RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 22nd – 28th August 2020
It has been a week where the weather has stolen the show at Mersehead. First Storm Ellen peaked on Friday, with gale force winds combined with a 9m tide sending waves crashing into the sand dunes, and led to the southern half of the salt marsh and Rainbow Lane being submerged. Heavy and unpredictable showers over the weekend then culminated in over 30mm of rain falling in just 12 hours from the early hours of Tuesday, as Storm Francis hit the region. This led to widespread flooding, which Mersehead would not escape. The watercourses that converge and flow out into the Southwick Water were completely overwhelmed; spilling over onto the northern end of the salt marsh and the access road.
Storm Ellen hits Mersehead. Photo credit: P. Radford
Can you spot the water trough? Photo credit: P. Radford
The recent wet weather has sparked a change in both the conditions of the reserve habitats, and the wildlife that these attract. The Swallows and House Martins are being squeezed out of their telegraph wire perches by Starlings, who have been growing in numbers over the week. Groups of around 200 do not quite make a murmuration, but do give a taster for the spectacle we can expect to enjoy in the winter months, when tens of thousands will put on a show over the wetlands around dusk each evening. Large temporary pools formed in the field below the telegraph lines adjacent to the access road, and flocks of around 400 Lapwing have been one species – along with Mallard, Curlew and Herring Gull – who have been making the most of the bounty of invertebrates that have been forced to the surface.
Starlings on telegraph wires. Photo credit: P. Radford
Lapwing flock. Photo credit: P. Radford
A walk along to the woodland reveals gaps in the hedgerows that were not there a few weeks ago, signalling that Autumn is almost upon us. As well of good views of a number of Robins competing for their winter territories, these sightlines provide more opportunities to spot the Roe Deer who are now well camouflaged against the browning vegetation. Up to 4 Common Buzzard are also regularly seen and heard hunting here, and on one occasion this week two were seen to snare an unfortunate Leveret.
Many of the wild flowers have now gone to seed. The Umbels along the hedgerow look like they have been scorched, and Red Campion and Pink Purslane are two of the few flowers that have made it through the whole summer, and can still be enjoyed in the woodland.
Pink Purslane and Red Campion in the woodland. Photo credit: P. Radford
Nowhere is the start of Autumn more evident than with the line of Beech trees that stand like sentries down towards the beach. They would have been planted to protect the farm from the winds that have both shaped them, and formed the dunes that are such a key habitat here at Mersehead. Unfortunately, what the wind gives to the dunes on one hand, it can also take away. Following Storm Ellen, flattened Marram Grass is all that remains of the fresh deposits of sand that had been accumulating over the summer. The storm also washed up lots of Common Whelk shells, that were a big hit with our younger visitors.
Beech trees. Photo credit: P. Radford
Beach following Storm Ellen. Photo credit: P. Radford
The bare beech trees may have helped the lucky visitors who spotted up to 10 Common Redpoll and 6 Bullfinch in this area of the woodland at the weekend. At the start of the week, an Osprey was also seen out on the Solway. It was observed catching a fish, and then appropriately landing on the old fishing posts that are an iconic Mersehead landmark.
Wheatear are still showing in good numbers along the merse path, displaying their unmistakable white rump as they jostle for the best spots on the gorse bushes and fence posts. Of all the birds we take for granted, the humble Mallard must be near the top of the list. However, before the A-list visitors return to the reserve, now appears to be their one chance to take centre stage. Large flocks (in the region of 200 individuals) have been seen whirling and swooping around the pools in the fields next to Rainbow Lane, that will become favoured wader habitat in the months to come.
Flocking Mallards. Photo credit: P. Radford
A rather curious find was also made by two of our regular visitors in some puddles along Rainbow Lane. These creatures look to be a kind of Sandy Goby; clearly deposited by the storm surge last weekend.
Gobies in puddle on Rainbow Lane. Photo credit: D. Jackson
It will not be long now until the Barnacle Geese return, but in the meantime small groups of other species have started to descend on the reserve. This has included 40 Canada Geese that were seen behind the car park yesterday.
On leaving the car park, visitors may also have spotted the marquee, and our Community Engagement Officer David, who has recently re-joined the team. Although the Visitor Centre (including toilets), viewing hides and play area remain closed for now to ensure social distancing measures are followed, it is great that visitors can now find out more about the reserve before heading round, and can share what they have seen. Hopefully some of the facilities will open soon, with more information about the re-opening of RSPB reserves being available at: Reserve Reboot.
Mersehead marquee. Photo credit: P. Radford
Not only has David been busy engaging with visitors, but he also provided an opportunity to discover what moths might be lurking in the compartment behind the visitor centre. His homemade (from completely recycled materials) Skinner Moth Trap has the advantage of being battery powered, and so can be placed anywhere around the reserve.
Homemade Skinner Trap, using a 25W Actinic Light. Photo credit: D. Lewis
The moths drawn to David’s trap on this occasion Included a striking September Thorn. This orange-brown moth holds its wings at a steeper angle than the similar August Thorn, and is considered to be a declining though well distributed species.
September Thorn. Photo credit: D. Lewis
A Sexton Beetle also found its way into the trap, and David has kindly written a guest article about this fascinating although slightly gruesome creature. Perhaps don’t read on if you have a weak stomach!
Be afraid, be very afraid ! (by David Lewis)
Sexton Beetles (genus Nicrophorinae) are a part of a family of beetles called Silphidae and are known for their carrion habits and very pungent smell. They are common in the U.K and usually have very distinctive orange markings on their elytra (wing cases). I first came across these fascinating beetles whilst working on the RSPB Mull of Galloway reserve and they have followed me ever since, usually turning up in the moth traps, being attracted to the light.
Nicrophorus investigator. Photo credit: D. Lewis
Named after the sexton of a church (the officer who would look after the buildings and the graveyard), these beetles spend most of their time finding dead animals or birds, creating burial chambers underneath the rotting corpses and dragging them through. Not ones to shy away from an opportunity, the male and female pair up at the corpses and the subsequent offspring are laid in or around the decomposing creature. The larvae hatch and hey presto … dinner is served. Burying beetles are quite unique in the fact that both parents look after the young once born. As you can imagine, with all this decomposition, the sextons do suffer from pungent odours … you will probably smell them first before you see them. The receptors on the end of their antennae can sense decaying matter, even up to a couple of kilometres away.
Black Sexton Beetle - Nicrophorus humator. Photo credit: D. Lewis
It’s not all scary stuff though. The sexton beetles do provide a valuable service in our ecosystems, getting rid of small carrion and in sense, giving them a proper burial. It also has a very symbiotic relationship with various species of mites. Sometimes you will find sexton beetles covered in them, some carrying as much as 100 on one individual. The beetle doesn’t seem bothered by them and doesn’t really show any willingness to clean them off. The mites come into their own when a new corpse is found. As a payment for travelling on the beetle, the mites will eat the eggs and maggots of flies, that compete with the hatched beetle larvae for food (corpse) – in a way, protecting the sexton beetle’s youngsters. When the larvae have grown, the parents leave, at which point the mites climb back on board and journey with them to the next rotting corpse. Wow !!!!
Nicrophorus investigator with mites. Photo credit: D. Lewis
We hope you all continue to stay safe and well and look forward to seeing you back at Mersehead soon.
Paul Radford, Assistant Warden