Mersehead Recent Sightings 3rd – 9th September
Water levels in front of Media Hide have been coming up quickly this week and attracted a whole load of wildfowl and waders giving the reserve a very wintery feel. With Hestan Hill as a backdrop, 260 lapwing have been soaring over the wetlands. Snipe have been very active this week with a peak count of 65 swirling over the reedbed.
Photo credit: R.Flavelle
The first teal of the winter have been spotted this week amongst the very numerous mallard and a flock of 35 canada geese have been very vocal with their honking calls. A little grebe has been fishing in the pool directly in front of Media Hide whilst the haunting call of curlew drifts through the air. As dusk started to settle over the reserve last night, residential volunteer Alan, sat in Bruiach Hide quietly watching a hare being watched by a barn owl. Whilst walking across the wetlands to look at water levels I came across the tiniest leveret I have ever seen. There are still one or two swallows around the reserve but their place on the telegraph wires is slowly being taken over by starlings. One particular starling has learnt to imitate the alarm on the Visitor Centre! Kestrel has been seen regularly over the reserve this week too.
Rowena Flavelle, Warden