Exciting year on Ray: 2010 has been an exciting year on the Upper Ray Meadows Reserve, which is one of six key areas in the Upper Thames Tributaries for wading birds.

It was great to see the new flooded area at Three Points Meadow favoured by up to 200 teal during the winter.

When conditions were right ,the large overwintering flock of lapwing and golden plover (approximately 1,000 of each) were also there, along with the ruff that spent the last two winters with them.

Early March heralded the return of the curlew, filling the air with their bubbling cry as two pairs vied for control of the main field and increasing numbers of breeding lapwing displayed over the shorter sward.

Skylarks added to the throng, with many singing males across the reserve, and they were joined by displaying meadow pipits.

There was some interesting spring wader passage throughout May including ringed plover, grey plover, little ringed plover, dunlin and redshank, and even a pair of little egrets dropped in from time to time.

Two pairs of tree sparrows used the newly erected nest boxes on the roadside oaks, and the resident barn owls produced four chicks, all of which fledged successfully.

Meadow management: Leaches Farm is the latest acquisition of 32 hectares of floodplain meadow and now forms part of the Upper Ray Meadows reserve. Although it had become a bit overgrown with tufted hair grass and common pond sedge, there was still a viable community of floodplain meadow plants. Initial management included cutting three of the five meadows and then winter grazing with Angus and Hereford cattle.

This resulted in an impressive wash of colour across the meadows in spring and early summer from a variety of plants including black knapweed, great burnet, common sorrel, ladies bedstraw, goats beard, yellow rattle and many others.

This in turn benefitted some of the day-flying moth species, including burnet companion, small yellow underwing, Mother Shipton and more grass rivulets than you could shake a stick at.

Other notable species were three forester moths and two records of oblique carpet moths.

Horseflies discovered: More excitement came with the discovery of both male and female four-banded horseflies, usually known as four-lined horsefly (Atylotus rusticus), scattered across the site and feeding on nectar from the knapweed flowers.

Further searching found them on Gallows Bridge Farm and Long Herdon Meadows, albeit in small numbers.

This is particularly exciting because, until ten years ago, they were only known in Pevensey Levels, East Sussex.

Since 2000 they have been seen on one site in the Weald, BBOWT’s Long Herdon and Grange Meadows, and RSPB’s site in Otmoor.

Their discovery at Gallows Bridge suggests that the Ray population is spreading due to our management, or this species is more widespread than previously thought.

Snipe appear: As late summer passed into autumn, snipe began to appear in small numbers and, as the clocks went back, the first of the fieldfares and redwings arrived. Now the days are shorter the lapwing flocks increase in size, soon to be joined by the golden plover.

Only the winter rains are needed now to complete the cycle and create the flooded meadows so favoured by the teal.

Join in: The Upper Ray Meadows are part of the Upper River Ray Living Landscape. BBOWT is working with local landowners, farmers, the RSPB and other agencies on this impressive project to link the reserve with neighbouring farmland to create more traditional floodplain habitats and a really wild landscape.

If you want to get involved with wildlife this autumn visit www.bbowt.org.uk for a list of events.