WADERS
FOCUS ON Waders in Suffolk
Thank you
Thanks to your support we have seen record numbers of waders breeding successfully at Carlton Marshes.
Wild wetland successes!
ALAMY
Black-tailed godwits gather in huge flocks at Carlton Marshes.
Waders and ducks flourish Despite Covid-19 restricting our monitoring last year, some of our wetlands recorded excellent numbers of waders and ducks, and we’ve seen big wildlife successes across many nature reserves. At Alde Mudflats, whilst some species counts were lower than normal (reflecting reduced migration numbers to our shores in another mild winter year), one count observed a flock of 200 wigeon, the highest recorded count in a decade. This reserve is at risk of disturbance from
ALAMY
Ruff are amongst the many birds that are regular visitors to Carlton Marshes.
ever increasing numbers of rental canoes and paddleboarders, and we are working hard to persuade the council and Natural England to restrict activities so close to the reserve.
We've seen big wildlife successes across many reserves New habitat creation Hazlewood Marshes continues to develop following the seawall breach in 2013. The reserve had eight pairs of avocets with eight successful fledglings in 2020. Peak wader counts included 900 dunlin, 240 black-tailed godwit and 290 redshank. There were thousands of wigeon and teal, and the reserve is now an important fish nursery for bass, mullet and many other species. Our new habitat creation at Carlton Marshes, supported by the Heritage Fund, is an incredible boon for wildlife. Bird records include lapwing, redshank, avocet, oystercatcher, little-ringed plover, bar- and black-tailed godwit, snipe and
ruff, as well as rarer avian visitors including buff-breasted sandpiper, great white egret, cattle egret, common crane, hoopoe, purple heron and white-tailed eagle. There is a thriving water vole population, otters visit regularly, and it is one of the most diverse sites in the UK for dragonfly and damselflies. Suffolk Wader Strategy It's through partnership working that we will see the greatest gains for wildlife. The Suffolk Wader Strategy is an example of how individuals and organisations can work together to ensure wetlands are restored and managed for long-term wader recovery. Suffolk Wildlife Trust, RSPB, National Trust, Natural England and private landowners are working together to create and protect new habitats over successive years, boosting biodiversity as well as breeding success.
Enjoy our wetland nature reserves this autumn and winter: keep an eye out for migrant birds, waders and wildfowl suffolkwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves
Wild Suffolk | Autumn 2021
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