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| CHELMARSH SCRAPE |
Formation of Chelmarsh Ringing Group
Chelmarsh R.G. was formally set up in 2002, although Dave Fulton and Tony Crossman have been ringing on the site, and
locally since 1978. They were joined in 1990 by Joe Jordan, and in 2001 by Dave Bastin. Trainees, Dave Rogers, Doug
Wall, are also group members. Linda Munday and Stuart Cowper, who joined the group as trainees in 2006 have just
qualified for C licences, and Joe Jordan is now an 'initial' trainer.
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Chelmarsh reservoir is situated 4 miles South of Bridgnorth, in South Shropshire. The site is owned by The South Staffordshire
Water Authority, and Chelmarsh Bird Reserve is an area of marsh land, phragmites reedbed, and wader scrape, adjacent
to the reservoir. This area was leased by Shropshire Wildlife Trust, until Sept. 08 but this has now ceased. It
is hoped that the Shropshire Ornithological Society will take over the full lease in due course.
Back in 1978, the reserve was just an area of mainly Willow Herb, then in that year, Dave F. and colleagues planted 100
roots of Phragmites Reed on the site. It was slow at first to gain a hold but then expanded rapidly to what we have today.
The number of Reed Warbler pairs breeding on the reserve has increased from nil, to over 30 pairs as the area of
reedbed increased.
The next important habitat change followed the involvement of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, the Scrape was made. This
is an area of approx.1 hectare over which the water levels can be controlled. In summer and winter the area is flooded and
becomes a haven for ducks, swans, and geese. In the spring and autumn, the water level is dropped to expose mud and feeding
areas for migrating waders.
The following tables shows the number of birds ringed at all sites in the UK each year by Chelmarsh Ringing Group.
Year
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
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F.Grown
2430
2120
1122
1589
1650
2617
2425
1533
2012
1614
664
1590
548
530
810
665
951
1847
1228
1353
1732
1284
1354
1066
1530
2671
2756
2265
2460
1219
2472
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Pullus
165
453
676
420
737
1198
772
1105
585
686
725
456
506
514
428
374
313
512
321
538
559
557
362
249
420
419
425
397
439
557
441
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Total
2595
2573
1798
2009
2387
3815
3197
2638
2597
2300
1389
2046
1054
1044
1238
1039
1264
2359
1549
1891
2291
1841
1716
1315
1950
3090
3181
2662
2899
1776
2913
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Total
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Birds
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Ringed
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66416
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This table should not be used as an indicator of population levels. There are many reasons for the fluctuations, effort,
weather conditions, as well as varying numbers.
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Dave F, Linda, and Stuart ringing in the Seine Estuary, France.
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Some of the 'Gang'... Doug, Dave B, Tony, Dave F, and Joe, enjoying
the local hospitality at Santo Andre.
Although Chelmarsh Reservoir is the main base for the group, they are active throughout the year at various
other locations.
- Oct...Feb. Most Sunday afternoons, weather permitting, at Chelmarsh. Catching
finches, tits etc. at the feeding stations which are provided by Chelmarsh R.G. In the evening the roost in the phragmites
reedbed can turn up good numbers of Reed Bunting, Pied Wagtails, Starlings etc.
- Mar...Apr. Catches continue at Chelmarsh, but Dave F concentrates his efforts
on the Siskin, Goldfinch, and Greenfinch in his garden in Highley.
- May...Jul. While Andy tends to the 300+ nestboxes in the Wyre Forest, the rest
of the group spend every weekend on Clee Hill, Nr. Cleobury Mortimer monitoring breeding Stonechat and Wheatear. An R.A.S.
(Retrapping Adults for Survival) project is carried out on each of these species.
- Jul...Sep. The group returns to Chelmarsh to monitor the breeding warbler populations.
Swallow and Sand Martin Roosts also sometimes build up in the reedbeds, and an occasional all night netting session turns
up some interesting waders.
- Sep. As the summer migrants
drift back towards warmer climes, the group makes its annual pilgrimage to Santo Andre in Portugal. Here at this time, the
migration is in full swing, and high numbers of the more exotic warblers are caught on passage. Grasshopper, Sardinian, Sub
Alpine, and Melodious Warblers, and good numbers of Bluethroat join the many reed Warblers moving through.
- Oct The annual cycle
starts once more.
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Chelmarsh Ringing Group are all members of The British Trust
for Ornithology and are all active wardens of Chelmarsh Nature reserve. If we are ringing birds or carrying out
maintenance on the site when you visit, please come and speak to us. We will be glad to show you birds in the hand, and who
knows, we may even persuade you to take up a spade to help with the maintenance work.
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Any donations of birdfood would be most welcome between October and March. Please leave in bins in 'old' scrape hide.
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| DINNEY FARM COTTAGES |
For local HOLIDAY COTTAGES self catering or B&B at Dinney Farm overlooking Chelmarsh Reservoir. Click here.
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