Elmley NNR
@ElmleyNNR
SE England’s wilderness - huge skies above meadows & marsh with waders, raptors,owls and hares.A family farm, National Nature Reserve and amazing place to stay!
5 days since 25 Curlews released & having flown off strongly the majority returned to the Haymeadow near their pens that day, since then they’ve steadily been moving to the salting, joining the increase flock of wild curlews. JK has buddied up with an unringed Curlew & Whimbrel
Wonderful start to the day with the release of 25/ 32 Head Start Curlew recovery project #Curlews. It took them a few moments to realise the roof netting was gone before taking flight, circling the meadow & heading towards The Swale salting. #conservation @KentishPlover 1/2
Butterflies galore at the moment across the reserve. It’s just breathtaking, 87 Meadow Browns, 24 Gatekeepers, 3 common Blue, 1 Brown Angus, large White, common Skipper & 1 Fiery Clearwing on small clump of Sea Lavender.
This year’s wader breeding season is drawing to a close, last clutch of avocet eggs hatched & the chicks out under guard of protective parents.
Wetlands are crucial for both biodiversity and climate change mitigation and adaptation. They act as biodiversity hotspots, providing habitats for a wide array of species, and play a vital role in regulating water and carbon cycles. #WetlandConservation #WetlandsMatter
Rare sighting of female Bitten feeding an almost fledged youngster. She is solely responsible for rearing of young which normally leave the nest between 12 to 14 days to start exploring their surroundings but remain dependent on mother until about 8 wks @ElmleyNNR @KentishPlover
Look out for these now fledge brood of 3 Kestrels along the entrance track, great to see kestrels successfully breeding again on the reserve after absence.
Such a wonderful view of one of the Long-eared Owls at the end of last nights tour taken by @SimonGinnaw Nature Guide & Warden
2025’s #Curlew Head Starting project is drawing to a close, 8 wks on from the first hatchings the remaining 32/40 birds are being ringed by @SwaleWaders in preparation of their release 2 next week. They have developed that adult elegance & haunting call that reaches your sole.
Corn bunting with nesting material, probably its 2nd brood. It’s been a good year for them so far with 20 territories identified on the breeding bird survey & fledged young spotted @BBS_birds
Swifts live a life on the wing. From fledging at around 6 weeks old to the first time they breed at 3-4 years, they are unlikely to have touched the ground. They'll fly around 7000 miles each year and can reach speeds of 70mph. #SwiftAwarenessWeek
Little Ringed Plover spotted on the last week of 2025’s @BBS_birds. No evidence that it breed on the reserve but the hot weather has produced the habitat they would favour for nesting, seasonal freshwater wetlands on open stony ground. #WaderWednesday
Elmley's rich mosaic of ditches, grasslands & reedbeds carefully managed without the use of insecticides, provide differing habitat that insects need to complete their complex life cycles & thrive in abundance & form a essential link in the food chaining #InsectWeek #pollinators
Whittling away time watching a brambles bush teeming with butterflies, buzzing with dozens of bees, hover flies, beetles & spotted 1st a female Fiery Clearwing resting on Bristly Oxtongue, A rare moth in the Uk but found in several mostly coastal sites around Kent. @mothsinkent