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Reedbed bird interest
Mature reedbeds support a range of bird species several of which are very
rare breeding species in the UK. These include:
| Botaurus stellaris (bittern) |
The bittern is a rare breeding species in Britain requiring
large wet reedbeds in which to breed which are freshwater, at least 20 ha
in size, 20% open water and with a water depth between 10 - 25 cm. They
require an extensive reed-edge/open water interface and an abundance of
fish prey. |
| Circus aeruginosus (marsh
harrier) |
Marsh harriers are now recovering from near extinction in
the early 1970s. They nest in secluded reedbed and may hunt over much of
the surrounding area taking small birds, mammals and other vertebrates.
Wet reedbeds are less favoured. The size of reedbed is not critical but
large sites (> 25 ha) are preferred. |
| Panurus biarmicus (bearded
tit) |
The bearded tit is dependent on drier reedbeds than the previous
species. Most birds are found in solid tracts of reed and associated dense,
tall, non-woody vegetation growing by, or often in, fresh or brackish water
and adjoining marshes and swamps. |
| Locustella luscinioides
(Savi`s warbler) |
This species is still rare in Britain, but their occurrence
has a distinctly south-easterly bias. They are generally restricted to large,
wet reedbeds, that contain or are adjacent to mixed herbaceous fen and scrub.
They are insectivores, and prefer to nest in areas of wet reedbeds. |
Comment: Reedbeds provide roosting and feeding sites for a number
of migratory species, including the globally threatened Acrocephalus
paludicola (aquatic warbler) and are used as roost sites for raptors
in winter. Transitions to other stages in succession
can have different species some of which are also important.
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