Disaster at Stodmarsh?

[KentYeti]

A super sunny mnorning so went down to the Reedbed Hide at Stodmarsh.

Hoping to see Mr Kingfisher again.

What a dreadful sight greeted me.

Dead fish all over.

About a dozen very big one's around the edge of the reeds. And a whole load of small ones under the perching post.

Obvious impact on the birds. No Great CrestedGrebes, no Kingfisher, no Heron. Little Egrets that I am told did start feeding on the dead fish flew off. Etc etc.

Seems to have been caused by lack of oxygen in the very hot few days we have just had.

The dead fish can't be collected by the Reserve until they get an Environment Agency Licence.

I just don't know what the impact will be short to medium term re food supply to those birds who have been using the fish, but it does not look good to me.

This sort of thing must have happened before. I wonder if anyone can give an idea, generally only of course at this stage, of the impact?

Bryan

[aeshna5]

These things do happen + though distressing to see are perfectly natural. sometimes there are also wildfowl die offs from botulism in hot periods. Effects are usually temporary.

[KentYeti]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

These things do happen + though distressing to see are perfectly natural. sometimes there are also wildfowl die offs from botulism in hot periods. Effects are usually temporary.

Yes. Very distressing, especially to a newcomer to the hobby like me.

I understand it was reported on the local Regional TV News Yesterday. And I was told that said the Reserve were keeping an eye on things. As you would expect them to of course.

Good news though is that the Reserve, (up to and including last night), now has two juvenile Night Herons there!