Cuckooflower

Mersehead recent sightings 21st - 27th April

A great start to the week with wall to wall sunshine on Saturday, our yellowhammers were in full voice all day, perching on the gorse bushes of Rainbow Lane. We were spoilt on Saturday evening, where we were entertained by an otter, for over half an hour, swimming and catching fish in the water directly in front of Meida hide.  Our Natterjack Toad choir was also in full swing, the night was so still, we could hear them rasping whilst stood by the holiday cottages.

This week we have completed our two surveys looking for Natterjack Spawn. We have now counted 61 spawn strings, and will be keeping a close vigil upon them over the coming weeks, assessing their progress.  Some of the strings are already beginning to hatch, and tiny tadpoles are emerging.  Whilst out surveying the pools we also keep an eye out for other amphibious creatures, and today (Friday), we came across a Palmate Newt, heavily laden with eggs.

Palmate Newt (Photo Credit: Jon Foot)

After a slow start, we have now 15 breeding pairs of Lapwing nesting on the reserve, with the majority of nests within the area protected by our anti-predator fencing. We head out at least twice a week to look for new nest sites, and hope to find more over the coming weeks.

We have conducted our first breeding bird survey of the year. This survey is to determine our breeding densities and population sizes of individual species.  We follow the same route across the reserve three times, spread out across the breeding season at least three or four weeks apart.  We recorded a good number of snipe on the Preston Merse area of the reserve. This is the new area of land purchased in 2016, and much of the habitat work we have done over the last year has been to encourage species such as snipe to breed, so we are delighted with the initial results.

We also set out early, at dawn, on Wednesday morning to traverse our reed beds to mark Water Rail territories.   The Water Rail is a very illusive bird and spends most of its time lurking within the base of the reed beds, so are seldom seen.  The way we find them and record their presence is by playing a recording of their song and call at 100 meter intervals around the reed beds.  We then wait for the Water Rails to respond, which they usually do within 60 seconds of hearing the recording. 

Water Rail (Photo Credit: Mike Richards rspb-images.com)

Whilst out and about we have seen the Cuckooflower, or Lady’s Smock, begin to emerge across the reserve, a sure sign spring as arrived at last. The emergence of this flower usually coincides with the arrival of the cuckoo (hence its name), so we are keeping our ears peeled.  The shoots & leaves of Pink purslane, is beginning to carpet the floor of our woodland walk to the Meida hide, and the blossom on our hawthorn hedgerows is starting to burst into life.

Cuckooflower (Photo credit: Jon Foot)

Another sighting this week, on Wednesday evening, was a Common Sandpiper, feeding & resting across from the Meida hide, although it seems it was only an overnight stay. A Greater Spotted Woodpecker can be heard and often seen in our woodland, hammering away, and the reserve has also come alive with the sound of warblers, including chiffchaff, willow warbler, sedge warbler and grasshopper warbler.

We are looking forward to welcoming all those who have booked to join us for our Natterjack Night walk on Saturday 5^th May, booking has been very popular and this walk has now become fully booked. However we still have availability for our Natterjack Night walk on Saturday 12^th May, so if you would like to join us and hear, see and learn all about this endangered species, please don’t hesitate to book your place.  To book you can call our visitor centre on 01387 780579 or email us at mersehead@rspb.org.uk

Jon Foot - Residential Volunteer