RSPB Mersehead Blog 18th – 24th May 2024
A Grazing Community
Throughout our winter months Mersehead is descended upon by our beloved Barnacle Geese, while our Barnies return to their Svalbardian shores, a spring chorus of Natterjack toads can be heard for miles, however in the summer months one of our biggest visitor draws are of a slightly more domestic nature. This week our reserve team have begun preparing for the return of livestock to Mersehead and with their arrival imminent it is perhaps worth exploring the who, what, when and why.
At Mersehead we are proud to state that we work closely with four local graziers which reinforces our aim to place the reserve at the heart of the community and work hand in hand with our neighbouring farmers to show that farming and nature conservation are not mutually exclusive. One of our graziers is even now a regular member of our volunteer work parties.
From early June until the end of September the reserve will welcome four different breeds of cattle onto the reserve: Aberdeen Angus, Luing, Stabilisers and Belted Galloway. The areas of the reserve and the length of time the cattle can graze on each area are all carefully monitored and controlled in partnership with our reserve staff and graziers, working together is key.
Belted Galloway Cattle at Mersehead in 2023.
As a wildlife reserve we are also keen to work with our graziers to innovate and use progressive techniques to improve the habitat quality of the reserve.
So, the question I am sure many people may pose is why as a wildlife reserve would we want to have livestock?
Well, we are fortunate that at Mersehead we have a great example of how modern conservation grazing techniques can be employed to help benefit nature.
In recent years we have begun trialling No Fence Farming. Collars are placed on selected individuals and boundaries are set and controlled remotely in an application. When cattle are close to the boundary edge music begins to play from the collar and the cattle move away from the boundary, in the unlikely event cattle continue to move across the boundary the collar releases a small electrical charge, in exactly the same manner an electric fence would work. Removing fences, removes barriers for many mammal species and reduces perches for corvids that may predate for example on our Lapwing chicks.
No Fence Farming is currently in use with our Luing herd at Mersehead as they graze across the sand dune system during the summer months. The movement and trampling of the cattle across the sand dunes helps produce areas of exposed sand, produce vegetation of differing height and control scrub and all of this is sustainable high quality habitat for Natterjack Toad, a protected species and a hugely important one for Mersehead reserve.
Languorous Lepidoptera
Every Thursday we are continuing our efforts to monitor the Moth population on the reserve as we participate in the Garden Moth Scheme. Warmer weather over the past few weeks has led to larger numbers of moths being recorded in our moth trap. This week wetter weather meant we did not see the same high numbers however the diversity was really pleasing to see and we had a few firsts for the season which you can see in the photos below.
White Ermine. Photo Credit: Nick Bone
Pale prominent. Photo Credit Nick Bone
Broom-tip. Photo Credit Nick Bone
Lapwing’s to African Visitors
The reserve team is continuing to monitor the breeding Lapwing population at Mersehead. Survey work has moved away from nest monitoring and onto observing and counting chick numbers and their growth stage. So far things are looking promising for another successful year at Mersehead, and we will hopefully be able to update in more detail later in the season.
Around the reserve our summer migrants continue to be in fine fettle. A particular challenge I set myself this week was counting the number of singing Sedge Warblers I could hear while walking on the reserve. You can regularly hear this diminutively plump African migrant along our visitor pathways. Setting yourself small challenges like this is a really good way to improve and focus your bird call ID skills.
Throughout the week we have had a series of sightings of Spotted Flycatcher around our Meida hide. The likelihood is they will more easily be seen hunting for flies, moths and other insects across the reed beds. They can often be seen returning to a perch after catching a morsel or two in flight.
The final noteworthy bird of the week is another African migrant to our shores. Earlier in the week I was fortunate enough to hear the distinctive call of the Cuckoo on the reserve. It is a call we are all familiar with and yet sadly it is a species has become globally threatened with a 65% reduction in numbers in the last forty years. Whilst reasons for the decline are not certain at this stage, it is likely that climate-induced changes in breeding habits of species such as Dunnock, Pied Wagtail and Reed Warbler are important. If you do happen to hear one, please do take your time and let us know as it is not as common as perhaps we instinctively think.
Nick Bone, Trainee Warden
*It is not unusual to see fledged chicks outside of the nests at this time of year, including occasional sightings on the ground. Fledglings of many species often explore and begin to leave the safety of the nest before they can fly. If you see a bird on the ground that you are concerned about and feel unsure how to proceed then advice can be found here.
At Mersehead you will find the RSPB’s only self-catering holiday cottages - Barnacle and Shelduck. Available summer dates are currently going quickly, follow the links to book your next holiday.
*Flooding - Please note that Mersehead nature reserve is prone to flooding during periods of high rainfall and/or strong winds and tidal surges. To avoid disappointment at these times, please contact the reserve in advance of your visit by email in the first instance at mersehead@rspb.org.uk or check the RSPB Dumfries and Galloway Facebook Page for daily updates.