Northey: Updates from the new intertidal mudflats

Blog by David Mason, National Trust - Suffolk and Essex Coast Ranger

During the Autumn/Winter 2023-4 the Eastern fields of Northey Island hosted large numbers of migrating waders and wildfowl as the grass fields changed into intertidal mudflats. 

Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) counts over the winter have counted a wide variety of birds using this area to feed and roost. Curlew, redshank, dunlin, ringed plover, greenshank, black-tailed godwit, lapwing have been regular visitors.

On one day in October, as the tide came in, I observed a large flock of Lapwing settling on the grass at the water’s edge. An avocet sifted the mud in the new tidal lagoon and little egrets stalked and stabbed their fish prey in the shallow water. Widgeon, teal, brent geese and shelduck floated on the shoreline. A kestrel perched on a nesting platform.

As the tide ebbed they were joined by golden plover that came in to roost on the mud.  Disturbed by a passing marsh harrier the flock wheeled over the island, glinting in the sunlight, with a rush of massed wingbeats as they passed.

Viewed from the new hide over several hours, with a flock of brent geese chattering in the fields behind, this spectacle seemed to me to be the culmination of all the work to let the tide into this area. This is an area in transition however and will not remain a mudflat for long although the steady accumulation of mud is vital for the building of stable saltmarsh, which will form a different but still vital habitat for birds. 

Golden plover flying in over the eastern realignment. ©NT/David Mason

Brent geese on the shoreline. ©National Trust Images/Rachel Bigsby

Building saltmarsh.
​The principal objective of the project on the island is to protect and create saltmarsh, following on from experimental work in 1991 to carry out the first managed realignment in England on the island.

Recent surveys have shown that saltmarsh plants are steadily colonising the new intertidal areas. Pioneers like samphire and annual sea-blite have been the first to move in on the bare mud, with saltmarsh grasses, sea aster, spear-leaved orache, sea couch, sea spurrey, sea beet and sea purslane establishing on higher ground.

Colonising saltmarsh plants on new realignment. ©NT/David Mason

​Art on the island.
We are running a series of new art events on Northey Island to help raise awareness of the work we’re doing to tackle climate change and rising sea levels.
​
Northey Island is the largest single block of saltmarsh habitat in the Blackwater Estuary, Essex and has been at the forefront of coastal adaptation for the past 30 years.

Since 2020, the National Trust has been undertaking the biggest habitat creation project in the island’s history to help the area better withstand climate impacts.

We’ve teamed up with Sara Hayes of the Public Art Company to deliver a series of interactive, family-friendly events. Throughout 2024, Sara is leading a series of walks and workshops that explore Northey Island’s unique habitats. This will eventually culminate in the island’s very own installation of public art.

Links to previous blogs about Northey Island
​Part 1:  www.projectlote.life/news/northey-island
Part 2:  www.projectlote.life/news/ntconservationadaption
Part 3: https://www.projectlote.life/news/ntwatervoles​
Part 4: www.projectlote.life/news/northey-update