RESERVES WALK STAFFS WT

Doxey Marshes

oxey Marshes is a nationally natural bends back in the artificially Continue along the path as it important reserve for hundreds straightened , lowering the heads past the river. The large of birds. Stretching from the M6 height of some of the areas and willow trees are some of the Dalmost right into the centre of Stafford, creating the islands you can see in front 4oldest on the reserve. They have been the Site of Special Scientific Interest of you. The result has been a more pollarded, a management technique follows the floodplain of the River Sow diverse habitat and also areas which which stops them becoming too large, and is a mix of wet grassland, reedbed can store extra floodwater to help whilst providing useful timber in the and rush pasture creating a haven for protect Stafford from flooding. past. These old willows with their old many different species of bird. branches, holes and deadwood provide Carry on along the path and great roosts for bats. then drop down a short slope, From the car park at the end of turning right onto Warren’s Follow the path as it heads Wootton Drive near the M6 2Lane. Cary on down this track before along the river until you reach a junction follow the path around stopping off at the viewing platform on kissing gate. Go through this 1the back of the houses away from the your left. This is Boundary Flash, and gate5 to the main bird hide. This hide motorway. Stop by the pumping occasionally we have bittern stopping often offers great views. The wetland in station for great views across the off in the reedbed to hunt during the front of you attracts many birds northern end of the marshes. The winter months. Sadly, the reedbed isn’t including the secretive snipe which water in front of you is called Creswell large enough to host a breeding pair. winter on the reserve in their hundreds. Flash. There are four main ‘flashes’ on One of the more unusual species Other species to see are lapwing, the marshes, formed by subsidence found at is the elusive water rail tufted duck and great crested grebe. during the salt extraction in Stafford’s which like hiding in the wet ditches. Leave the hide and retrace your steps history. Listen out for their pig-like squeels! along the path, but on the first corner Creswell Flash is great for take the path which heads off to the overwintering wildfowl. Keep an eye Continue down Warren’s Lane, right up a slight hill through a hay out for wigeon and shoveler as well as through the kissing gate and meadow. The old hedgerow on your flocks of lapwing and other waders. turn right. Look out for reed left is great for finches and thrushes. The islands on the far shoreline were buntings3 in the reedbed on your left as formed recently to create extra you follow the path as it turns and The path brings you back to the foraging and nesting habitat for the heads towards the small ‘octohide’. This kissing gate at Boundary Flash. reserve’s birds. In the winter of 2016/17 hide overlooks Darling Pasture, one of Listen out for warblers in the we carried out major changes to the the most important breeding areas on 6reedbed before you head back to the northern end of the reserve, putting the reserve for waders. car park.

12 Wildlife SPRING 2018 RESERVES WALK Doxey Marshes The reserve is located just off the A513, Road off Junction 14 on the M6, Stafford, Staffordshire ST16 1JR (nearest) Map reference: SJ 903 250

7 to spot 1 Lapwing – A wader. Listen out for their distinctive ‘Peewit’ call as it tumbles from the sky.

2 Snipe – A secretive and rare wetland JANET PACKHAM MARGARET HOLLAND wader. Hundreds overwinter here, DEREK LEES though they can be hard to spot. JAMES RODGERSON 3 Water rail – Listen out for their pig-like squeals echoing across the reserve.

4 Warblers – Listen out for the first reed and sedge warblers as they migrate back to the reserve’s breeding grounds AMY LEWIS from Africa.

5 Reed bunting - Easily missed but in ADAM JONES plentiful supply on the reserve during winter and breeding months. 7 Pensioner pollards - The oldest trees 6 Otter – A success story, the otter is on the reserve. We pollard our trees to making a recovery across the country as stop them getting too big and collapsing. water quality has improved. Otters use This also prolongs their life and stops the reserve to hunt and are regularly them being used by predator birds STAFFS WT spotted. spying on spring wader chicks.

SPRING 2018 Staffordshire Wildlife 13