Bowesfield Marsh by Eric James
Background
Bowesfield is upstream of Stockton and the parts attractive to birds consist
of the areas of low-lying land within two loops of the River Tees.
The section in the loop closer to Stockton was used for growing crops until 1994.
After this, the ground became excessively wet because of the permanently high water
level maintained by the Tees Barrage. It is now being transformed into a nature
reserve, while the higher land away from the river has been used for housing and
a business park. The work involved in creating the reserve has included the digging
of a series of scrapes and pools of different depths and the planting of reeds and
appropriate species of shrubs and trees. A mowing regime on part of the grassland
is intended to create a meadow-like structure. The reserve is run by the Tees Valley
Wildlife Trust (TVWT), who have erected interpretation boards.
The marsh area in the next loop of the river has not been deliberately developed
and looks more natural. There is a large central pool and the surrounding vegetation
is a mixture of cropped grass, herbaceous plants and scattered bushes and trees.
Access
Access is from the main Stockton to Ingleby Barwick road, which runs along the west
side of Bowesfield. If coming from Stockton, turn left at the second roundabout;
from Ingleby Barwick, this is the one after the bridge over the river. It is also
possible to approach from the A135 along Concorde Way, which runs through the Preston
Park Industrial Estate. The road down to the reserve turns left at the Archers Law
building and (at the time of writing) ends there. Parking is available on rough
ground on the right. There will be a proper car park here eventually.
If you’re more energetic, you can walk along the riverside path from Stockton. There
is also a walkway/cycle track on the west side of the road from Stockton and this
leads to the south end of the Bowesfield area.
Access to the TVWT reserve is easy, as there are tracks around the pools. The scrape
can be more difficult to observe when the vegetation grows but it is possible to
see it from sections of the path along the river. Following this path upstream takes
you to the marsh. You can approach the pool for good views of the water and any
muddy edges, though you might have to find a place where you’re not looking into
the sun. Don’t try to get too close – the birds can be flighty!
Birds
The most obvious feature of the birdlife is the large winter flock of Golden Plover
and Lapwing that can build up on the marsh. I have had a maximum count of over 2,000
Golden Plovers but this sort of number can’t be guaranteed as the birds are mobile
and move between different roosting sites.
The marsh can also attract reasonable numbers of Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit and
there are several records, in the appropriate seasons, of Little Ringed Plover and
Jack Snipe. Common Snipe on one occasion reached 110 birds. Passage waders are represented
by stints (including Temminck’s), Curlew Sandpiper (with a recent peak of 9 juveniles),
Pectoral Sandpiper, the usual ‘shanks’ and Green and Wood Sandpipers. There’s also
the odd Turnstone.
The deeper water of the new pools attracts diving ducks, while the marsh is good
for the dabblers, principally Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler. Pintail are reported most
years and Garganey are becoming more frequent. Geese have not used the site much
until recently, when flocks of up to 500 Canada Geese have roosted. A Barnacle Goose
was sometimes seen with them. Swan sightings include Whoopers, as well as the usual
Mutes. Rails have included Water Rail, as well as their terrestrial relative, Corncrake.
The less usual gull species include Little, Yellow-legged and Glaucous.
Raptors have not been reported very often but Marsh Harrier has been seen and Long-eared
Owl has over-wintered once. As the new reserve is providing habitat for dragonflies,
then Hobby might be a possibility.
The typical passerines are wetland species, such as wagtails (mostly Pied, but Yellow
has been seen) and Grasshopper, Sedge and Reed Warblers. The vegetation around the
marsh, however, appeals to Stonechats. The same area was used by a Great Grey Shrike,
which was present at the end of October 2006. Carrion Crows are keen on the marsh,
with up to 229 recorded at a pre-roost gatherings in October and November 2006.
The reed beds of the new reserve are used by Starlings for roosting (2,600 birds
counted on 6th November 2007).
Bowesfield has been somewhat neglected in the past and records in the annual reports
are rather patchy. With all the recent landscape changes – and with more coverage
– who knows what might turn up?
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