Rare birds spotted nesting at Tarmac’s Herefordshire Quarry

Since the birds were first spotted by quarry workers, a 30 m exclusion zone was put in place to prevent the birds from being disturbed from the field they are nesting on. The soils excavated from the site (to gain access to the sand and gravel) are being used to create the margins of a lake, as well as a gravel island that will provide additional bird nesting opportunities.

Oystercatchers are a large, stocky, black and white wading bird with a long, orange red bill and reddish pink legs. In flight, they show a wide, white wing stripe, a black tail, and a white rump that extends as a ‘V’ between the wings. Pairs of oystercatchers scrape out a simple nest at the top of a beach or on the bank of a river or lake, and line it with tiny shells or pebbles. During April or May, the female lays around three eggs and both parents help to keep them warm until they hatch. There are believed to be only 110 000 pairs of breeding birds in the UK, and an estimated 340 000 birds that spend their winters in the UK.

“We are really proud to perform our extraction operations in a respectful way with the local wildlife,” said Neil Carter, Quarry Manager.

“Colleagues onsite have taken to working around the exclusion zone to ensure that the birds are properly looked after and, importantly, are left undisturbed,” said Enrique Moranmontero, Tarmac Restoration Manager for the quarry. “We are now doing everything we can to protect the nesting opportunities for the birds through our careful restoration works while undertaking our extraction operations.”

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/15072019/rare-birds-spotted-nesting-at-tarmacs-herefordshire-quarry/