Mersehead Recent Sightings 16th - 22nd December
Saturday was another stunning, cold & crisp day, as the temperature has risen during the rest of the week we have experienced fog, drizzle, sunshine and mist, all adding to the atmosphere of winter. As the wetlands have thawed, the wildfowl & waders have been enjoying feeding and moving around freely. On Monday we completed our Kirkconnell reserve count, which was quite magical due to the sun breaking through the fog over the banks of the river Nith. We counted 90 Shelduck, 105 Wigeon, 9 Teal, 17 Mallard, 62 Pintail, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Goosander, 4 Grey Heron, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Lapwing, 28 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 304 Redshank, 76 Black-headed Gull, 3 Great Black-backed, but most impressively 1270 Dunlin.
Photo Credit: L.Blakely
Here at Mersehead although visibility has been poor for most of the week, we have still seen plenty of activity. Large congregations of Barnacle Geese, feeding in fields close to our main track heading through the reserve, large numbers of lapwing & curlew, along with flocks of golden plover, and the odd oystercatcher & redshank coming into closer view on the reserve. Of course we have the usual frenzy of garden bird activity on our visitor centre feeders. Today, Thursday, a young goldfinch was seen sat on the feeding table, flapping its wings and beak wide open, begging to be fed by any of the other birds, regardless of species. Unusual behaviour at this time of year. We have also had plenty of raptor activity over the course of the week, including Kestrel, Sparrowhawk & 2 Peregrine Falcon, chasing each other over towards our reed beds. Visitors also reported a Tawny Owl sat in a tree, across from the Bruiach Hide.
As we are working around the reserve, we are never far away from a Robin, or rather where ever we are it is not long before one makes an appearance to see what we are up to. Along our woodland path we have an extremely inquisitive robin, it feels as though it makes a special effort to come and say hello, and will come quite close, pose for a photo, and if you hold your hand out the robin sometimes plucks up the courage to come even closer.
Photo Credit: J.Foot
Earlier in the year we had red mason bees nesting in our car park honesty box, which is hollowed into an old tree. We now have new residents, Field Mice, who have refurnished & made themselves comfortable and are utilising the space for the winter.
As usual the reserve will be open over the Christmas & New Year period. The Visitor Centre will be open between 10am & 4pm, however will not be staffed from Friday 23rd December to Tuesday 2nd January. The Mersehead Recent Sightings blog will return on Friday 5th January.
The whole team here at Mersehead wish you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
Jon Foot, Residential Volunteer