Ross nature reserve in line for 'make-over'
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A KEY nature reserve is to be given a ‘make-over’ to make it even more attractive to migrating waders and wildfowl in Ross-shire.
Nigg nature reserve, which is just along the road from the Nigg fabrication yard on the Cromarty Firth, is well-known to birdwatchers for its ability to attract thousands of visiting birds and wildfowl during the autumn and winter months.
But the RSPB hopes to make the avian display even more spectacular for onlookers after adopting a technique used at other reserves to further boost the habitat. It has created a ‘scrape’ in order to attract birds to feed and roost much closer to the bird hide on the reserve.
Isabel Morgan, warden at the RSPB reserve, said the charity had used a famous ‘scrape’ at Minsmere in Suffolk as inspiration.
"The scrape is, basically, a man-made pond, which has extensive shallow edges which are designed to produce as much invertebrate-rich mud as possible," she said. "Birds just love it and touch down there to refuel on migration.
"The hides which overlook the Scrape at Minsmere provide wonderful views for visiting wildlife enthusiasts. We wish to do something similar at Nigg Bay so we have set about creating our own scrape by widening and re-profiling an existing pond that was dugout about 15 years ago.
"Although the pond was being used by the odd little grebe, mallard and heron, which are great to see, it was too deep for lapwing, redshank curlew and other waders to benefit from as well. Since then our understanding of managing wetlands for waders has developed so we decided to make some changes."
The work, which has been funded by the Landfill Communities Fund, was carried out by the same local contractor that helped to create the original pond – DH Munro.
"It was nice to welcome them back on site," Ms Morgan added. "DH Munro did a great job and were really on board with what we were after.
"Among the new features are islands which we hope will be used for breeding by lapwings or other waders.
"The scrape is easily viewed from the hide and with the benefits of better feeding the scrape can provide, compared to the original pond, it should encourage the birds to use the area more regularly and provide a far better viewing opportunity for visitors to the hide.
"The scrape still looks a bit raw at the moment but the vegetation will recover. It will take a bit of time to mature into its full potential but other than a bit of tweaking as the ground settles we will leave it to nature to do the rest."
