This was the drilling machine which is being pushed forward at a tiny rate by hydraulic rams with a train of concrete pipes behind pressed on by hydraulic rams at over 120 tonnes of pressure.
We hope the coarse aggregate will provide a more stable substrate for invertebrates to live in than the 'soup' currently on the bed:
To help achieve this we need to drain the marshes down to get access. This means lots of mud and hopefully lots of waders - but only briefly as we'll be sacrificing the later part of the wader passage for it; but for next year hopefully the avocets will be able to take advantage of some new habitat.
Bird of the week this week was found by Erich Hediger - black-necked grebe today on D reservoir (though a small bird on D res doesn't make for the best of photos):
Still waders about - 8 greenshank on South Marsh East yesterday:
A green sandpiper too today, black tailed godwit and spotted redshank on Sunday, with 10 snipe yesterday:
with a common sandpiper:
And an aquatic horse:
A big influx of starlings - smothering a pylon on Leven Carr:
Lots of greylags still amassing too:
Though remarkably barnowl still feeding young on Watton NR - a late brood after the wet summer no doubt:
Thanks to Chris Ulliott for these pictures of the black headed gulls attempting to extract an oversize fish from the res:
A range of gulls now present (CU)
No wagtail spectacular yet on the fields (CU):
But there were a few yellow wagtails around Hempholme pump house this morning:
Greenfinch:
And linnets:
And a chance for a shot of the normally retiring stock dove:
Other birds of the week have included egyptian goose daily, hobby on Saturday, 2 little gulls and marsh harrier on Monday and little egret today.
