Calstock Wetland : A Year On.

 November 2022. It is the first anniversary of the breaching of the river-bank at Calstock. (See Blog for the back story; New Wetlands in the Tamar Valley published 18.11.21.)

After a lot of planning, consultation and delays, the cut in the riverbank was made in Mid-November 2021 allowing water from the river to flow into the low-lying and now derelict meadows behind the levee. At high water on the smaller neap tides, the flooding water only covers a network of interconnecting channels and lagoons. At high water on the bigger spring tides, the whole area is inundated between the banks constructed at each end to protect Calstock at one end and its sewage works at the other end. As the tide turns, the water runs back out to the river, leaving isolated muddy lagoons and islets of marshy vegetation.

The river-bank was breached on November 14th '21. The walk along the levee had been closed for months as the walkway across the cut was not yet complete and for health & safety reasons, the public was not allowed along the levee, much to people's frustration. This picture was taken by someone on the river side of the walkway-to-be, looking inland as the water flowed in from the river.

Following the breach the water is flooding across the old wet meadows. Picture taken looking inland.

Black-headed Gulls were immediately showing interest in the new wetland. The black head - feathers are replaced by grey cheek and ear smudges in winter.

Mallard drake. These ducks, already present along the river, quickly explored the new habitat.

December 1st, 2021. Unable at first to see the new wetland from the riverbank, one could look down from the side of either of the two lanes running parallel to the river, the upper,  Eric Road, or the lower, Harewood Lane which leads from Calstock to the sewage works and on to the old mine site of Okel Tor.

This picture was taken from Eric Lane, looking east to the houses on the Devon side of the Tamar. The water level at mid-tide is a patchwork of open water and the remnants of the old meadow vegetation, predominantly a coarse growth of docks, meadow thistle, rush and tussocky grasses.

At last! Good Friday, April 14th 2022 after endless issues of health & safety were resolved, the walkway was deemed safe and the levee path was officially opened again to the walkers, bird-watchers, strollers, dog walkers and the frankly curious.

Viewing the birds using the wetland is best through binoculars. and better still a telescope. The sun is behind you as you look from this path in the morning, while looking from the side of Harewood Road is less dazzling in the afternoon.

As well as numerous Mallard, Teal can be seen dabbling in the muddy margins of the pools.

Last winter there were brief sightings of Shoveller and Pintail ducks too.

       Moorhens fuss from among the rushes.

and if you are lucky you may spot a Water Rail moving furtively from one clump of vegetation to another.

The walkway bridge striding across the breach in the riverbank. The river is to the right

Plenty of warning notices to read!  The river is to the right of the picture.

Even before the breach was made in the riverbank, the shallow scoops excavated in the wet meadow area destined to be flooded, attracted a few waders. Common Snipe could be seen.

Also to see are a few bobbing  Sandpipers. Common Sandpipers as well as the less common Green Sandpiper shown here, its distinctive square white rump very obvious when it flies.

Grey Herons have come into the wetland from their usual haunts along the riverbank.

Joined by their smaller but more conspicuous cousin, the Little Egret.

Jewel-like Kingfisher waits for a little fish, while small birds such as Pied and Grey Wagtails, hunt for insects on the muddy shores of the mosaic of lagoons exposed as the water flows back to the river when the tide is ebbing.

 Meanwhile a Stonechat can often be seen doing his hunting from a post or other vantage point.

The strip of reeds fringing the riverbank attract Sedge and Reed Warblers in the summer, and the path along the top of the levee continues to be a good fly-line and basking place for Darter dragonflies as summer advances.

By late April 2022, considerable erosion was developing in the breached riverbank.

And again, at the end of October 2022.

While at the same time, looking towards the flooded wetland from the walkway bridge at low water, the remains of old field drainage can be seen becoming exposed by the eroding mud and silt.

The top of a high spring tide a week later, looking towards Calstock from the end of the bridge over the breach.

Numbers of our old friend, Canada Geese appeared like bad pennies. The first year in the life of this welcome new wetland has been very interesting to watch. The numbers and variety of wetland birds to find this area is rewarding, and the gradual changes in vegetation, from coarse degraded grassland to a flora more adapted to brackish or even salty conditions will also be interesting to see. It has considerably enriched the value of the riverside walk for all who travel it.

 One of the reasons given for the creation of this wetland is to prevent flooding of Calstock downstream. However, so far, conditions haven't put this to the test.