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Walmsley Sanctuary...

 

Open Day : 25th August 2007 : Report and photographs by Simon Marquis
 
The Walmsley Sanctuary was opened to members and the public between 10am and 4pm on August Bank Holiday Saturday. It was a warm, sunny day and the reserve looked stunning. Early visitors were lucky enough to see the young female Marsh Harrier that had been in the area for a few days. Later arrivals had to content themselves with Sedge Warblers, a Reed Bunting, Little Grebe and Mute Swans - along with a huge variety of dragonflies and damsel-flies.
Adrian Langdon and Derek Julian escorted visitors around the reserve and all were able to see the newly-installed memorial to Francis Couch on the stone in the middle of the reserve. Sam Julian provided refreshments and Peter Crsispin and Colin Selway did sterling duty at the car park.
Around 50 people came - some members, but also some non-members who expressed an interest in joining the Society. Additional funds were raised by the sale of Dave Thomas' nest boxes and old Bird Reports.
All in all the feedback on the day was extremely positive and thanks are due to all who made the day enjoyable and well-run.

 

The sanctuary is situated about two km north of Wadebridge. It includes over 20 hectares of reclaimed flood plain between the farm of Lower Amble and the River Amble, and lies less than one km inland from the Camel Estuary. Its highest point is about four metres above the Ordnance Datum.

The reserve has developed from three fields of pasture on land reclaimed from salt marsh and now protected from flooding by a dam at the mouth of the River Amble.  The vegetation is predominantly Juncus effusus.  The reserve also includes hedges, ditches, a shallow pond left over when the river was straightened and one bank of the River Amble.  The Environment Agency constructed excellent new areas of water and essential new embankments outside the new hide, whilst carrying out their Amble Marshes Management Scheme in 1998.

Naturalist and broadcaster Bill Oddie officially opened the fabulous tower hide in December 1999. With the hide being 4m high, excellent views are possible over most of the reserve and the surrounding countryside, in comparatively luxurious comfort.

 

 

Improvement works were carried out in September 2005.  It will take a few months to "green up" but the amount of open water has been increased dramatically. All the channels were dredged and some small scrapes made. There is now a large pool in front of the old hide that will improve the quality of viewing from that corner.
 

 

Species to be seen include, in winter, Teal, large flocks of Wigeon, Lapwing and Golden Plover. Also Shoveler, Snipe, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Ruff, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, White-fronted Gees (low numbers), Little Egret and Barn Owl.  In summer, breeding birds include Mute Swan, Mallard, Shelduck, Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler.

 

 



Passage migrants include waders, egrets, herons, wildfowl and raptors. Almost anything can turn up! Rarities include Black Stork, Black Duck, American Bittern, Temmink's Stint, Marsh Harrier and Citrine Wagtail.
 

 




 

The sanctuary is nationally important for wintering waders and wildfowl.  During high tides, many estuary birds use the reserve as a refuge.
 

 

 

The hide is locked.  New arrangements are currently being made for access to keys.
Leave Wadebridge on the B3314 Rock to Port Isaac road. Proceed to the traffic light controlled bridge over the River Trewornan. Use the narrow public footpath gate on the right hand side (Rock side of bridge) and follow the path across the fields towards the hide. Please use the stiles and do not climb the hedges.
To avoid disturbance to this statutory bird sanctuary, the hides are the only area open to visitors.

Greenshanks, Grey Heron, Green Sandpiper and Little Egret, all at Walmsley Sanctuary, Aug 2006 (photos by Adrian Langdon):

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Above photographs, all taken at Walmsley Sanctuary, courtesy of Adrian Langdon.

Home President's message Reserves & hides Walmsley Sanctuary Windmill Farm Membership Maer Lake Contact us Field meetings Cornish Choughs Reports for Sale Submitting records County list Bird Atlas Gallery Pre 2005 Archive 2006 archive 2005 Archive 2007 archive News Gallery (2)