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Ramsey Town Commissioners and Manx Wildlife Trust trial new ways of making Mooragh Lake more bird-friendly

© David Kelly

Birds move in quickly as Mooragh Lake returns to tidal conditions in ongoing winter trial

Ramsey Town Commissioners, Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT) and Mooragh Lake Water Sports are working together on a winter trial at Mooragh Lake to explore how seasonal water-level management could benefit birds while continuing to support community use of the park.

 Each winter the lake is drained for maintenance, during which seawater flows in and out through the sluice gate. This year, MWT is studying what happens when the lake is allowed to follow the natural ebb and flow of the tide for a longer period, creating shallow water and exposed muddy areas that provide rich feeding habitat for birds.

The lake was returned to its tidal condition in mid-January and birds began using the newly exposed shallows almost immediately. MWT members have already recorded Oystercatcher (Red List), Redshank (Red List), Ringed Plover (Schedule 1, Amber List), Little Egret (Schedule 1, Amber List), Herring Gull (Red List) and Black-headed Gull (Red List) feeding in the lake.

What’s been most encouraging is just how quickly birds have responded. Within hours of the water level being lowered, we were already seeing impressive numbers of waders and gulls feeding on the newly exposed muddy areas. The highest single species count received so far is 130 Oystercatchers – particularly impressive for this Red-listed species. This study really highlights how important these muddy habitats are for birds in winter, and how small, well-timed changes can make a real difference for wildlife while keeping Mooragh Park enjoyable for people. Several members have even told us they were surprised by how much wildlife they can now see in the heart of Ramsey.
David Bellamy
Head of Conservation and Land at Manx Wildlife Trust

Local action with wider significance

 Shallow water and intertidal mud are among the most productive feeding habitats for waders and other waterbirds. On the Isle of Man, these habitats are naturally limited and now largely restricted to coastal sites such as Derbyhaven Bay, Cornaa and within working harbours and estuaries. Historically large areas of intertidal mud and saltmarsh were lost from Douglas (around Lake Road) and Ramsey. More recent marina developments in Douglas and Peel have also led to the permanent loss of significant areas of natural mudflat, which the seasonal management of the Mooragh Lake can actually help compensate for, at no cost.

Globally, mudflats and similar habitats are recognised as vital ecosystems, supporting millions of migratory shorebirds and forming the foundation of complex food webs. Their loss worldwide has been closely linked to declines in bird populations.

Monitoring benefits 

If monitoring shows clear benefits for wildlife, Ramsey Town Commissioners have indicated that this approach could be considered as part of the Mooragh Park Master Plan.

This is a straightforward winter trial designed to gather evidence before any longer term decisions are taken. The lake is already drained during this period, so using that time to understand whether there are added benefits for wildlife is a sensible, low impact step. As an added bonus, it’s been genuinely pleasant to see birds feeding on the exposed lake bed during winter walks, and the findings will help inform the Mooragh Park Master Plan and future management.
Juan McGuinness
Ramsey Town Commissioner

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