Stodmarsh

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England, Kent

Overview

On the southern bank of the Great Stour River in Kent is one of south-east England's finest small wetland reserves, Stodmarsh.

Created by the collapse and subsequent flooding of old mine-workings this area consists of shallow meres, reedbeds and flooded meadows with drier grassland and scrub and some Alder woodland.

The old turf fields at Grove have now been developed as an excellent wetland area. About 160ha are protected as a National Nature Reserve.

Birds

Notable Species

Savi's Warbler, formerly one of the major ornithological attractions of Stodmarsh is, unfortunately, no longer to be seen here, at least not on a regular basis. This was its stronghold during the brief attempt at British recolonisation which now seems to be a thing of the past and its status at Stodmarsh, as elsewhere in Britain is that of a very rare migrant or vagrant.

After disapearing after a series of cold winters in the 1980s, Cetti's Warbler, can again be found in good numbers as well as that other reedbed speciality, the Bearded Tit. Commoner warblers such as Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler are abundant, but Grasshopper Warbler no longer breeds and is only a scarce migrant here. Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat and others nest commonly elsewhere on the reserve.

Other breeding birds of Stodmarsh include Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe and Garganey, a regular migrant, one or two pairs of which usually remain to nest. Gadwall, Common Teal and Northern Shoveler are present year-round as well as Common Pochard and Tufted Duck and feral Greylag Goose and Canada Goose are common visitors. Great Cormorant regularly roost here, Common Kingfisher is usually present all-year as is the elusive Water Rail. Common Tern have been encouraged to nest on an artificial island.

In late May Hobby are present in good numbers - usually in excess of 40 birds - and Marsh Harrier are now regular.

During passage periods a much wider variety of birds can be seen including many species of wader. However, since the decline of local coastal colonies Little Tern is now rare here and Black Tern is surprisingly scarce. Huge flocks of hirundines and swifts gather in autumn usually attracting one or two Northern Hobby. Being one of the closest British wetlands to the Continent, Stodmarsh is one of the sites to see rare migrant species such as Spotted Crake, White-winged Tern and Purple Heron.

Winter is quieter and the reedbeds often appear superficially birdless. Bittern numbers have increased in recent years although a great reward for the patient or lucky observer. Teal, Wigeon and other duck can be found in good numbers. Hen Harrier roost here, but numbers have declined and it is now out nuimbered by Marsh Harrier. Merlin is occasional, but Short-eared Owl and Great Grey Shrike are now very unusual visitors here. Water Pipit is a regular winter attraction.

In hard winters Bewick's Swan and Greater White-fronted Goose often put in an appearance. Views across Collards Lake (from the lane back to Canterbury) are distant but can add diving duck such as Goldeneye or more rarely Smew to the list. The alder trees provide food for finch flocks including Siskin and Lesser Redpoll and there is a regular wintering flock of Corn Bunting on the reserve. Yellow-browed Warbler has wintered.

Rarities

Regular brief spring visitors are Golden Oriole and Osprey. In fact, Stodmarsh has hosted a long list of rarities including Whiskered Tern and Britain's first American Coot and Pallid Swift.

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Great Bittern, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Bewick's Swan, Greater White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Osprey, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Eurasian Hobby, Water Rail, Spotted Crake, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Golden Plover, Ruff, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Little Tern, Black Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Common Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Common Kingfisher, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Northern House Martin, Common Wren, Dunnock, Eurasian Robin, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Bearded Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Great Grey Shrike, Common Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Eurasian Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Common Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting

Other Wildlife

Mammals found on the reserve include the now almost ubiquitous American Mink which is decimating the now nationally scarce Water Vole and also Water Shrew. Large numbers of bats including Noctule Bat, feed over the reedbeds in summer.

Insects and other invertebrates are well-represented on the reserve and scarce species such as Hairy Dragonfly and Red-eyed Damselfly can be seen.

The plantlife is equally interesting with many freshwater specialities including Amphibious Bistort, Bogbean and Flowering Rush.

Site Information

History and Use

To do

Areas of Interest

The Lampen Wall is a raised path that forms a flood barrier and offers excellent views over the reserve.

Grove Ferry is perhaps more easily accessed and can be reached off the main Canterbury Thanet road on the edge of Upstreet (to which buses run).

Access and Facilities

Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve is reached from the A257 Canterbury-Sandwich road, turning off about 2km out of Canterbury to the village of Stodmarsh. In the village turn left onto a rough track immediately after passing the Red Lion pub and a short distance down this track there is a car-park with toilet facilities and a very useful bird-log.

From here the visitor can follow paths through the alder wood and onto the reserve leading to hides overlooking reedbeds, open water and marshes.

Contact Details

Tel: 01233 812525

External Links

• Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve
• Natural England, Stodmarsh NNR
• Check the website of the KOS (Kent Ornithological Society) for regular updates on this reserve).
• Stodmarsh on Streetmap

Content and images originally posted by Steve