Wallasea Island Update

I visited the Wallasea Island project yesterday to check on the progress of the site, having heard it has changed a fair bit since my last visit. It was very exciting to see the buzz of activity as I watched several trucks shuttling clay from a one point to another and you really see the planned sections of the reserve being to take shape as the different levels and walls are being built up. 

More surprising still was the number of birds which were already present in the small body of water just beyond the construction work, despite all the activity and noise. I saw several swans, mallards, lapwings and a few egrets while at the site and, as the weather was turning, I assume there are typically more present in this area. It just goes to show the resilience and adaptability of wetland birds in the UK. Below I've included some pictures of the work.

Conveyor belt delivering clay from the docked boat

Clay being dropped at the collection point

View of the trucks shuttling clay along the created walls

A little trip to Wallasea Island

I ventured down to Wallasea Island today, along with my mum and the dog, to attempt to suss out the area  for my dissertation project. The project will be looking at dog walking and the disturbance it causes to wetland birds. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great so all was a bit quiet on the bird front. Hopefully on a nicer day I'll have more luck.

I took the opportunity to check out the work being done further down the sea wall, the jetty has been set up now I'm guessing they have started, or will soon start, to move clay from boats on the river onto the land as there was plenty of complicated looking machinery. It exciting to see how the site is progressing as more work is being done.