This week has seen much activity at the Mersehead office, and not just inside! The air has been alive with House Martins for the last few days, who have been busily building nests on the walls of the Sulwath Centre. The nests are built of mud mixed with grass, and lined with plant fibres. House Martins are colonial nesters, so it remains to be seen how many nests there will be in total, but it could be five or more.
House Martin busy nest-building Photo by Dave Long
Another Natterjack Toad survey this week showed a healthy population of several thousand tadpoles and toadlets. Many of the toadlets are now on dry land to disperse and hunt; for them, this is the start of a long journey to maturity of four to five years.
This week’s garden moth survey turned up over twenty species including the impressive Poplar Hawkmoth and Fox Moth. Small Square Spot and Flame Shoulder are particularly abundant at the moment. Other species collected included Heart and Dart, White Ermine, Silver Ground Carpet and Pale Shouldered Brocade. Certain moth species are also day fliers, for example you might be lucky enough to spot the attractive Cinnabar around the reserve.
We encountered the Meadow Brown for the first time this summer in this week’s butterfly survey, along with Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell and of course our old favourite the Green Veined White. Common Blue was also sighted this week in our Butterfly Garden.
This is also a great time of year to spot dragonflies and damselflies. This week saw sightings of the Four Spotted Chaser dragonfly, plus Common Blue, Large Red, Azure and Blue Tailed damselflies.
There are a wide variety of wildflowers currently on display at the reserve. Some attractive ones sighted around the reserve this week are Marsh Cinquefoil, Yellow Rattle, Northern Marsh Orchid, and Yellow Flag Iris.
Northern Marsh Orchid Photo by Dave Long
Visitor sightings this week included a Fox, and an Otter and Marsh Harrier were seen from the Meida Hide. A Red Kite has also been seen over the reserve which is less common.
Dave Long – Residential Volunteer