Mersehead

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 25^th July – 31^st July 2020

In a very changeable week we faced all kinds of weather, with sunshine, rain and breezy episodes.  So, one thing that has been experienced by returning visitors is the elements.  On Monday, the reserve had to be closed with the access road getting flooded (up to 65cm at its deepest).  The run-off that followed from surrounding hills saw to the reserve remaining…

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 18^th – 24^th July 2020

Many visitors to Mersehead walk the main coastal trail in a loop around the reserve. The Southwick Water cuts its way west through the merse (saltmarsh) and winds out across the sandflats into the estuary towards Sandyhills. This is a beautiful quiet corner of the reserve and worth the extra walk.

Southwick Water. Photo credit: R.Flavelle

Most of the shells…

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 11th July – 17th July 2020

We would like to start by thanking all our visitors for their patience whilst waiting for Mersehead to re-open, and for being understanding of the additional measures and restrictions that have had to be put in place to enable the reserve to be enjoyed once again.  It has been great to see and hear so many people around the site during the last week, and…

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 4^th July – 10^th July 2020

At last! We opened today and welcomed visitors back on the reserve. It’s been a long wait and a lot has changed but people can now get out and see the fantastic nature here for themselves. Please note however that the visitor centre, viewing hides and Sulwath Garden (including children's play area) will remain closed for the foreseeable future, to ensure social…

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 27^th June – 3^rd July 2020

We are hoping to open Mersehead in line with Scottish government guidance during the next two weeks, this will include the car park and trails. The hides, playground and Visitor Centre will remain closed. However, following a cluster of Coronavirus cases in the Annan and Gretna areas of Dumfries and Galloway, restrictions to the distance people can travel…

The Mersehead Warden and Assistant Warden live on the reserve and are going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife they see at Mersehead at this challenging time during their daily walk and whilst completing essential work on the reserve in line with government guidance.

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 20th June – 26th June 2020

The highlight of the week was seeing some much missed faces back at Mersehead…

The Mersehead Warden and Assistant Warden live on the reserve and are going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife they see at Mersehead at this challenging time during their daily walk and whilst completing essential work on the reserve in line with government guidance.

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 13^th June – 19^th June 2020

The merse is currently brimming with colour and sound. Ragged Robin and 

The Mersehead Warden and Assistant Warden live on the reserve and are going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife they see at Mersehead at this challenging time during their daily walk and whilst completing essential work on the reserve in line with government guidance.

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 6^th June – 12th June 2020

Mersehead is going to start looking, sounding (and probably smelling)…

The Mersehead Warden lives on the reserve and is going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife they see at Mersehead at this challenging time during their daily walk and whilst completing essential work on the reserve in line with government guidance.

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 30^th May – 5^th June 2020

After entering a semi-dormant state during all the dry weather, the Natterjack toads briefly…

The Mersehead Warden lives on the reserve and is going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife they see at Mersehead at this challenging time during their daily walk and whilst completing essential work on the reserve in line with government guidance.

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 23^rd – 29^th May 2020

Essential work on the reserve this week has focused on inspecting and repairing livestock fencing…

The Mersehead Warden lives on the reserve and is going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife they see at Mersehead at this challenging time during their daily walk and whilst completing essential work on the reserve in line with government guidance.

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 16^th – 22^nd May 2020

With a force 8 “fresh gale” currently battering the reserve it is hardly the bright sunny day depicted…

The Mersehead Warden lives on the reserve and is going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife they see at Mersehead at this challenging time during their daily walk and whilst completing essential work on the reserve in line with government guidance.

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 9^th – 15^th May 2020

With warm and sunny weather holding throughout the weekend I headed down to the sand dunes last…

The Mersehead Warden lives on the reserve and is going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife they see at Mersehead at this challenging time during their daily walk and whilst completing essential work on the reserve in line with government guidance.

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 2^nd – 8^th May 2020

As Sunday was a bright and sunny day I decided to hunt amongst the Cuckooflower for Orange-tip b…

The Mersehead Warden lives on the reserve and is going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife they see at Mersehead at this challenging time during their daily walk and whilst completing essential work on the reserve in line with government guidance.

RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 25^th April – 1^st May 2020

The Barnacle geese were very restless on Sunday, with large numbers jumping into the air,…

At Mersehead, the Warden lives on the reserve and is going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife they see at Mersehead during their daily walk.

Mersehead Moments: Moth of the Week

At this time of year, the most numerous species of moth recorded at Mersehead after the Hebrew Character has been the Common Quaker. Very variable in colour, a single generation flies throughout March and April. The Powdered…

At Mersehead the Warden lives on the reserve who is going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife they see at Mersehead during their daily walk.

Mersehead Moments

The Orange-tip is found throughout the British Isles and as one of the first butterflies to emerge from a pupa after the long winter, the Orange-tip is a true herald of spring.

The male has the characteristic orange tips to the wings, whilst the…

At Mersehead the Warden lives on the reserve and is going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife they see at Mersehead during their daily walk.

Mersehead Moments

New spring migrants have arrived at Mersehead over the weekend. The first to be heard was the Whitethroat as it skulked in its favoured patch of gorse near the beach at the end of the woodland. It eventually showed itself as it flew across to a…

At Mersehead, we have two staff cottages with both the Warden and Assistant Warden living on the reserve. We are going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife we see at Mersehead during our daily walks.

Mersehead Moments: Moth of the Week

The resting position of the Early Thorn with wings held back close together distinguish this moth from the eight other thorns found in Britain. With two flight seasons…

At Mersehead, we have two staff cottages with both the Warden and Assistant Warden living on the reserve. We are going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife we see at Mersehead during our daily walks.

Mersehead Moments

Inspired by the RSPB Breakfast Birdwatch, I headed out to the Sulwath Garden on Saturday morning armed with a notepad, pen, binoculars and a plastic bag (the benches were a little wet). 

At Mersehead, we have two staff cottages with both the Warden and Assistant Warden living on the reserve. We are going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife we see at Mersehead during our daily walks.

Mersehead Moments

The first hirundines have been seen over Mersehead over the last few days with both swallow and sand martin arriving.

Photo credit: R.Flavelle

Having returned from its wintering grounds…

At Mersehead, we have two staff cottages with both the Warden and Assistant Warden living on the reserve. We are going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife we see at Mersehead during our daily walks.

Mersehead Moments: Moth of the Week

This week’s Moth of the Week is the Red Chestnut.  This common moth is a member of the Noctuidae family which, with over 400 species recorded in Britain, is our largest…

At Mersehead, we have two staff cottages with both the Warden and Assistant Warden living on the reserve. We are going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife we see at Mersehead during our daily walks.

Mersehead Moments:

Spring is unfurling across the reserve with warm weather, blue skies and the first butterflies on the wing.

Small Tortoiseshell. Photo credit: R.Flavelle

We may all be restricted to repeating…

Conservation story: RSPB Scotland's work on the Galloway Glens Greenland White-fronted Goose Project

Thankfully, our wintering geese needn’t take heed of COVID19 restrictions, as nature continues as usual.  Thousands are now flying over our homes on migration to summer breeding grounds.

RSPB Scotland is heading-up an exciting local project to help conserve one of our rarest geese that visit here - Greenland white…

At Mersehead, we have two staff cottages with both the Warden and Assistant Warden living on the reserve. We are going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife we see at Mersehead during our daily walks.

Mersehead Moments

Lapwing is the most common breeding wader at RSPB Mersehead, but the area of the reserve that is managed to encourage this species also tends to be the favoured breeding location for a small…

At Mersehead, we have two staff cottages with both the Warden and Assistant Warden living on the reserve. We are going to try and keep you updated on the wonderful wildlife we see at Mersehead during our daily walks.

Mersehead Moments: Moth of the Week

Some of the most colourful, beautiful and bizarrely named creatures come out at night while we are all fast asleep. With around 2,500 species of moth recorded in the UK…