Sanctuary
Farlington marshes
The A27 is a roaring barrier along the north of Farlington marshes, Portsea island raises cranes and chimneys to the west, Langstone harbour surrounds the south and east. What might be a marshy prison is a sanctuary for birds and people.
The coast bestows long views of sky and water, I come to the edge to look into sea and air. Early March is not yet spring but there are green buds and blackthorn flowers that pledge warmer days are on the way.
White swans swim in pairs, Canada geese have found their mates but the flocks of Brent geese are feeding and flying together, waiting for the moment to take off on their journey to Siberia. The Solent hosts 10 per cent of the world’s population of Brent geese and more than 3000 spend the winter on these marshes.
The marshes are a birds’ delight with a mix of habitats and feeding grounds, humans stalk around the sea wall along the land’s edge, many with binoculars to glimpse the birds’ domain. I see the sharp plumage of pintail ducks, they are shot in winter across Europe but safe in this haven.
The birds are whistling, calling, chattering against the roar of traffic along the A27. Without that, it would be a tranquil place.
Today, thick clouds soften the light. The sea is ice blue/green, opaque with chalk washed from the downs. The marshes are green and gray with browns and duns and the birds echo those colours, hard to see when they land. Then they take off like snipped pieces of the marshes.
We watch and check off the species, owning each with the name we give: goose, duck, lark, wader, pipit, harrier. I wonder what they call themselves. Perhaps we hear their names in their calls but never know them.
Farlington marshes were created more than 200 years ago when a group of islands in Langstone harbour were enclosed by a sea wall. They have been used for many things but have been a nature reserve for 50 years. Now the sea wall is failing and without repairs, the sea will reclaim the site. Without the pressure of human land use, the marshes would then move inland, but those lands are now roads, railways and houses. The future of Farlington marshes is uncertain and without human help, this sanctuary for birds will disappear under the harbour.
Farlington Marshes are cared for by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
You can read more at: https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/farlington-marshes-uncertain-future
Pintail duck. Biro drawing by Sue Webber
