It now seems that the breeding season is fully underway here at Mersehead. Many chicks are starting to emerge, making interesting viewing as the chicks eagerly follow all their parents’ movements. Good sightings of fuzzy lapwing chicks continue as do sightings of many mallard families with broods of up to nine chicks. I have also seen little grebe chicks from the Bruaich hide which was a bit of a surprise as they are quite secretive and not always easy to spot amongst the reeds. That’s one of the good things about volunteering on a nature reserve, you don’t know what you will see next. On the same day I saw the little grebe chicks I also spotted a female red-breasted merganser and a sparrowhawk. I guess sometimes it is better to be lucky than good! Other than birds, I have seen roe deer almost daily of late although no fawns yet.
Now in my fourth week of volunteering, I have been learning some useful skills that are an important part of the land management of a nature reserve. I have been assisting the guys at Mersehead with fence and pothole maintenance as well as using a strimmer to keep the gardens and paths tidy. The fence maintenance in particular can be hard work especially in thick mud where I almost lost a welly! All good fun though and enjoying getting stuck in.
Gordon