Fraser Rush started his talk by giving us a bit of history about the Axe Estuary. Originally, the estuary was an inlet between the surrounding hills; I guess Axmouth really was at the river mouth. In Tudor times a shingle bar formed, almost blocking the estuary. In due course, around 1670, embankments were built to enclose Seaton marshes, which were drained to form grazing land. Further up the river, Colyford Common is not enclosed by sea defences and remains a salt marsh, which is typically flooded half a dozen times a year, at the highest tides.
Fraser then moved on to more modern times and described the development of Colyford Common as a nature reserve. Dating back only to 2001, the reserve has attracted several rarities (e.g. Great White Egret, Hoopoe and Pectoral Sandpiper). The Axe Estuary ringing group, led by Mike Tyler, has ringed a good range of birds, including Sedge Warblers, Kingfishers and Lesser Whitethroats (which breed on the common). The reserve facilities are improving all the time; the original viewing platform has been replaced by a hide, while a new viewing platform was opened earlier this year. Apparently the new platform overlooks an area frequented by Water Pipits - worth keeping a look-out for, though they can easily hide in amongst the tussocks. In a couple of years, it is expected that improved access will be possible along a new cycle route (open to pedestrians and non-motorised vehicles).
After the tea break we heard more about Seaton Marshes. Its role as a nature reserve is also recent, dating back only to 1999. The original 17th century drainage had been very efficient, so it took quite a lot of work to turn the fields back to marshland. Works included building bunds across the drainage ditches, but incorporating facilities to allow the water levels to be controlled to within a few mm. Although nominally a fresh-water marsh, some salt water leaks into the ditches, leading to an odd mixture of creatures, for example shrimps and dragonfly nymphs occurring together. Over the past few years, the number of Wigeon has multiplied by a factor of about 3, and the number of Black-tailed Godwits is roughly doubling every year - though of course there are many more of each on the Exe estuary. One of the Wigeon caught by the ringing group had a Russian ring, dating back to the Soviet era, telling us not only that our Wigeon may spend their summers in Russia, but also that they can live to a good age. By ringing around 10% of the local population, it is hoped that we will learn a lot more about how the birds use the estuaries.
Seaton has an excellent hide. Approached along a screened path, the hexagonal hide gives an all-round view of the river and marshland. At the end of the talk, Fraser gave us a taste of what might be to come, if funding can be obtained. The hope is that more land can be acquired, to fill some of the gap between the two current reserves, and further improve the birdwatching facilities and access to the Axe estuary. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!
Richard Swinbank