud.
Mid-summer sees the arrival of the young of many of the gulls – particularly the Herring and Lesser Black-backed gulls. If successful, a brood of young Shelduck may also be seen in the shallow parts of the harbour – the adults having perhaps nested in rabbit burrows on the marsh.

SALT PANS, CREEKS AND STREAMS
The green algae, Enteromorpha and Ulva (sea lettuce) often colour the pans and creeks bright green, providing food for Swans and Mallards and small aquatic animals such as snails and shrimps.
Ragworms, Mud shrimps (Corophium) with their long antennae, Common shrimps and the woodlice-like Sphaeroma may be seen swimming in the brackish water salt pans and inlets. Small Shore crabs and minute Laver spire shells (Hydrobia) are often visible on the mud. Fish such as young Grey mullet and Sticklebacks and even an elver may, also, be seen. In the freshwater of Purewell stream and in the incoming drainage channels Freshwater shrimps, Pond slaters and Lesser water boatman feed and reproduce while many aquatic larvae and nymphs metamorphose into adult beetles, damselflies, dragonflies and caddis flies. Look out for swarms of Chironomid non-biting midges gathering over the water as they emerge from their aquatic larvae.
This rich supply of food, which continues well into the autumn, is one of the reasons why the Marsh attracts so many different birds.

SCRUBLAND BIRDS
North Scrubs, as well as other areas of scrub and gorse, provide ideal habitats for many small birds, and during the spring many of them will have nested here – including Greenfinch, Linnet, Whitethroat, Blue, Great, and Long-tailed Tits. Hopefully, some birds will have taken advantage of the nests boxes that have been placed in the area too. The Greater-spotted Woodpecker is often heard, more than seen here, hopefully nesting in one of the old trees at the back of North Scrubs. A migrant to look out for, particularly around gorse patches , is the Wheatear. Here too can be seen the Dartford Warbler and Stonechat – both their warning calls often being heard before the birds are seen. Sand Martin and Swallow can often be seen swooping over the marsh, catching insects on the wing, and higher in the sky the Kestrel hovers, intensely searching out prey within the marsh grasses.
Towards the end of summer, hundreds of Starlings gather together, and swarm in large groups, and it can be particularly amusing to see many of them land and rest on the backs of the ponies.

FLOWERS
Throughout these 3 months, the marsh comes alive with colour – the yellow Marsh Ragwort and Celery-leaved Buttercup dominating central marsh. The Yellow Flag Iris, and purple spears of Marsh Woundwort and Purple Loosestrife grow in the wetter areas around scrub, whereas the Vetches, Trefoils, and Stitchworts can be seen within the dryer areas of scrub, together with Fleabane and the rare Marsh Mallow.
Within the shorter turf of North and East marshes Sea Lavender gives a wonderful splash of lilac during July;
but smaller flowers like Sea Milkwort and the Sea Spurreys can easily be overlooked. Towards the end of the
summer, the flowers of Strawberry Clover turn, and bear a remarkable resemblance to strawberries.
Many water plants come into flower around Purewell Stream –including Water Forget-me-not, Water Mint, Fools Watercress, and the rarer Flowering Rush. Water Crowsfoot covers a few of the pools on Central Marsh during mid-summer.
The succulent type plants of Glasswort which smothers many of the muddy patches, begin to turn red towards the end of the season, and Crouch Hill turns a similar colour with large patches of Sorrel. This area is particularly rich in acid grassland and supports many tiny flowers which can only be seen if you take a closer look.

BUTTERFLIES
Most of the butterflies are concentrated within North Scrubs where conditions are more favourable for their life-style – shelter, nectar, and food plants for the caterpillars. The Green-veined White, however, favours damper areas, and may be seen on flowers on the marshland turf. Common species seen include Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large and Small Skippers, and Large and Small Whites. The caterpillars of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell can be seen on Stinging Nettles during early summer.
During the season, keep a watch out for migrants such as the Painted Lady – which can be numerous some years – or the Clouded Yellow.

DRAGONFLIES
These too can predominantly be seen in the scrub, which provides shelter as well as a large supply of insects which they catch in flight. The Common, Southern, and Brown Hawkers in particular are very noticeable here, as they each have certain flights paths for catching insects, and chase off any intruders which stray onto their patch.
The smaller darters, which include the Common and Ruddy Darter, can often be seen resting on twigs or plants; whereas the dainty damselflies like the Common Blue, Blue-tailed, or Small Red, tend to frequent wetter areas around Purewell Stream or pools. Look out for the rarer Scarce Chaser.

INSECTS
There are, of course, numerous insects and spiders on the marsh – too numerous to mention individually.
However, a close look within the gorse and scrub plants can reveal some fascinating species – all sorts of different bees and flies (most of which are completely harmless), shield bugs, grasshoppers and crickets. Here too can be found many caterpillars, not only the larvae of many of these insects, but of moths and butterflies.
Many of them too, rely on specific habitats and conditions that the marsh provides.

 

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Egret