Maer Lake
The most satisfying thing to report about Maer Lake is that
since the joint purchase of the reserve by the Trust and the
Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society the
number of birds visiting the site has dramatically
increased. The following report, prepared in summer
1996, gives some idea of why this is considered to be one of
Cornwall's best bird sites.
During the last winter period a record number of 423 teal
was counted at Maer, and over 2,000 lapwing were also
present, along with our usual more-expected winter visitors.
Scarce visitors have included pintail, gadwall and brent
geese. With the cold and frosty winter weather I had
expected to see more grey geese, and just two white-fronted
geese was slightly disappointing. Revealing my age, I can
remember when the little egret was a rare sight in Cornwall.
It has always been one of my favourites, but I do still find it
surprising when I see one at Maer on a cold February day in
the company of white-fronts! Greylag geese again put in a
late appearance with six on 1st April. It would be
interesting to speculate on how far south they had been
wintering. Rude is generally not the best area for seeing
rare and scarce gulls, so the long-staying Iceland and
Mediterranean gulls using the roost at Maer were very
welcome. Little gull again put in its usual brief annual
appearance. The management work carried out last summer
proved to be a great success, and a substantial flow of open
water was available to the birds, even during the severest of
frosts. Where in the past many birds would have been
forced to leave Maer during harsh, freezing conditions, this
winter we were able to provide safe refuge, and on one
January morning over 3,000 duck and plover were crowded
around the open water.
Like most birdwatchers in Cornwall, I was very
disappointed with the cold spring weather, and especially
with the predominantly northerly winds that prevailed. But,
again, Maer did not disappoint us, with little ringed plover,
yellow wagtail, parties of up to 23 whimbrel and all the
usual waders passing through. Highlights included a
sanderling in full summer plumage, and a curlew sandpiper
about two-thirds into summer plumage. Curlew sandpiper is
a bird you expect to see in the autumn, but is always an
excellent spring record. Even more scarce in spring is little
stint, and the one at Maer on 19th April was only the 20th
spring county record of this species over a period of 46
years! So I was doubly delighted when a second bird
arrived on 20th May in full summer plumage. A flock of 36
pied wagtails and four white wagtails was also notable. The
final birds to arrive on the spring migration provided a
wonderful spectacle. With Maer looking at its best on a
warm, still, early-June day, 26 black-tailed godwits arrived.
Wheeling and circling around the lake, their reflections were
perfectly mirrored in the still water, and their excited kee-
wee-wee call echoed around the marsh. A captivating
experience!
I was very pleased last year when three pairs of black-
headed gulls nested at Maer. This year six nests were built.
Unfortunately heavy rain fell at a critical time, and the water
rose, chilling the eggs in five nests. The sixth survived and
one young was successfully reared. A pair of teal has
remained throughout the summer, but I have seen no
evidence of an attempt at breeding. Water rail have been
calling each morning fmm first light to around 7.45am, and
I will be hoping to see juveniles in July as the water level
starts to drop.
The management team has held its annual meeting, and a
new programme of work has been planned. We shall again
be clearing ditches, and removing and cutting the
encroaching flag iris. We will also try to provide a raised
area where the black-headed gulls can hopefully nest in
safety.
Graham Sutton
Graham Sutton holds key positions in both the Trust and the CBWPS, as well as the North Cornwall Natural Trust History Club. He is well known as an authority on bird life and as a professional photographer.
Water rail. Photo: Graham Sutton
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