Over the last two weeks we’ve been able to make a start on
the flood repairs at North Duffield now that the water has started to recede,
and with extra (and much needed) help from Nick, Sandra & Jackie from the Filey Conservation Volunteers, on our first visit we were
able to make good progress cleaning the hide, re-attaching the windows that had
been forced out by the pressure of the water, removing the old noticeboards and
fitting new ones. We also started to wheelbarrow some of the gravel from the
car park down to the sections of the path that were ripped apart during the
flooding, the wooden boards and stakes had been forced out of the ground and
the substrate washed away leaving large holes in the path.
Whilst busy working on the damaged path, we came across this Common Toad whilst moving some of the
soil and vegetation. Following its rude awakening from hibernation, it settled
on the heap of soil, looking rather sleepy having just been disturbed. To make
sure it didn’t come into contact again with one of our spades we tucked it into
the long grass on the other side of the fence. During the spring toads emerge
from hibernation and return to the same ponds to breed. Following the breeding
season they will then move away from the water bodies and will spend their time
in wet grassland, woodland and other damp areas, by October they will then
start to look for a cosy spot to hibernate in for another winter. Frogs and toads although similar can be separated quite
easily, in comparison to the smooth skin of the Common Frog, toads have a warty
skin and tend to walk rather than hop, and have a much broader ‘snout’. Frogs
are a much more common sight in the valleys meadows, particularly at Thornton
Ellers where we seem to come across a lot during the late summer months.
Following on from our initial visit, Nick, Sandra & Jackie
were back for more of the same last week with a sterling effort on Tuesday and
Wednesday helping us repair the damaged path. Many
trips were had with the wheelbarrows moving the gravel from the car park to the
path, along with raking away the flood debris before laying new textile
membrane and filling the gaps in with the new substrate. New fencing posts were
also hammered in to reinforce the wooden boards which make up the edge of the
path – these will hopefully prevent the path from giving way next year if we
experience another bad flood. The new windows are to be fitted in the hide next
week once the glass arrives and the rest of the path will take another week(s)
to finish off – it is however usable now.
The flood water remains high, resting
just below the base of the hide – but there is plenty to see with a flock of 41
Curlew noted (along with several territorial birds singing overhead).
Up to 100 Tufted Ducks have moved onto this part of the reserve in recent days
and small numbers of Coot are now back on territory. As the water continues to
fall increasing numbers of Wigeon and Teal should start to return to this part
of the reserve, but if the high levels persist then it could be good for
Black-necked Grebes towards the end of next month. Many thanks to the team for
their efforts this week – and in all types of weather – from warm sunshine to
chilly northerly winds and heavy snow!
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