Tay Estuary Diary May 2014

The weather was mostly dull, dry and mild at the start of the month with the odd wet spell thrown into the mix. The river level was to continue dropping back towards summer level at this time. A lot of our work time this month was taken up with our routine cutting programme

this covered from strimming round the orchard down on the estuary to the banking’s up at the fishery, and keeping on top of all the pathways with the small tractor and mulcher.

 

There was more work done up at the fishery as all the usual cutting up there got underway.

The weed cutting boat was put back in the water and given a run out after some routine maintenance on it. It was early enough yet for the weed to be cut back but everything was in working order and is ready to go when the weed starts to move.

 

The swans have not nested this year up at the fishery but the geese have got a couple of goslings about the place.

A lot of the nest boxes about the place are busy now with the parent birds feeding, from the Blue Tits in the woods to the Sparrows around the house.

We also saw the return of the Swifts on the 10th of this month. The track dumper was put off duty for a spell after the Pied Wagtails had built a nest in the engine compartment, but will be ready to go again after the chicks have left the nest.

Out on the river we have seen record numbers of goosanders this year as they have gathered up and worked together to take advantage of the annual smolt run.

It can be quite a sight to witness as they go into a feeding frenzy as they come over a shoal of smolts, even the herons and otters will have their share of the smolts as they pass down through the estuary on their way back to the sea.

We had a few more coasters back up the river again this month plying their trade at Perth harbour, timber and fishmeal being the main cargoes.

There was more of a summer feel about the river as the temperature got up into the seventies some days. There were more of the wild flowers were coming out along the river banks, with the Blue Monkshood, Marsh Orchids and Ragged Robin all adding a splash of colour.

 

As the month came to an end, we had settled weather and a dropping river level on the estuary.

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